Airborne power station

• US 8,006,933 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tillotson, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green; Richard R
• Application Number:
  US12/049,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20090230236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1.A, 244/1.TD, 244/158.3, 244/172.7, 244/172.8, 244/24, 244/30, 244/31, 244/32, 244/33, 244/58, 244/59, 244/60, 244/96, 244/116, 244/126, 244/127, 446/33, 446/225, 136/292, 320/DIG.33
• US Class Current: 244/127
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/06 Rigid airships; Semi-rigid airships B64B1/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/80 Airborne solar heat collector modules, e.g. inflatable structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for generating power from sunlight collected substantially above the earth'"'"'s surface, comprised of an airborne platform which supports an apparatus to collect sunlight, an apparatus to convert sunlight to electricity, and an apparatus to transmit the electricity to a selected location on the earth'"'"'s surface. The invention collects solar energy above the clouds and transmits the energy to a receiving station on the ground via a cable, thereby avoiding the attenuating effects of clouds and pollution, resulting in an improved solar power generation system.

Claims

1. A system for converting sunlight to electricity comprising:

an airborne platform;

a solar power generation system supported by and held in spaced relationship to the airborne platform, wherein the solar power generation system is suspended below the airborne platform by at least one vertically-positioned rigid structural element extending from the airborne platform to the solar power generation system, and wherein the solar power generation system is movable relative to the airborne platform;

at least one ground station; and

at least one power carrier positioned to carry power from the airborne platform to the at least one ground station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power carrier comprises at least one power cable.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one power cable is attached to at least one mooring device on the ground.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar power generation system includes a plurality of steerable solar energy collection panels.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one tether connected between the airborne platform and at least one mooring device on the ground.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the airborne platform further comprises an airship.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the airship includes steering elements for orienting the airship or for stabilizing the airship in position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar power generation system includes at least one of photovoltaic cells and concentrating photovoltaic cells.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rigid structural element is connected between the airborne platform and the solar power generation system.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the solar power generation system is suspended below the airborne platform with at least one cable.

11. A system for converting sunlight to electricity comprising:

an airborne platform;

at least one steering element externally attached to the airborne platform, the at least one steering element moveable independent of the airborne platform, wherein the at least one steering element is capable of orienting the airborne platform;

a solar power generation system supported by the airborne platform by at least one vertically positioned rigid structural element extending from the airborne platform to the solar power generation system;

at least one ground unit; and

at least one power carrier positioned to carry power from the airborne platform to the ground unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one power carrier further comprises at least one power line.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one power line is attached to at least one mooring device on the ground.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the solar power generation system includes a plurality of steerable solar energy collection panels.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the solar power generation system is supported by and held in spaced relationship to the airborne platform.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one steering element is capable of orienting the airborne platform without a propulsion system.

17. A method for providing electric power, comprising the steps of:

providing an airship;

supporting a solar power generation system with the airship, wherein the solar power generation system is suspended from the airship with at least one vertically-positioned rigid structural element extending from the airborne platform to the solar power generation system;

releasing the airship from a mooring;

extending at least one power cable from the airship;

orienting the solar power generation system to the Sun; and

transmitting a power output of the solar power generation system to a ground station with the at least one power cable.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of converting the power output from the solar power generation system for distribution to one or more users.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of orienting a plurality of solar energy collection panels towards the Sun.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one power cable further comprises a tether line.