What is claimed is:
1. A method for producing power comprising the steps of:
a) supplying clinker from cement production apparatus to a grate cooler for cooling the clinker;
b) extracting hot air from the grate cooler and supplying it to a electrostatic precipitator for extracting particulate matter from said hot air;
c) supplying filtered air exiting said electrostatic precipitator to an air-heat transfer fluid heat-exchanger for heating a heat transfer fluid;
d) vaporizing working fluid in a vaporizer using heat in the heated heat transfer fluid and producing vaporized working fluid and heat depleted heat transfer fluid;
e) pre-heating working fluid using heat in said heat depleted heat transfer fluid;
f) supplying vaporized working fluid produced in said vaporizer to a turbine for producing power;
g) supplying vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine to a working fluid condenser that condenses said vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine and producing working fluid condensate; and
h) supplying said working fluid condensate to said vaporizer.
2. A method according to claim 1 including supplying the vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine to a recuperator that heat working fluid condensate supplied from said working fluid condenser prior to supplying said working fluid condensate to said vaporizer.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said working fluid condensate is supplied to a pre-heater that preheats said working fluid condensate and produces preheated working fluid that is supplied to said vaporizer.
4. Apparatus for producing power comprising:
a) a grate cooler for cooling clinker supplied from cement production apparatus;
b) a electrostatic precipitator that extracts particulate matter from hot air supplied from said grate cooler;
c) an air-heat transfer fluid heat-exchanger that heats heat transfer fluid with heat from filtered air exiting said electrostatic precipitator;
d) a vaporizer that vaporizes working fluid using heat in the heated heat transfer fluid and produces vaporized working fluid and heat depleted heat transfer fluid;
e) a pre-heater that vaporizes pre-heated working fluid in a pre-heater using heat in said heat depleted heat transfer fluid;
f) a turbine that receives vaporized working fluid produced in said vaporizer and produces power; and
g) a working fluid condenser that receives vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine and condenses said vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine, producing working fluid condensate that is supplied to said vaporizer.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a recuperator that heats working fluid condensate supplied from said working fluid condenser with heat from the vaporized working fluid exiting said turbine prior to supplying working fluid condensate to said vaporizer.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pre-heater preheats said working fluid condensate and produces preheated working fluid that is supplied to said vaporizer.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said working fluid comprises an organic working fluid.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said working fluid comprises pentane.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A flexible ski or board adapted to travel over a surface, the ski or board comprising:
a flexible composite structure having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, at least a portion of the flexible composite structure being formed from a non-conductive material;
at least one channel residing between the first side and the second side and about the non-conductive material;
at least two electrodes arranged on the at least one channel;
an interface, wherein the interface is electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one channel comprises:
a fluid contained in the at least one channel, the fluid comprising:
a dielectric fluid; and
a conductive fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid are alternatingly arranged in the at least one channel,
wherein the flexible material is configured to flex and provide a motive force to oscillate the fluid in the at least one channel such that the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid move past the at least two electrodes and generate an electric charge.
2. The ski or board of claim 1 wherein the ski or board comprises at least one of snow-ski or a snowboard.
3. The ski or board of claim 1 wherein the ski or board comprises at least one of a jet-ski, snowmobile ski, or a skateboard.
4. The ski or board of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are coupled to a battery.
5. The ski or board of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electrodes are coupled to an interface that is configured to provide electrical power to a ski or snowboard boot.
6. The ski or board of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrodes are coupled to a plug.
7. The ski or board of claim 1 wherein the dielectric fluid comprises a first plurality of regions in the at least one channel and wherein the conductive fluid comprises a second plurality of regions in the at least one channel and wherein the first plurality of regions are spaced apart by the second plurality of regions over a length of the at least one channel.
8. A method of generating electrical power in a ski or board, comprising:
providing a flexible ski or board adapted to travel over a surface, the ski or board comprising:
a flexible composite structure having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, at least a portion of the flexible composite structure being formed from a non-conductive material;
at least one channel residing between the first side and the second side and about the non-conductive material;
at least two electrodes arranged on the at least one channel;
an interface, wherein the interface is electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes, wherein the at least one channel comprises:
a fluid contained in the at least one channel, the fluid comprising:
a dielectric fluid; and
a conductive fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid are alternatingly arranged in the at least one channel,
wherein the flexible material is configured to flex and provide a motive force to oscillate the fluid in the at least one channel such that the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid move past the at least two electrodes and generate an electric charge;
causing the ski or board to travel over the surface;
oscillating the fluid in the channel such that the fluid moves past the at least two electrodes;
generating the electric charge; and
supplying the electric charge to the interface.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising plugging a heater into the interface.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising plugging a portable electronic device into the interface.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the step of causing the ski or board to travel over the surface comprises causing the ski or board to move in an up and down motion and where the up and down motion pumps the fluid to cause oscillating movement.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the implantable device is an electrical stimulation generator.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a flexible, elongate member configured for movement over a body, the flexible, elongate member comprising
a top surface;
a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to directly contact and travel over the body; and
at least one non-conductive core material residing between the top surface and the bottom surface;
means for generating electrical power in the core when the flexible, elongate surface moves over the body; and
an interface operatively coupled to the means for generating electrical power,
wherein the flexible, elongate member is configured to flex and provide a motive force to oscillate the fluid in the at least one channel such that the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid move past the at least two electrodes and generate an electric charge.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for generating electrical power comprises:
at least one channel residing non-conductive core material;
at least two electrodes arranged on the at least one channel;
a fluid contained in the at least one channel, the fluid comprising:
a dielectric fluid; and
a conductive fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid and conductive fluid are alternatingly arranged in the at least one channel.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for generating an electrical charge comprises a reverse electrowetting device.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the flexible, elongate member comprises a ski.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the flexible, elongate member comprises a snowboard.