Power plants – Utilizing natural heat – Solar
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-22
2001-08-28
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Utilizing natural heat
Solar
C060S641150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279321
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical generation systems and, more specifically, to a system combining several discrete components whereby sunlight is the catalyst energy form used to create electricity which can be used to energize a structure, home, and/or building with the surplus electricity being fed into the municipal power grid. In addition said system can produce a quantity of potable water.
Said system comprises an array of solar cells which produce an amount of current. The solar cells have electrical connection means to a DC converter that converts the current into AC current and having electrical connection means to a bank of batteries. The plurality of batteries stores the DC current and having electrical connection means, supplies DC current to additional components within the system. The batteries are connected by electrical connection means to an electrolytic device. The electrolytic device consisting electrodes and an amount of liquid electrolyte, preferably water. The positive pole of the battery is connected to the cathode electrode and the negative pole is connected to the anode electrode which induces the electric current to pass through the liquid electrolyte, water. The current dissociates the water into its collectable gaseous component parts, oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen is released into the atmospheric air but could be collected for some further process. A compressor having electrical connection means to the batteries and connection means to the electrolytic device collects the hydrogen gas. A storage tank having ingress connection means with the compressor stores the compressed hydrogen gas for use by additional components of the system. Said storage tank, further, has egress control means for supplying a regulated amount of hydrogen gas to a boiler. The boiler has electrical connection means to the batteries for energizing control devices, such as electronic firing, and thermal control devices. Further having ingress connection means with the hydrogen storage tank and steam egress connection means with a steam turbine. The steam turbine has electrical connection means to the batteries for energizing the necessary components of the turbine, as well as, ingress water connection means with the boiler which produces the steam which turns the turbine blades and said steam turbine has egress connection means with a water vapor storage tank wherein the steam, which was used to rotate the turbine blades, is collected through the condenser unit providing a source of potable water. The electrical output of the steam turbine can be used as an alternate or primary source of electricity for a structure and can additional feed any residual electrical output into the municipal power grid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other solar powered device designed for producing electricity. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,448 issued to Lasich on Aug. 19, 1997.
Another patent was issued to Cordy on Sep. 20, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,986. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,250 was issued to Ambadar et al. on Sep. 30, 1997 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 15, 1986 to Dalal as U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,865.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,448
Inventor: John Beavis Lasich
Issued: Aug. 19, 1997
Method and apparatus for producing hydrogen by conversion of solar energy into thermal and electrical energy for electrolysis of steam.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,986
Inventor: Clifford B. Cordy
Issued: Sep. 20, 1994
A point focus distributed receiver system for generating high-pressure steam by means of solar energy collection is disclosed. The cradle within which a gimbal mounted concentrator dish rotates is designed to withstand high wind forces by delivering all forces along the polar axis to the equatorial end of the cradle, requires only one structural member to withstand flexural forces and provides an unobstructed volume behind the axis of rotation for the concentrator dish to rotate in. The concentrator dish comprises a plurality of segments whose bracing forms a tee-pee-like structure behind the dish. The receiver of the present invention further discloses a receiver cavity which achieves maximum blackness in a minimum depth and volume, a combined heat shield/secondary reflector and a plumbing system which permits the receiver system to operate successfully when the concentrator dish is nearly perpendicular to the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,250
Inventor: Husein Ambadar et. Al.
Issued: Sep. 30, 1997
A solar seawater desalination system is designed to operate in a self-sustaining manner without the need for any moving parts. Seawater is converted to steam in a solar heat collector panel and the steam is led in a steam pipe through a series of cooling chambers where it is condensed by incoming seawater in tanks jacketing the steam tube. The tanks are connected in series between an inlet air-lock regulator and the solar collector panel so that the seawater is caused to flow successively through the tanks from the inlet to the collector panel as make-up water, solely by pressure differentials created in the system by the steam generation. Excessively saline seawater which collects in the collector panel is dumped from the system in a similar manner through an outlet air-lock regulator. Secondary cooling chambers may be provided to condense steam generated from the seawater in the primary cooling chambers by heat received from the steam pipe.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,865
Inventor: Rajendra P. Dalai
Issued: Jul. 15, 1986
A method and apparatus for combustion of hydrogen to produce heat, for example to generate steam for power generation. Water is electrolyzed and the hydrogen and a fraction of the oxygen products of electrolysis are passed immediately to a first combustion zone where the immediate combustion of the oxygen products and a function of the hydrogen products is effected. The products from this first combustion zone are immediately passed to a second combustion zone where combustion is again effected with the remaining fraction of the oxygen products of the electrolysis and the remaining hydrogen products from the first combustion zone. The heat generated is thereafter applied to the desired use, for example by passing the products of combustion from the second combustion zone through water to boil the water, the steam thereby produced being used for power generation. Apparatus to carry out this method is also described.
While these electricity-generating devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention discloses a system for generating electricity and potable water. The system comprises an array of solar cells which produce an amount of current. The solar cells have electrical connection means to a bank of batteries. The batteries are connected by electrical connection means to an electrolytic device. The current dissociates the water into its collectable gaseous component parts, oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen is released into the atmospheric air but could be collected for some further process. A compressor having electrical connection means to the batteries and connection means to the electrolytic device collects the hydrogen gas. A storage tank having ingress connection means with the compressor stores the compressed hydrogen gas for use by additional components of the system. The storage tank further has egress control means for supplying a regulated amount of hydrogen gas to a boiler. The boiler has electrical connection means to the batteries for energizing control devices, such as electronic firing, and thermal control devices and has ingress connection means with the hydrogen storage tank and steam egress connection means with the steam turbine. The steam turbine has electrical connection means to the batteries for energizing the necessary components of the turbine, as well as, ingress water connection means with the boiler
Kroll Michael I.
Nguyen Hoang
LandOfFree
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