Method of and System for Generating Energy From Solar and Wind Energy Sources

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to energy generating systems and, more particularly, to such systems which generate electrical energy from solar and wind energy sources. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method of generating electrical energy for domestic use from solar and wind energy sources.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Solar energy collectors employing solar radiation absorbing panels are known, and wind energy collectors such as windmills are likewise well known for the purpose of generating energy. Although such collectors are generally satisfactory for their intended purposes, they have not proven to be altogether cost effective in practice. The total cost for building an electrical energy generating system to meet the domestic needs of a household has been prohibitive to date.

1. Objects of the Invention

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cost effective system for generating energy from both solar and wind energy sources.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a unitary energy generating system which derives its energy output from dual energy sources.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of generating energy from solar and wind energy sources.

In keeping with these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the invention resides, briefly stated, in a method of and system for generating energy from solar and wind energy sources, which comprise means for collecting solar rays, and for focusing the collected rays along a first path towards a concentration area. A planar mirror is positioned in the first path for diverting the focused rays therefrom. A fresnel tube is placed along a second path for conducting the diverted rays therealong. A container is positioned in the second path for receiving the conducted rays, and is adapted to prevent thermal exchange with the exterior environment. Means are provided for converting the thermal energy contained in the rays conducted to the container to mechanical energy. A wind energy collector collects wind energy and is operative for converting the collected wind energy to mechanical energy. The mechanical energy derived from the solar rays and the mechanical energy derived from the wind energy are both converted to electrical energy by a converter.

In accordance with the invention, the feature of collecting solar rays and focusing such rays is obtained by a parabolic reflecting mirror. This type of mirror is particularly advantageous because the thermal and light energy contained in the solar rays are intensified and concentrated prior to being diverted by the fresnel tube. Another feature of the invention is embodied in providing the inner circumferential surface of the fresnel tube with a silvered coating to thereby minimize energy losses. Furthermore, the container is advantageously provided with a coating of opaque material to thereby keep the thermal and light energy contained in the solar rays admitted to the container substantially within the same.

All of the features described above cooperate with each other to minimize energy losses during each processing stage of the system. This concept of minimizing losses is continued in subsequent stages. For example, the boiler is located directly in the container to facilitate thermal exchange with the rays contained therein.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned, partially broken-away, perspective view of the system for generating energy from solar and wind energy sources in accordance with the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air shield as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an air vane as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the air vane of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 1 generally identifies the overall system for generating mechanical and electrical energy from solar and wind energy sources in accordance with the method of the present invention. The system 1 comprises a collector 2 for collecting the rays of the sun. The solar collector 2 includes a dome-shaped housing 3 constituted by light-transmissive, transparent material such as glass or transparent synthetic plastic material. A light-reflective, concave-shaped and preferably parabolic-shaped, mirror 4 is mounted within the housing 3. Solar rays pass through the transparent housing 3 in direction of the arrows 5 and impinge on the parabolic mirror 4, whereupon the reflecting mirror 4 focuses the solar rays along converging paths in direction of the arrows 6 towards the focal point of the parabolic mirror. At this focal point, the light and heat energy contained in the solar rays are concentrated in a small area. In order to properly position the parabolic mirror 4 to track the sun during its trajectory, a conventional tracker unit is operative to cause directional changes for the mirror which is supported on post 10. It is desirable if the mirror 4 can be turned through an angular distance of about 180.degree..

A light-reflective planar mirror 11 is fixedly positioned adjacent the focal point by a support post 12. Planar mirror 11 is operative for diverting the solar rays from paths 6 towards a different path in direction of arrows 13. The diverted solar rays are conducted through a fresnel tube 14 having a fresnel lens 15 mounted intermediate the opposite end regions of the tube 14. One end region of the tube 14 is fixedly mounted in an aperture 16 formed in the housing 3; and the other end region of the tube 14 is fixedly mounted in an aperture 17 formed in a container 18. The inner circumferential surface of the tube 14 is silvered in order to minimize light and thermal energy losses during conduction of the rays along the tube 14.

The container 18 is dome-shaped and constituted by non-light-transmissive or opaque material such as any metal material, aluminum being preferred. A thermally-insulating coating such as black sputtered aluminum is deposited on the inner surface of the container 18 to thereby prevent thermal exchange with the exterior environment and keep a substantial portion of the thermal energy conducted to the container 18 within the same. The container 18 thus serves as a black body and concentrates thermal energy within it.

In order to convert the thermal energy within the container 18 to mechanical energy, a boiler 19 generates steam for operating a steam turbine 20. Boiler 19 is located within container 18 and is composed of two hemispherically-shaped sections.

Water from reservoir 28 is pumped through water conduit 21 and into the interior of the boiler 19, wherein it is converted to steam by heat exchange with the thermal energy within container 18. The steam is conducted through steam conduit 23 through channels 24 formed within turbine arms 25. Jet nozzles 26 permit the steam to escape and serve to rotate the drive shaft 27 in circumferential direction about axis A--A. The escaped steam falls on a top plate 29 of the reservoir 28. Plate 29 has a plurality of holes 30 arranged in an annulus below the annular path of travel of the nozzles. The steam condenses into water droplets and collects within the reservoir 28, thus forming a closed fluid system.

Copper coils 31 are also located within the container 18. The water which circulates through the coils 31 is heated and circulated to the domestic hot water system for domestic consumption or for providing steam heat. The condensed steam within the reservoir 28 can also be used to supply additional hot water to the coils 31.

The rotary drive shaft 27 is journalled by bearing sleeve 32 in support 33. In order to regulate the speed of rotation of the drive shaft 27, a flywheel 35 is fixedly mounted on drive shaft 27. The flywheel 35 also serves to store rotary energy generated during rotation of the shaft 27.

In order to convert the mechanical energy being generated by the drive shaft 27 to electrical energy, a spool 36 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 27 for rotation therewith. An endless belt 37 is entrained about spool 36 and another spool 38 which is operatively connected to a mechanical-to-electrical converter, such as an electrical generator 39. If desired, the electricity generated by generator 39 is stored in an electrical energy storage device 40, such as a wet cell battery prior to being used by a consumer.

The system further comprises a wind collector 50 for collecting wind energy. Wind collector 50 includes an auxiliary shaft 51 coaxially surrounding a portion of the drive shaft 27. A pair of axially-spaced plates 52, 53 are fixedly mounted on auxiliary shaft 51. A plurality of air vanes 55 or fins are angularly spaced about axis A--A. As best shown in FIG. 5, the inner edge of each vane is connected to the auxiliary shaft 51; the top edge of each vane is connected to top plate 52; and the bottom edge of each vane is connected to base plate 53. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each vane 55 has an offset air pocket 56 which is located closer to one axial edge of the vane as compared to the other axial edge of the vane. A cup-shaped member 54 is located above the auxiliary shaft 51, and is formed with a thread 58 of large pitch. The drive shaft 27 is formed with a cooperating thread 57 of large pitch which mates with thread 58. When air currents move against the vanes 55, the auxiliary shaft 51 initially rotates about axis A--A relative to drive shaft 27, and thereupon the entire wind collector 50 is lifted upwardly in axial direction of arrow B due to the asymmetrical location of the air pockets 56. Simultaneously, the cup member 54 is lifted upwardly to thereby cause the threads 57, 58 to mesh with one another. Step-up gear box 22 synchonizes the relatively slower rate of rotation of the auxiliary shaft 51 with the relatively faster drive shaft 27. Eventually, after the completion of a pre-determined number of revolutions, the auxiliary shaft 51 is coupled to the drive shaft 27 for joint rotation therewith. Thus, only when the wind has reached a sufficient force to lift the wind collector upwardly to couple the shaft 51 to the shaft 27, will the shaft 27 be rotated with energy derived not only from a solar source, but also from a wind energy source. When the air currents die down or fall below a pre-determined level, the wind collector 50 will descend due to the force of gravity to thereby decouple the wind collector 50 from the drive shaft 27.

The wind collector 50 also includes an air shield 60 mounted on drive shaft 27 for rotation relative thereto. Air shield 60 has a semi-cylindrical body portion, a top plate 61 and a bottom plate 62. A directional fin or tail 63 is mounted on the shield 60. When air currents move towards the wind collector 50, the tail 63 is moved by and aligned with the wind. The shield 60 thus exposes the vanes 55 directly towards the oncoming wind.

In order to turn the vanes 55 at a faster rate, a plurality of grooves 64 are formed in the shield 60. The grooves 64 have different air inlet apertures 65-69 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the shield, and all these grooves 64 are joined together at a common air outlet aperture 70. Outlet aperture 70 is also formed on the inner circumferential surface of the shield, and is juxtaposed with the region of the air vanes 55 at which the air pockets 56 are located. Thus, air within the shield 60 is collected together from a plurality of spaced-apart locations and ejected directly towards the respective air pockets 56 to increase the mechanical energy output of the wind collector.

A plurality of bleed holes 71-76 are also formed on the shield 60. These holes extend from one side of the shield 60 to the other side thereof and permit a portion of the air to enter into the shield 60, as best shown in FIG. 6.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

For example, rather than coupling the mechanical energy derived from solar energy directly with the mechanical energy derived from wind energy together via a mechanical coupling, two mechanical-to-electrical converters can be used to generate electrical currents independently from the solar and wind collectors and thereupon to combine the electrical currents via electrical coupling means.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method of and system for generating energy from solar and wind energy sources, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.