System and method for creating a networked infrastructure distribution platform of small fixed and vehicle based wind energy gathering devices along roadways

• US 8,791,596 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tamiras Per Pte Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Glouster Applications LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fein, Gene S., Merritt, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/360,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20090189452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43, 307/149, 307/156, 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 290/1.R, 290/53
• US Class Current: 307/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2016/003 solar power driven
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/32 on moving objects, e.g. vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/61 for hydrogen and/or oxygen production
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/212 of the Darrieus type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/82 Micromachines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/12 : Hybrid wind-PV energy systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 : Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 : Geothermal energy
• 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 10/728 : Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 : Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

A roadway system for energy generation and distribution is presented. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the roadway system comprises a plurality of wind energy generating devices, and a roadway system electricity grid. The wind energy generating devices are electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and are positioned on part of or near to a road in a system of roads and are optionally fixed in a position such that a multi-form, wind energy gathering network can be formed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a charging station;

a roadway electricity grid electrically connected to the charging station; and

a ground-based wind energy generating system, electrically connected to the roadway electricity grid, positioned along a breakdown lane and median of a roadway, the ground-based wind energy generating system including;

a first plurality of wind turbines, along the breakdown lane and median of the roadway, each of which measures a first height, and

a second plurality of wind turbines, situated within the first plurality of wind turbines to create a layered effect, each of which measures a second height which is less than the first height; and

wherein a first concentration of the first plurality of wind turbines within a given area is less than a second concentration of the second plurality of wind turbines within the given area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the roadway electricity grid includes an energy storage device, an inverter, a single power source changing unit, an electricity meter and a backup power device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile wind energy generating device, removably attached to a vehicle, configured to:

generate wind energy when the vehicle is in motion, and

charge the charging station when electrically connected.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the ground-based wind energy generating system or the mobile wind energy generating device is configured to generate power from winds blowing in cross directions.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile wind energy generating system is configured to transfer the generated wind energy to the charging station.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the charging station is configured to transfer the generated wind energy to the roadway electricity grid.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the charging station is configured to credit the vehicle for the transferred wind energy, redeemable for at least one of fuel, goods and currency.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle is configured to power elements of the vehicle using wind energy.

9. The system of claim 3, further comprising an electric vehicle electrically, connected to the roadway electricity grid, including the mobile wind energy generating device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electric vehicle further includes:

an energy storage device;

a controller; and

an electric motor, controlled by the controller, configured to drive the electric vehicle using energy from the energy storage device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy storage device is configured to be recharged by the roadway electricity grid.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy storage device includes a plurality of batteries arranged in a rechargeable, removable storage box.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the storage box is purchased at the charging station.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy storage device includes a display unit configured to indicate an amount of stored energy.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein electricity is purchased from the roadway electricity grid to power the electric vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the ground-based wind energy generating system includes at least one of small helix-designed turbines or double helix-designed turbines.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of wind turbines include at least one of a small helix-design or a double helix-design.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the ground-based wind energy generating system is further configured to generate wind energy from vehicular travel on the road.

19. A method, comprising:

electrically connecting a roadway electricity grid to;

a ground-based wind energy generating system that is positioned along a breakdown lane and median of a roadway, the ground-based wind energy generating system including;

a first plurality of wind turbines, along the breakdown lane and median of the roadway, each of which measures a first height,

a second plurality of wind turbines, situated within the first plurality of wind turbines to create a layered effect, each of which measures a second height, which is less than the first height,

wherein a first concentration of the first plurality of wind turbines within a given area is less than a second concentration of the second plurality of wind turbines within the given area, and

a charging station;

generating power, by the ground-based wind energy generating system, from winds blowing in cross directions; and

storing the generated power in the charging station via the roadway electricity grid.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

electrically connecting a roadway electricity grid to a mobile wind energy generating device that is removably attached to a vehicle configured to generate wind energy when the vehicle is in motion;

generating energy using the mobile wind energy generating device;

storing the mobile wind energy generating device generated energy in a first vehicle-based energy storage device; and

charging the charging station via the mobile wind energy generating device when electrically connected.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first vehicle-based energy storage device includes a battery.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising exchanging the first vehicle-based energy storage device with a second vehicle-based storage device, the first vehicle-based energy storage device including a battery.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile wind energy generating device is activated at the charging station.

24. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

converting the energy into electricity; and

distributing the electricity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the distributing the electricity includes commercial sale of the electricity.

26. An apparatus, comprising:

a ground-based wind energy generating device, electrically connected to a roadway electricity grid, positioned along a breakdown lane and median of a roadway, the ground-based wind energy generating device including;

a first plurality of wind turbines, along the breakdown lane and median of the roadway, each of which measures a first height, and

a second plurality of wind turbines, situated within the first plurality of wind turbines to create a layered effect, each of which measures a second height which is less than the first height;

wherein a first concentration of the first plurality of wind turbines within a given area is less than a second concentration of the second plurality of wind turbines within the given area.