March, 28 of 2025 Renowable energy supplies are, at these climate change times, a essency for humanity development due to several positive effects. Sun or solar energy, for instance, has been considered as one of the main renowable energetic suppies because it has enabled amide production by vegetable species that is necessary to life. However, at the same time, sun (solar energy) has provided, according to photosynthesis chemical process, gas exchante (oxygen / oxygen dioxide) too much important for life support in the planet. In contrast, through this gas exchange, solar energy source also has removed (capture, sequestration or storage) carbon gas from atmosphere (carbon gas is the principal greenhouse gas). The fact that carbon gas, mainly wich that has presented in the water, has removed at 100 degrees C (212 graus Fahrenheit) could be used as principle for electric circuit system´assembly, within both small and big size perspective, based on vegetables. So, depending on vegetable specie, and considering a range of 20-30 degrees Celsius as adequate for the photosynthesis chemical reaction, evapotranspiraton process of a plant can produce about 0,02 kilowatt hour of energy for each litter of water (warm and evaporated during this process). The main goal of this essay was to show this idea for the Academy, in particular and, in this way, it can possible to search (research) new and promising clean (sustainable) energy supplies. From now on, it should be research variables such as stomat number, photosynthesis process during the day, water availability in soil, plant nursery management, jus as all the agriculture production chain in order that small and big areas ont only could be served, but also could store energy.
Design of a Thermal Reactor System to Replace Plant-Based Energy Conversion This design replaces plant-based systems with a thermal reactor, integrating modern technologies to enhance efficiency in electricity generation from heat.
1. Thermal Reactor Unit
- Heat Source: Closed-loop thermal reactor (alternative to plants) powered by biofuels/gas or concentrated solar energy. High-pressure system (similar to nuclear plants1) to prevent direct water boiling.
- Heat Transfer: Copper-tungsten alloy heat pipes for efficient heat transfer to steam generators. Secondary heat exchanger to isolate hazardous/radioactive fluids (e.g., APR1400 reactor design1).
2. Steam Generation System
- Steam Generator: Dual cooling loops (primary/secondary) as in nuclear reactors1. Converts water to high-pressure steam (≈300–400°C) via the secondary loop.
- Pressure Control: Smart valves to regulate steam pressure and prevent corrosion.
3. Heat-to-Electricity Conversion
- Steam Turbines: Multi-stage turbines to maximize energy extraction from steam. Synchronous generators directly coupled to turbines (conventional power plants2).
- Integrated Thermoelectric Tech: Tungsten disilicide3 on exhaust pipes to convert residual heat. Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) for ≤200°C heat capture45.
4. Waste Heat Management
- Heat Recovery: Steam condensers to recycle hot water into the generation cycle. Molten salt thermal batteries5 for excess heat storage.
- Advanced Cooling: Hybrid (air/liquid) cooling systems to prevent reactor overheating.
5. Performance Monitoring
- Sensors: RTDs (temperature) and piezometric sensors (pressure) for real-time monitoring.
- Automation: Machine learning algorithms to optimize thermo-electric efficiency.
6. Grid Integration
- DC/AC Converters: To connect generated electricity to the main grid.
- Energy Storage: Supercapacitors for short-term storage. Lithium-ion batteries for long-term storage.
Comparison: Plant-Based vs. Reactor Systems
FeaturePlant-Based SystemReactor SystemHeat SourceTranspiration/PhotosynthesisChemical/Nuclear ReactionsEfficiency0.5–2%30–60%12ApplicationsSmall-scale/AgriculturalLarge-scale Power GridsCostLow-MediumHighMaintenancePeriodic (Plants)Technical Expertise Required
Challenges & Solutions
- Pipe Corrosion: Nickel-chromium alloys1 for corrosion resistance.
- Heat Loss: Silicon aerogel insulation5 around exchangers.
- Emissions: Activated carbon filters to trap pollutants.
Proposed Applications
- Hybrid Plants: Combine reactors with solar panels for urban power.
- Decentralized Units: 1–5 MW modules for factories/hospitals2.
This design achieves significantly higher efficiency than plant-based systems and is scalable for industrial use, leveraging advanced thermo-electric conversion technologies356.
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