| Title | BUOYANCY VORTEX POWER FROM LOW-TEMPERATURE HEAT |
|---|---|
| Authors | N. Hawkes, R. Flay, J. Cater |
| Year | 2018 |
| Conference | New Zealand Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Power generation, waste heat, low temperature, buoyancy vortices, vortex |
| Abstract | A modification of the heat-engine theory of Renno and Bluestein (2001) is proposed for an improved prediction of vortex height, thermodynamic efficiency and tangential velocity in atmospheric buoyancy vortices, through a reconsideration of the cold reservoir of the heat engine, as occurring in a turbulent plume above the vortex core. Preliminary modeling suggests a carbon-neutral method of converting energy from waste heat at temperatures below 60℃ to electricity with an efficiency of the order of 5% by exploiting saturated convection. |