Loop thermal energy system

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a loop thermal energy system. A heat pump heats a first fluid to first temperature using heat from a heat source. A first pressure tank charges with the heated first fluid while a second pressure tank discharges the heated first fluid stored from a previous charging. The discharged heated first fluid motivates an engine.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a heat pump heating a first fluid to first temperature using heat from a heat source;   a first pressure tank charging with the heated first fluid;   a second pressure tank currently discharging the heated first fluid stored from a previous charging; and   an engine motivated by the discharged heated first fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a discharging valve discharging the heated first fluid from the second pressure tank to the engine while preventing discharge of the heated first fluid from the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a charging valve directing the first fluid to charge the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the charging valve switches to direct the first fluid to charge the second pressure tank and the discharging valve concurrently switches to discharge the heated first fluid from the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heated first fluid is in a gas state when discharged from the second pressure tank. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid has a bubble point in the range of 45° C. to 60° C. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat source has a temperature in the range of 12° C. to 45° C. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is in the range of 50° C. to 75° C. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a tesla turbine. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engine is a stirling engine. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure pump that maintains a pressure of the first fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cold coaxial pipe cooling an inner first fluid exhaust feed pipe with cold fluid from a cold source feed in an outer pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hot coaxial pipe heating an inner heated first fluid pipe with heated second fluid from a heat pump feed in an outer pipe. 
     
     
         14 . A method for motivating an engine, the method comprising:
 heating a first fluid to a first temperature with a heat pump using heat from a heat source;   charging a first pressure tank with the heated first fluid;   discharging the heated first fluid stored in a second pressure tank during a previous charging; and   motivating an engine by the discharged heated first fluid.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising discharging the heated first fluid from the second pressure tank to the engine while preventing discharge of the heated first fluid from the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising directing the first fluid to charge the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a charging valve switches to direct the first fluid to charge the second pressure tank and a discharging valve concurrently switches to discharge the heated first fluid from the first pressure tank. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the heated first fluid is in a gas state when discharged from the second pressure tank. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid has a bubble point in the range of 45° C. to 60° C. and the heat source has a temperature in the range of 12° C. to 45° C. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a heat pump heating a first fluid to first temperature using heat from a heat source;   at least two pressure tanks, a first pressure tank charging with the heated first fluid while the second pressure tank discharges the heated first fluid stored from a previous charging;   an engine motivating a generator in response to the discharged heated first fluid; and   the generator generating electricity.