1. A device for converting heat andor radiation energy (, h) into electrical energy, including a gas-tight chamber (10) and at least one electrochemical cell (12), positioned in the gas-tight chamber (10), which includes an anode (14) and cathode (16), between which an electrolyte (18) is located and to which the connection lines (20) are connected, wherein the gas-tight chamber (10) and the electrochemical cell (12) contain a gas or gas mixture, to which energy may be supplied in the form of heat () andor radiation (h), and the gas or gas mixture includes a molecular component and a dissociated component, whose ratio is a function of the temperature and which generates a potential difference between the anode (14) and the cathode (16).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas-tight chamber (10) contains hydrogen halide (HX), preferably hydrogen bromide (HBr) or hydrogen iodide (HI), which reversibly decomposes into hydrogen (H2) and halogen (X2) when energy is supplied in the form of heat () andor radiation (h).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cathode (16) includes a material which ionically binds halogen (X2) and intercalates it in its crystal lattice, and the anode (14) includes a material which adsorbs and absorbs hydrogen (H2, H).
4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the hydrogen (H2) may be cleaved on the surface of the anode (14) through dissociative adsorption.
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that a catalyst is provided which inhibits the reformation of the resulting atomic hydrogen (H) into hydrogen molecules (H2).
6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cathode (16) and anode (14) are designed as thin-film.
7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cathode (16) includes graphite.
8. The device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the anode (14) includes iron (II, III) oxide (Fe3O4), platinum (Pt), or palladium (Pd).
9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the anode (14) and cathode (16) have large surfaces.
10. The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connection lines (20) running inside the gas-tight chamber (10) include a halogen-resistant electrical conductor, particularly graphite.
11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the gas-tight chamber (10) is a halogen-resistant vessel.
12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the vessel includes a radiation-transparent and thermally-insulated hood (22) and a heat-transparent floor (24).
13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that the hood (22) is made of glass and the floor (24) is made of glass ceramic.
14. The device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the electrochemical cell (12) is enclosed by a film (26), particularly made of Teflon, which is gas-permeable, halogen-resistant, water-repellent, and electrically non-conductive.
15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the part (28) of the film (26) positioned over the electrolyte (18) is permeable to hydrogen halide (HX).
16. The device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the electrolyte (18) includes a halogenide dissolved in water (H2O), particularly aluminum halogenide (AlBr3).
17. The device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the electrolyte (18) is made of an azeotropic mixture of hydrogen halide (HX) and water (H2O).
18. The device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the electrolyte (18) is positioned in the pores of a halogen-resistant material, particularly a silicon carbide disk.
19. A method of converting heat andor radiation energy into electrical energy, characterized in that
a) a hydrogen halide (HX) contained in a gas-tight chamber (10) is reversibly cleaved into hydrogen (H2) and halogen (X2) by supplying energy in the form of heat () andor radiation (h),
b) the halogen (X2) is intercalated in the cathode (16) of an electrochemical cell (12) positioned in the gas-tight chamber (10) and accepts one electron per atom in the event of current flow (X22e->2X, cathodic reduction),
c) the halogen ions (X), which carry one negative charge, enter the electrolyte (18) from the cathode (16), which is in contact therewith,
d) the hydrogen molecules (H2) are adsorbed, dissociated, and absorbed by the anode (14) and, in the event of current flow, give up one electron per atom (2H->2H2e, anodic oxidation),
e) the hydrogen ions (H), which carry one positive charge, enter the electrolyte (18) from the anode (14), which is in contact therewith,
f) hydrogen halide (HX), which then passes into the gas-tight chamber (10), forms directly or indirectly in the electrolyte (18), and
g) the steps a) to f) repeat in the event of current flow.
20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that hydrogen (H2) and halogen (X2) are continuously supplied to the electrochemical cell (12) and hydrogen halide (HX) is continuously removed from the electrochemical cell (12).
21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that energy in the form of heat () andor radiation (h) is continuously supplied to the gas-tight chamber (10), in order to maintain a specific equilibrium state.
22. The method according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that hydrogen bromide (HBr) or hydrogen iodide (HI) are used as the hydrogen halide (HX).
23. The method according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that hydrogen halide (HX) formed in the electrolyte (18) passes into the gas-tight chamber (10) from the electrolyte (18) because it is not soluble in the electrolyte (18).
24. The method according to one of claims 19 to 23, characterized in that a halogen-resistant vessel is used as the gas-tight chamber (10), via whose walls heat andor radiation energy (, h) is supplied.
25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the vessel includes a radiation-transparent and thermally-insulated hood (22) and a heat-transparent floor (24), radiation energy (h) mainly being supplied via the hood (22) and heat energy () mainly being supplied via the floor (24).
26. The method according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the surroundings of the vessel are designed so that an accumulation of heat results.
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. An axial flow control valve comprising:
a valve body defining a passageway between an inlet and an outlet, wherein the passageway is substantially parallel to a fluid flow path at the inlet and the outlet of the valve body; and
a cartridge assembly housing a motor, the cartridge assembly disposed within the passageway of the valve body and removably coupled relative to the valve body in a direction along the fluid flow path, the cartridge assembly to engage a flanged portion of the valve body and an internal shoulder of the valve body spaced from the flanged portion and positioned between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the cartridge assembly is substantially axially aligned with the passageway, and the motor to operate the axial flow control valve between a first position to prevent the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet and a second position to allow the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet.
2. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 1, wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises a valve seat and a flow control member operatively coupled to the motor via a valve stem, wherein the motor is to move the flow control member toward the valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet and moves the flow control member away from the valve seat to allow the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet.
3. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 2, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the flow control member via a transmission system.
4. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 3, wherein the valve stem includes a threaded portion operatively coupled to the transmission system at a first end and coupled to the flow control member at a second end.
5. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 2, wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises a cage coupled to the valve seat and to slidably receive the flow control member.
6. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 5, wherein the cage and the valve seat are integrally formed as a unitary structure.
7. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 5, wherein the cartridge assembly further comprises a bonnet coupled to the motor at a first end and coupled to the cage at a second end, wherein the bonnet includes a cavity to slidably receive at least a portion of the flow control member.
8. An axial flow control valve as defined in claim 2, wherein the valve seat includes a flanged portion having apertures that receive fasteners to removably couple the cartridge assembly to the valve body, and wherein the valve seat is disposed adjacent to the outlet of the valve body.
9. A control valve comprising:
a valve body having a passageway between an inlet and an outlet;
a flow control member slidably coupled to a housing, wherein the flow control member and the housing are disposed within the valve body; and
a motor coupled to the housing and mounted inside the valve body such that only a control fluid conduit portion coupled to a port of the motor is to extend outside of the valve body, the motor having a first inlet to receive a pressurized fluid to rotate the motor in a first direction to drive the flow control member toward a valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid through the valve body and a second inlet to receive the pressurized fluid to rotate the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction to drive the flow control member away from the valve seat to allow fluid flow through the valve body, at least one of the first inlet or the second inlet to receive a fluid flowing through the valve body upstream from the motor, and wherein the upstream fluid is to activate the motor when the pressure of the upstream fluid reaches a predetermined pressure.
10. A control valve as defined in claim 9, further comprising a valve stem operatively coupled to the motor at a first end and coupled to the flow control member at a second end.
11. A control valve as defined in claim 9, wherein the passageway, the inlet, and the outlet are substantially axially aligned.
12. A control valve as defined in claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a bonnet coupled to a cage, wherein the bonnet includes a cavity to partially receive a portion of the flow control member and the cage includes an aperture to slidably receive the flow control member.
13. A control valve as defined in claim 12, further comprising a valve seat coupled to an end of the cage, wherein the flow control member engages the valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid through the valve and moves away from the valve seat to allow the flow of fluid through the valve.
14. A control valve as defined in claim 13, wherein the valve seat is adjacent the outlet.
15. A control valve as defined in claim 9, wherein the flow control member and the motor are removably coupled within the passageway of the valve body via the housing, and wherein the housing is removably coupled to the valve body via fasteners.
16. A valve trim assembly for use with axial flow valves, comprising;
a cage coupled to a valve seat at a first end and coupled to a bonnet at a second end, wherein the bonnet and the cage form a cavity;
a flow control member slidably disposed within the cavity and to be driven to a first position to engage the valve seat and a second position spaced from the valve seat;
a motor to drive the flow control member between the first position and the second position;
a valve stem operatively coupled to the motor at a first end and coupled to the flow control member at a second end, wherein the valve trim assembly is to be mounted inside a valve body substantially parallel to a fluid flow path through the valve body between a flange portion of the valve body and an internal shoulder of the valve body; and
a gear transmission coupled to the motor, wherein the gear transmission includes a planetary gear system coupled to an arm member having a threaded aperture that is to receive a threaded portion of the first end of the valve stem.
17. A valve trim assembly defined in claim 16, wherein the valve trim assembly is to be removably coupled within the valve body via fasteners.
18. A valve trim assembly defined in claim 16, wherein rotation of the motor in a first direction rectilinearly drives the valve stem in a first direction to move the flow control member to the first position and rotation of the motor in a second direction opposite the first direction rectilinearly drives the valve stem in a second direction to move the flow control member to the second position.
19. A valve trim assembly as defined in claim 16, further comprising a thrust bearing to restrict the lateral movement of the planetary gear system along an axis of the valve stem.