A solar vortex, clamshell-shaped, energy conversion, and plant growing dual-purpose greenhouse, comprising:
- a clamshell-shaped roof formed of a plurality of multi-paned, paired trapezoidal chutes (1) around a central chamber, the chutes (1) altogether assembled into a clamshell configuration, each of the chutes (1) including transparent outer covers on top and bottom of the chutes (1) as top and bottom layers referred to as panes, a reflective film (22), and a heat-absorbing material screen (21) in between the top and bottom outer covers as intermediate layers, configured to heat air inside the cavity formed between the transparent outer covers on top and bottom of the chutes (1) by exposure to the Sun and direct the heated air upward inside the greenhouse;
- a plurality of beams supporting the top and bottom of the chutes (1) and forming the sides of the chutes (1), with the top rails or joists of the beams (3) holding the sides and edges of the chutes (1) forming the roof of the greenhouse, by standard joists for roof support;
- a plurality of concrete piers (5) as strong footings supporting the greenhouse base, a plurality of columns (25), and keeping the greenhouse structure solid under extreme wind conditions;
- a plurality of vanes configured to impart a rotational direction to the heated air, including upper vanes referred to as chute vanes (32), and lower vanes referred to as interior greenhouse vanes (33), arranged around a swirl chamber (27) at the top of the greenhouse, configured to guide the heated air into a vortex of pressurized heated airflow referred to as the vortex;
- a plurality of vents, including upper vents referred to as chute vents (28), and lower vents referred to as interior greenhouse vents (29), to pour the heated air into the swirl chamber (27);
- an electric wind turbine (10) with blades of the turbine (43) positioned within the swirl chamber (27) rotated by the vortex, and operable to convert kinetic energy of the vortex formed by the heated air pouring into the swirl chamber (27) from the chutes (1) and the interior of the greenhouse (55) into electricity;
- a stack (16) and cone (2) assembly at the top of the greenhouse, positioned above the swirl chamber (27) to stabilize and vertically guide the vortex upwards to exhaust out of an orifice located above the swirl chamber (27) at the top of the greenhouse;
- a plurality of shutters that form an air-cooling system, including electric ventilation shutters (11) and emergency pressure relief shutters (42);
- a plurality of dampers including an operable damper door (23), upper dampers for chute vanes (32) referred to as chute dampers (30), and lower dampers for interior greenhouse vanes (33) referred to as interior greenhouse dampers (31);
- at least one orifice door system referred to as an orifice closure device (35);
- a plurality of misters (34);
- a plurality of actuators (24) with a photocell sensor on top of each of the actuators;
- a plurality of anemometers (40);
- a plurality of thermostats (41);
- a plurality of radiators (46);
- a catwalk (6) around the top of the greenhouse with a ladder (7) to reach the catwalk (6) for easy access to the interior of the swirl chamber (27) and vortex-producing equipment;
- an equipment, airlock control, and maintenance building referred to as equipment building (8) with a plurality of electrical equipment (13) inside it;
- a central mono pole support for the roof of the greenhouse, referred to as a central support pole (12);
- a plurality of sails (39) positioned within the central chamber to impart rotational motion to the heated air rising from the interior of the greenhouse (55) and guiding the heated air up to the interior greenhouse vanes (33);
- at least one structural ring (38) consisting of an upper structural ring (38a) and a lower structural ring (38b);
- a perforated metal panel (44) at the top of the stack (16) that allows the heated air to flow from the emergency pressure relief shutters (42), along the outside of the cone (2), and then out of the perforated metal panel (44) at the top of the stack (16);
- an attachment (47) of the plurality of sails (39) to the plurality of columns (25) at each of the corners of the greenhouse;
- a plurality of solar heat collectors (48);
- a plurality of pumps (49);
- at least one storage tank for antifreeze solution (50);
- at least one storage tank for clean, non-salty fresh water (51);
- at least one storage tank for nutrient-rich water (56);
- a field of an array of solar heat collectors (52);
- a network of piping systems (53);
- a plurality of diagonal braces (45) attached to the angles of the sides of the greenhouse, to help keep a plurality of columns (25) vertical and sides square;
- and
- a climate-controlled interior of the greenhouse (55) configured for hydroponic cultivation of plants beneath the chutes (1) forming the roof of the greenhouse, with a gravel base (14) floor of the greenhouse and Lexan panels referred to as Lexan windows (15) for allowing natural light to enter along all the sides of the greenhouse into the interior of the greenhouse (55) for the growth of the plants,
- wherein the plurality of multi-paned, paired trapezoidal chutes (1) comprises triangular modules arranged in a substantially circular array, and each of the chutes (1) is wider at the bottom than at the top to accelerate airflow upward inside the chutes (1), and is at least double-paned, meaning it has two panes,
- wherein the clamshell-shaped geometry of the roof of the greenhouse formed by the plurality of multi-paned, paired trapezoidal chutes (1) arranged radially around a central axis comprises a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface configured to focus solar radiation and guide airflow toward the swirl chamber (27),
- wherein the clamshell-shaped geometry of the roof of the greenhouse induces spiral flow vectors converging toward a central axis,
- wherein the plurality of beams has each of the beams as a standard-type beam with webbing in its center and top rails or joists of the beams (3) with ends that are bolted to a central structural ring (38) that surrounds the turbine (10) at the top of the roof, and bottom rails or joists of the beams (18) with ends that are bolted to the plurality of columns (25) that form the edges of the multiple sides of the building,
- wherein the beams are comprised of the top rails or joists of the beams (3), the bottom rails or joists of the beams (18), a webbing made of metal in the center of the beams (9) for Lexan sheathing that supports the top rails or joists of the beams (3), the bottom rails or joists of the beams (18), sheets of Lexan plastic panels (17) that seal the central webbing area encasing both sides of the webbing inside the beams,
- wherein the plurality of beams is structured such that in the Northern Hemisphere, the two centermost, longest beams face directly South to match the Sun's highest location in the sky in that hemisphere such the Sun shines directly inside them during the longest day of the summer, and in the Southern Hemisphere, the two centermost, longest beams face directly North to match the Sun's highest location in the sky in that hemisphere such the Sun shines directly inside them during the longest day of the Winter, while the remaining beams are mounted at angles consecutively higher on both the West and East sides such that the final beams at the end of each side are more elevated than the centermost chutes (1) forming the roof of the greenhouse,
- wherein the central support pole (12) placement inside the greenhouse is structured such that it lays the plurality of beams and the plurality of multi-paned, paired trapezoidal chutes (1) back to internally transmit more Solar energy throughout the year when the position of the Sun varies in height,
- wherein the transparent outer covers in the chutes (1) provide shape to the roof of the greenhouse for visible light capture, and heating of air in the greenhouse, and the two panes heat the ambient air inside the double-paned chutes (1) to generate pressurized heated airflow, the ambient air is the air that entered from a lower intake opening of the chutes (4) at each of the chutes (1),
- wherein the two panes in the double-paned chutes (1) include a top plastic, UV-resistant, and transparent sheet covering for the roof of the greenhouse, referred to as upper pane (19) of the chutes (1), and a bottom plastic and transparent sheet covering of the roof for the greenhouse, referred to as lower pane (20) of the chutes (1),
- wherein the upper pane (19) of the chutes (1) covers the clamshell configuration of the greenhouse in its entirety as the top pane of the roof of the greenhouse,
- wherein the plurality of multi-paned, paired trapezoidal chutes (1) forming the roof of the greenhouse has each of the double-paned chutes (1) between the plurality of beams with a trapezoidal passage, the lower intake opening of the chutes (4), and one of the chute vanes (32) at the top of each of the chutes (1),
- wherein the trapezoidal passage which forms an air chamber (26) by the sheets of Lexan plastic panels (17) that seal with the use of silicon caulk the central webbing area encasing both sides of the webbing inside the beams, the upper pane (19) of the chutes (1) and the lower pane (20) of the chutes (1) forming the roof of the greenhouse and the chute dampers (30) sealing the top of the chutes (1), and operable damper door (23) sealing the bottom of the chutes (1) and altogether the air chamber (26) so formed is completely sealed to move the heated air inside the chutes (1),
- wherein the chutes (1), altogether assembled into a clamshell configuration, are oriented at an angle substantially perpendicular to incoming solar rays from the Sun at the latitude of installation of the greenhouse, meaning the latitude where the greenhouse is located on the Earth,
- wherein the chute vents (28) pour the heated air coming from the chutes (1) into the chute vanes (32) that surround the swirl chamber (27), and the interior greenhouse vents (29) pour the heated air coming from the interior of the greenhouse (55) into the interior greenhouse vanes (33) that surround the swirl chamber (27),
- wherein the swirl chamber (27) has the chute vents (28), the chute vanes (32), the interior greenhouse vents (29), and the interior greenhouse vanes (33) are angled counterclockwise when the greenhouse is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth and clockwise when the greenhouse is located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth to take advantage of the Coriolis forces which tend to spin a vortex in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and spin a vortex in a counterclockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere,
- wherein the vortex is produced from the heated air partly produced in the chutes (1) by heating ambient air entering the chutes (1) from lower intake openings (4) for the chutes (1) are formulated to resist ultraviolet light from the Sun, so they do not break down from exposure to the Sun,
- wherein the chutes (1) produce an extra capacity hot air pressure system that rotates the blades of the turbine (43) that drives electrical energy production by the turbine (10) at the top of the clamshell,
- wherein the stack (16) and cone (2) assembly allow the vortex to pass directly in the center of the turbine (10) oriented towards the top of the greenhouse, protects against drag, keeps the vortex vertical, and protects it from side winds,
- wherein the electrical equipment (13) inside the equipment building (8) thermostatically controls the plurality of shutters, the plurality of dampers, and the orifice door system to regulate airflow and temperature in the greenhouse,
- wherein the electric wind turbine (10) is positioned below the cone (2) in an assembly that allows the vortex to exhaust out of the greenhouse as its rotational airflow is converted into electricity by rotating the blades of the turbine (43),
- wherein the turbine (10) generates electricity which is stored in grid-scale batteries, which are part of the plurality of electrical equipment (13) inside the equipment building (8), and powers both greenhouse operations and external systems,
- wherein the emergency pressure relief shutters (42) are positioned adjacent to but outside the swirl chamber (27), configured to vent excess air pressure in response to the turbine (10) over-revving, causing electrical problems, or destructive wind conditions, thereby protecting the greenhouse and maintaining plant-sustaining temperatures inside the greenhouse,
- wherein the plurality of columns (25) supports the corners of each of the sides of the greenhouse and the bottom edges of the beams (3),
- wherein the orifice closure device (35) is positioned above the swirl chamber to shut off upward airflow in response to environmental conditions selectively,
- wherein the plurality of dampers has a spring and latch system (37) for each of the dampers to seal the dampers, the spring and latch system (37) comprising a snap latch (37a), an electric striker plate (37b), and a spring-loaded adjustable hinge (37c), and the spring and latch system is configured to regulate the opening and closing of each of the dampers based on and in response to air pressure and temperature actuated by signals from the plurality of actuators (24), the plurality of anemometers (40), and the plurality of thermostats (41),
- wherein the plurality of thermostats (41) is calibrated to maintain interior temperatures inside the interior of the greenhouse (55) between 45° F. and 85° F. for optimal plant growth,
- wherein the plurality of anemometers (40) is situated at the top of the greenhouse at the handrails of the catwalk (6) and sends a signal to close the orifice closure device (35) if the wind outside is above a destructive speed that makes the vortex dangerous for buildings around the greenhouse,
- wherein the sides undergo structural expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, as part of the structure is heated by the Sun while another part remains in shade,
- wherein the central support pole (12) has four angular supports to hold up the structural ring (38),
- wherein the central support pole (12) supports the internal structure inside the greenhouse, including the interior greenhouse vanes (33), the turbine (10), the cone (2), and the stack (16) to hold them in place with angled supports holding a lower structural ring (38b),
- wherein the upper structural ring (38a) is attached to the catwalk (6) and is situated just above the blades of the turbine (43), and the orifice closure device (35) is supported and encircled by the upper structural ring (38a),
- wherein the plurality of sails (39) comprises transparent sheets arranged in a corkscrew configuration and encircle the interior of the greenhouse (55) to impart rotational motion to the heated air from the interior of the greenhouse (55),
- wherein the plurality of sails (39) is shaped into long trough-shaped structures that capture the rising heated air and nudge it into a slow-moving vortex that then rises into the interior greenhouse vanes (33) to spin the interior air more quickly, until that air from the interior of the greenhouse (55) is sucked into the faster-moving air from the chutes (1) flowing to the swirl chamber (27) and this additional internal air from the interior of the greenhouse (55) supplements the faster-moving air from the chutes (1),
- wherein the greenhouse with the clamshell-shaped roof maintains the temperature inside the greenhouse for the plants growing in the interior of the greenhouse (55), and for the heated air inside the greenhouse, in part by sending the heated air up and out of the greenhouse to exhaust out of the greenhouse via the cone (2),
- wherein the greenhouse with the clamshell-shaped roof maximizes the exposure to the Sun without burning the plants growing inside the interior of the greenhouse (55), via various mechanisms including through absorption of the Sun's heat onto the gravel base (14) floor of the greenhouse, having large shuttered openings via the electric ventilation shutters (11) to allow in ambient air to the greenhouse,
- wherein the plurality of anemometers (40), which are wind speed sensors located on top of the greenhouse, the plurality of thermostats (41), which are temperature sensors located at different locations on top of and inside the greenhouse, and the plurality of actuators (24) with photocell sensors, regulate opening and closing of the plurality of dampers including the operable damper door (23), the chute dampers (30), and the interior greenhouse dampers (31), and opening and closing of the plurality of shutters including the electric ventilation shutters (11) and the emergency pressure relief shutters (42),
- wherein the plurality of shutters, including the electric ventilation shutters (11) and the emergency pressure relief shutters (42), are remote-controlled and powered interconnected for greenhouse ventilation for air cooling and pressure relief,
- wherein the equipment building (8) is sealed with a pressure seal damper to maintain an airlock when the temperature outside is low, as sensed by the plurality of thermostats (41), or when the winds are high, as sensed by the plurality of anemometers (40) and holds the electrical equipment (13) including a heavy-duty, high-capacity battery and an electrical inverter like that used for the electrical grid to take the alternating current electricity from the turbine (10) and turn that alternating current electricity into the direct current electricity used by the battery,
- wherein the ladder (7) is located above the equipment building (8) that rises to the catwalk (6) that provides easy access to the interior of the vortex-producing equipment inside the swirl chamber (27),
- wherein the electric ventilation shutters (11) located along the sides of the greenhouse are thermostatically controlled by signals from the plurality of thermostats (41) to open when the temperature in the interior of the greenhouse (55) is above a set temperature and close when the temperature in the interior of the greenhouse (55) is below the set temperature,
- wherein the electric ventilation shutters (11), the emergency pressure relief shutters (42), the orifice closure device (35), the stack (16) and cone (2) assembly, the lower intake openings (4), any other inlets of air into the greenhouse, and any other exhaust vents of air to the outside from inside the greenhouse are fitted with fine mesh screening to keep out dust and parasites that can affect the plants growing inside the greenhouse,
- wherein the plurality of dampers are employed to specially angled to control the plurality of vents to self-adjust their pressure output such that air from all of the vents is maximized and equalized at the same time to avoid a situation where the air that goes into the swirl chamber (27) from those vents with maximum airflow end up leaking into the low airflow vents which are vents that do not produce much heated airflow upward, and the low airflow vents siphon off the air from the surrounding chutes (1), reducing the power of air that goes to the swirl chamber (27) and then the vortex inside the swirl chamber (27),
- wherein the orifice closure device (35) in the center of the roof above the swirl chamber (27) is used to seal the heated air inside the greenhouse during cold nights,
- wherein the plurality of pumps (49) comprises pumps (49) carrying various liquids from one place to an+96+ other in and around the greenhouse, with each pump (49) having a rotary pump for a liquid and an electric motor for driving the pump (49), wherein the liquid is selected from a group consisting of antifreeze solution;
- cool clean, non-salty fresh water;
- hot clean, non-salty fresh water;
- and
- nutrient-rich water, wherein the plurality of pumps (49) are powered by the turbine (10) at the top of the greenhouse,
- wherein the network of piping systems (53) moves the various liquids from one place to another in and around the greenhouse, pumped by the plurality of pumps (49),
- wherein the interior of the greenhouse (55) further comprises a plurality of hydroponic systems (57), and a plant growth lighting system (54) to support year-round plant cultivation and growth, and
- wherein the solar heat collectors (48) are an array of simple black corrugated metal panels that use surface of the corrugated metal panels to transfer the heat from the Sun to the antifreeze solution running over it to result in heated antifreeze solution and capture the heated antifreeze solution and transfer it to the next solar heat collector in the plurality of the solar heat collectors (48).