Renewable energy electric power generating system

• US 7,397,142 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Willard Cooper
• Original Assignee: Willard Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez; Julio
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US11/820,069
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/257 the wind motor being part of a wind farm
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/61 for hydrogen and/or oxygen production
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• 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 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/60 Superconducting electric elements or equipment; Power systems integrating superconducting elements or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A renewable electric power system includes a high temperature superconducting wind turbine using high temperature superconducting yttrium-barium-copper oxide for the rotor and stator windings as well as a superconducting bearing. Power from the turbine is stored in a high temperature superconducting magnetic storage system that also uses HTS YBCO. Also included is a regenerative solid oxide fuel cell/electrolyzer with steam turbine cogeneration. The system operates on a managed day/night cycle. During daytime, the energy produced by the wind turbines and fuel cells is transmitted to the grid. During nocturnal hours, the wind turbine is used to provide low cost electricity to the reversible fuel cells operating in the electrolysis mode producing hydrogen and oxygen that is stored for later use. Alternatively, the fuel cells can remain in electrolysis mode producing hydrogen and oxygen for the market. A modified interactive system generates power on a continuous twenty-four hour cycle.

Claims

1. A renewable energy electric power generating system comprising:

a high temperature superconducting wind turbine generator for generating electric power from wind, a support structure for housing said wind turbine generator;

a high temperature superconducting magnetic energy storage system for storing electric energy generated by said wind turbine generator, said energy storing system being housed in said support structure;

means for connecting power from said renewable energy electric power generating system to a power grid, and

a power conditioner circuit for properly conditioning said power from said renewable energy electric power generating system before it is connected to said grid.

2. The renewable energy electric power generating system as claimed in claim 1 further including means for controlling the electric power generating system based on the usage of power from said system.

3. The renewable energy electric power generating system as claimed in claim 1 further including a plurality of a high temperature superconducting wind turbine generators for generating electric power from wind.