Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal device (10) for generating mechanical and/or electric energy is to be operated with considerable lower temperatures and temperature gradients, wherein either naturally occurring or accordingly generated temperature gradients can be used. In order to achieve said aim, a thermally expansive and contractive medium (12) is provided in a pressure container (11) that is alternately supplied with two different temperature values, and a working medium (13) is provided in part in axial layering with the thermally expansive/contractive medium in the pressure container (11) and in part in a storage container (15) connected to the pressure container (11), wherein a generating unit (20) for mechanical and/or electric energy that is driven by the working medium (13) is provided between the region of the pressure container (11) accommodating the working medium (13) and the storage container (15).

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 25/02 - Plants or engines characterised by use of special working fluids, not otherwise provided forPlants operating in closed cycles and not otherwise provided for the fluid remaining in the liquid phase
• F03G 7/06 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying, or the like
• F24D 11/00 - Central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses
• F25B 29/00 - Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
• G01K 5/32 - Measuring temperature based on the expansion or contraction of a material the material being a fluid contained in a hollow body having parts which are deformable or displaceable under the pressure developed by the material
• F04B 19/24 - Pumping by heat expansion of pumped fluid
• F01K 27/00 - Plants for converting heat or fluid energy into mechanical energy, not otherwise provided for