Method of and system for generating energy from solar and wind energy sources
AssigneeSolwin Industries, Inc.
InventorCharles S. Hope
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Solar and wind energy sources are combined into a unitary system for generating electrical energy. A solar collector collects solar rays, and these rays are focused by a parabolic mirror before being conducted through a fresnel tube to a container which minimizes thermal exchange with the exterior environment. The thermal energy of the rays within the container is converted to mechanical energy by a boiler and a steam-operated turbine. A wind collector converts air currents to mechanical energy which is selectively mechanically coupled to the mechanical energy derived from the solar collector prior to being converted to electrical energy.
Claims14
A system for generating energy from solar and wind energy sources for use in building structures, particularly for domestic use in homes, comprising:
- (a) solar collector means for collecting incident solar rays, and for directing the collected rays along a predetermined path;
- (b) first heat exchanger means including a main fluid circuit along which a vaporizable fluid circulates, said first heat exchanger means being located in the predetermined path for exchanging heat energy with the collected solar rays therein, and for converting the vaporizable fluid in one part of the main circuit to a vaporized gas in another part thereof;
- (c) means for converting the thermal energy contained in the vaporized gas to mechanical energy;
- (d) wind collector means for collecting incident wind energy, and for converting the collected wind energy to mechanical energy;
- (e) means for converting both the mechanical energy derived from the solar rays and the mechanical energy derived from the wind energy to electrical energy, to thereby combine the dual solar and wind energy sources into a unitary power system;
- and
- (f) second heat exchanger means including a service circuit along which water for domestic use circulates, said second heat exchanger being also located in the predetermined path for exchanging heat energy with the collected solar rays therein, and for heating colder water in one portion of the service circuit to hotter water in another part thereof, to thereby supply heated water for domestic use in the home.
A method of generating energy from solar and wind energy sources for use in building structures, particularly for domestic use in homes, comprising the steps of:
- (a) collecting incident solar rays, and directing the collected rays along a predetermined path;
- (b) circulating a vaporizable fluid along a main fluid circuit;
- (c) converting the vaporizable fluid in one part of the main circuit to a vaporized gas in another part therof by exchanging heat energy between the vaporizable fluid and the collected rays;
- (d) converting thermal energy contained in the vaporized gas to mechanical energy;
- (e) collecting incident wind energy, and converting the collected wind energy to mechanical energy;
- (f) converting both the mechanical energy derived from the solar rays and the mechanical energy derived from the wind energy to electrical energy to thereby combine the dual solar and wind energy sources into a unitary power system;
- (g) circulating water for domestic use along a service circuit;
- and
- (h) heating colder water in one portion of the service circuit to hotter water in another part thereof by exchanging heat energy between the water and the collected rays, to thereby supply heated water for domestic use in the home.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.