Patent Application
20200173426
K.E.E.P. is an ecofriendly system and method of producing utility-scale electricity. It does not need high pressure steam to operate, there is no need for expensive steam turbines, nor does it need to be placed within any particular geographical location or weather condition such as sunny, windy, near water, etc. This invention is driven by heated air flowing through a system of solar thermal panels containing mineral oil, or another suitable heat-retaining liquid, that is circulated through a closed circuit piping network through one or more thermal energy storage tanks then through a heat exchanger located in one or more large inverted funnel-shaped chambers that have their small ends pointing vertically upward. As the air inside the chambers is heated and expands, it is forced out the top, because of stack effect, through the chimney-like small end, thus forcing fresh air to flow in through an opening at the chambers' bottom that brings outside air in via a passageway and travels through one or more paddlewheel-like wind turbines that drive multiple large, weighted flywheels that have multiple electric generators attached to them via gear/clutch mechanisms.
This invention has several advantages over present methods of producing utility grade electricity. These advantages include:
1. Does not require the use of high heat, pressure or steam;
2. Does not require being placed within specific topographical locations or weather conditions:
3. Can be constructed primarily underground with aboveground facilities resembling a standard Midwestern farm:
4. Functions effectively with operating temperatures not exceeding 300° F.; and
5. Stores sufficient heat energy in thermal energy storage (TSE) tanks (with minimal assistance from a small natural gas heater) to operate effectively 24/7 even when the sun is not shining.
The present invention relates generally to the creation of flowing air for the purpose of generating electricity.
The present invention consists of large paddlewheel-like wind turbines shaped to achieve maximum efficiency and connected to electric generators via a shaft/clutch mechanism for the purpose of generating utility-scale electricity.
The generation of electricity has been around since British scientist Michael Faraday discovered its fundamental principles in the 1820s and early 1830s. He proved electricity could be produced by the movement of a loop of wire, or disc of copper between the poles of a magnet. Within a few years, and with the innovative spirits of such men as George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla, central power stations became economically practical with the development of alternating current power transmission and using transformers to transmit power at high voltage for long distances with low loss. Commercial electric power generation has changed little since the days of Westinghouse and Tesla. However, energy's sources have changed considerably. Originally the primary source for creating utility-scale electricity was from hydro; falling water (Niagara falls). Then came coal, which was portable and could fire boilers to create steam to drive steam turbines connected to one or more electric generators. From those meager beginnings other “fuel” sources for generating electricity became available such as oil, natural gas, and eventually nuclear, solar, and wind.
Currently, the percent of primary sources of electricity in the U.S. are: fossil fuels 62.9; nuclear 20; hydropower 7.4; wind 6.3; biomass 1.6; solar 1.3 percent; and other 0.5.
One of the main concerns facing the planet today is finding alternative, renewable energy sources to replace conventional power plants that burn fossil fuels. These plants produce a host of unwanted greenhouses gases, which have been proven to be a major contributor of global warming. In an effort to combat this, multiple ecofriendly devices have been invented that use air as their driving force.
Below are a few:
The present invention provides a system and method for generating electricity comprised of:
1. Solar collectors on the roofs of aboveground buildings and placed in other locations on the property as needed and configured to heat mineral oil, or other suitable heat-retaining liquids, contained in a closed loop piping system for the purpose of heating the air in a large confined space through the use of one or more thermal energy storage systems;
2. Using an alternating heat source such as natural gas or biofuels when solar panels are insufficient to maintain heat demand;
3. One or more large paddlewheel-like wind turbines that are connected via drive shaft, gear, and clutch mechanisms to one or more pairs of large, weighted flywheels that are connected in a similar manner to one or more electric generators;
4. The flywheels automatically, via electric sensors and clutches, engage to and disengage from the wind turbine shaft according to the speed of the flywheels;
5. Hot mineral oil, or other suitable heat-retaining fluids, that heats the TES fluid acts as a heat exchanger transferring the heat from the solar collectors to the closed loop piping system that circulates the hot oil from the TES to the large confined space where the space's interior is heated and causes it to rise out its chimney due to the stack effect;
6. A natural gas or biofuel heater backup system connected to one or more of the TES tanks that helps heat the mineral oil during periods of maintenance and repair of the solar array system or during long periods of adverse weather conditions; and
7. Multiple electric generators attached to the flywheels via transaxle assemblies that resembles a car or truck rear axle and drive shaft assembly in a way that automatically alternates power from the flywheel that is spinning free and driving the generators and is slowing down due to their drag torque to the flywheel that has been sped up to sufficient speed to drive the generators and allow sufficient time for the other flywheel to be sped up to speed.
