Method, device and system for impressing energy into a medium

Abstract

A non-gaseous carrier medium is converted into a gaseous carrier medium by means of introduced heat energy, so that the gaseous carrier medium rises to a predefined height. The gaseous carrier medium is compressed. The compressed gaseous carrier medium is reconverted at the predefined height into a non-gaseous carrier medium by means of a cooling circuit receiving heat of the carrier medium. The heat received by the cooling circuit is then returned to be used for heating the carrier medium at any desired suitable location.

1 . A method comprising:
 converting a non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium by means of introduced heat energy, so that the gaseous carrier medium rises to a predefined height;   compressing the gaseous carrier medium by means of a compressor;   reconverting the compressed gaseous carrier medium at a predefined height into a non-gaseous carrier medium by means of a cooling circuit receiving heat of the carrier medium; and   returning the heat received by the cooling circuit to be used for heating the carrier medium.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressing of the gaseous carrier medium takes place as follows:
 immediately after the converting of the non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium; or   immediately before the reconverting of the compressed gaseous carrier medium into a non-gaseous carrier medium; or   on the passage between the converting of the non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium and the reconverting of the compressed gaseous carrier medium into a non-gaseous carrier medium.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , including:
 driving a turbine by decompressing the compressed gaseous carrier medium.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , including:
 allowing the recovered non-gaseous carrier medium to fall from a higher height to a lower height in such a way that the non-gaseous carrier medium at the lower height drives a turbine.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , including:
 using the energy provided by the turbine
 to assist the compressing of the gaseous carrier medium by means of mechanical coupling; or 
 to reduce, after a conversion into a different energy form by means of the resulting energy, the energy required for compressing the gaseous carrier medium; or 
 additionally to heat, after a conversion into heat energy, the carrier medium before, in or after the converting of the non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , including:
 cooling a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit by means of the carrier medium after said carrier medium has been used to drive the turbine.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , including:
 exchanging a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit with non-gaseous carrier medium after said carrier medium has been used to drive the turbine.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier medium is additionally subject throughout the method to a pressure which exceeds the ambient pressure and which is further increased by the compressing. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein additionally a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit is subject throughout the method to a pressure exceeding the ambient pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , including:
 at least partially extracting the recovered non-gaseous carrier medium for external use.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , including:
 guiding the gaseous carrier medium during its rise through at least one constriction.   
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a cavity;   an evaporation chamber which is arranged at the lower end of the cavity and configured to convert a non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium by means of introduced heat energy, so that the gaseous carrier medium rises to a predefined height;   a compressor configured to compress the gaseous carrier medium;   a cooling circuit configured to reconvert the compressed, gaseous carrier medium at the predefined height into a non-gaseous carrier medium by receiving heat of the carrier medium, and formed for returning the received heat to be used for heating the carrier medium.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the compressor is arranged in the cavity as follows:
 immediately after the evaporation chamber; or   immediately below the predefined height; or   on the section between the evaporation chamber and the predefined height.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising a turbine which is formed to be driven at least by decompressing the compressed gaseous carrier medium. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 a falling path formed to allow the recovered non-gaseous carrier medium to fall from a higher height to a lower height; and   a turbine arranged at the lower height and formed to be driven at least by the kinetic energy from falling carrier medium.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , comprising at least one of the following:
 a mechanical coupling between the turbine and the compressor;   an energy conversion arrangement formed for converting the energy provided by the turbine into a different energy form and for providing the resulting energy for the compressor; and   an energy conversion arrangement formed for converting the energy provided by the turbine into heat energy and for providing the heat energy for additional heating of the carrier medium before, in or after the converting of the non-gaseous carrier medium into a gaseous carrier medium.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 a heat exchanger formed for cooling a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit by means of the carrier medium after said carrier medium has been used to drive the turbine.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 14 , comprising:
 exchange means formed for exchanging a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit with non-gaseous carrier medium after said carrier medium has been used to drive the turbine.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising excess pressure means formed for adjusting a pressure on the carrier medium, which pressure exceeds the ambient pressure and is further increased by the compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the excess pressure means are formed for adjusting a pressure on a transport medium comprised by the cooling circuit, which pressure exceeds the ambient pressure. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 an extraction point for at least partially extracting the recovered non-gaseous carrier medium for device-external use.   
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 12 , comprising:
 at least one constriction formed for allowing the gaseous carrier medium to pass during the rise thereof.   
     
     
         23 . A system comprising a device according to  claim 12  and also at least one device formed for obtaining heat energy which is provided to the device.