Research and development of the Osmo-Hydro Power heat engine. Final report

Technical Report · Tue Nov 25 00:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6375708· OSTI ID:6375708

The Osmo-Hydro Power (OHP) or Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) heat engine is a possible means for producing economical electric power from low-temperature heat sources. The engine utilizes semipermeable membranes to cause the permeation of a solvent from a dilute low-pressure solution to a concentrated high-pressure solution. The potential energy thus acquired is converted to useful energy by means of a turbogenerator. The process can be considered as one in which the free energy of mixing is converted to useful power. By appropriate application of a heat source and a heat sink, the original dilute and concentrated solutions are recovered, thus completing the heat engine cycle. The results of this initial project to study osmotic power generation from waste heat indicate what research paths must be followed to continue the development of distillation and conjugation as unmixing methods. In addition, precipitation and stratification have been shown to be desirable because of the possibility of readily matching a binary system with either a membrane presently available or one readily modified from an existing membrane. The OHP heat engine in its ultimate development would have the following general characteristics: it would be able to utilize low-grade heat sources, such as unconcentrated solar energy or waste heat below 100/sup 0/C., heat sources as low as 50/sup 0/C can be used; the engine should be able to produce electricity for 0.12 $/kWh, or less, but the thermal efficiency will be less than 25% of Carnot efficiency at the same temperature limits; and the engine would be modular; i.e., it could be scaled up or down largely by adding or subtracting discrete permeator and heat exchanger units.

• Research Organization: InterTechnology/Solar Corp., Warrenton, VA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-78ET15346
• OSTI ID: 6375708
• Report Number(s): DOE/ET/15346-T1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
42 ENGINEERING
HEAT ENGINES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
POWER GENERATION
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POWER
HEAT SOURCES
MEMBRANES
OPERATION
OSMOSIS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DIFFUSION
ENGINES
POWER
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION
200100* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Power Plants & Power Generation
425007 - Engineering- Power Cycles- Other- (1980-)