Patent ID: 7780852
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: F03G

Abstract:
1. A method of producing energy, comprising: providing a sealed first chamber; providing a sealed second chamber; providing a semi-permeable barrier separating the first chamber from the second chamber; filling the first chamber with a solvent; filling the second chamber with a solute solution comprising a solute and solvent; providing communication between the solvent solution and solute solution to cause the solvent to flow from the first chamber through the semi-permeable barrier into the second chamber, utilizing the semi-permeable barrier to restrict solute from flowing into the first chamber while allowing the solvent to cross into the second chamber; causing a progressively decreasing pressure in the first chamber; increasing the pressure in the second chamber as the solvent crosses into the second chamber from the first chamber; periodically applying and removing the increased pressure; applying the increased pressure against a flexible diaphragm in order to deflect the diaphragm; utilizing the flexible diaphragm to separate the second chamber from fluid adjacent a member; driving the member by the fluid pushing the member as a result of the deflection of the diaphragm to produce movement from which work can be extracted; removing a portion of the solute solution from the second chamber and transferring the removed portion of the solute solution into a third chamber; applying energy to the removed portion of the solute solution in the third chamber thereby vaporizing the solvent contained in the removed portion of the solute solution and thereby separating the solute in the removed portion of the solute solution; and recycling the separated solute to the second chamber.