U.S. patent application number 10/744232 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for use of intersecting vane machines in combination with wind turbines.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mechanology, LLC. Invention is credited to Ingersoll, Eric.
Application Number | 20050135934 10/744232 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34678793 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050135934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ingersoll, Eric |
June 23, 2005 |
Use of intersecting vane machines in combination with wind
turbines
Abstract
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
fluid compressor comprising: a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast;
a toroidal intersecting vane compressor (TIVC) characterized by a
fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the
rotation of the turbine drives the compressor. The combination of
the TIVC and turbine permits good to excellent control over the
hours of electrical power generation, thereby maximizing the
commercial opportunity and meeting the public need during hours of
high usage. Additionally, the invention avoids the need to place an
electrical generator off-shore. Further, the apparatuses of the
invention can be operated with good to excellent efficiency
rates.
Inventors: |
Ingersoll, Eric; (Cambridge,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ELMORE CRAIG, P.C.
209 MAIN STREET
N. CHELMSFORD
MA
01863
US
|
Assignee: |
Mechanology, LLC
Attleboro
MA
|
Family ID: |
34678793 |
Appl. No.: |
10/744232 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/132B |
Current CPC
Class: |
F03D 9/28 20160501; Y02P
70/50 20151101; F03D 9/17 20160501; F03D 9/25 20160501; F03D 9/007
20130101; Y02P 90/50 20151101; F05B 2210/16 20130101; Y02E 70/30
20130101; Y02E 10/72 20130101; Y02E 60/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/132.00B |
International
Class: |
B63H 001/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fluid compressor comprising: (a) a rotatable turbine mounted
to a mast; (b) a toroidal intersecting vane compressor
characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust
opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the
compressor.
2. A generator apparatus comprising: (a) a rotatable turbine
mounted to a mast; (b) at least one toroidal intersecting vane
compressor characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid
exhaust opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the
compressor; (c) a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end
wherein said proximal end is attached to said fluid exhaust
opening; (d) at least one toroidal intersecting vane expander
characterized by a fluid intake opening attached to said fluid
exhaust opening; (e) an electrical generator operably attached to
said expander to convert force transmission means.
3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the turbine is rotated by air
flow.
4. An apparatus of claim 3 where the air flow is wind.
5. An apparatus of claim 2 where in the turbine is rotated by water
flow.
6. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein the water flow is generated by
an ocean wave or a dam.
7. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the fluid compressed by the
compressor is air.
8. An apparatus of claim 2 comprising at least two toroidal
intersecting vane compressors, wherein the compressors are
configured in series or in parallel.
9. An apparatus of claim 8 wherein the toroidal intersecting vane
compressor comprises a supporting structure, a first and second
intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said supporting structure,
said first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in
spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor with said radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of said
primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between said
primary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of
primary chambers, said second rotor having a plurality of secondary
vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor with said radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor and a radially outer
peripheral surface of each of said secondary vanes being
transversely convex, with spaces between said secondary vanes and
said inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers,
with a first axis of rotation of said first rotor and a second axis
of rotation of said second rotor arranged so that said axes of
rotation do not intersect, said first rotor, said second rotor,
primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged so that said
primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at only one
location during their rotation.
10. An apparatus of claim 9 wherein the toroidal intersecting vane
compressor is self-synchronizing.
11. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the turbine drives the
compressor by a friction wheel drive which is frictionally
connected to the turbine and is connected by a belt, a chain, or
directly to the compressor.
12. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conduit collects, stores,
and/or transmits compressed air.
13. An apparatus of claim 12 wherein the compressed air can be
heated or cooled.
14. An apparatus of claim 13 wherein the compressed air is heated
while maintaining a constant volume.
15. An apparatus of claim 13 wherein the compressed air is heated
while maintaining a constant pressure.
16. An apparatus of claim 13 wherein the source of heat is solar,
ocean, river, pond, lake, power plant effluent, industrial process
effluent, combustion, and geothermal energy.
17. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the toroidal intersecting vane
expander comprises a supporting structure, a first and second
intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said supporting structure,
said first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in
spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor with said radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of said
primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between said
primary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of
primary chambers, said second rotor having a plurality of secondary
vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor with said radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor and a radially outer
peripheral surface of each of said secondary vanes being
transversely convex, with spaces between said secondary vanes and
said inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers,
with a first axis of rotation of said first rotor and a second axis
of rotation of said second rotor arranged so that said axes of
rotation do not intersect, said first rotor, said second rotor,
primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged so that said
primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at only one
location during their rotation.
18. An apparatus of claim 17 wherein the toroidal intersecting vane
expander is self-synchronizing.
19. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the expander is configured to
operate independently of the turbine and compressor.
20. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the expander and compressor are
the approximately the same or different sizes.
21. An apparatus of claim 2 comprising two or more toroidal
intersecting vane expanders.
22. An apparatus of claim 21 wherein the expanders are configured
in series with a means for heating the fluid disposed between each
expander.
23. An apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a heat exchanger
attached to the expander exhaust opening, whereby the expanded
fluid is employed as a coolant.
24. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the turbine is an off-shore
windmill or arrays of wind turbines.
25. An apparatus of claim 24 wherein the conduit transmits the
compressed fluid from the windmill site to land.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] From its commercial beginnings more than twenty years ago,
wind energy has achieved rapid growth as a technology for the
generation of electricity. The current generation of wind
technology is considered mature enough by many of the world's
largest economies to allow development of significant electrical
power generation. By the end of 2002 more than 31,000 MW of
windpower capacity had been installed worldwide, with annual
industry growth rates of greater than 30% experienced during the
last decade.
[0002] Certain constraints to the widespread growth of windpower
have been identified. Many of these impediments relate to the fact
that in many cases, the greatest wind resources are located far
from the major urban or industrial load centers. This means the
electrical energy harvested from the areas of abundant wind must be
transmitted to areas of great demand, often requiring the
transmission of power over long distances.
[0003] Transmission and market access constraints can significantly
affect the cost of wind energy. Varying and relatively
unpredictable wind speeds affect the hour to hour output of wind
plants, and thus the ability of power aggregators to purchase wind
power, such that costly and/or burdensome requirements can be
imposed upon the deliverer of such varying energy. Congestion costs
are the costs imposed on generators and customers to reflect the
economic realities of congested power lines or "Bottlenecks."
Additionally, interconnection costs based upon peak usage are
spread over relatively fewer kwhs from intermittent technologies
such as windpower as compared to other technologies.
[0004] Power from existing and proposed offshore windplants is
usually delivered to the onshore loads after stepping up the
voltage for delivery through submarine high voltage cables. The
cost of such cables increases with the distance from shore.
Alternatives to the high cost of submarine cables are currently
being contemplated. As in the case of land-based windplants with
distant markets, there will be greatly increased costs as the
offshore windpower facility moves farther from the shore and the
load centers. In fact, the increase in costs over longer distance
may be expected to be significantly higher in the case of offshore
windplants. It would thus be advisable to develop alternative
technologies allowing for the transmission of distant offshore
energy such as produced by windpower.
[0005] Thus, a need exists, for example, to reduce the costs
associated with, improve the reliability of and commercial
attractiveness of energy generated from, and improve the durability
of the equipment associated with wind powered generators. Further,
there exists the need to develop alternative technologies for the
transmission of shaft power from the aloft portions of windpowered
turbines to the base of the tower or mast. Additionally, it would
be desirable to develop alternative technologies for the long
distance transmission of power. It would also be advisable to
enhance the economic value of wind-generated electricity, by the
development of technologies which allow for the storage of
intermittent wind energy to sell at times of peak demand. There is
also the need to develop technologies which enhance the value of
windpower to be useful in the production of various hydrogen and
other green fuels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
fluid compressor comprising: a rotatable turbine (including, but
not limited to a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine or a Vertical Axis
Wind Turbine, or Arrays or Clusters grouped together in multiples
of said wind turbines); a toroidal intersecting vane compressor
(TIVC) characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust
opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the compressor.
The combination of the TIVC and turbine permits good to excellent
control over the hours and efficiency of electrical power
generation, thereby maximizing the commercial opportunity and
meeting the public need during hours of high usage. Additionally,
the invention in certain embodiments avoids the need to place an
electrical generator off-shore. Additionally, the invention allows
for the production of other products than electricity, such as
shaft power. Further, the apparatuses of the invention can be
operated with good to excellent efficiency rates.
[0007] In one embodiment, the invention comprises a generator
apparatus comprising:
[0008] (a) a rotatable turbine;
[0009] (b) at least one toroidal intersecting vane compressor
characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust
opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the
compressor;
[0010] (c) a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end wherein
said proximal end is attached to said fluid exhaust opening;
[0011] (d) at least one toroidal intersecting vane expander
characterized by a fluid intake opening attached to said distal
end;
[0012] (e) an electrical generator operably attached to said
expander to convert force transmission means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The variability and unpredictability of the wind resource
can impose certain economic constraints. Though the state of the
art of wind resource prediction is improving rapidly, the timing
and deliverability of intermittent sources of power can be
predicted only within a wider range and timescale than conventional
power generation. Conventional generation can thus come on or
offline with much more precision as to the timing and degree of
power delivery than more unpredictable sources of power such as
windpower. Thus there is value in providing storage for the wind
energy, so that it can be converted into a more valuable energy
product, timed to meet the greatest load demand. The ability of
windpower to use alternative transmission technologies, such as
those contemplated by this invention, could prove to be more
economic than adapting to traditional long-distance transmission
requirements. Providing a technological alternative to these
problems may enhance the market position of wind generating
facilities.
[0014] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
fluid compressor comprising: a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast;
a toroidal intersecting vane compressor (TIVC) characterized by a
fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the
rotation of the turbine drives the compressor. The inventions
permit good to excellent control over the hours of electrical power
generation, thereby maximizing the commercial opportunity and
meeting the public need during hours of high or peak usage.
Additionally, the invention avoids the need to place an electrical
generator off-shore. The invention further serves to allow for an
alternative method for transmission of power over long distance.
Further, the apparatuses of the invention can be operated with good
to excellent efficiency rates.
[0015] In one embodiment, the invention comprises a generator
apparatus comprising:
[0016] (a) a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast;
[0017] (b) at least one toroidal intersecting vane compressor
characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust
opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the
compressor;
[0018] (c) a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end wherein
said proximal end is attached to said fluid exhaust opening;
[0019] (d) at least one toroidal intersecting vane expander
characterized by a fluid intake opening attached to the distal
end;
[0020] (e) an electrical generator operably attached to said
expander to convert force transmission means.
[0021] The turbine can be powered to rotate by a number of means
apparent to the person of skill in the art. One example is air
flow, such as is created by wind. In this embodiment, the turbine
can be a windmill, such as those well known in the art. One example
of a windmill is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,308, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Because wind velocities are
particularly reliable off shore, the windmill can be configured to
stand or float off shore, as is known in the art.
[0022] In yet another embodiment, the turbine can be powered to
rotate by water flow, such as is generated by a river or a dam.
[0023] The compressor is preferably a toroidal intersecting vane
compressor, such as those described in Chomyszak U.S. Pat. No.
5,233,954, issued Aug. 10, 1993 and Tomcyzk, U.S. patent
application Publication No. 2003/0111040, published Jun. 19, 2003.
The contents of the patent and publication are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety. For example, the toroidal
intersecting vane compressor comprises a supporting structure, a
first and second intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said
supporting structure, said first rotor having a plurality of
primary vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially inner
peripheral surface of said first rotor with said radially inner
peripheral surface of said first rotor and a radially inner
peripheral surface of each of said primary vanes being transversely
concave, with spaces between said primary vanes and said inside
surface defining a plurality of primary chambers, said second rotor
having a plurality of secondary vanes positioned in spaced
relationship on a radially outer peripheral surface of said second
rotor with said radially outer peripheral surface of said second
rotor and a radially outer peripheral surface of each of said
secondary vanes being transversely convex, with spaces between said
secondary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of
secondary chambers, with a first axis of rotation of said first
rotor and a second axis of rotation of said second rotor arranged
so that said axes of rotation do not intersect, said first rotor,
said second rotor, primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged
so that said primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at
only one location during their rotation. In a particularly
preferred embodiment, the toroidal intersecting vane compressor is
a self-synchronizing machine, such as those described in copending
patent application Ser. No. ______, by Chomyszak and Bailey,
Attorney Docket No. 4004-3001, filed on even date herewith.
[0024] In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises one, two or more
toroidal intersecting vane compressors. The compressors can be
configured in series or in parallel and/or can each be single stage
or multistage compressors. The compressor will generally compress
air, however, other environments or applications may allow other
compressible fluids to be used.
[0025] The turbine is configured to power the compressor(s). For
example, the turbine can drive the compressor by a friction wheel
drive which is frictionally connected to the turbine and is
connected by a belt, a chain, or directly to a draft shaft or gear
of the compressor.
[0026] The air exiting the compressor through the compressor
exhaust opening will directly or indirectly fill a conduit.
Multiple turbines, and their associated compressors, can fill the
same or different conduits. For example, a single conduit can
receive the compressed air from an entire windmill farm, windplant
or windpower facility. Alternatively or additionally, the "windmill
farm" or, the turbines therein, can fill multiple conduits. The
conduit(s) can be used to collect, store, and/or transmit the
compressed fluid, or air. Depending upon the volume of the conduit,
large volumes of compressed air can be stored and transmitted. The
conduit can direct the air flow to a storage vessel or tank or
directly to the expander. The conduit is preferably made of a
material that can withstand high pressures, such as those generated
by the compressors. Further, the conduit should be manufactured out
of a material appropriate to withstand the environmental stresses.
For example, where the windmill is located off shore, the conduit
should be made of a material that will withstand seawater, such as
pipelines that are used in the natural gas industry.
[0027] The compressed air can be heated or cooled in the conduit or
in a slip, or side, stream off the conduit or in a storage vessel
or tank. Heating the fluid can have the advantage of increasing the
energy stored within the fluid, prior to subjecting it to an
expander. The compressed air can be subjected to a constant volume
or constant pressure heating. The source of heating can be passive
or active. For example, sources of heat include solar energy,
thermal energy using the heat available in the oceans, rivers,
ponds, lakes and shallow or deep geothermal heating (as can be
found in hot springs). The conduit, or compressed air, can be
passed through a heat exchanger to cool waste heat, such as can be
found in power plant streams and effluents and industrial process
streams and effluents (e.g., liquid and gas waste streams). In yet
another embodiment, the compressed air can be heated via
combustion.
[0028] Like the TIVC, the expander is preferably a toroidal
intersecting vane expander (TIVE), such as those described by
Chomyszak, referenced above. Thus, the toroidal intersecting vane
expander can comprise a supporting structure, a first and second
intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said supporting structure,
said first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in
spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor with said radially inner peripheral surface of said
first rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of said
primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between said
primary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of
primary chambers, said second rotor having a plurality of secondary
vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor with said radially outer
peripheral surface of said second rotor and a radially outer
peripheral surface of each of said secondary vanes being
transversely convex, with spaces between said secondary vanes and
said inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers,
with a first axis of rotation of said first rotor and a second axis
of rotation of said second rotor arranged so that said axes of
rotation do not intersect, said first rotor, said second rotor,
primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged so that said
primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at only one
location during their rotation. Similarly, the toroidal
intersecting vane expander is self-synchronizing. Like the TIVC,
the expanders can be multistage or single stage, used alone, in
series or in parallel with additional TIVEs. A single TIVE can
service a single conduit or multiple conduits.
[0029] As discussed above, one of the advantages of the present
invention is the ability to collect the compressed air or other
fluid and convert the compressed air or fluid to electricity
independently of each other. As such, the electricity generation
can be accomplished at a different time and in a shorter, or
longer, time period, as desired, such as during periods of high
power demand or when the price of the energy is at its highest.
[0030] As such, the expander is preferably configured to operate
independently of the turbine and compressor. Further, because the
conduit that is directing the compressed fluid, or air, to the
expander can be of a very large volume, the expander need not be
located proximally with the turbine and compressor. As such, even
where the turbine or windmill is located off shore, the expander
can be located on land, such as at the power plant itself, thereby
avoiding the need to transfer the electricity.
[0031] Further, the sizes, capacities, of the TIVCs and TIVEs can
be approximately the same or different. The capacity of the TIVE is
preferably at least 0.5 times the capacity of the TIVCs it
services, preferably the capacity of the TIVE exceeds the capapcity
of the TIVCs it services. Generally, the capacity of the TIVE is
between about 1 and 5 times the capacity of the TIVCs it serves.
For example, if 100 turbines, with 100 TIVCs, each have a capacity
of 2 megawatts, a TIVE that services all 100 turbines, preferably
has the capacity to produce 100 megawatts, preferably at least
about 200 to 1,000 megawatts. Of course, TIVEs and TIVCs of a wide
range of capacities can be designed.
[0032] Additional modifications to further improve energy usage can
be envisioned from the apparatus of the invention. Energy recycle
streams and strategies can be easily incorporated into the
apparatus. For example, the expanded fluid exiting from the
expander will generally be cold. This fluid can be efficiently used
as a coolant, such as in a heat exchanger.
[0033] The dimensions and ranges herein are set forth solely for
the purpose of illustrating typical device dimensions. The actual
dimensions of a device constructed according to the principles of
the present invention may obviously vary outside of the listed
ranges with departing from those basic principles. Further, it
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and details of the invention as shown and described may be
made. It is intended that such changes be included within the
spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *