RU2366121C1 - Method of atmospheric electricity to electric power conversion - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: instrument engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to instrument engineering and can be used for conversion of natural power sources. The presented effect is ensured by series conversion of electricity particularly stored into high-pressure air system energy by means of to For achievement of a given result in process of accumulation of an to its certain size by means of electrohydraulic gaps. When pressure is attained, energy of the air system is converted to electric power with using a wind power generator.

EFFECT: enhancement.

5 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the use of natural sources of electricity present in the atmosphere, and can be used anywhere in the world.

There is a method of converting atmospheric electricity, in which atmospheric electricity is transmitted through a receiving unit located in airspace to a discharge element made in the form of electrodes (see, for example, RF patent No. 2030132, IPC 6 H05F 7/00, publ. 27.02. 1996 in B.I. No. 6).

The disadvantage of this method is that the stresses arising from the conversion can reach large values, which is associated with a danger to life. At the same time, special receivers, the effectiveness of which is low, will be required to realize the obtained electricity with high voltages.

Closer in technical essence and adopted as a prototype is a method of converting atmospheric electricity into electrical energy, which consists in the fact that atmospheric electricity from an aircraft installed on a winch is transmitted through a conductive channel to a capacitive energy storage device using an electric rectifier (see, for example, patent RF №2293451, IPC H05F 7/00 "Method for the accumulation of atmospheric electricity", published on 02/10/2007 in B.I. No. 4).

The known method allows to optimize the position of the device receiving atmospheric electricity in space.

The known method and devices based on it have the following disadvantages.

1. To use the energy stored in capacitors, a special and expensive high-voltage converter is required.

2. High-voltage capacitors used in drives are expensive and unreliable.

3. The high-voltage storage device has a voltage limit, and at high atmospheric voltages, excess atmospheric energy has to be uselessly carried into the ground through a high-voltage arrester.

The objective of the invention is:

1. Creating a method for receiving atmospheric electricity, in which the generated electricity is used more fully and goes directly to the industrial network or to the consumer with a standard voltage.

2. Reducing the number of capacitors used in the drive and reducing their rated voltage.

3. Improving the efficiency of converting atmospheric energy into industrial energy.

This problem is solved due to the fact that in the method of converting atmospheric electricity, in which it is fixed in a storage device, according to the invention, as electricity is accumulated to a certain value, it is successively converted by electro-hydraulic arresters into energy of a pneumatic system with increased pressure and when a certain pressure is reached the energy of the pneumatic system is converted into electricity by means of a wind generator.

Converting electricity as it accumulates to a certain value into energy of a pneumatic system with increased pressure and when a certain pressure is reached, converting the energy of the pneumatic system using a wind generator into electricity will allow for almost complete utilization of atmospheric electricity with a standard voltage corresponding to the voltage of the industrial network.

The claimed invention is illustrated by 5 figures.

Figure 1 presents a circuit diagram of a device for converting atmospheric electricity.

Figure 2 shows the basic construction of an electro-hydraulic arrester.

Figure 3 shows a diagram of the location of the position sensors of the rod of the electro-hydraulic spark gap.

Figure 4 - circuit diagram of the inclusion of interlocking relays.

5 shows a pneumatic storage device and a high pressure to electric power converter.

A device for converting atmospheric electricity into electrical energy is as follows. Through a conductive channel — an electric wire 1 (Fig. 1), atmospheric electricity from a balloon (not shown) is supplied to a receiving high-voltage capacitor 2. A circuit consisting of a spark gap 3 is connected to the clamps of the capacitor, and several electro-hydraulic dischargers 4 connected in series with it are connected in series. Each spark gap has a normally open contact 5 of the interlock relay. Electro-hydraulic spark gap consists of a cylinder 6 (figure 2) located vertically. It is divided by piston 7 into two chambers. The chamber 8 is located below the piston 7. The cavity of the lower chamber is partially filled with water 9. Electrodes 10 are placed in the water, separated by a gap. The lower chamber is connected with a flexible hose 11 to a reservoir (not shown) filled with water. The upper chamber 12 of the cylinder 6 has a cover 13, which is connected by a hose 14 to a gas source (not shown). The hose 14 is equipped with a check valve 15, which prevents the escape of gas from the upper chamber to the gas source. A hole 16 is made in the cap 13 with an oil seal, through which the piston rod 17 passes. The piston is equipped with a compression spring 18 located along the rod between the cap 11 and the upper surface of the piston. The cap 11 also has an opening 19, which is connected by a hose 20 to a common piping (not shown). In the hose 20 there is a check valve 21, which prevents the flow of gas from the receiving tank (not shown) into the upper chamber 12. Inside the cylinder 6 there is a thrust washer 22 made of elastic material located in the upper part and adjacent to the cover 13. Above the water level 9 inside the cylinder there is also a restrictive washer 23, which prevents the movement of the piston 17 below a certain level.

Each electro-hydraulic spark gap 4 is equipped with a piston position sensor 17. FIG. 3 shows an optical sensor consisting of a laser emitter 24 mounted on a strut 25 and a photodetector 24 'mounted on a strut 26. A beam from the emitter 24 passes over the upper edge of the rod 17 and perceived by the photodetector 24 'when the rod is in a calm state.

Normally open contacts 27 of the position sensors are located in the power supply circuit of the coils of the relay 5 (figure 4).

The output ends of the hoses 20 are connected to a common hose 28 (Fig. 5) connected to the receiving chamber 29 of the high pressure. In the hose 28, before the entrance to the receiving chamber 29, there is an additional non-return valve 30. At the outlet of the high pressure receiving chamber there is a gas reducer (not shown) coupled to the supply hose 31. An electrically operated valve 32 is installed in the hose 31. The receiving chamber 29 is equipped with a pressure gauge 33, having an electrical connection with the valve 32. At the outlet of the supply hose 31, a converter of energy of the air flow into electrical energy is installed, consisting of a turbine 34 and an electric generator 35.

A device for converting atmospheric electricity into electricity acts as follows. An electric charge in the atmosphere is supplied through the conducting channel 1 to the capacitor 2. Upon reaching a certain voltage on the capacitor, a breakdown of the spark gap 3 occurs and a discharge occurs between the electrodes 10. As a result, one of the cylinders 6 creates an electrohydraulic shock with high energy. Under the influence of the shock wave, the piston 17 moves upward, overcoming the gas resistance in the chamber 12 and the resistance of the spring 18. In this case, the piston displaces the air from the upper chamber 12 of the cylinder 6 into the pipeline 20. From the pipeline 20, the air enters the receiving chamber 29. The voltage in the capacitor 2 declining. As the charge accumulates in the capacitor 2, another breakdown occurs and the process repeats. When a certain pressure in the chamber 29 is reached, the valve 32 opens by the pressure gauge 33 and the compressed air enters the air turbine 34, which rotates the rotor of the generator 35. However, in the presence of thunderstorm clouds, when the voltage in the atmosphere is close to lightning, with strong gusts of wind a balloon attached to electrical wire 1 can quickly move towards a thundercloud. In this case, the charge of the capacitor 2 can reach threshold values in a short period of time. In fact, it is known that the value of lightning discharge intensity reaches 1500 kV. The rate of increase in tension sometimes exceeds 600 kV / s.

Due to the inertia of the mechanical part of the electro-hydraulic spark gap, it is capable of converting voltage with a gradient of not more than 100 kV / s. In order to ensure the complete utilization of a large amount of atmospheric electricity, it is necessary that the energy conversion takes place at a speed several times higher than the capabilities of one electro-hydraulic spark gap. This is achieved as follows. When one of the arresters 4 is activated, its rod 17, moving upward, will block the beam of the corresponding laser emitter 24. Then, no signal will arrive at its receiver 24 '. Normally open contact 26 breaks the circuit of the corresponding relay coil 5. Normally open contact of the latter breaks the power circuit of the triggered spark gap, preventing premature supply of voltage to its electrodes. Therefore, when the capacitor 2 is quickly charged, the voltage of the spark gap 3 is broken and the voltage is applied to one of the following electro-hydraulic spark gap 4. The recovery time of the standby mode of each of the triggered spark gap is 0.1-0.5 s. Therefore, their number should be such as to be able to fully absorb the rapidly growing wave of atmospheric electricity. According to preliminary calculations, the total number of electro-hydraulic arresters is 10-12 pcs.

Thus, a method for converting atmospheric electricity is as follows. With the accumulation of electricity to a certain value, it is subsequently converted into electro-hydraulic dischargers into energy of a pneumatic system with increased pressure. When a certain pressure is reached, the energy of the pneumatic system is converted into electricity by means of a wind generator.

According to calculations, the total conversion efficiency reaches 60%. The electro-hydraulic arrester is relatively simple. At the output of the generator 35, you can get any desired voltage, including standard. The proposed method is capable of completely converting atmospheric energy into electrical energy. At the same time, the destructive effect of lightning discharges on the environment in the area of the proposed installation is avoided.

Claims (1)

A method of converting atmospheric electricity into electrical energy, in which it is fixed in a storage device, characterized in that, as electricity accumulates to a certain value, it is successively converted using electro-hydraulic arresters into energy of a pneumatic system with increased pressure and when a certain pressure is reached, the energy of the pneumatic system using a wind generator convert to electricity.

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