Short Summary
Application
Feasibility Study of Gravitational Nonequilibrium Heat Pumps & Heat Engines
Thomas C.B. Smith
00-21
EISG Project Title: Application Feasibility Study of Gravitational Non-equilibrium Heat Pumps and Heat Engines
EISG Grant Number: 00-21
PIER Area: Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
Principal Investigator: Thomas C.B. Smith
Contact Information: 44 1223 243218 tcbs2@eng.cam.ac.uk
Organization: Individual
Grant Amount: $75,000
Grant Term: 15 months
Project Description:
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of developing a gravitational heat engine where the fundamental operating principle is entirely dependent on at least part of the system never reaching equilibrium.
Proposed Outcomes:
· Construct functional prototype
· Demonstrate system efficiency of between 2 and 10% converting solar energy to electricity
· Heat engine fueled by solar and low temperature waste heat
· Feasibility analysis based on performance of functional prototype
Anticipated Benefits:
· Unit production cost range of $1500-$7500 per kW for electricity production
· Unit production cost range of $40-$160 per kW for heating