Applications

APPLICATIONS FOR THE KINETIC PUMP

1. Solar-powered desalination.

Simplicity is important here. Heat from solar dish or solar trough collectors can produce steam, which can drive a Kinetic Pump for directly pumping high- pressure seawater into RO units.

2. Solar production of electric power.

Small Kinetic Pumps can be placed near each dish or trough collector to use the steam to pump high-pressure water or hydraulic oil to a central station to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Efficiency can be high due to the capability of using high-temperature steam.

3. Geothermal energy conversion.

Steam from geothermal sources can be used to drive Kinetic Pumps directly without having to go through turbines. The high-pressure water from the Pumps can drive efficient Pelton Wheel water turbines.

4. Power plant in railroad locomotives.

It may be possible to raise the efficiency of locomotive engines by generating high-temperature steam to drive the Kinetic Pump engine. The high-pressure water or hydraulic oil from the Pump can drive hydraulic motors at each wheel or can drive a generator to produce electricity that drives motors at each wheel.

5. Efficient electric power production from fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels can produce very high temperature steam with which the Kinetic Pump could provide high-pressure water or hydraulic oil to drive an efficient water turbine to produce electricity.

6. Engine for hybrid cars.

Small Kinetic Pump engines can be built that would function similar to the locomotive engines described above. Car engines are limited in efficiency, because the cylinder walls must be kept cool by the circulating radiator water. The hot combustion gases quickly lose energy to the cylinder walls. If the Kinetic Pump is built to withstand higher temperatures, its efficiency will be higher.

7. Hydraulic pump for heavy equipment.

Rather than having an internal combustion engine drive hydraulic pumps that produce high-pressure hydraulic fluid that is used to move crane booms, bulldozer blades, forklift mechanisms, and front-end loaders, a Kinetic Pump could run from steam generated by a diesel, gasoline, kerosene, or propane burner and provide the high-pressure hydraulic fluid. The fluid could also be used to drive a hydraulic motor that drives the wheels or treads of the vehicle.

8. Military field electric generator.

The U.S. military released a solicitation for the development of a field-deployable electric generator. It could be associated with the engine of a military vehicle. For the Kinetic Pump, fuel from the fuel tank could be used to produce steam for the Pump. Also, waste heat from the vehicle exhaust could produce steam in a heat exchanger.

9. Solar-powered irrigation.

The Kinetic Pump can be designed to pump large quantities of water from shallow or deep wells using solar energy.

For more information, contact Melvin Prueitt, 505-672-2000.