Wind energy installation comprising a seawater or brackish water desalination plant

• US 20040050760A1
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerodyn Engineering GmbH
• Original Assignee: Aerodyn Engineering GmbH
• Inventors: Siegfriedsen, Sonke
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/97
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/10 Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/28 the apparatus being a pump or a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/62 for desalination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/141 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/33 using wind energy

Abstract

A wind energy installation having a tower, a gondola supported by the tower, a rotor mounted in the gondola, and at least one pressure pump that is mechanically driven by said rotor and that feeds a raw water-treating reverse osmosis plant, the components of said reverse osmosis plant being arranged within the tower.

Claims

13. A wind energy plant for the desalination of salt or brackish water for producing drinking water, the wind energy plant comprising:

a) an elongated tower structure having a top and bottom portion;

b) a gondola carried by the tower top portion;

c) a rotor mounted in the gondola, the rotor including a set of blades and a hub on which the blades are mounted;

d) a reverse osmosis plant located within the tower structure; and

e) at least one pressure pump feeding the reverse osmosis plant mechanically driven by the rotor.

14. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, wherein the at least one pressure pump is located within the gondola.

15. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, further comprising a gear operated by the rotor hub for driving the at least one pressure pump.

16. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, further comprising a pressure reservoir located between the at least one pressure pump and the reserve osmosis plant.

17. The wind energy installation according to claim 16, wherein the pressure reservoir is located within the gondola.

18. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, further comprising a rotating frame portion mounted generally at a mid-section of the elongated tower structure, the reverse osmosis plant mounted within the rotating frame portion.

19. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, wherein the salt or brackish water is introduced and held in a water reservoir located at a base section of the tower bottom portion.

20. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, further comprising a drinking water tank located in the tower bottom portion.

21. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary generator driven by the rotor hub.

22. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, wherein the reverse osmosis plant comprises a plurality of modular units removably connected by a regulating device.

23. The wind energy plant according to claim 13, wherein the elongated tower structure is erected in a body of sea water having a sea line such that a section of the tower bottom portion is located below the sea line.

24. The wind energy plant according to claim 23, further comprising:

a) an access pipe located within the tower structure along an elongated axis thereof;

b) a foundation part located within the tower bottom portion having a flange for supporting maintenance personnel within an area below the access pipe; and

c) an entrance door connecting the area below the access pipe to an outside area of the tower structure.

25. A wind energy plant for the desalination of salt or brackish water for producing drinking water, the wind energy plant comprising:

a) an elongated tower structure having a top and bottom portion and a rotating frame portion positioned between the tower top and bottom portion;

b) a gondola carried by the tower top portion;

c) a rotor mounted in the gondola, the rotor including a set of blades and a hub on which the blades are mounted;

d) a gear mounted in the gondola and operated by the rotor hub;

e) a reverse osmosis plant located within the tower structure rotating frame portion; and

f) at least one pressure pump located within the gondola feeding the reverse osmosis plant mechanically driven by the gear.

26. The wind energy plant according to claim 25, further comprising:

a) a pressure reservoir located within the gondola;

b) a water reservoir located at a base section of the tower bottom portion;

c) a drinking water tank located in the tower bottom portion above the base section; and

d) an auxiliary generator driven by the rotor hub located within th gondola.

27. The wind energy plant according to claim 25, wherein the reverse osmosis plant comprises a plurality of modular units removably connected by a regulating device.

28. The wind energy plant according to claim 25, wherein the elongated tower structure is erected in a body of sea water having a sea line such that a section of the tower bottom portion is located below the sea line.

29. The wind energy plant according to claim 28, further comprising:

a) an access pipe located within the tower structure along an elongated axis thereof;

b) a foundation part located within the tower bottom portion having a flange for supporting maintenance personnel within an area below the access pipe; and

c) an entrance door connecting the area below the access pipe to an outside area of the tower structure.