I thought it would be easier to explain my idea in a video. To understand the video you need to understand how equilibrium reactions work. The video can be found on youtube at http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=YGX-qkR_FIc
The basic Idea is using an equilibrium reaction to create an area of hot and cold. There would then be a temperature difference between two areas. This would allow a heat engine to be used to create electrical energy. I am curious as to whether this idea is possible or not. If it is possible, is there such a reaction that fits the requirements needed for this to work?
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The trouble would be finding the combination of substances that when combined react to make heat, and can be separated with a mechanical filter, and recombined again to make heat. I'd by surprised if physics will allow it. Chemistry likely won't, for chemical bonds are usually too strong to voluntarily break
Plus you have to allow the energy to remove the generated heat.
I thought of similar ideas before, but I only considered using a conventional heat-pump (like a refrigerator or air conditioner) with no chemical reactions. I concluded, after much deliberation, that it would not work. I don't think your idea will work either for the same general reason. The laws of thermodynamics prevent it. The electricity produced by a heat engine does not actually convert heat into electricity; it converts the difference in temperature into electricity. Any system that creates a difference in temperature, whether by mechanical or chemical means, will have to consume every bit as much energy to create the difference as can be theoretically extracted from that difference. Sorry, still no free lunch.
However, you idea might have merit as a high efficiency air conditioner or refrigerator system.
i like the idea of a heat pump generator, but the only situation where it seems beneficial is hooked up to a geothermal well. and in this situation it could be configured to operate in the summer when the well water is cooler than the environment, or in the winter when the water is warmer than the environment, but would not function when the two are approximately the same temperature. it may also work hooked up to a solar water heater, basically a series of pipes in a black box which heats in the sun, but i don't know that this system would be as efficient or economical as photovoltaic panels
A heat pump run in reverse is already being used to generate electricity. <a href=http://www.chenahotsprings.com/index.php?id=90>Chena Hot Springs. I like this concept a lot. I hope it catches on.
My link didn't work right, let me try that again. Chena Hot Springs