US 2006/0232895 A1Published application

Method and apparatus for using wind turbines to generate and supply uninterrupted power to locations remote from the power grid

OwnerBen Enis, Paul Liebermaninventors

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a wind energy generating and storing system comprising methods and apparatuses for providing energy dedicated for immediate use and energy storage, to provide electrical power on an uninterrupted and continuous basis, to locations remote from an electrical power grid. In a large application, the invention contemplates having a predetermined number of windmills dedicated for immediate use, and a predetermined number of windmills dedicated for energy storage, as compressed air energy in one or more high pressure tanks. A hybrid windmill having the ability to simultaneously switch between energy for immediate use and energy storage can also be provided.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbine stations capable of providing energy to a predetermined location, comprising:

a. obtaining wind availability histories for the wind farm location during predetermined time intervals;
b. determining energy demand histories for the predetermined location during said predetermined time intervals;
c. comparing the wind availability histories with the energy demand histories for said predetermined time intervals, and determining during which period or periods of the year the wind availability histories are least closely matched with the energy demand histories, and during which period or periods of the year the wind availability histories are most closely matched with the energy demand histories;
d. determining the total number of wind turbines to be installed and/or used on said wind farm, based upon the total intercept area of each wind turbine to be used, and taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons during the least closely matched period or periods of the year;
e. determining a ratio between the total number of wind turbines to be dedicated to providing energy for immediate use, and the total number of wind turbines to be dedicated to providing energy for storage, taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons during the least closely matched period or periods of the year;
f. based on said ratio, and taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons during the least closely matched period or periods of the year, providing the following:
1) a predetermined number of wind turbine stations dedicated to providing energy for immediate use;
and
2) a predetermined number of wind turbine stations dedicated to providing energy for energy storage.

6 more elements

A method of operating a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbine stations capable of providing energy to a predetermined location, comprising:

a. obtaining wind availability histories for the wind farm location during predetermined time intervals, and converting said wind availability histories into wind power history curves for said predetermined time intervals;
b. determining energy demand histories for the predetermined location during said predetermined time intervals, and converting said energy demand histories into energy demand curves for said predetermined time intervals;
c. comparing the wind power history curves with the energy demand history curves for said predetermined time intervals, and determining during which period or periods of the year the wind power history curves are least closely matched with the energy demand history curves;
d. determining the total number of wind turbines to be installed and/or used, based upon the total intercept area of each wind turbine to be used, and taking into account the wind power history and energy demand history curves and comparisons during said least closely matched period or periods of the year;
e. determining the ratio between the total number of wind turbines to be dedicated to providing energy for immediate use, and the total number of wind turbines to be dedicated to providing energy for energy storage, taking into account the wind power history and energy demand history curves and comparisons during the least closely matched period or periods of the year;
and
f. providing a predetermined number of wind turbine stations dedicated to providing energy for immediate use, and providing a predetermined number of wind turbine stations dedicated to providing energy for energy storage, based on said ratio.

4 more elements

A method of operating a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbine stations capable of providing energy to a predetermined location, comprising:

a. obtaining wind availability histories for the wind farm location during predetermined time intervals;
b. obtaining energy demand histories for the predetermined location during said predetermined time intervals;
c. comparing the wind availability histories with the energy demand histories for said predetermined time intervals, and determining during which period or periods of the year the wind availability histories are least closely matched with the energy demand histories, and during which period or periods of the year the wind availability histories are most closely matched with the energy demand histories;
d. determining the total number of wind turbines to be installed and/or used on said wind farm, based upon the total intercept area of each wind turbine to be used, and taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons;
e. determining a ratio between the total number of wind turbines to be used to provide energy for immediate use, and the total number of wind turbines to be used to provide energy for storage, taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons;
f. based on said ratio, and taking into account the wind availability and energy demand histories and comparisons, providing the following:
1) a predetermined number of wind turbine stations for providing energy for immediate use;
2) a predetermined number of wind turbine stations for providing energy for energy storage;
and/or
3) a predetermined number of hybrid wind turbine stations for providing energy for immediate use or storage.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/450,174Filed 12 Jun 2006
Priority: 5 Oct 2001
Published: 19 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

F02C 6/16
Gas-turbine plants having means for storing energy, e.g. for meeting peak loads: for storing compressed air
F03D 9/10
Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for…:…
F03D 9/11
Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy: storing electrical energy
F03D 9/17
Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy: storing energy in pressurised fluids

Family

Application60/327,012Us provisional application · filed 5 Oct 2001
Application60/408,876Us provisional application · filed 9 Sep 2002
Application10/263,848Continuation · filed 4 Oct 2002
Application11/450,174Continuation · filed 12 Jun 2006
US 2003/0105556 A1Published application
US 6,927,503 B2Related patent
US 7,250,691 B2Related patent
US 2006/0232895 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.