Patent ID: 7727392

Claim:
A system for producing energy, comprising: a solvent chamber for holding a solvent solution; a pressure chamber for holding a solute solution; a semi-permeable barrier separating said solvent chamber from said pressure chamber, wherein said barrier is permeable to solvent molecules and impermeable to solute molecules, wherein solvent molecules effuse across said semi-permeable barrier into the solute solution of said pressure chamber when said pressure chamber is closed to increase the pressure of said pressure chamber, thereby generating energy in the form of hydrostatic pressure; one or more valves for opening and closing said pressure chamber; a conversion device coupled to said pressure chamber via said one or more valves for converting hydrostatic pressure in said pressure chamber to mechanical work, said conversion device including a member in communication with said pressure chamber, wherein said member moves from a first position to a second position in response to an increase in pressure in said pressure chamber due to the diffusion of solvent molecules into said pressure chamber, said conversion device further including a diaphragm that separates said pressure chamber from hydraulic fluid in communication with said member; a return system for moving said member back to said first position; and a recycling system for recycling solvent after said member moves back to said first position, said recycling system including a blow-down receiving chamber for collecting solute solution expelled through an exhaust channel coupled to said one or more valves wherein said solute solution is expelled during the travel of said member to said first position, a heating device connected to said blow-down receiving chamber for vaporizing the solvent in the solute solution into solvent vapor.