FR2725501A3 - Modular generator utilising combined sun and air energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The generator combines the action of wind, heat and light. The generator may combine specially profiled propeller blades (4,8) with a solar collector base heater. Also, a venturi (1,2), may ensure that a vertical axis turbine (3), in the pipe neck, has a very high rotational speed. The solar collector may be finished in black. A special energy converter (5) may transform the work to heat, assisted by supplementary heating (12), with a condenser and circulating pump. A blower may be supplied by solar cells (13), ensuring maximum operation. The top capped venturi may ensure auto protection of the motorised turbine, against bad weather.

Description

 The invention described presents a system of modular aerosol energy generators with geometry adaptable to the desired power and to the climatic characteristics of each region.

 Compared to existing solar and wind systems (flat collector fields and wind turbines), this invention combines the action of wind, sun and light.

 It allows the production of energy generators of all powers, up to the most gigantic, of extreme solidity and permanent operation.

 With few moving parts, no orientation mechanism, weather protection, these generators use a known and proven technology for turbines, steam boilers or other fluids, alternators, exchangers, etc.

 For the same energy captured, the circuits are much simpler: no piping or multiple electrical or other connections, as for fields of solar collectors or wind turbines.

 For the same ground surface, these generators make it possible to capture much larger energies, because, among other things, they are not limited, as for wind turbines, by the nominal speed of these machines, and can reach dimensions that do not allow not the technology of the largest wind turbines.

The evolution of the system up to the aero-solar turbo-generator (see drawing in figure 3), differs from the gigantic project of the French engineer
E. NAZARE (described in January 1976, Cahier des values review "nO 1, spring 1977, of the Association Anergie environment"), because it is completely closed, fitted with air blowers powered by solar cells, equipped a powerful vacuum cleaner at the top (the wind playing a very important role at this level), and fitted with reflectors at the rear, which makes it a more complex but permanent operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
At the base, a specially profiled accelerator collector (ref. No. 4 in Figures 1 and 2) amplifies the kinetic energy of the wind by accelerating the air flow and guiding it vertically, at the neck of a vacuum diffuser (ref. nos 2 and 1 in the figures). At the neck of the nozzle thus formed, the high speed air drives a vertical axis reaction turbine (ref. No. 3 in the figures) and a special energy converter, described below.

 The top of the accelerator manifold, made of transparent material for most models, and opaque for cold or very hot regions, surmounting the profiled and blackened base cone with an absorbent and low-emissivity coating (such as matt black chrome or other) ( Ref # 3 in Figure 5 and Ref # 4 in Figure 3 for the turbo generator), constitutes a solar collector. The heat accumulated by the greenhouse effect is quickly sucked in by the action of the wind and the vacuum cleaner, or pulsed by the blowers in the case of the turbo-generator, thus reinforcing the expansion of the air through the vanes of the power turbine.

 In the accelerator manifold, 4, 8, 12 or 24 blades (depending on the dimensions of the generators) are specially profiled (ref. Nos 1 and 2 in FIGS. 4 and 5) and oriented so as to impart a prerotation movement to the current air driving the turbine. These aerodynamic blades are mounted so as to prevent any passage of air at the rear of the manifold.

Above the turbine, a diffuser made up of a divergent cone, with a maximum angle of 80 to 120, and surmounted by a specially designed "hat" vacuum cleaner allows: (ref. Nos 2 and 1 in the figures)
1) By slowing down the speed of the air stream and its transformation into pressure, recovering most of the remaining speed of the air after it has passed through the blades of the power turbine.

 2) Increase the relaxation of the air flow by helping cooling.

 3) Having produced a small-scale model, we can affirm that the special "hat" vacuum cleaner covering the diffuser, triggers a suction effect such that the gain due to the vacuum cleaner diffuser can be evaluated at 25% minimum and more for large Aero-solar generators (the wind speed being higher at altitude).

 The vacuum diffuser also constitutes itself an energy generator adding to the base accelerator collector. In addition, the vacuum cleaner cap provides self-protection of the turbine against bad weather.

 The installation is raised, mounted on a function room (ref.

 No. 15 in Figures 1 and 2 and No. 14 in Figure 3), which allows the provision of control devices, regulation, and a storage system by battery, compressed air, molten salts or other ... (ref .

 nO 14 in Figures 1 and 2 and ref. No. 15 in FIG. 3) and above all an additional heat generator essentially consisting of an auxiliary burner operating on bio-gas, or agricultural fuel by automatic ignition controlled by the temperature of the working fluid of the energy converter (ref. No. 12 and 16 in Figures 1 and 2 and ref.

 nos 12 and 13 in figure 3).

 For small models, a regulation system will allow you to choose the desired speed for direct use by alternators or storage in batteries after rectification.

 On the other hand, large models of aero-solar energy generators must be provided with an energy converter system using a direct transformation cycle from the work of the power turbine to heat, either by mechanothermal brake or by induction heating. at high frequency, a high frequency generator then being coupled to the shaft of the motor turbine (ref. n "5 in Figures 1 and 2).

 The use of such a cycle makes it possible to make the best use of the immense power which the driving turbine can develop in the event of strong winds, since it can rotate at very high speeds, the only limit being its solidity. In order to avoid any possible risks, a simple adjustable shutter will limit the speed or put the turbine out of service (ref. NO 6 in the figures).

 Thus, in all powerful installations, requiring continuous operation, the turbine shaft descends inside a thermally insulated enclosure, thus allowing the operation of a conventional steam boiler, or other fluid operating at a lower temperature. (hornet, butane, or other ...), this in a closed circuit with condenser and circulation pump (ref. nos 9, 10, 11, 17 and 18 in Figures 1 and 2).

 These known technologies allow the use of an alternator rotating at the synchronism regime of 50 Hz.

This energy converter system has multiple advantages:
1) The efficiency of a cycle of direct transformation of work into heat being 100% Vosin, this allows to use large variations in the speed of the turbine, themselves a function of the wind speed and therefore to benefit excellent performance from Ensemble.

 2) In permanent operation, such a system which can only stop slowly, constitutes of itself a temporary storage of energy and a regulator. Complemented by additional heating, it ensures permanent operation of the generator.

 3) Any diffusion or loss of heat due to the energy converter, the auxiliary burner or the condenser necessarily returns to the turbine. No heat loss.

 In addition, as shown in the drawings (ref. No. 13 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and ref. No. 10 in FIG. 3), the operation of the condenser, the circulation pump, and the blowers of the turbo-generator, is ensured. by solar cell panels placed on the base room or the reflectors. This allows, thanks to the light, to use all the energy produced by the alternator.

 Since the percentage of energy required for the operation of the condenser and circulation pump blowers is low, the installation of solar cell panels ensuring these functions permanently requires no significant investment in view of the advantages of this installation. .

 The aero-solar energy generator is modular by modifying its proportions according to the prevailing climate in the region where it is installed. Its real dimensions are always a function of the desired power.

Indeed, any modification of the diameter and the height of the collector and the vacuum cleaner diffuser, as well as the surface accumulating the heat, modifies the quantity of energy captured at the entry and which is defined by the formula
Wind speed X Collector inlet area
+ the gain due to the vacuum cleaner diffuser (25% minimum)
+ the gain due to the heating of the base by variations
mass volume of air.

 Thus in very hot regions with little wind, the aero-solar generator is transformed into an aero-solar turbo-generator.

As shown in Figure 3, it has its own heat accumulator, its auxiliary burner and its blowers which allow the permanent operation of the assembly.

 All the possibilities of modulations therefore make it possible to design a range of aero-solar generators capable of covering an immense part of the energy needs of the populations by using only inexhaustible, powerful and free energies.

 As solar energy is diluted on the surface of the globe, these generators can be installed in any place, town or village, such as water towers.

 We will preferably use elevated sites, gently sloping, the gain due to these sites can reach 80%.

 It should also be noted that the installation of such generators of large dimensions, on artificial salt water bodies would undoubtedly provide surprising results because this would reproduce the essential conditions allowing the functioning of artificial cyclones. In any case, the large thermal inertia of the water would ensure obvious regulation and a significant energy gain, due to the humidity of the ambient air.

 Of course, any industrial application of this invention requires the production of a prototype of respectable dimensions, which would allow optimization of the measurements and anticipation of the design of all the models.

 This prototype should measure at least 25 meters in diameter and be designed for temperate, windy and sunny regions (Figure 2).

 This obviously implies essential and sufficient funding.

MATHEMATICAL STUDY VERY SIMPLIFY
OF AN AERO-SOLAR GENERATOR
FOR TEMPERATURE, SALE AND SUNNY AREAS
Type Figure 2 - Doubled dimensions.

Or: Diameter of the accelerator collector = 16 m
Collector height = 5.50 m
Diameter of the driving turbine = 2 m
Total height of the vacuum diffuser = +/- 23 m
The output should not be less than
2.5 times the turbine.

These calculations are established for a wind speed of
7 m / s = 25 Km / hour.

 Outdoor temperature estimated at 150 C = 2880 K.

 The atmospheric pressure variations are neglected for these dimensions, as well as the humidity level of the atmospheric air, but are taken into account in the case of large generators, significantly increasing the efficiency.

 The inlet surface of the collector, facing the wind, being 16 m X 5.5 m = 88 m2, and the wind 7 m / s, the theoretical volume of active air entering the generator is therefore 88 X 7 = 616 m3 / s.

 The loss of cubage by dispersion and backwash at the inlet being estimated at 25%, the volume of active air will in fact be 616 m3 / s - 25% = 462 m3 / s and the kinetic energy of the current d air at the inlet of the collector can be evaluated at 1/2 M x V2 or with Mv air density at 150 C: 1.225 Kg / m3.

462 X 1.225 ----------- X 72 = 13.866 Kj / s
2
These figures voluntarily neglect, initially, the coefficient of expansion of the air by heating of the base.

The passage section at the throat of the nozzle, with the diameter of 2 m is 3.14 m2. The theoretical speed of the air flow at the neck therefore changes to
462
---- m3 / s = 147 m / s
3.14
The pressure drop at the neck should not exceed 15% since the turbine will be equipped with labyrinth seals or other anti-leakage device.

The air speed at the neck before the action of the vacuum diffuser will therefore be close to
147 m / s - 15% = 125 m / s
At this stage, the kinetic energy acting on the turbine at 150 C can be evaluated at:
462 m3 / s X 1.225 ---------------- X 1252 = 4421 Kj / s
2
This shows the importance of the role of the perfectly profiled accelerator manifold: 4421 Kj at the neck instead of 13.866 Kj at the entrance.

 In fact, the gain due to the vacuum diffuser being estimated at 25%, the speed at the neck will actually be around 125 m / s + 25% = +/- 156 m / s.

And the kinetic energy acting on the blades of the reaction turbine will pass to:
462 m3 / s X 1.225 ---------------- X 1562 = 6886 Kj / s
2
U
Expected speed of the drive turbine with ---- = 0.957 V1
149
U = 156 X 0.957 = 149 m / s and n = ----- = 23.72 T / s = 1423 Rpm.

6.28
Any variation in wind speed and temperature rapidly modifying the results, the same calculation method will allow these variations to be appreciated.
Example: Wind assumed at 10 m / s = 36 Km / hour
Outdoor temperature: 200 C = 2930 K
Neck temperature: 400 C = 3130 K
Vm at 20 C = 0.830 m3 / Kg = Mv = 1.20 Kg / m3
Vm at 400 C = 0.887 m3 / Kg = Mv = 1.127 Kg / m3
Air expansion coefficient: 0.887 / 0.830 = 1.069
With these parameters = theoretical volume of air attacking the collector = 88 m2 X 10 m / s = 880 m3 / s.

Input loss 25% = 880 - 25% = 660 m3 / s
The coefficient of expansion being 1.069, it is an active volume of 660 m3 / s X 1.069 = 705 m3 / s which expands through the blades of the power turbine.

705 m3 / s
The theoretical speed at the pass will therefore be -------- = 224 m / s with the
3.14 pressure drop at the neck estimated at 15%, the actual speed will be around 224 - 15% = 190 m / s and the gain due to the vacuum diffuser will increase this speed to: 190 m / s + 25% = 237 m / s minimum.

The kinetic energy acting on the blades of the turbine therefore becomes, at 400 C:
705 m3 / s X 1.127
---------------- X 2372 = 22314 Kj / s
2
And the turbine speed can be estimated at
237 X 0.957
----------- = 36 T / s = 2160 T / min.

6.28
Thus, when the temperature at the neck goes from 150 C to 400 C, and the wind speed from 7 to 10 m / s, the power available at the turbine goes from 6886 KW to 22314 KW (approximate efficiency at this level: 54.26%).

 These figures clearly show that the power that very large aero-solar energy generators can reach can be colossal, with the power increasing at least squared in size.

The energy finally supplied by the alternator of use will obviously be affected by the minimal losses at the level of the converter, of the turbine actuating the alternator and of the alternator itself.

 A realistic prototype would make it possible to quantify these losses which cannot be very significant because these are known and proven technologies.

NOMENCLATURE 1
of the various elements referenced in the figures
Plate 1/4 - Figure 1:
Indicates the proportions of aero-solar energy generators for windy and poorly sunny regions; the actual dimensions being a function of the desired power.

References
# 1: Vacuum cleaner.

 # 2: Diffuser.

 # 3: 1 meter jet engine.

# 4: Accelerator manifold assembly
(top, blades and cone: selective matt black).

NO.5: Mechanothermal energy converter or space heating
induction with exchangers.

 # 6: Adjustable shutter disc.

 # 7: Distributor.

 # 8: Profiled vanes.

 # 9: Insulated enclosure.

 n 10: Turbine of the energy converter.

 n 11: Alternator (use).

 n 12: Auxiliary burner (smoke-free).

# 13: Solar cells powering the blowers
condenser and circulation pump.

 n 14: Orders, regulation, storage, etc ...

 n 15: Function room.

 n 16: Bio-gas.

 n 17: Circulation pump.

 n 18: Condenser blowers.

 n 19: Possible shrouds.

NOMENCLATURE 2
Plate 2/4 - Figure 2
Indicates the proportions of aero-solar energy generators for temperate, windy and sunny regions; the actual dimensions being a function of the desired power.

References :
# 1: Vacuum cleaner.

 # 2: Diffuser.

 # 3: 1 meter jet engine.

# 4: Accelerator manifold assembly
(top and blades: transparent,
base cone: selective matt black).

NO.5: Mechanothermal energy converter or space heating
induction with exchangers.

 # 6: Adjustable shutter disc.

 # 7: Distributor.

 # 8: Profiled vanes.

 # 9: Insulated enclosure.

 nO 10: Turbine of the energy converter.

 nO 11: Alternator (use).

 # 12: Auxiliary burner (smoke-free).

# 13: Solar cells powering the blowers
condenser and circulation pump.

 n 14: Orders, regulation, storage, etc ...

 n 15: Function room.

 n 16: Bio-gas.

 n 17: Circulation pump.

 n 18: Condenser blowers.

 n 19: Possible shrouds.

NOMENCLATURE 3
Plate 3/4 - Figure 3
Shows the diagram and the proportions of aerosol energy turbo-generators designed for hot and very sunny regions; the actual dimensions being a function of the desired power.

References :
# 1: Vacuum cleaner.

 # 2: Diffuser.

 # 3: 1 meter jet engine.

NO.4: Watertight profiled enclosure constituting a solar collector
(outer face of the base cone: selective matt black,
inside of the matt black baffle heat exchanger).

 # 5: Heat accumulator.

 # 6: Adjustable shutter disc.

 # 7: Distributor.

 # 8: Reflectors on the back of the solar collector.

 nO 9: Alternator (use and its regulator).

# 10: Solar cells powering the blowers
1 internal exchanger.

 n 11: Internal exchanger blowers.

 n 12: Auxiliary burner (smoke-free).

 # 13: Bio-gas.

 nO 14: Function room.

 # 15: Controls, regulator, storage, etc ...

 n 16: Possible shrouds.

NOMEICLATURE 4
Plate 4/4:
Figure 4: n 1: Z shape, blades of aero-solar generators
(views from above).

Figure 5: n 2: Shape of the Z. blades of aero-solar generators
(perspective view).

 n 3: Dotted, profiled base (selective matt black).

Figure 6: n 4: Internal view of the turbo heat exchanger
solar generator with spiral baffles
rising "and circulation of the air forced by the
blowers.

Claims (8)

 1) Aero-solar modular energy generator combining the action of wind, heat and light.  2) Energy generator according to claim 1, characterized in that it adds the action of an accelerator manifold with specially profiled blades (ref. Nos 4 and 8 in Figures 1 and 2, and ref.  Nos. 1 and 2 in FIGS. 4 and 5) with a heating base (ref. n "3 in FIG. 5) constituting a solar collector, and the action of a vacuum cleaner diffuser (ref. n" 2 and 1 in the figures ), thus ensuring a very high speed of rotation with the turbine with vertical axis (ref. nO 3 in the figures), placed at the neck of the nozzle.  3) Energy generator according to claim 1, characterized for powerful models, by its energy converter which uses a direct transformation cycle of work into heat whose efficiency is close to 100% (ref. N "5 on Figures 1 and 2), thus making it possible to use very large variations in the speed of the power turbine, therefore very large climatic variations (wind and heat).  4) Energy generator according to claim 1, characterized by its continuous operation thanks to its energy converter, its auxiliary burner, and all of its mechanism (ref. Nos 5, 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18 in Figures 1 and 2), its storage possibilities and its extreme reliability.  5) Energy generator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is modular in its proportions and dimensions, thus adapting at will to all powers and climatic characteristics of all regions (eg: Figures 1 and 2 ), from cold and windy climates, up to aero-solar energy turbo-generator for very hot and slightly windy countries (Figure 3).  6) An energy generator according to claim 1, characterized in that at the top of the diffuser, a powerful static vacuum cleaner (ref. No. 1 in the figures), specially designed, provides, in addition to its operation, self-protection of the power turbine against the weather.  7) An energy generator according to claim 1, characterized by the use of an auxiliary burner (ref. N "12 in the figures) and the use of solar cells (ref. NO 13 in figures 1 and 2 and ref. No. 10 in FIG. 3) for the operation of the condenser, the circulation pump and the blowers, and by the fact that all the heat "leaks" necessarily return to the motor turbine therefore no heat loss, which contributes to the excellent performance of the whole.  8) An energy generator according to claim 1, characterized by the use of free, powerful and non-polluting energies, its small footprint and its aesthetics, which make it an energy generator, one of the characteristics of which is its possibility. as close as possible to the places of use.