Atmospheric Vortex Engine Thermodynamics Basis

1. Atmospheric Vortex Engine Thermodynamics Basis

Louis Michaud, P. Eng.
Chairman, Chief Technical Officer
AVEtec Energy Corporation
http://vortexengine.ca

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Atmospheric work production process
Energy conservation in an open system

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A hurricane viewed as a Carnot cycle
Efficiency
n = 1 – Tc / Th = 1 – 200/300 = 33%
Source Divine Wind by Kerry Emanuel

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Reversible and Irreversible Expansion
Latch #2
Piston
Latch #1
Valve
#1
Base pressure
100 kPa
Rising Air
Column
Ambient Air
Column
Automat
in vacuum
Valve
#2
Cylinder
and Piston
Base Pressure
95 kPa
Constrained reversible expansion - Work is produced - No Latch
1. Start with piston at bottom of the cylinder, open valve #1,
2. Automat raises piston and let 1 kg of air at 100 kPa in cylinder,
3. Close valve #1,
4. Automat raises piston until cylinder pressure decreases to 95 kPa,
5. Open valve #2,
6. Automat pushes piston to the bottom of the cylinder.
The air temperature decreases.
Unconstrained irreversible expansion - No work is produced - Two Latches
1-3. As above except after step 3. set latch #1 and #2,
set latch #2 so that the final pressure is 95 kPa,
4. Automat lets go of the piston,
5. Let go latch #1, piston snaps against latch #2 without doing any work,
6. Automat pushes piston to the bottom of the cylinder.
The air temperature does not decrease.

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Gravity Power Cycle

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Brayton gas-turbine power cycle

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Irreversible Gravity Cycle

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Work Calculation
Upflow in a Tube
W = Dh - Dgz

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Case 1: S7 = 3 kg/s

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Case 2: S7 = 500 kg/s

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Heat flux from rain and sea cooling
From rain
Qv = Lv m d2 (p/4)
for: m = 10 mm/hr (0.0028 kg/s m2)
d = 300 km
Qv = 491 TW
From sea cooling
Qt = Cw DT w d v
for: DT = 2.5°C, d = 100 m
w = 100 km, v = 5 m/s
Qt = 524 TW
Per unit spray production area
Qe = Q / A
for: Q = 500 TW, A = 2500 km2,
L = 50 km, w = 50 km
Qe = 200,000 W/m2
Per unit spray deposition area
Qa = 40,000 W/m2
• 2500 km2 green circle – Spray production area.
•12,500 km2 red circle – Spray deposition area.
Figure: Black et al. BAMS March 2007

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Hurricane Isabel effect on sea surface temperature as observed from satellite

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• The AVE replaces the
physical chimney with
centrifugal force in a
vortex.
• The AVE eliminates the
solar collector by using
waste heat or natural low
temperature heat sources.

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Conditions:
Collector Efficiency 31 %
Turbine Efficiency 80 %
Insolation 1000 W/m2
Dia. Chimney 10 m
Dia. Collector 244 m
Total Insolation 37,700 kW
Conditions:
Pb 100 kPa
Tb ambient 30 °C
Tt ambient 28 °C
Tb chimney 47 °C
z 200 m
Velocity 8 m/s
Flow 680 kg/s
Resulting efficiency:
Ideal 0.64 % (Carnot)
Actual 0.35 %
Overall 0.11 %
Ideal Work
75 kW
Exit vel. k.e.
22 kW
Friction losses
4 kW
Turbine Loses
8 kW
(110 J/kg)
Work 41 kW
Heat input
11,680 kW
Manzanares Solar Chimney – Energy budget
(Based on actual operating conditions)

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Lambton College prototype vortex

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Vortex Engine
Terawatt Challenge Miracles
1. Can use low temperature heat source
2. No need for a heat collector
3. No need for energy storage
4. Spray can provide high heat transfer
5. No need for a physical chimney
6. Low friction and exit losses
7. Efficiency increases with height
8. No mechanical compressor
9. Greenhouse gasses help
10.Work is transferred to turbine located at grade