US 11,988,199 B2
Power generating device and operation method thereof based on ocean temperature difference
Yue Shen, Hubei (CN); Jiangjiang Duan, Hubei (CN); Jintao Meng, Hubei (CN); Zhe Deng, Hubei (CN); and Xueting Liu, Hubei (CN)
Assigned to HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Hubei (CN)
Appl. No. 18/010,808
Filed by HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Hubei (CN)
PCT Filed Aug. 11, 2022, PCT No. PCT/CN2022/111711
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/029933, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 9, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 202111023095.5 (CN), filed on Sep. 1, 2021; and application No. 202210834703.9 (CN), filed on Jul. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0340947 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. F03G 7/05 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/05 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power generating device based on an ocean temperature difference, comprising:
a negative thermal expansion body, a rope, and a generator, wherein the negative thermal expansion body is connected with the rope, and the rope is connected with the generator,
the negative thermal expansion body is in a contracted state in hotter upper seawater close to a sea surface, and a difference of gravity minus buoyancy is relatively large, the negative thermal expansion body is in an expanded state in colder deep seawater, and the difference the gravity minus the buoyancy is relatively small,
during an operation process, the negative thermal expansion body in the colder deep seawater becomes expanded and buoyant after a heat exchange, and become expanded and gradually become fully expanded when floating up in order to be able to gradually increase the buoyancy in the process of floating up, when the negative thermal expansion body floats up to the hotter upper seawater, after the heat exchange, the negative thermal expansion body changes back to a contracted state, the buoyancy becomes smaller, and the negative thermal expansion body sinks back into the deep seawater,
during the floating process and the sinking process, a total work done by a resultant force of the gravity and the buoyancy is positive, and the negative thermal expansion body floats or sinks in seawater to drive the rope to move, and the generator is pulled by the rope to realize power generation.