Existing methods for generating energy from wind flow rely on natural flow of wind to power a wind turbine which in turns generates electricity. However, this method depends on consistent flow of wind at reasonable velocities to generate power. In addition, the smoothness of wind flow (lack of turbulence) is required to produce efficient conversion of kinetic energy of wind into electricity. This method suffers from dependence on natural forces of nature with unpredictable tendencies and inconsistent availability. In addition, wind farms consisting of many such wind turbines can only be economically located in certain geographical locations where natural wind flow is consistent and ample.
The present invention eliminates or mitigates most of these core problems with natural wind driven wind turbines by generating wind artificially within a closed setup within which the flow of wind is utilized to generate electric power using wind turbines.
As used herein, a Low Pressure Chamber refers to a partially enclosed chamber which has lower air pressure compared to another chamber or atmospheric region to which it is connected through a channel or tube.
As used herein, a High Pressure Chamber refers to a partially enclosed chamber which has higher air pressure internally compared to the Low Pressure Chamber as described above.
As used herein, a Wind Channel is a channel or a tube that connects the Low Pressure and High Pressure Chambers as described above. The Wind Channel has wind turbines placed within it as well.
As described herein, in one of various embodiments, the device consists at the minimum of a Low Pressure Chamber, a High Pressure Chamber, a Wind Channel connecting the high pressure and Low Pressure Chamber and a single or plurality of wind turbines placed in the Wind Channel or near its end points.
In one of various embodiments, the device operates as follows. The Low Pressure Chamber is exposed to some source of heat energy, ideally solar energy in the form of natural sunlight from the sun which heats up the air in the Low Pressure Chamber. The Low Pressure Chamber is designed to collect and absorb heat energy very efficiently so that most of heat energy such as solar energy that is delivered to it is used up in heating the air within the chamber and very limited amount is reflected. This is done using various methods and technologies such as light collecting reflector mirrors to concentrate sunlight and black painted walls to absorb the solar rays and prevent reflection. Similarly, the spatial geometry of the chamber is designed to maximize the rate at which air is heated within the chamber. The heating of air causes the air to rise and migrate out of the chamber. The chamber is designed so that it can be maintained at considerably lower pressure than atmospheric pressure. One such design would consist of a glass ceiling from where sunlight is taken into the chamber and darkened walls that capture and hold the heat. Similarly metal plates may be placed within the chamber that efficiently absorb heat from the sun and transfer it to the air within the chamber. The ceiling has small exhausts ducts from where the hot air from within the chamber is allowed to escape through valves that allow only outflow and no inflow of air.
The High Pressure Chamber on the other hand is insulated from heat which allows the air within it to be maintained at near atmospheric pressure for the given altitude. The High Pressure Chamber may be a partially enclosed chamber where direct sunlight is prevented from entering, so the space within the chamber is not heated by sunlight, like the Low Pressure Chamber. If we are using an alternative heat source, other than sunlight, then the High Pressure Chamber may be protected from this heat source. In another embodiment, the High Pressure Chamber is removed entirely and the general environmental surroundings of the Low Pressure Chamber are used in place of a High Pressure Chamber. In this case the general surroundings (atmosphere) act as the High Pressure Chamber.
As the air is heated in the Low Pressure Chamber by the capture of sunlight, it exits the chamber thereby creating low pressure in this chamber. Since the Low Pressure Chamber is connected through the Wind Channel to the High Pressure Chamber (or a general region of high pressure), we find a pressure imbalance between the Low Pressure Chamber and the high pressure region. The Wind Channel is simply a pipe or tube connecting the High Pressure Chamber to the Low Pressure Chamber. As a result, wind flows from the high pressure region to the Low Pressure Chamber through the Wind Channel. Wind turbines placed within or near the Wind Channel are driven to rotate by this wind flow, which in turn are connected to generators which generate electric energy. The air within the Low Pressure Chamber is heated continuously by the sunlight, or an alternative heat source, so that it is continuously evacuated from the Low Pressure Chamber. As more air flows out of the Low Pressure Chamber, more air is drawn from the high pressure regions so that we get almost continuous wind flow through the Wind Channel. This continuous wind flow runs through the wind turbines, which in turn generates electric power. Therefore, this device engineers artificial wind flow using natural energy sources, which in turn is harnessed to generate electric power. Natural wind driven wind farms also operate on the same underlying energy transfer, however, they rely on natural air pressure imbalances across topographical regions to get their wind flow and are dependent on favorable climactic conditions to receive their wind flow. In this invention, we have eliminated the dependence on natural climactic wind flow, and have instead created a method for generating artificial wind flow in any geographical region using natural sunlight.
Using the above system, we are able to create smooth and consistent wind flow through the Wind Channel. We can leverage this artificially created wind flow to power a turbine placed within or near the ends of the Wind Channel. As the artificially created wind blows through the Wind Channels, it will drive the wind turbine, which is connected to a generator through a shaft and which in turn generates power. The size of both chambers is calculated so that the rate at which air is heated and evacuated from the Low Pressure Chamber is such that a consistent flow of wind can be maintained in the Wind Channel.
Advantages:
Variations:
The present invention can be implemented in other models as well, while staying within the scope of the current disclosure. The description of the embodiment provided herein, is not limiting and other implementations applying the same concept of artificially generated wind flow are possible within the scope of the current invention.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/838,323 filed 23 Jun. 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61838323 | Jun 2013 | US |