Prime-mover dynamo plants – Fluid-current motors
Patent
1994-11-14
1997-03-04
Stephan, Steven L.
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Fluid-current motors
6064112, F03G 600
Patent
active
056082681
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a solar chimney arrangement.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A solar chimney arrangement typically includes a solar chimney having an associated wind turbine, the wind turbine being energised in response to an updraft of solar-heated air in the chimney. Such an arrangement can be environmentally friendly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In a known form of solar chimney, the air for use in the updraft is solar-heated beneath a glass collector roof. To obtain a volume of heated air sufficient to effect sustained operation of a wind turbine of a size suitable for the commercial generation of electricity, the collector roof needs to cover a large land area, and is of a construction both expensive to erect and costly to maintain.
French patent 2,307,982 shows a chimney carrying a turbine, the chimney being surrounded by an annular pool which is covered by a transparent plastic sheet preventing evaporation. Surrounding the pool is a slab of black-painted concrete. The pool and concrete are covered by a glass canopy. During periods of sunlight the glass canopy permits the concrete slab to heat up, and this in turn heats the air above, which flows into the chimney. The pool serves as a heat sink, storing heat during sunlight hours and giving out this heat during the night.
French patent 2,436,268 shows a chimney having a solar panel around its base, to form an air-heating chamber, whereby the air circulates normally i.e by natural in-draught from the outside to the inside of the container, to rise in the chimney stack.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,046 shows a tower, to which is connected at least one separate "hydric hothouse". Each hydric hothouse has a black (thermally absorbent) base covered by a transparent surface providing a membrane sheet over water. The hot air from above the water in each hothouse is sent through a pipe to the chimney installation.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of this invention to improve upon the efficiency of the known solar collection systems, by increasing the temperature and moisture content of the air flowing to the turbine.
From one aspect of the invention we now propose a solar chimney arrangement which includes air heating means comprising a liquid solar-heat absorber.
From another aspect of the invention we propose a solar chimney arrangement in which a solar chimney is associated with a non-evaporative area and an evaporative area, the non-evaporative area having a first cover adapted to inhibit evaporation of heat-absorbing liquid, the evaporative area having a second cover adapted to contain evaporated vapour, and means connecting the second cover with the solar chimney upstream of a wind turbine.
Preferably the evaporative and non-evaporative areas surround the chimney.
Usefully the evaporative areas are provided by ground pans filled with water, and separated into non-evaporative and evaporative areas. The non-evaporative areas are positioned to receive energy from the sun, and this energy is absorbed as heat in the liquid, some or all of that absorbed heat being then transferred to the water in the evaporative area.
The quantity of heat absorbed by the liquid can be enhanced by supplementing the "direct" absorbtion of solar energy by the liquid, as by "indirect" absorbtion. Usefully therefore the liquid is contained in a tank made from one or more heat absorbing materials. In one embodiment a ground pan is constructed by digging an earth trench which is then lined with black polythene sheet, the sheet acting both to contain the liquid e.g. water, and to absorb the sun's rays to become heated thereby.
The cover for the non-evaporative area preferably floats on the liquid e.g. water, surface and so is in direct contact therewith. The cover for the evaporative area is positioned above the liquid e.g. water, surface so that there is an evaporation space between the liquid and second cover. In a preferred embodiment the second cover is of a material such as glass, able to permit differential transmission therethrough of
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patent: 4159629 (1979-07-01), Korr et al.
patent: 4180057 (1979-12-01), Ward
patent: 4452046 (1984-06-01), Valentin
patent: 4480632 (1984-11-01), Klier et al.
patent: 4856281 (1989-08-01), Taylor
Cuneo Christopher
Hultquist Steven J.
Stephan Steven L.
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