Patent US4541244A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4541244A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of and means for maintaining a halocline in an open body of salt water
Assignee: Solmat Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1983-11-14
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Granted: 1985-09-17
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Expires: 2003-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A halocline is maintained in open body of salt water at a depth to which a significant amount of solar radiation penetrates by inducing an upward vertical flow in the body of water sufficient to counter wind-mixing and molecular diffusion thereby establishing an ascending or rising solar lake. The upward flow is induced by injecting into the body of water a concentrate with a density greater than the density of liquid at the lower end of the halocline, the concentrate being formed by evaporating liquid drawn from the surface of the body of water. The halocline suppresses convention currents and allows solar radiation to heat the halocline as well as a layer of liquid therebelow to temperatures significantly higher than the surface temperature. Heat for useful work can be extracted from the heat storage layer beneath the halocline. In a modification, the linearity of the halocline and its consequent stability are controlled by inducing a downward vertical flow simultaneously with and equal to the upward flow thereby establishing what is termed a standing solar lake. The downward flow is induced by flash evaporating liquid drawn from the heat storage layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Gad Assaf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:29
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; F24S10/10; F24S10/13; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for producing power from an open body of water containing dissolved salts comprising: (a) establishing a halocline in the body of water adjacent the surface thereof and above a heat storage layer which is itself above the hypolimnion whereby solar radiation incident on the surface of the body of water is absorbed in the halocline and transferred into the heat storage layer; (b) using heat from the heat storage layer to operate a power plant having a heat engine and a condenser; (c) cooling the condenser with liquid drawn from the hypolimnion; (d) cooling the heated liquid from the condenser in a cooling pond; and (e) returning liquid in the cooling pond to the body of water at a depth below the halocline.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for producing power from an open body of water containing dissolved salts comprising: (a) establishing a halocline in the body of water adjacent the surface thereof and above a heat storage layer which is itself above the hypolimnion whereby solar radiation incident on the surface of the body of water is absorbed in the halocline and transferred into the heat storage layer; (b) using heat from the heat storage layer to operate a power plant having a heat engine and a condenser; (c) cooling the condenser with liquid drawn from the hypolimnion; (d) cooling the heated liquid from the condenser in a cooling pond; and (e) returning liquid in the cooling pond to the body of water at a depth below the halocline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the cooling pond is connected to the body of water only at the surface thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein heat is extracted from the heat storage layer by a heat exchanger located therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein heat is extracted from the heat storage layer by drawing liquid therefrom into a heat exchanger and then discharging the cooled liquid into the body of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
A power plant having, in combination, a heat source in the form of an open body of water containing dissolved salts, a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the heat source and supplying heat to a heat engine, and a condenser for cooling the exhaust of the heat engine, the heat source comprising: (a) a halocline in the body of water adjacent the surface thereof and above a heat storage layer which is itself above the hypolimnion whereby solar radiation incident on the surface of the body of water is absorbed in the halocline and transferred into the heat storage layer; (b) means for drawing liquid from the body of water and increasing its density to a value greater than the density of liquid below the halocline; and (c) means to inject the liquid of increased density into the body of water below the halocline for inducing upwelling in the body of water thereby countering the effects of molecular diffusion of salt across the halocline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
A power plant having, in combination, a heat source in the form of an open body of water containing dissolved salts, a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the heat source and supplying heat to a heat engine, and a condenser for cooling the exhaust of the heat engine, the heat source comprising: (a) a halocline in the body of water adjacent the surface thereof and above a heat storage layer which is itself above the hypolimnion whereby solar radiation incident on the surface of the body of water is absorbed in the halocline and transferred into the heat storage layer; (b) means for drawing liquid from the body of water and increasing its density to a value greater than the density of liquid below the halocline; and (c) means to inject the liquid of increased density into the body of water below the halocline for inducing upwelling in the body of water thereby countering the effects of molecular diffusion of salt across the halocline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power plant according to claim 5 wherein said heat exchanger extracts heat from the heat storage layer to drive the heat engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A power plant according to claim 6 wherein the heat exchanger is located in the heat storage layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power plant according to claim 6 wherein the heat exchanger is located remotely from the heat storage layer and liquid from the latter is pumped into the heat exchanger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A power plant according to claim 5 wherein said means for drawing liquid from the body of water includes an evaporating pond connected only to the surface liquid of the body whereby the density of the liquid in the pond is increased by evaporation of water from the pond.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A power plant according to claim 5 wherein said means for drawing liquid from the body of water includes means for cooling the condenser with liquid drawn from the hypolimnion thereby producing a heated liquid, and means for discharging the heated liquid into a cooling pond where the density of the heated liquid increases as it cools.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power plant according to claim 5 wherein the liquid drawn from the body of water is drawn from adjacent the surface thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a halocline adjacent to the surface of a solar pond for absorbing solar radiation, the salinity of the halocine having a predetermined functional relationship with depth; (b) a heat storage layer below the halocline for storing heat from the halocline at a given average rate; (c) means for extracting sensible heat from the heat storage layer at substantially said given average rate; and (d) means for maintaining the salinity in the halocline at substantially said predetermined functional relationship with the depth; (e) said last-named means including means for inducing an upward vertical flow across the halocline to counter the effects of wind-mixing and molecular diffusion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) a halocline adjacent to the surface of a solar pond for absorbing solar radiation, the salinity of the halocine having a predetermined functional relationship with depth; (b) a heat storage layer below the halocline for storing heat from the halocline at a given average rate; (c) means for extracting sensible heat from the heat storage layer at substantially said given average rate; and (d) means for maintaining the salinity in the halocline at substantially said predetermined functional relationship with the depth; (e) said last-named means including means for inducing an upward vertical flow across the halocline to counter the effects of wind-mixing and molecular diffusion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the means for extracting heat include a flash evaporator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein substantially all of the heat extracted from the heat storage layer is contained in the latent heat of the water evaporated by the flash evaporator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein water from the pond is added to the heat storage layer for maintaining the functional relationship of salinity with depth in the halocline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the added water is from a mixed layer above the halocline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the added water is a portion of the water evaporated in the flash evaporator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein some of the heat extracted from the heat storage layer is by way of a heat exchanger associated with the heat storage layer, and some by way of the flash evaporator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the means for extracting heat includes a heat exchanger associated with the heat storage layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said last-named means includes means for inducing a downward vertical flow across the halocline whereby the salinity profile of the halocline is substantially linear.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for inducing an upward vertical flow includes means for evaporating water drawn from adjacent the surface of the pond and producing concentrated brine, and means for injecting said concentrated brine into the solar pond below the halocline.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-16 | 1989-03-18 | 1989-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-16 | 1993-03-18 | 1993-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-16 | 1997-03-18 | 1997-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |