Wind power system for energy production

• US 8,324,750 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Bertolotti, Fabio Paolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/754,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/17 storing energy in pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/231 Preventing heat transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A wind power energy system includes a first source of energy producing variable energy, a second source of energy producing generally constant energy from the variable energy, and a third source of energy that receives the generally constant energy.

Claims

1. A wind power energy system comprising:

a first source of energy producing variable energy;

a second source of energy producing generally constant energy from said variable energy, said second source comprises a compression system that includes a plurality of compressors producing generally constant pressure pressurized air and a plurality of clutches for engaging and disengaging said compression system with regard to said variable source of energy;

a power distributor coupled to said first source of energy to transmit said variable energy to said compression system;

a third source of energy that receives said generally constant energy, wherein said third source of energy is a pressurized air storage portion that receives said pressurized air;

a generator having a rotor in communication with said pressurized air as an input from said third source of energy;

a combustion engine coupled to rotor; and

a control system that detects said input from said third source of energy and in response to said input selectively commands said combustion engine to drive said rotor to achieve a predetermined desired amount of electrical output.

2. The wind power energy system as recited in claim 1, wherein said combustion engine comprises a conduit transferring hot exhaust from said combustion engine to said third source of energy.

3. The wind power energy system as recited in claim 2, wherein said third source of energy comprises a heat exchanger receiving said hot exhaust.

4. The wind power energy system as recited in claim 3, wherein said heat exchanger transfers heat energy from said hot exhaust to said pressurized air.

5. A wind power energy system comprising:

a first source of energy producing variable energy;

a second source of energy producing generally constant energy from said variable energy, said second source comprises a compression system that includes a plurality of compressors producing generally constant pressure pressurized air and a plurality of clutches for engaging and disengaging said compression system with regard to said variable source of energy, said plurality of compressors being arranged in a series such that an air outlet of a first compressor in said series is connected to deliver pressurized air to an air inlet of a second compressor in said series;

a power distributor coupled to the first source of energy to transmit the variable energy to the compression system; and

a third source of energy that receives said generally constant energy, wherein said compression system comprises a conduit that connects said air outlet of said first compressor to said air inlet of said second compressor, and said conduit includes a valve that is operable to selectively switch between directing pressurized air from said first compressor to said air inlet of said second compressor and to said third source of energy, depending upon a predetermined pressurized air level.

6. A wind power energy system comprising:

a first source of energy producing variable energy, wherein said first source of energy comprises rotational energy from a wind turbine that rotates at varying speeds in response to varying wind speeds, said wind turbine including turbine blades that are coupled to a first hub that is rotatable around a first axis, and each of the turbine blades includes an internal cylinder that houses a respective piston;

a second source of energy producing generally constant energy from said variable energy, said second source comprises a compression system that includes a plurality of compressors producing generally constant pressure pressurized air and a plurality of clutches for engaging and disengaging said compression system with regard to said variable source of energy, said plurality of compressors being arranged in a series such that an air outlet of a first compressor in said series is connected to deliver pressurized air to an air inlet of a second compressor in said series;

a power distributor coupled to the first source of energy to transmit the variable energy to the compression system; and

a third source of energy that receives said generally constant energy.

7. The wind power energy system as recited in claim 6, wherein said piston is coupled to a rod that is affixed to a second hub that is rotatable about a second axis that is spaced apart from said first axis.