System for producing work using a small temperature differential

摘要

The small temperature differential between a warmer zone and a colder zone is exploited to produce work by confining a liquid having a temperature between the temperatures of the warmer and colder zones within a substantially closed air-free chamber in the warmer zone so as to vaporize part of the liquid and drive the remainder by its own vapor pressure to perform work by conversions of the potential or kinetic energy of the liquid. The liquid can pass over and drive a turbine for example. The liquid then flows into another chamber closed to the atmosphere. Once the liquid has been transferred from the first to the second chamber, the chambers may be functionally interchanged or the liquid again transferred to the first chamber.