System and Method for Creating a Networked Infrastructure Distribution Platform of Small Fixed and Vehicle Based Wind Energy Gathering Devices Along Roadways

• US 20090189452A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Genedics, LLC
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,791,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/69
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• 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 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/61 for hydrogen and/or oxygen production
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/212 of the Darrieus type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/82 Micromachines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/12 : Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 : Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 : Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• 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 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 : Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A roadway system for energy generation and distribution is presented. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the roadway system comprises a plurality of wind energy generating devices, and a roadway system electricity grid. The wind energy generating devices are electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and are positioned on part of or near to a road in a system of roads and are optionally fixed in a position such that a multi-form, wind energy gathering network can be formed.

Claims

1. A roadway system for energy generation and distribution, comprising;

a roadway system electricity grid;

a first plurality of wind energy generating devices that are ground-based, and a second plurality of wind energy generating devices that are relatively mobile, the first wind energy generating devices and the second wind energy generating devices are configured to;

a) electrically connect to the roadway system electricity grid; and

b) be positioned along a road in a system of roads, such that a multi-form wind energy gathering network is formed.

2. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, wherein the roadway system electricity grid includes energy storage systems, systems for inverting energy, single power source changing units, electricity meters and backup power systems.

3. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of wind energy generating devices are capable of generating power from winds blowing in cross directions.

4. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of wind energy generative devices are small helix-designed turbines or double helix-designed turbines.

5. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of wind energy generating devices are removably affixed to a vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least some of the second plurality of wind energy generating devices are removably affixed to the vehicle at a service station.

7. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of wind energy generating devices includes fleets of vehicles.

8. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 7, wherein the fleets of vehicles employ wind energy to power elements of respective vehicles.

9. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 7, wherein the fleets of vehicles employ generated wind energy to gain credits for fuel, goods or currency.

10. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 1, further including an electric vehicle connected to the roadway system electricity grid, the electric vehicle including the second plurality of wind energy generating devices.

11. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 10, wherein the electric vehicle further includes:

an energy storage system;

a controller; and

an electric motor controlled by the controller, wherein the electric motor drives the electric vehicle using energy from the energy storage system.

12. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 11, wherein the energy storage system is recharged by the roadway system electricity grid.

13. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 11, wherein the energy storage system includes a plurality of batteries arranged in a rechargeable, removable storage box.

14. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 13, wherein the storage box is purchased at a service station.

15. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 11, wherein the energy storage system includes a display unit to indicate an amount of stored energy.

16. The roadway system for energy generation and distribution of claim 10, wherein an operator of the vehicle purchases electricity from the roadway system electricity grid to power the electric vehicle.

17. A method of generating and distributing energy, comprising:

networking together a first plurality of wind energy generating devices that are ground-based and a second plurality of wind energy generating devices that are relatively mobile, the first and second pluralities of wind energy generating devices positioned along a road in a system of roads, such that a multi-form, wind energy gathering network is formed; and

electrically connecting to a roadway system electricity grid for distribution, said connecting includes connecting wind energy generated by at least one of the first and second pluralities of wind energy generating devices to the roadway system electricity grid.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second pluralities of wind energy generating devices are capable of generating power from winds blowing in cross directions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of wind energy generating devices are positioned in the median or breakdown lane of the road.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of wind energy generating devices are turbines.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the turbines are small helix- or double helix-designed.

22. The method of claim 17 further including storing the energy generated by at least one of the first and second pluralities of wind energy generating devices.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the wind energy is stored in a battery.

24. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of:

generating energy using the second plurality of wind energy generating devices, wherein the second plurality of wind energy generating devices are affixed to a vehicle; and

storing the energy in a first vehicle-based energy storage system.

25. The method of claim 24 further including exchanging the first vehicle-based energy storage system with a second vehicle-based storage system at a service station.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first vehicle-based energy storage system is a battery storing the energy.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the service station is electrically connected to a roadway system electricity grid.

28. The method of claim 27 further including:

converting the energy into electricity; and

distributing the electricity for public use.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein distributing the electricity for public use includes commercial sale of the electricity for the public use.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the second plurality of wind energy generating devices are activated at a service station.