Patent · US Active

Evaporation-driven engines

US10415550B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

3References

31Claims

0Family size

Assignee

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York · US

Inventors

Xi Chen · New York, US
Davis W. Goodnight · Salisbury, US
Ozgur Sahin · New York, US

Key dates

Filing date	May 8, 2015
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 9, 2035

Classification

Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
CPC primaryF03G7/0616
WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Evaporation-driven engines are disclosed herein. An example engine can include a water source having a high humidity zone proximate the surface of the water source, a supporting structure, and a hygroscopic material disposed on the supporting structure and configured to generate mechanical force in response to a changing relative humidity. The hygroscopic material can be repeatedly exposed to the high humidity zone and removed from the high humidity zone thereby causing the hygroscopic material to generate mechanical force.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.