Patent•
Offshore wind turbine with multiple wind rotors and floating system
11 Jul 2006-
TL;DR: In this article, a semi-submersible hull with ballast weight that is moveable to increase the system's stability is used to support a wind energy conversion system optimized for offshore application.
Abstract: A wind energy conversion system optimized for offshore application. Each wind turbine includes a semi-submersible hull with ballast weight that is moveable to increase the system's stability. Each wind turbine has an array of rotors distributed on a tower to distribute weight and loads and to improve power production performance where windshear is high. As much of the equipment associated with each rotor as possible is located at the base of the tower to lower the metacentric height. The equipment that may be emplaced at the bottom of the tower could include a power electronic converter, a DC to AC converter, or the entire generator with a mechanical linkage transmitting power from each rotor to the base of the tower. Rather than transmitting electrical power back to shore, it is contemplated to create energy intensive hydrogen-based products at the base of the wind turbine. Alternatively, there could be a central factory ship that utilizes the power produced by a plurality of wind turbines to create a hydrogen-based fuel. The hydrogen based fuel is transported to land and sold into existing markets as a value-added "green" product.
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Patent•
09 Apr 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe methods and systems for the storage and recovery of energy using open-air hydraulic-pneumatic accumulator and intensifier arrangements that combine at least one accumulator with at least two intensifiers in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side.
Abstract: The invention relates to methods and systems for the storage and recovery of energy using open-air hydraulic-pneumatic accumulator and intensifier arrangements that combine at least one accumulator and at least one intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits.
94 citations
Patent•
02 Apr 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a system and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding and compressing gas in energy storage and recovery systems that use open-air hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, such as an accumulator and an intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of circuits.
Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding and compressing gas in energy storage and recovery systems that use open-air hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, such as an accumulator and an intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits. The systems use heat transfer subsystems in communication with at least one of the cylinder assemblies or reservoir to thermally condition the gas being expanded or compressed.
93 citations
Patent•
13 Dec 2010
TL;DR: In this article, an energy conversion system for storage and recovery of energy using compressed gas, a source of recovered thermal energy, and a heat exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the system and the source of thermal energy.
Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods including an energy conversion system for storage and recovery of energy using compressed gas, a source of recovered thermal energy, and a heat-exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy.
82 citations
Patent•
09 Jun 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a staged hydraulic-pneumatic energy conversion system with a gas chamber and a fluid chamber, and a piston or other mechanism that separates the gas and fluid chambers while allowing the transfer of force/pressure between opposing chambers.
Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding gas in a cylinder. The cylinder is used in a staged hydraulic-pneumatic energy conversion system and includes a gas chamber (pneumatic side) and a fluid chamber (hydraulic side) and a piston or other mechanism that separates the gas chamber and fluid chamber while allowing the transfer of force/pressure between each opposing chamber. The gas chamber of the cylinder includes ports that are coupled to a heat transfer subassembly that circulates gas from the pneumatic side and exchanges its heat with a counter flow of ambient temperature fluid from a reservoir or other source.
75 citations
Patent•
14 Feb 2011
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a staged pneumatic conversion system for providing narrow pressure ranges to a hydraulic motor. But their work was focused on power generation and energy storage and recovery.
Abstract: The invention relates to power generation and energy storage and recovery. In particular, the invention relates to compressed gas energy storage and recovery systems using staged pneumatic conversion systems for providing narrow pressure ranges to a hydraulic motor.
70 citations
References
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Patent•
17 Sep 1992
TL;DR: In this article, a controller and method for operating a variable speed turbine to better track wind speed fluctuations for greater efficiency in conversion of wind energy to electrical energy is described, where the controller controls the rotor speed in accordance with a wind speed supplied by a wind observer in order to approximately follow the varying wind speeds.
Abstract: A controller and method is disclosed for operating a variable speed turbine to better track wind speed fluctuations for greater efficiency in conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The controller of the invention controls the rotor speed in accordance with a wind speed supplied by a wind observer in order to approximately follow the varying wind speeds. The wind observer predicts the average wind speed at a subsequent point in time over the cross-section presented to the wind by the wind turbine. The average wind speed is applied to a parameter schedule to determine desired values for rotor speed and torque which are used by arotor speed stabilizer to command a reference load torque. The load torque of the generator is controlled in accordance with the commanded load torque, and therefore the desired rotor speed is approximated. During operation, the wind speed prediction process is repeated at each subsequent time interval, and the load torque, and therefore rotor speed, is controlled accordingly. The wind observer calculates the aerodynamic torque and then calculates net torque. The wind speed is predicted as a function of the present (previously predicted) wind speed and correction terms including net torque and the difference between the predicted and actual rotor speed. The wind observer is useful whenever the wind turbine rotor is turning, whether or not it is producing power.
223 citations
Patent•
30 Sep 1998
TL;DR: In this article, a maritime power plant system for producing, storing and consuming regenerative energy has a support structure on which energy producing devices for producing a continuous supply of energy by at least two different methods from regenerative sources are provided.
Abstract: A maritime power plant system for producing, storing and consuming regenerative energy has a support structure on which energy producing devices for producing a continuous supply of energy by at least two different methods from regenerative energy sources are provided. The regenerative energy sources are ocean water, ocean waves, wind, and solar radiation. At least one industrial production facility is also connected to the support structure. A submarine reverse osmosis device is provided.
175 citations
Patent•
27 Apr 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a cooling system for a wind energy facility which reduces losses in the facility by evacuating the heat from the cooling circuit by means of the tower or the nacelle.
Abstract: The invention aims t providing a cooling system for a wind energy facility which reduces losses in said facility. To this end, the wind energy facility (1) has a fully or at least partially closed cooling circuit, whereby the heat to be dissipated from the cooling circuit is evacuated by means of the tower (3) or the nacelle (2) of the wind energy facility (1).
143 citations
Patent•
12 Jan 1999
TL;DR: In this article, a method for controlling a tethered, underwater, water current-driven turbine, power-generating device is described, where a predetermined maximum depth and a predetermined minimum depth are set.
Abstract: A method is described of controlling a tethered, underwater, water current-driven turbine, power-generating device. A predetermined maximum depth and a predetermined minimum depth are set. In response to sensing depth of the device, an ascend protocol or a descend protocol are selectively invoked. These protocols maintain an operating depth of the device that is midway between the predetermined maximum depth and the predetermined minimum depth. The turbine includes variable-pitch rotor blades. A maximum allowable drag force load on the turbine rotors is selected. The pitch of the variable-pitch rotor blades on the turbine is adjusted such that the drag force loading of the device does not exceed a maximum design level.
121 citations
Patent•
12 Feb 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, a self-starting vertical-axis wind turbine is proposed for economically competitive power production by driving large grid-connected AC generators. But, it is not suitable for wind power generation.
Abstract: Several improvements are invented upon a known and well tested selfstarting vertical-axis wind turbine, for economically competitive power production by driving large grid-connected AC generators. It comprises: variable blade pitch-angle from 0 to 60 degrees, following variable wind speed for maximum efficiency and to keep constant turbine speed, variable blade camber limited to optimal lift-to-drag ratio, controled by pitch and cyclical variation of incidence-angle; improved airfoil shape of cambered blades; low cost automatic gear-train for two constant turbine speeds; protection against overload and prevention of power surge during wind gusts; low stress three-legged high tower assembled with nacelle and tail structure on ground level and erected by assembling segments of third leg one section at a time, and reducing costs of concrete footing, tower structure and, hoisting and assembling at ground level, enables a tower to be built to any height required to harness maximum wind energy.
113 citations