Lapse Rate Power Cycle

Last crawled date: 1 year, 10 months ago

This 3D model was originally created with Sketchup 8 and then converted to all other 3D formats. Native format is .skp 3dsmax scene is 3ds Max 2016 version, rendered with Vray 3.00 This is a solar power plant I designed over the last few years. As far as the thermodynamic analysis shows, it works - but it is not exactly practical as it is nearly 3000 feet tall. The cycle operates at very low pressure, allowing water to boil at atmospheric temperatures. It uses the lapse rate (temperature drop with altitude) of the troposphere to raise the water vapor, then condense it back to a liquid at higher altitude. The liquid builds hydrostatic pressure in a column, and is run through a turbine in the same way as a conventional hydroelectric plant. I attached a cycle schematic to describe how it works as well. (The model is only the external structure)