Patent ID: 8609974

Claim:
A system for generating electrical energy comprising: an insulator having at least one pore that contains a fixed surface charge of one polarity; a container receiving an electrolytic solution, said container in fluid communication with the at least one pore of the insulator; a solar radiation absorber configured to transfer heat to the electrolytic solution of the container to cause thermal expansion of the electrolytic solution such that the electrolytic solution flows from the container through the at least one pore of the insulator; said radiation absorber comprising a reflector and a heat conducting element having a first end and a second end, said first end connected to said reflector, said second end extending into the container to thermally couple said second end to the electrolytic solution to allow a flow of thermal energy from said first end to the electrolytic solution; a connecting portion of said heat conducting element between said first end and said second end extending through a collection receptacle and said insulator before reaching the electrolytic solution in said container; said collection receptacle connected to, the at least one pore of the insulator to receive a portion of the electrolytic solution that has passed through the at least one pore from the container; a first electrode contacting the electrolytic solution on a first side of the insulator; and a second electrode contacting the electrolytic solution on a second side of the insulator, the second side opposite the first side relative to the insulator; a conduit connecting the container to the collection receptacle to allow a flow of the portion of the electrolytic solution from the collection receptacle to the container to allow the portion to be thermally coupled to the second end in the container.