Hydroelectric Thermal Power Plant in Vacuum

Invention field

The present invention refers to the production of electrical energy from geothermal energy, which can be used simultaneously for heating or cooling.

State of the Art

The present invention differentiate from the patents WO2013060340, US2012174581 , US2007137202 and US4077220 in relation to the fact that the system is fully enclosed in continuous operation, for being in vacuum (created naturally), that changes the evaporation point and condensation point of the liquid that runs through it. Besides that, the system does not require active components. Produces electricity through the "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) and the "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) .

There are already on the market hydroelectric and thermal power plants that are fundamental structures on the world electrical grid. The present invention combine the two methods .

Invention Summary

The present invention refers to an electrical power plant, which by its mode of operation can be used as a heating and cooling system.

The interior of the system is run through liquid that alternates between the liquid and gaseous states as a consequence of thermal exchange with the cold source placed at the top and the heat source at the base, such as in the water cycle. Two methods are used to transform energy into electricity, is used one or several groups turbine-generator that convert the potential gravitational energy present in the column of liquid and one or several groups of steam engine coupled with generator that convert the pressure resulting from the evaporation of the liquid.

The system has the advantage of allowing storage of energy and control over the electric production through the regulation of the groups associated to the steam and turbine. It also allows for a electrical energy production very stable during the different periods of the day and during the year.

This system can be installed near the urban centres or even inside them, since it can be implanted on the interior of the ground, causing very low impact on the landscape. It can also be installed on the surface provided that there is a significant difference between the maximum altitude and the minimum.

Detailed Description of the Invent

Making reference to the figures, it will be described now the invent. In the figure 1 the areas with perforations represent the gaseous state and the undulated areas represent the liquid state.

0. Power Plant Composition

The figure 1 represents the structure of the power plant, it has a heat source at the bottom and a cold source at the top, with great altitude difference between them. Uniting them there are 2 conduit systems, inside the conduit on the right the liquid is the gaseous state and the one on the left it is on the liquid state. All this circuit is in partial vacuum, with the exception of the External Tank(4). 1. Vacuum creation to change evaporation and condensation temperatures .

Before start operating, all the structure is flooded with liquid on the liquid state. Through the Valves(5) the liquid is gradually removed to the External Tank(4), by the effect of gravity, changing this way the properties of the water (evaporation and condensation temperatures). With the system in operation it is also possible to introduce more water for optimisation purposes.

2. Evaporation and condensation of the water

On the Evaporator ( 1 ) and the Condenser(2) the water is evaporated and condensed, respectively. When evaporated, the steam move from the high pressure in the Evaporator ( 1 ) to the low pressure in the Condenser ( 2 ) . Once the steam reaches the Condenser ( 2 ) , occurs thermal exchanges with the cold source, the steam is condensed into liquid and routed to tank by gravity.

3. Production of Electrical Energy

Starting from the Condenser(2) the water deposited can stay stored or be used to produced electrical energy on the "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) , passing to the Intermediate Tank(3). The structure may have several Intermediate Tanks(3) and respective "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) , with the intent of dividing the pressure by the different groups.

Starting from the Evaporator ( 1 ) , the "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) are exposed to a high pressure on the Evaporator ( 1 ) side and low pressure on the Condenser(2) side, converting this difference into electrical energy on the "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) . 4. Energy storage

The Intermediate Tanks(3), Evaporator ( 1 ) and Condenser(2) may be used to store energy by closing the valves of the "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) and the "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) .

Detailed description of the figure

In Fig. 1 are represent the operation principals of the Hydroelectric Thermal Power Plant in Vacuum. The component identified with number 1 is the "Evaporator" ( 1 ) , it is the component where occurs the liquid evaporation thanks to the energy absorbed from the heat source.

The component identified with number 2 is the "Condenser" ( 2 ) , is the component where the steam condensation occurs thanks to energy released to the cold source .

The components identified with number 3 is a "Intermediate Tank" ( 3 ) , several may be used, to divide the structural stress and store energy.

The component identified with number 4 is the "External Tank" ( 4 ) , that receives the liquid removed from the system interior, may also supply liquid to the system.

The components identified with the number 5 are "Valves" (5), which are used to remove or introduce liquid to the system.

The component identified with the number 6 is a "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) which is used to interrupt the system through the closing of its Valve and convert mechanical energy into electrical through the turbine associated to a electrical generator. Several "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) may be used to distribute the stress between them. The component identified with the number 7 is a "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) which is used to interrupt the system through the closing of its valves and converts the mechanical energy into electrical through the steam engine associated to electrical generator. Several "Group with Valve, Steam Engine and Electrical Generator" ( 7 ) may be used to distribute the stress between them.

If the Valves(5) are open and the "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) connected to the Evaporator ( 1 ) is closed, the liquid is naturally removed from the interior of the system to the External Tank(4). If the Valve(5) connected to the Intermediate Tanks(3) is closed and the Valve(5) connected to the External Tank(4) is open and the "Group with Valve, Turbine and Electrical Generator" ( 6 ) connected to the Evaporator ( 1 ) is open, it is introduced liquid into the interior of the system supplied naturally from External Tank(4).