Power generating wind turbine

• US 7,112,893 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alvin P. Villanueva
• Original Assignee: Alvin P. Villanueva
• Inventors: Villanueva, Alvin P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/080,335
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 606/411.1, 606/411.2, 415/64, 415/148
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/068 in combination with an oxygen producing plant, e.g. an air separation plant
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/37 with means for enhancing the air flow within the tower, e.g. by heating
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/131 by means of vertical structures, i.e. chimneys
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/24 for draft enhancement in chimneys, using solar or other heat sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• 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 20/18 Integrated gasification combined cycle [IGCC], e.g. combined with carbon capture and storage [CCS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/34 Indirect CO2mitigation, i.e. by acting on non CO2directly related matters of the process, e.g. pre-heating or heat recovery

Abstract

A turbine system includes a rigid frame including a plurality of elongated rectilinear beams. The rigid frame spans across a top portion of a cooling tower and is axially registered with the passageway for receiving a unidirectional convection air stream upwardly therethrough. At least one generator fan is coaxially registered above the cooling tower and has a plurality of equidistantly offset blades operably coupled thereto. The generator fan is conjoined to the frame and protrudes downwardly therefrom. A plurality of generator motors are fastened to the rigid frame and are oppositely situated from the generator fan. The turbine system further includes a mechanism for directly transferring kinetic energy from the generator fan to the generator motors such that a regulated quantity of electrical energy can be created for consumption. The generator motors are operably coupled and synchronized with an AC power grid for transmission and distribution.

Claims

1. A wind-driven turbine system for generating electricity in combination with a cooling tower having a water basin in fluid communication with a vented passageway and a plurality of cooling vanes rotating on a central spindle, said turbine system comprising:

a rigid frame including a plurality of elongated rectilinear beams conjoined to the cooling tower and juxtaposed above the cooling tower vanes at a predetermined height, said rigid frame spanning across a top portion of the cooling tower and being axially registered with the passageway for receiving a unidirectional convection air stream upwardly therethrough;

at least one generator fan having a plurality of equidistantly offset blades operably coupled thereto, said generator fan being conjoined to said frame and protruding downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of generator motors fastened to said rigid frame and being oppositely situated from said generator fan; and

means for directly transferring kinetic energy from said generator fan to said generator motors such that a regulated quantity of electrical energy can be created for consumption, said generator motors being operably coupled and synchronized with an AC power grid for transmission and distribution, wherein

said energy transferring means comprises;

a gear box including an associated gear drive housed therein, said gear drive being operably engageable in a predetermined direction corresponding to the rotational movement of said blades during operating conditions; and

a plurality of rectilinear drive shafts having opposed end portions operably conjoined to said gear drive and said generator motors respectively such that said drive shafts can be registered along a substantially horizontal plane, each said drive shafts cooperating with said generator motors for creating electrical energy from the convection currents emanating from the cooling tower.

2. The turbine system of claim 1, wherein said generator motors comprise:

one generator selected from the group including a DC generator, an AC generator and any combination thereof.

3. The turbine system of claim 1, wherein each said generator motors are independently and simultaneously operable by said gear drive.

4. The turbine system of claim 1, wherein said generator fan is situated exterior of said cooling tower such that ambient air currents can rotate said blades independently from the convection air stream generated by the cooling tower.

5. A wind-driven turbine system for generating electricity in combination with a cooling tower having a water basin in fluid communication with a vented passageway and a plurality of cooling vanes rotating on a central spindle, said turbine system comprising:

a rigid frame including a plurality of elongated rectilinear beams conjoined to the cooling tower and juxtaposed above the cooling tower vanes at a predetermined height, said rigid frame spanning across a top portion of the cooling tower and being axially registered with the passageway for receiving a unidirectional convection air stream upwardly therethrough;

at least one generator fan coaxially registered above the vanes and having a plurality of equidistantly offset blades operably coupled thereto, said generator fan being conjoined to said frame and protruding downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of generator motors fastened to said rigid frame and being oppositely situated from said generator fan; and

means for directly transferring kinetic energy from said generator fan to said generator motors such that a regulated quantity of electrical energy can be created for consumption, said generator motors being operably coupled and synchronized with an AC power grid for transmission and distribution, wherein

said energy transferring means comprises;

a gear box including an associated gear drive housed therein, said gear drive being operably engageable in a predetermined direction corresponding to the rotational movement of said blades during operating conditions; and

a plurality of rectilinear drive shafts having opposed end portions operably conjoined to said gear drive and said generator motors respectively such that said drive shafts can be registered along a substantially horizontal plane, each said drive shafts cooperating with said generator motors for creating electrical energy from the convection currents emanating from the cooling tower.

6. The turbine system of claim 5, wherein said generator motors comprise:

one generator selected from the group including a DC generator, an AC generator and any combination thereof.

7. The turbine system of claim 5, wherein each said generator motors are independently and simultaneously operable by said gear drive.

8. The turbine system of claim 5, wherein said generator fan is situated exterior of said cooling tower such that ambient air currents can rotate said blades independently from the convection air stream generated by the cooling tower.

9. A wind-driven turbine system for generating electricity in combination with a cooling tower having a water basin in fluid communication with a vented passageway and a plurality of cooling vanes rotating on a central spindle, said turbine system comprising:

a rigid frame including a plurality of elongated rectilinear beams conjoined to the cooling tower and juxtaposed above the cooling tower vanes at a predetermined height, said rigid frame spanning across a top portion of the cooling tower and being axially registered with the passageway for receiving a unidirectional convection air stream upwardly therethrough, said beams being sufficiently spaced apart for allowing the convection air stream to readily pass through said rigid frame;

at least one generator fan coaxially registered above the vanes and having a plurality of equidistantly offset blades operably coupled thereto, said generator fan being conjoined to said frame and protruding downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of generator motors fastened to said rigid frame and being oppositely situated from said generator fan; and

means for directly transferring kinetic energy from said generator fan to said generator motors such that a regulated quantity of electrical energy can be created for consumption, said generator motors being operably coupled and synchronized with an AC power grid for transmission and distribution, wherein

said energy transferring means comprises;

a gear box including an associated gear drive housed therein, said gear drive being operably engageable in a predetermined direction corresponding to the rotational movement of said blades during operating conditions'"'"', and

a plurality of rectilinear drive shafts having opposed end portions operably conjoined to said gear drive and said generator motors respectively such that said drive shafts can be registered along a substantially horizontal plane, each said drive shafts cooperating with said generator motors for creating electrical energy from the convection currents emanating from the cooling tower.

10. The turbine system of claim 9, wherein said generator motors comprise:

one generator selected from the group including a DC generator, an AC generator and any combination thereof.

11. The turbine system of claim 9, wherein each said generator motors are independently and simultaneously operable by said gear drive.

12. The turbine system of claim 9, wherein said generator fan is situated exterior of said cooling tower such that ambient air currents can rotate said blades independently from the convection air stream generated by the cooling tower.