US20110248498A1 - Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft - Google Patents

Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20110248498A1
US20110248498A1 US12/839,409 US83940910A US2011248498A1 US 20110248498 A1 US20110248498 A1 US 20110248498A1 US 83940910 A US83940910 A US 83940910A US 2011248498 A1 US2011248498 A1 US 2011248498A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
air
microwave beam
plant
updraft
high power
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/839,409
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Slobodan Tepic
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US12/839,409 priority Critical patent/US20110248498A1/en
Publication of US20110248498A1 publication Critical patent/US20110248498A1/en
Priority to US13/865,556 priority patent/US9049752B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
    • H05B6/6426—Aspects relating to the exterior of the microwave heating apparatus, e.g. metal casing, power cord
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/04—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor  having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/007—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/22—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus producing heat
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/25—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/30—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/34—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
    • F03D9/35—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures within towers, e.g. using chimney effects
    • F03D9/37—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures within towers, e.g. using chimney effects with means for enhancing the air flow within the tower, e.g. by heating
    • F03D9/39—Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures within towers, e.g. using chimney effects with means for enhancing the air flow within the tower, e.g. by heating by circulation or vortex formation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D1/02—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor  having a plurality of rotors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F03D13/25—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2220/00—Application
    • F05B2220/60—Application making use of surplus or waste energy
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/10—Stators
    • F05B2240/13—Stators to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
    • F05B2240/131—Stators to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines by means of vertical structures, i.e. chimneys
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/93—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/20—Heat transfer, e.g. cooling
    • F05B2260/24—Heat transfer, e.g. cooling for draft enhancement in chimneys, using solar or other heat sources
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/46—Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P80/00—Climate change mitigation technologies for sector-wide applications
    • Y02P80/20—Climate change mitigation technologies for sector-wide applications using renewable energy

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of generating clean electrical power from atmospheric convective cells anchored and controlled by a high-power microwave beam within the absorption band of oxygen.
  • TW terawatts
  • the present invention provides a renewable source for electricity generation utilizing a solar chimney created by a microwave beam to form an artificial tornado.
  • a natural tornado is a fleeting phenomenon arising from a confluence of factors in a much larger storm system. Energy must be expanded to maintain the vortex and it must be used deliberately to replace the conditions, which in the natural tornado are produced by the storm system surrounding the tornado vortex itself.
  • the tornado, and in particular the dreaded suction vortex do teach the physical possibility of a “dynamic chimney”.
  • the conventional solar chimney concept has been well tested and there are plans now to build large power plants at 100's MW level (Schlaich J, Bergermann R, Schiel W, Weinrebe G, Design of Commercial Solar Updraft Tower Systems—Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation, J. of Solar Energy Engineering, 127 (1), (2005): 117-124).
  • the power of a solar chimney plant is approximately proportional to the volume defined by the height of the chimney and the greenhouse roof at the ground.
  • Recent plans for a large plant in Australia call for a 1000 m tall chimney and a 7 km-diameter glass roof for a 200 MW plant.
  • a “dynamic chimney,” created by the microwave beam according to this invention, could reach to 5000 m or higher and thus increase the power of such a plant five-fold to the gigawatt range, with all of the plant structure remaining near the ground level.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,936,652 by Steven K. Levine, discloses a power system based on updraft generated by a cooling tower of an existing power plant, e.g. a nuclear power plant.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,798, by Melvin L. Prueitt discloses convection towers wherein the airflow is driven by cooling the air via water sprays.
  • This invention provides a solution for extracting work for production of electricity by a heat engine powered by the solar heat deposited to the surface of the oceans or lands, preferably at subtropical/tropical latitudes. Distribution of pressure and temperature with altitude up to the tropopause clearly points to a large potential for extracting work from atmospheric air if only certain of the natural convective cells are stabilized and anchored onto points of power extraction, which relies on known principles of operation of turbomachines.
  • the microwave generator may be powered by a fraction of the electrical energy produced by the plant.
  • the frequency of the microwave generator may be approximately 60 GHz, within an absorption band of the molecular oxygen, adjusted to allow for effective heating to an altitude of several thousand meters.
  • a gyrotron is a well developed, commercially available microwave source which can be used to create the microwave beam. Multiple units of MW level continuous-wave (CW) gyrotrons can be deployed to meet the power demand of such a beam.
  • CW continuous-wave
  • a Coriolis effect imparts circulation on the incoming moist air.
  • Inlet vanes can guide the air to aid in creating the Coriolis effect.
  • the incoming air enters the power plant at its low end and gains speed as it passes through the inlet vanes. Turbines power the electrical generators—some of the electrical energy produced is used to power the microwave beam generator.
  • the microwave generator is powered from the grid to start up the plant until the cell circulation is established and stabilized.
  • the air preferably passes through a constriction wherein the pressure drop, due to increased speed, results in condensation that is nucleated by injection of water mist. This stage is followed by a cyclone, which separates thence-condensed water from the general airflow. Latent heat of vaporization released by condensation is transferred to the air mass, adding to the updraft. Dried, warmer air exits the plant in a vortex centered on the microwave beam.
  • This heat engine would theoretically operate between the sea surface temperature of approximately 300 K and the troposphere temperature of about 250 K from which most of radiative cooling of the Earth into space is effected.
  • Most modern heat engines operate at about half of their theoretical limits, which, with typically high source temperatures, approach 80%. Overall efficiencies are thus still below 50%. If the power plant of this invention reaches 1% efficiency, i.e. 6% of the theoretical limit, operating over an area of 10 km in radius it could generate a gigawatt of electrical power. Economy of large machines is of the utmost interest. Generators of this power are common, but such powerful turbines running at low pressures/low temperatures have not been built as yet. Use of high strength composites should allow for construction of very large machines running at relatively high speeds. Alternatively, multiple smaller turbine/generator units could be combined into a single plant, e.g. 32 or 16 units rated at 35 to 70 MW each.
  • Convection cells in the Earth's atmosphere span the sizes from molecular separation distances to thousands of kilometers characteristic of the global convective cells known as Hadley, polar and Ferrel cells.
  • Naturally extracted work from the solar heat deposited into the atmosphere is only that of winds and ocean currents—all of it amounting to about 2%.
  • the platforms and the superstructure would preferably be built by modern technologies of high strength concrete construction. Steel construction, such as used in shipbuilding, may offer an alternative to concrete, the ultimate choice to be made based on total costs and environmental impact during the expected lifetime.
  • the world is running hotter, but also, just as dangerously, short on water.
  • One of the mechanisms of heat transfer involved in the power plant of this invention if placed on water, is release of the latent heat of evaporation by condensation of water from the inflowing humid air, just as it happens in hurricanes.
  • the condensed water is collected inside the power plant and is pumped to the land.
  • Such power plants could also be built on dry land, preferably in the arid hot deserts. Lack of humidity and ocean heat capacity would result in lower efficiency and stronger variation between day and night operation, but the construction would be simpler and the costs probably lower.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a convective atmospheric cell centered on a microwave beam.
  • FIG. 2 is schematic representation of a power plant using a microwave beam to establish a convective atmospheric cell and collecting some of the air flow around its center and near the ground level to convert some of its kinetic energy into electricity.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a power plant based on a floating platform, with a condensation and a cyclone stage to produce clean water by reducing humidity of the passing air.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a land-based power plant according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a land-based power plant with a solar collector.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a combined cooling tower/flue stack supplemented by a microwave beam to increase its efficiency.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a microwave-driven flue tower.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a power plant on a floating platform without a roof construction.
  • An electrical power plant is to operate preferably on a platform floating at sea, utilizing hot humid air as the heat source and the high atmosphere as the heat sink.
  • GW gigawatt
  • Air circulation around the center of the plant resembles a natural cyclone; vertical outflow is induced by buoyancy of the air column above the plant heated by a microwave beam aimed from the plant upward.
  • the frequency of the microwave beam is centered at approximately 60 GHz, within an absorption band of molecular oxygen.
  • the preferred source of the microwave beam is a gyrotron.
  • the plant can also provide clean water from condensation out of the humid, sea level air.
  • Anchoring rows of such power plants along the coasts most threatened by large weather storms would also produce barriers these storms could not cross because sea surface air would be colder and less humid.
  • such power plants can also be built on dry, hot, uninhabitable lands.
  • air inflow could be facilitated by a greenhouse enclosure, such as proposed for the solar chimney plant, but with the physical structure of the chimney being replaced by the microwave generated updraft, which can reach to the tropopause and hence increase the maximum power generating capacity, while avoiding the considerable cost of chimney construction.
  • the updraft is generated by a microwave beam, aimed upwards from the center of the plant, the frequency of the microwaves chosen so as to effectively heat the air column that the beam passes through.
  • the frequency of the microwaves chosen so as to effectively heat the air column that the beam passes through.
  • the ideal choice for the frequency is around 60 GHz, within the absorption band of molecular oxygen. Traveling through the atmospheric pressure air, microwaves of this frequency are absorbed with about 10 dB/km, i.e. traveling through 1 km of air the beam would deposit 90% of its energy. With lower density at higher altitudes, the absorption is reduced and hence the beam will penetrate higher.
  • the microwave beam thus generates a conduit to higher atmosphere, a dynamic chimney, its efficacy and stability enhanced by the vortex which pushes the colder, denser air outwards.
  • the turbines extract kinetic energy from the air flow entering the plant radially through the inlets at ground level and exiting axially from the outlet on the top of the plant.
  • the outlet is connected to the higher atmosphere by the microwave guided dynamic conduit.
  • the main inlet vanes which also support the whole structure erected on the floating platform, guide the inflowing air to the center of the machine.
  • the flow of air into the power plant resembles a natural cyclone, a micro hurricane of a sort. Hurricanes are rather stable natural phenomena, driven by sun's thermal energy. They do require special conditions in that the energy conversion cycle comprises evaporation and condensation of water that only occurs within a narrow range of sea surface temperatures.
  • FIG. 1 a shows a vertical cross-section of a convective cell 100 of air above the ground 3 , over a circular area of diameter D, with the effective height of the atmospheric column H.
  • the cell is centered over a microwave source 1 , which generates a microwave beam 2 aimed upwards towards the top 4 of the convective cell.
  • the updraft 5 in the center of the cell is driven by buoyancy of the hot ground air additionally heated by the beam 2 .
  • the radial outflow 6 is cooled by radiation 7 into space.
  • the cooled air is then moving down, 8 , along the outer boundary of the cell.
  • the air inflow 9 along the ground may attain more or less circulation 11 , caused by the Coriolis effect, depending on the geographical position.
  • First estimates of the basic convection cell size are 20 km for the diameter D and 10 km for the height H.
  • FIG. 2 a shows a vertical cross-section of the basic layout of the power plant, 20 , designed to capture some of the air circulation at the very center of the convective cell and extract some of its energy.
  • the microwave beam 2 emanates from an antenna 12 , protected by the dome 120 , with the microwave source 1 , being placed at the ground level 3 .
  • the roof 21 of the plant structure is shaped to effectively guide the airflow 22 into the plant. Much of the air circulating within the convective cell will inevitably bypass the plant, as shown by arrows 27 .
  • the first estimates suggest that within physical and economical limitations of current construction technologies, the plant can be built large enough to meet the expected target of a gigawatt net power.
  • each of the segments 24 houses a turbine, 25 , and a generator, 26 , set. Tangential arrangement of the vanes 23 imparts an angular momentum to the air outflow 28 from the top of the plant over the microwave beam 2 , adding to its vertical reach by the suction tube mechanism demonstrated by simulations of tornadoes.
  • FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-section of the power plant, 20 , based on a circular floating platform 31 , partially submerged below the water level 30 .
  • This is a schematic representation—a true planar cross-section would show the vanes 23 partially cut, which for reasons of clarity was not done here.
  • the air 22 entering the plant is high in moisture content, means are provided to allow water condensation and separation before the air flow leaves through the top of the plant in the vortex 28 .
  • the air After passing through the turbines 25 the air flows through a constriction 32 gaining in speed and lowering the pressure. Injection of water mist 33 into the air flow at its passage through the constriction serves to nucleate condensation before the flow enters the tower section 34 , which functions as a cyclone.
  • Condensed water is separated from the air, thrown against the wall of the section 34 , from where it runs down the wall as shown by arrow 35 and collects in the pool 36 . Some of this water is used to nucleate the condensation; most of it is pumped to the land with a pump 37 .
  • the platform is secured in position and against the torque generated by the air flow by a number of anchor lines 38 .
  • Power plants such as the one shown on FIG. 3 could additionally be outfitted by means of carbon dioxide removal from the air passing through the plant. No details are shown, but some of the known chemical means could readily be incorporated into the nucleation/condensation process in the constriction flow, followed by cyclone separation.
  • FIG. 4 shows a land-based power station according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the superstructure 40 is identical to that shown on FIG. 2 for an ocean-based plant, but is built directly on the ground 41 .
  • An access tunnel 42 allows servicing of the microwave source 1 .
  • the top surface of the roof 21 is painted, as can be done for the ocean-based plants, to absorb heat which then supports the updraft by heating the air passing through the plant or just the air above the plant. With a daylight insolation on the order of 500 W/m 2 , the total power collected by the roof of 500 m in diameter is approximately 100 MW.
  • FIG. 5 shows a solar power station 50 combining the known principle of a green house roof proposed in conjunction with the solar chimney (Schlaich J, Bergermann R, Schiel W, Weinrebe G, Design of Commercial Solar Updraft Tower Systems—Utilization of Solar Induced Convective Flows for Power Generation, J. of Solar Energy Engineering, 127 (1), (2005): 117-124), but the chimney is replaced, or extended in height by a microwave beam.
  • the central structure extends out to a diameter 51 ; the green house roof 52 covers a much larger area 53 , several kilometers in diameter.
  • the microwave beam source 1 is again shown in the center of the plant, with the antenna 12 radiating the beam 2 upwards through the center of the tower 54 .
  • the antenna 12 is covered by a dome 120 .
  • the turbines 55 and the generators 56 connected by shafts 57 , may be slightly inclined to keep the airflow well streamlined along the ground. If built in southern Australia, below the equator, the vanes 58 should guide the airflow clockwise to reinforce the Coriolis effect and add to the angular momentum of the exiting air flow 59 .
  • FIG. 6 shows a combined cooling tower/chimney as sometimes built at coal fired power plants. Adding a high-power microwave beam 62 , generated by the source 61 , which powers the antenna 63 through a waveguide 64 , can substantially increase the efficiency of the tower within its physical limitations. Both, the cooling air flow 65 and the flue gasses flow 66 through the tower are greatly increased, leaving it at the top in a vortex 67 .
  • FIG. 7 shows an industrial chimney wherein the high physical structure of the chimney is replaced by the dynamic one using the microwave beam 70 to guide the hot air 71 entering the chimney 72 , preferably via at least two tangential ports, through the overlying atmosphere in a vortex 73 .
  • Microwave generator 74 drives the antenna 76 through a waveguide 75 .
  • the antenna is protected by a dome 77 .
  • the complete structure could be as low as 50 m, yet it could effectively reach to thousands of meters above ground—much above the highest conventional chimneys built—the record of 420 m is held by GRES-2 power station in Ukraine.
  • microwave beam Use of the microwave beam to guide the warmer, low altitude air through the atmosphere is the main innovative concept of the invention. It must be emphasized that the power expended by the beam is not used to lift the air per se, but rather to provide a “hole” in the atmosphere through which the surface air heated by insolation can escape to higher altitudes.
  • a useful comparison is drilling holes in the bottom of a dish to allow water to run out of the dish—energy needed to drill the holes is not in direct connection to the work which can be extracted from the water running our under gravity. Yet without the holes one cannot extract the work.
  • microwave beam intensity is very low, the beam power is spread over a very large surface area of the antenna dish (diameter on the order of 50 m for the large power plants) and therefore cannot cause any change at the molecular scale.
  • potential problems with communications exactly because of the high absorption by oxygen, this band is not useful for long-distance communications and, in fact, is unregulated. Lately, not least because it is unregulated, it is being used for very short distance, indoor communications.
  • FIG. 8 a shows a vertical cross section of a power plant 80 on a floating platform with only the vertical vanes 83 and without any roof construction. While this may capture the convective cell air flow less efficiently, it is much easier to build.
  • the microwave source 81 comprising a bank of gyrotrons, sends the beam 82 upwards above the plant.
  • FIG. 8 b shows a top view of the plant with the vanes 83 guiding the air towards the center generating a vortex.
  • Generators 86 are suspended from the vanes 83 and are powered by high speed turbines 85 , basically reversed helicopter rotors.
  • high speed turbines 85 basically reversed helicopter rotors.
  • each of the air ducts between the vanes 83 several turbine-generator sets can be suspended for optimal power capture. For example, as shown, 3 sets in 16 ducts formed by 16 vanes, would lead to 48 turbine-generator sets. Each one can be of approx 30 MW, with the high speed rotor of about 35 m in diameter.
  • the platform is about 600 m in diameter.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)
  • Engine Equipment That Uses Special Cycles (AREA)
US12/839,409 2009-07-20 2010-07-20 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft Abandoned US20110248498A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/839,409 US20110248498A1 (en) 2009-07-20 2010-07-20 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft
US13/865,556 US9049752B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2013-04-18 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US22676009P 2009-07-20 2009-07-20
US12/839,409 US20110248498A1 (en) 2009-07-20 2010-07-20 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/865,556 Continuation US9049752B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2013-04-18 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110248498A1 true US20110248498A1 (en) 2011-10-13

Family

ID=43499614

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/839,409 Abandoned US20110248498A1 (en) 2009-07-20 2010-07-20 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft
US13/865,556 Active US9049752B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2013-04-18 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/865,556 Active US9049752B2 (en) 2009-07-20 2013-04-18 Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US20110248498A1 (ja)
EP (1) EP2457319B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5767216B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN102597512B (ja)
WO (1) WO2011011341A2 (ja)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140369826A1 (en) * 2012-10-05 2014-12-18 Steven Rohring Tornado wind energy conversion system wind turbine
KR20150125900A (ko) * 2014-04-30 2015-11-10 전봉한 자유대류 발전타워
US10920789B2 (en) * 2016-12-27 2021-02-16 Midea Group Co., Ltd. Fume exhaust assembly and fume exhaust device
WO2022216755A1 (en) * 2021-04-05 2022-10-13 Schmidt Howard K Skypipes for renewable water and power production

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013183002A2 (en) * 2012-06-05 2013-12-12 Michal Masaryk System and method of cooling of photovoltaic panel and method of installation of system
SK6432Y1 (sk) 2012-06-05 2013-05-03 Michal Masaryk Cooling method of photovoltaic panel and system for carrying out this method
JP5663776B1 (ja) * 2014-03-27 2015-02-04 福井県 吸引方法及び吸引装置並びにレーザ加工方法及びレーザ加工装置
US9097241B1 (en) 2014-10-02 2015-08-04 Hollick Solar Systems Limited Transpired solar collector chimney tower
CN106014871A (zh) * 2016-05-31 2016-10-12 上海电机学院 风力发电系统
KR101945876B1 (ko) 2017-10-18 2019-02-11 양영철 토네이도, 허리케인, 황사, 태풍의 나선형 인공발생기
FR3072734B1 (fr) * 2017-10-24 2020-01-03 Guy Euve Systeme de production d'energie electrique a partir d'energie eolienne

Family Cites Families (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1274478A (en) * 1917-12-05 1918-08-06 Frank I Webb Air-generator.
US3936652A (en) 1974-03-18 1976-02-03 Levine Steven K Power system
US4397793A (en) 1978-06-08 1983-08-09 Stillman Gerald I Confined vortex cooling tower
US4499034A (en) 1982-09-02 1985-02-12 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Vortex-augmented cooling tower-windmill combination
US4643866A (en) * 1983-08-24 1987-02-17 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Nuclear fuel pellet-cladding interaction test device and method modeling in-core reactor thermal conditions
US5284628A (en) 1992-09-09 1994-02-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Convection towers
US5387781A (en) * 1992-11-09 1995-02-07 Berkoff; William Vented food cooking system for microwave ovens
IN181811B (ja) * 1993-03-11 1998-10-03 Daya Ranjit Senanayake
CN1121367A (zh) * 1993-04-16 1996-04-24 威廉·R·贝德 太阳能文氏管涡轮机
US6048374A (en) * 1997-08-18 2000-04-11 Green; Alex E. S. Process and device for pyrolysis of feedstock
US6111237A (en) 1998-04-24 2000-08-29 Cerberus Institute For Research And Development, Inc. Microwave facilitated atmospheric energy projection system
US6772593B2 (en) 2001-05-07 2004-08-10 Michael A. Dunn Solar vortex electric power generator
WO2003025395A1 (en) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-27 Louis Marc Michaud Atmospheric vortex engine
GR1004334B (el) * 2003-03-27 2003-09-11 Αιωρουμενη ηλιακη καμιναδα
US7757490B2 (en) * 2003-07-21 2010-07-20 Morph Pty Limited Power generation from solar and waste heat
JP2005137101A (ja) 2003-10-29 2005-05-26 Tatsumi Ryoki:Kk 発電システム
US20050150225A1 (en) * 2004-01-08 2005-07-14 Gwiazda Jonathan J. Power generation by solar/pneumatic cogeneration in a large, natural or man-made, open pit
KR100680627B1 (ko) * 2005-05-02 2007-02-08 박재욱 해상 화력 발전소
US20080289495A1 (en) * 2007-05-21 2008-11-27 Peter Eisenberger System and Method for Removing Carbon Dioxide From an Atmosphere and Global Thermostat Using the Same
AR066665A1 (es) * 2007-05-21 2009-09-02 Eisenberger Peter Sistema y metodo para extraer dioxido de carbono de la atmosfera y termostato global que lo utiliza

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140369826A1 (en) * 2012-10-05 2014-12-18 Steven Rohring Tornado wind energy conversion system wind turbine
KR20150125900A (ko) * 2014-04-30 2015-11-10 전봉한 자유대류 발전타워
KR101637214B1 (ko) 2014-04-30 2016-07-25 전봉한 자유대류 발전타워
US10920789B2 (en) * 2016-12-27 2021-02-16 Midea Group Co., Ltd. Fume exhaust assembly and fume exhaust device
WO2022216755A1 (en) * 2021-04-05 2022-10-13 Schmidt Howard K Skypipes for renewable water and power production

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102597512B (zh) 2016-01-20
EP2457319B1 (en) 2016-04-20
JP5767216B2 (ja) 2015-08-19
US9049752B2 (en) 2015-06-02
WO2011011341A3 (en) 2012-04-12
JP2012533984A (ja) 2012-12-27
US20130229015A1 (en) 2013-09-05
CN102597512A (zh) 2012-07-18
EP2457319A2 (en) 2012-05-30
EP2457319A4 (en) 2014-08-20
WO2011011341A2 (en) 2011-01-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9049752B2 (en) Generating electrical power utilizing surface-level hot air as the heat source, high atmosphere as the heat sink and a microwave beam to initiate and control air updraft
US8875511B2 (en) Geothermal wind system
US20030201646A1 (en) All-weather energy and water production via steam-enhanced vortex tower
US10184453B1 (en) System for extracting energy from wind and thermal gradients
US7918650B2 (en) System for pressurizing fluid
Chong et al. Vertical axis wind turbine with omni-directional-guide-vane for urban high-rise buildings
Chen et al. Perspectives on innovative concepts in wind-power generation
US20100171314A1 (en) Vertically Oriented Wind Tower Generator
US20090152370A1 (en) Chimney device and methods of using it to fight global warming, produce water precipitation and produce electricity
US7154190B2 (en) All-weather energy and water production via steam-enhanced vortex tower
WO2009114920A1 (ru) Ветроэнергоустановка (варианты)
US20140284928A1 (en) Harnessing electricity from controlled tornado
Chong et al. Cross-axis-wind-turbine: a complementary design to push the limit of wind turbine technology
US6057606A (en) Method and system for power generation from humid air
AU2007283443B2 (en) Omni-directional wind power station
Ismaeel et al. Review and comparative analysis of vortex generation systems for sustainable electric power production
US11381134B2 (en) Sub-terranean updraft tower (STUT) power generator
Raney et al. Experimental validation of solar chimney performance models and operational characteristics for small scale remote applications
US10859066B2 (en) Sub-terranean updraft tower (STUT) power generator
KR100938538B1 (ko) 태양열 굴뚝을 부스타로 한 태양열 볼텍스 굴뚝 발전소
RU2338089C2 (ru) Способ и устройство системы волкова для производства энергии методом "парусного" захвата
US20230024478A1 (en) Wind Energy Apparatus
Papageorgiou Floating solar chimney technology for desertec
Acosta et al. Advance high efficient aerodynamic blades for vertical axis wind turbine modular aggregate
WO2009126533A2 (en) Building-based wind cylinder installation

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION