Method and apparatus for a mobile aerial sustained solar power-plant

• US 20090294576A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stuart Park Laforge
• Original Assignee: Stuart Park Laforge
• Inventors: LaForge, Stuart Park
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/184 Regeneration by electrochemical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The mobile aerial sustained solar power-plant (MASP) provides an improved method and device for the highly efficient collection, storage, transport, and wireless delivery of renewable energy from an airborne platform. This energy can be used to supply electrical power to clients or be used to power directed energy weapons.

Claims

1. A method for sustained wireless delivery of renewable solar energy anywhere day or night with steps comprising:

a. providing a navigable motorized airship of any classification, geometry, and material construction equipped with at least one gas envelope containing a buoyant lifting gas,

b. providing a collection means for harvesting solar radiation and generating electricity from said solar radiation such that said collection means is contiguous with said airship,

c. harvesting solar radiation by said collection means during conditions of sufficient solar radiation,

d. providing a storage means, contiguous with said airship, for storing electricity harvested from solar radiation,

e. storing said electricity by said storage means during conditions of sufficient solar radiation,

f. flying said airship to a destination where said renewable energy is to be delivered,

g. recovering said electricity from said storage means during conditions of insufficient solar radiation,

h. providing at least one transmission means, contiguous with said airship, for directionally emitting an electromagnetic beam powered by said electricity,

i. providing a targeting means for aiming said transmission means accurately and safely,

j. providing a target, remote from said airship, at which renewable energy delivery is desired and,

k. directing said electromagnetic beam at said target by said transmission means,

whereby a substantial amount of renewable energy is generated, stored, transported, and delivered to said target at said location regardless of the time of day or cloud cover.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said airship further comprises a high altitude airship capable of long-term flight and station keeping in the stratosphere.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said airship is selected from the group consisting of manned and unmanned airships.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said collection means comprises devices selected from the group consisting of a plurality of thin-film photovoltaics, a plurality of thin-film thermoelectrics, and a layered combination thereof such that said devices are disposed upon the surface of said airship in a modular fashion.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic beam comprises microwaves and said target comprises a rectifying antenna that regenerates electricity from said microwaves.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic beam comprises microwaves and said target comprises a mobile platform further comprising a rectifying antenna that regenerates electricity from said microwaves.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic beam comprises microwaves and said target comprises a rectifying antenna that is conveyed through the air by said airship to said destination where it is subsequently deployed for use on the earth'"'"'s surface and regenerates electricity from said microwaves.

8. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said storage means is a combination further comprising:

a. at least one water reservoir to store water,

b. at least one electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen fuel from stored water and electricity generated by said collection means,

c. at least one hydrogen compressor to compress said hydrogen fuel,

d. at least one high-pressure hydrogen container in which to store said hydrogen fuel produced by said electrolytic cell,

e. at least one fuel cell stack to generate electricity and heat from hydrogen fuel from said high-pressure hydrogen container,

f. and at least one thermoelectric co-generator to generate electricity from heat that would otherwise be wasted energy,

whereby renewable solar energy can be efficiently stored and retrieved from storage.

9. The storage means set forth in claim 8 wherein said electrolytic cell further comprises a high-pressure electrolytic cell to compress said hydrogen fuel as it is generated.

10. The storage means set forth in claim 8 further comprising said at least one gas envelope such that said power-plant stores said hydrogen fuel in the gas envelope and thus manufactures its own lifting gas.

11. An apparatus, nominally a mobile aerial sustained solar power-plant that collects, stores, and transports renewable solar energy, delivering said energy in a wireless fashion to a remote location comprising in combination:

a. a self-propelled navigable airship,

b. at least one gas envelope containing a buoyant lifting gas,

c. a propulsion system for moving said airship,

d. a collection means contiguous with said airship to collect solar radiation and convert said solar radiation to electricity,

e. a storage means contiguous with said airship for storing collected solar energy in a readily retrievable form,

f. a switching means for routing electrical power between said collection means, said storage means, and the rest of said power-plant,

g. at least one transmission means in circuit with said switching means comprising an electromagnetic beam emitter, and

h. a targeting means for aiming said transmission means appropriately and avoid damaging non-targets,

whereby said mobile aerial sustained solar power-plant can supply substantial quantities of renewable energy to a target from an aerial position anywhere at any time.

12. The power-plant of claim 11 wherein said collection means comprises devices selected from the group consisting of a plurality of thin-film photovoltaics, a plurality of thin-film thermoelectrics, and a layered combination thereof such that said devices are disposed upon the surface of said airship in a modular fashion.

13. The power-plant of claim 11 wherein said transmission means comprises a directed energy weapon.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said electromagnetic beam comprises microwaves and said target comprises a rectifying antenna that regenerates electricity from said microwave.

15. The power-plant of claim 11 wherein said transmission means is pulsed such that it generates electromagnetic pulses capable of disabling electronic machinery.

16. The power-plant of claim 11 wherein said transmission means emits microwaves and said target comprises a surface-based weapon further comprising a rectifying antenna to power said weapon.

17. The power-plant of claim 11 wherein said storage means further comprises:

a. a water reservoir to contain water for use as a hydrogen fuel source,

b. an electrolytic cell to employ electricity generated by said collection means to electrolyze said water into hydrogen fuel and oxygen,

c. at least one hydrogen compressor to compress hydrogen fuel for storage

d. at least one high-pressure hydrogen container to store compressed hydrogen fuel

e. at least one fuel cell stack to retrieve electricity and heat from stored hydrogen fuel

f. at least one thermoelectric co-generator to convert waste heat into usable electricity,

whereby renewable solar energy can be stored and recovered for sustained power generation by said power-plant.

18. The storage means set forth in claim 17 wherein said electrolytic cell further comprises a high-pressure electrolytic cell to compress said hydrogen fuel as it is generated.

19. The storage means set forth in claim 17 further comprising said at least one gas envelope such that said power-plant stores said hydrogen fuel in the gas envelope and thus manufactures its own lifting gas.

20. The storage means set forth in claim 17 further comprising a condenser that liquefies said hydrogen fuel for cryogenic storage in liquid form.