U.S. patent application number 11/437419 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for direct compression wind energy system and applications of use.
Invention is credited to Eric Ingersoll.
Application Number | 20060248892 11/437419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34678793 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060248892 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ingersoll; Eric |
November 9, 2006 |
Direct compression wind energy system and applications of use
Abstract
A wind energy generating and storage system has a plurality of
direct compression wind turbine stations. A storage device is
coupled to at least a portion of the wind turbine stations. At
least a first compressor is coupled to the storage device to
compress air. At least one expander is configured to release
compressed air from the storage device. A generator is configured
to convert compressed air energy into electrical energy. The system
has a top-of-tower power to weight ratio greater than 1 megawatt/10
tons excluding the blades and rotor.
Inventors: |
Ingersoll; Eric; (Cambridge,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HELLER EHRMAN LLP
275 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
MENLO PARK
CA
94025-3506
US
|
Family ID: |
34678793 |
Appl. No.: |
11/437419 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10744232 |
Dec 22, 2003 |
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11437419 |
May 19, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
60/645 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02P 90/50 20151101;
F03D 9/25 20160501; F03D 9/007 20130101; Y02E 10/72 20130101; F03D
9/28 20160501; F05B 2210/16 20130101; Y02E 60/16 20130101; Y02E
70/30 20130101; F03D 9/17 20160501; Y02P 70/50 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
060/645 |
International
Class: |
F01K 13/00 20060101
F01K013/00 |
Claims
1. A wind energy generating and storage system, comprising: a
plurality of direct compression wind turbine stations, wherein
direct compression is direct rotational motion of a shaft or a
rotor coupled to one or more compressors; a storage device coupled
to the at least a portion of the wind turbine stations; at least a
first compressor coupled to the storage device to compress air; at
least one expander configured to release compressed air from the
storage device; and a generator configured to convert compressed
air energy into electrical energy, wherein the direct compression
wind turbine system has a top of tower power to weight ratio
greater than 1 megawatt/10 tons excluding blades and rotor.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor operates at a
pressure of about 10 to 100 atmospheres.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor operates at a
pressure of about 20 to 100 atmospheres.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor operates at a
pressure of about 10 to 80 atmospheres.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor has a minimum
operating pressure for power storage of at least 20
atmospheres.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor has a peak
pressure to low pressure ratio of about 10/1.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor has a peak
pressure to low pressure ratio of about 5/1.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is a toroidal
intersecting vane compressor.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is configured to
serve as a vacuum pump.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least
one of, electrical energy, vacuum pressure, compressed air, heat
from compression and liquid air or another compressed fluid is
dispatchable to a production facility.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is an
aluminum production facility.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is a
fertilizer, ammonia, or urea production facility.
13. The system of claim 8, where the production facility is an
ethanol production facility.
14. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is a
food processing facility.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the food processing facility is
a dairy or meat processing facility.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is a
liquid air product production facility for use in manufacturing at
least one, liquid air, liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and other
liquid air products.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is a
fresh water desalination production facility.
18. The system of claim 10, wherein electricity provided by the
system is used to electrolyze water at the production facility.
19. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
provide pressure used at the production facility to drive a reverse
or forward osmosis process.
20. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
provide at least one of vacuum or heat to drive a distillation
process at the production facility.
21. The system of claim 10, wherein the compressor compresses fluid
that is evaporating from fluid in a distillation process
22. The system of claim 10, wherein compressed fluid that is
evaporating from a distillation process is returned to exchange its
heat with liquid in an evaporation or distillation process
23. The system of claim 10, wherein the production facility is a
ferrosilicon production facility.
24. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
receive waste heat from the production facility and utilize at
least a portion of the waste heat to provide electrical energy that
is dispatched to the production facility.
25. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
provide coolant to the production facility.
26. The system of claim 10, wherein the system provides electricity
for the reduction of carbon dioxide or water.
27. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
pressurize carbon dioxide and provide power to electrolyze the
carbon dioxide to separate carbon from oxygen.
28. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
pressurize carbon dioxide and water to a supercritical state and
provide power for reaction of these components to methanol.
29. The system of claim 27, further comprising: introducing
hydrogen to the carbon to create hydrocarbon fuels.
30. The system of claim 27, wherein the oxygen is utilized to
oxy-fire coal.
31. The system of claim 27, wherein the oxygen is utilized to burn
coal or process iron ore.
32. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is configured to
provide a vacuum directly to the production facility.
33. The system of claim 8, wherein the toroidal intersecting vane
compressor includes a supporting structure, a first and second
intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in the supporting structure,
the first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in
spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of the
first rotor with the radially inner peripheral surface of the first
rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of the
primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between the
primary vanes and the inside surface defining a plurality of
primary chambers, the second rotor having a plurality of secondary
vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer
peripheral surface of the second rotor with the radially outer
peripheral surface of the second rotor and a radially outer
peripheral surface of each of the secondary vanes being
transversely convex, with spaces between the secondary vanes and
the inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers, with
a first axis of rotation of the first rotor and a second axis of
rotation of the second rotor arranged so that the axes of rotation
do not intersect, the first rotor, the second rotor, primary vanes
and secondary vanes being arranged so that the primary vanes and
the secondary vanes intersect at only one location during their
rotation.
34. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressor is
self-synchronizing.
35. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbine drives the
compressor by a friction wheel drive which is frictionally
connected to the turbine and is coupled to the compressor.
36. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressed air can be heated
or cooled.
37. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressed air is heated
while maintaining substantially constant volume.
38. The system of claim 1, wherein the compressed air is heated
while maintaining substantially constant pressure.
39. The system of claim 36, wherein the compressed air is heated by
a heat source selected from at least one of, solar, ocean, river,
pond, lake, power plant effluent, industrial process effluent,
combustion, nuclear, and geothermal energy.
40. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander is configured to
operate independently of the turbine and the compressor.
41. The system of claim 1, wherein the expander and compressor are
the approximately the same or different sizes.
42. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a heat exchanger
coupled to an expander exhaust opening, wherein at least a portion
of the compressed air energy is used as a coolant.
43. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a processing
facility co-located at the pre-determined location.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
10/744,232, filed Dec. 22, 2003, which application is fully
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to a wind energy and
storage system, and more particularly to a wind energy and storage
system that has a top-of-turbine power to weight ratio greater than
1 megawatt/15 tons.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] 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 2005 more than 59,000 MW of
windpower capacity had been installed worldwide, with annual
industry growth rates of-greater than 25% experienced during the
last five years.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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 a
need to provide a wind energy and storage system that includes
direct compression wind turbines. 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. Current wind turbines are designed to shed load
in order to protect the electrical generators. There is a need to
substantially improve the power curve of current wind turbines by
eliminating generators in wind turbines in order to extract more
energy from the wind at higher wind speeds.
SUMMARY
[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide an improved wind energy and storage system.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wind
energy and storage system that includes direct compression wind
turbines, where the rotor is directly connected to one or more
compressors.
[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
wind energy and storage system that includes direct compression
wind turbines that dispatches electrical energy to a production
facility.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wind
energy and storage system that has a top-of-turbine power to weight
ratio greater than 1 megawatt/15 tons.
[0014] These and other objects of the present invention are
achieved in a wind energy generating and storage system that has a
plurality of direct compression wind turbine stations. A storage
device is coupled to at least a portion of the wind turbine
stations. At least a first compressor is coupled to the storage
device to compress air. At least one expander is configured to
release compressed air from the storage device. A generator is
configured to convert compressed air energy into electrical energy.
The direct compression wind turbine system has a top of tower power
to weight ratio greater than 1 megawatt/10 tons excluding blades
and rotor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1(a) illustrates one embodiment of a wind energy and
storage system of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 1(b) illustrates one embodiment of a wind energy and
storage system of the present invention with a multi-stage
compressor.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a toroidal intersecting
vane compressor that can be used with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1(a), one embodiment of the present
invention is a wind energy generating and storage system, generally
denoted as 10. A plurality of direct compression wind turbine
stations 12 are provided. An intercooler 13 can be included. Direct
compression is direct rotational motion of a shaft or a rotor
coupled to one or more compressors 16. A storage device 14 is
coupled to at least a portion of the wind turbine stations 12. At
least a first toroidal intersecting vane compressor 16 is coupled
to the storage device to compress or liquefy air. The compressor 16
has a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening. Rotation of
a turbine 18 drives the compressor 16. At least one expander 20 is
configured to release compressed or liquid air from the storage
device 14. A generator 22 is configured to convert the compressed
or liquid air energy into electrical energy.
[0019] In various embodiments, the compressor 16 operates at a
pressure of about, 10 to 100 atmospheres at the fluid exhaust
opening, 20 to 100 atmospheres, 10 to 80 atmospheres and the like.
In various embodiments, the compressor has a minimum operating
pressure for power storage of at least 20 atmospheres, has a peak
pressure to low pressure ratio of about 10/1, has a peak pressure
to low pressure ratio of about 5/1 and the like.
[0020] In one embodiment the system 10 has a top of tower power to
weight ratio greater than 1 megawatt/10 tons excluding blades and
rotor.
[0021] The compressor 16 is much lighter, and therefore less
expensive than the generator 22 and gearbox it replaces. The best
power-to-weight machine in current widescale commercial use is the
Vestas 3 MW machine, which has a nacelle weight of 64 tons.
[0022] In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1(b) a first
multi-stage compressor 16 is coupled to the storage device 14 to
compress air. In another embodiment, a pressure of compressed air
in the storage device 14 is greater than 8 barr. The cost
efficiency of storing compressed air in pipe changes dramatically
with high pressure pipe and high pressure compressors 16. For
relatively little extra cost, storage can increase an order of
magnitude. 80 barr air holds ten times the energy storage of 8 barr
air.
[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of
production collects and stores wind energy from a plurality of
direct compression wind turbine stations 12. Air is compressed or
liquefied air is formed from the wind energy utilizing a toroidal
intersecting vane compressor 16. An expander 20 is used to release
compressed or liquid air. An absorber is introduced to the
compressed or liquid air for pressure swing absorption. The
absorber is used for air separation into oxygen or nitrogen, argon,
and other air products. In one embodiment, the absorber absorbs at
a higher pressure and desorbs at a lower pressure.
[0024] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the electrical
energy, vacuum pressure, compressed air, heat from compression and
liquid air or another compressed fluid from the system 10 is
dispatchable to a production facility 24.
[0025] Suitable production facilities 24 include but are not
limited to, an aluminum production facility, a fertilizer, ammonia,
or urea production facility, a liquid air product production
facility that can be used in manufacturing liquid air, liquid
oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and other liquid air products, a fresh
water from desalination production facility, a ferrosilicon
production facility, an electricity intensive chemical process or
manufacturing facility, a tire recycling plant, coal burning
facility, biomass burning facility, medical facility, cryogenic
cooling process, or any plant that gasifies liquid oxygen,
nitrogen, argon, CO.sub.2 , an ethanol production facility, a food
processing facility. Examples of food processing facilities include
but are not limited to, dairy or meat processing facilities and the
like
[0026] In one embodiment, electricity provided by the system 10 is
used to electrolyze water at the production facility 24. In another
embodiment, the system 10 is configured to provide pressure used at
the production facility 24 to drive a reverse or forward osmosis
process. In another embodiment, the system 10 is configured to
provide at least one of vacuum or heat to drive a distillation
process at the production facility 24. In one embodiment, the
compressor 16 compresses fluid that is evaporating from fluid in a
distillation process. In another embodiment, compressed fluid that
is evaporating from a distillation process is returned to exchange
its heat with liquid in an evaporation or distillation process.
[0027] The production or processing facility 24 can be co-located
with the system 10.
[0028] In one embodiment, the system 10 is configured to receive
waste heat from the production facility 24 and utilize at least a
portion of the waste heat to provide the electrical energy that is
dispatched to the production facility 24. By way of illustration,
and,without limitation, the system 10 provides electricity for the
reduction of carbon dioxide or water and can pressurize carbon
dioxide to provide power to electrolyze the carbon dioxide to
separate carbon from oxygen. The system 10 can be used to
pressurize carbon dioxide and water to a supercritical state and
provide power for reaction of these components to methanol.
Hydrogen can be introduced to the carbon to create hydrocarbon
fuels. The oxygen can be utilized to oxy-fire coal, process iron
ore, burn col, process iron ore and the like.
[0029] The system 10 can be used to provide a vacuum directly to
the production facility 24. This could assist, for example, in the
production of products at low temperature distillation facilities,
such as fresh water at desalination plants.
[0030] By way of illustration, and without limitation, as shown in
FIG. 2 the toroidal intersecting vane compressor 16 includes a
supporting structure 26, a first and second intersecting rotors 28
and 30 rotatably mounted in the supporting structure 26. The first
rotor 28 has a plurality of primary vanes positioned in spaced
relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of the first
rotor 28. The radially inner peripheral surface of the first rotor
28 and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of the primary
vanes can be transversely concave, with spaces between the primary
vanes and the inside surface to define a plurality of primary
chambers 32. The second rotor 30 has a plurality of secondary vanes
positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer peripheral
surface of the second rotor. The radially outer peripheral surface
of the second rotor 30 and a radially outer peripheral surface of
each of the secondary vanes can be transversely convex. Spaces
between the secondary vanes and the inside surface define a
plurality of secondary chambers 32. A first axis of rotation of the
first rotor 28 and a second axis of rotation of the second rotor 30
are arranged so that the axes of rotation do not intersect. The
first rotor 28, second rotor 30, primary vanes and secondary vanes
are arranged so that the primary vanes and the secondary vanes
intersect at only one location during their rotation. The toroidal
intersecting vane compressor 16 can be self-synchronizing.
[0031] In one embodiment, the turbine 18 is configured to power the
compressor(s) 16. For example, the turbine 18 can drive the
compressor 16 by a friction wheel drive that is frictionally
connected to the turbine 18 and is connected by a belt, a chain, or
directly to a drive shaft or gear of the compressor 16. The
compressed air can be heated or cooled. The compressed air can be
heated or cooled while maintaining substantially constant volume.
The compressed air can be heated or cooled while maintaining
substantially constant pressure. The compressed air can be heated
or cooled by a heat source selected from at least one of the
following: solar, ocean, river, pond, lake, other sources of water,
power plant effluent, industrial process effluent, combustion,
nuclear, and geothermal energy.
[0032] The expander 20 can operate independently of the turbine 18
and the compressor 16. The expander 20 and compressor 16 can be
approximately the same or different sizes.
[0033] A heat exchanger 34 can be provided and coupled to an
expander exhaust opening. At least a portion of the compressed air
energy can be used as a coolant.
[0034] In one specific embodiment, a rotatable turbine 18 is
mounted to a mast. In one embodiment, as mentioned above, a
toroidal intersecting vane compressor (TIVC) 16 is used. The TIVC
is characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust
opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine 18 drives the
compressor 16. The system 10 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 or peak usage. Additionally, the system 10 minimizes and can
avoid the need to place an electrical generator 22 off-shore. The
system 10 allows for an alternative method for transmission of
power over long distance. Further, the system 10 can be operated
with good to excellent efficiency rates.
[0035] In one embodiment, a generator apparatus 22 includes, (a) a
rotatable turbine 18 mounted to a mast, (b) at least one toroidal
intersecting vane compressor 16 characterized by a fluid intake
opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the rotation of the
turbine 18 drives the compressor 16; (c) a conduit having a
proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end is attached
to the fluid exhaust opening; (d) at least one toroidal
intersecting vane expander 20 characterized by a fluid intake
opening attached to the distal end; (e) an electrical generator 22
operably attached to the expander 20 to convert rotational energy
into electrical energy, and to connect the generator 22 to one or
more customers or the electric grid to sell the electricity.
[0036] The turbine 18 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
18 can be a wind turbine, such as those well known in the art. One
example of a wind turbine 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 turbine 18 can be
configured to stand or float off shore, as is known in the art. In
yet another embodiment, the turbine 18 can be powered to rotate by
water flow, such as is generated by a river or a dam.
[0037] As mentioned above, the compressor 16 is preferably a
toroidal intersecting vane compressor 16, 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. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, the toroidal intersecting vane
compressor 16 and elements of the system 10, are found in U.S.
Publications Nos. 2005132999, 2005133000 and 20055232801, each
incorporated herein fully by reference.
[0038] In one embodiment, two or more toroidal intersecting vane
compressors 16 are utilized. The compressors 16 can be configured
in series or in parallel and/or can each be single stage or
multistage compressors 16. The compressor 16 will generally
compress air, however, other environments or applications may allow
other compressible fluids to be used.
[0039] The air exiting the compressor 16 through the compressor
exhaust opening will directly or indirectly fill a conduit.
Multiple turbines 18, and their associated compressors 16, can fill
the same or different conduits. For example, a single conduit can
receive the compressed air from an entire wind turbine farm,
windplant or windpower facility. Alternatively or additionally, the
"wind turbine farm" or, the turbines 18 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 20. The conduit is
preferably made of a material that can withstand high pressures,
such as those generated by the compressors 16. Further, the conduit
should be manufactured out of a material appropriate to withstand
the environmental stresses. For example, where the wind turbine 18
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.
[0040] 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. Cooling the fluid can have advantages in multi-stage
compressing. Heating the fluid can have the advantage of increasing
the energy stored within the fluid, prior to subjecting it to an
expander 20. The compressed air can be subjected to a constant
volume or constant pressure heating or cooling. The source of
heating can be passive or active. For example, sources of heat
include solar, ocean, river, pond, lake, other sources of water,
power plant effluent, industrial process effluent, combustion,
nuclear, and geothermal energy. 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.
[0041] Like the TIVC, the expander 20 is preferably a toroidal
intersecting vane expander 20 (TIVE), such as those described by
Chomyszak, referenced above. Thus, the toroidal intersecting vane
expander 20 can comprise a supporting structure, a first and second
intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in the supporting structure,
the first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in
spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of the
first rotor with the radially inner peripheral surface of the first
rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of the
primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between the
primary vanes and the inside surface defining a plurality of
primary chambers, the second rotor having a plurality of secondary
vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer
peripheral surface of the second rotor with the radially outer
peripheral surface of the second rotor and a radially outer
peripheral surface of each of the secondary vanes being
transversely convex, with spaces between the secondary vanes and
the inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers, with
a first axis of rotation of the first rotor and a second axis of
rotation of the second rotor arranged so that the axes of rotation
do not intersect, the first rotor, the second rotor, primary vanes
and secondary vanes being arranged so that the primary vanes and
the secondary vanes intersect at only one location during their
rotation. Similarly, the toroidal intersecting vane expander 20 is
self-synchronizing. Like the TIVC, the expanders 20 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] As such, the expander 20 is preferably configured to operate
independently of the turbine 18 and compressor 16. Further, because
the conduit that is directing the compressed fluid, or air, to the
expander 20 can be of a very large volume, the expander 20 need not
be located proximally with the turbine 18 and compressor 16. As
such, even where the wind turbine 18 is located off shore, the
expander 20 can be located on land, such as at a power plant,
thereby avoiding the need to transmit electricity from the wind
farm to the grid or customer.
[0044] Further, the sizes and 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 capacity
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 18, with 100 TIVCs, each have a
capacity of 2 megawatts, a TIVE that services all 100 turbines 18,
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.
[0045] 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 20 will generally be cold. This fluid can be efficiently
used as a coolant, such as in a heat exchanger.
[0046] 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 without departing from those basic principles.
[0047] 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.
* * * * *