Patent ID: 8393553
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: F03G

Abstract:
1. A renewable thermal energy harvesting system near a floating ice sheet, comprising: water intake means for admitting liquid water sourced from below an undersurface of said floating ice sheet; air intake means for admitting air sourced from above said floating ice sheet, said air being at below water freezing temperature; air heating means for utilizing thermal energy transfer from said liquid water to said air, to produce a heated air stream; mechanical energy generation means for harvesting some mechanical energy from said heated air stream and for exhausting an exhaust air stream; air compression means between said air intake means and said air heating means, for compressing said air from said air intake means to produce a compressed air stream, said compressed air stream being at below water freezing temperature, and said heated air stream being heated to a temperature that is greater than the temperature of said compressed air stream; and energy harvesting means for harvesting renewable energy, which energy harvesting means includes both said mechanical energy generation means and at least one generator means for converting some of said mechanical energy into electrical energy, and further comprising at least one of means for conditioning electrical energy, means for processing electrical energy, means for transmitting electrical energy, and means for storing electrical energy.