# US 7,757,490 B2 · Power generation from solar and waste heat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,757,490 B2 - Document ID: US7757490B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/565,518 - Filed: 2004-07-21 - Published: 2006-07-20 - Granted: 2010-07-20 - Earliest claimed: 2003-07-21 - Assignees: Morph Pty Limited - Inventors: Steven Kenessey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7757490B2 ## CPC - F03D 9/45: Building formations - F03G 6/045: {by producing an updraft of heated gas or a downdraft of cooled gas, e.g. air driving an engine} - F24S 90/00: Solar heat systems not otherwise provided for - F05B 2240/131: by means of vertical structures, i.e. chimneys - F05B 2250/25: helical - F05B 2260/24: for draft enhancement in chimneys, using solar or other heat sources - Y02A 30/60: Planning or developing urban green infrastructure - Y02B 10/20: Solar thermal - Y02B 10/30: Wind power - Y02B 10/70: Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies - Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The invention relates to the generation of electricity and the ventilation of urban areas with the use of waste heat from air-conditioning systems, waste organic matter, fuel cells and wind. A first aspect relates to the creation of a column of rising air in a stack to drive electricity-generating turbines. A second aspect relates to the use of wind energy to create a helix shape upward flow of air that may preferably augment the functioning of the first aspect. An advantage of the system is that by transferring waste heat from urban environments above habitable areas the problem of the so-called heat island effect is greatly alleviated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energy generating power plant for integration with a high rise building and which is capable of energizing at least one power generating device, and receiving atmospheric wind energy from a first location and capturing the energy for transfer to another location to augment energy requirements of the building; the plant comprising: a stack integrated with the building and having a base and at least one inlet and at least one outlet; the at least one inlet leading to at least one through passage in the stack which each receive air drawn from an air source exterior of the building; the air source generating an air stream upon entry into said at least one inlet thereby moving the air stream from the first location to said other location via a formation generating a vortex; the at least one passage in the stack communicating between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet and which each receive the air stream drawn from the air source; the stream of air moving within the passage under the energy generated by said wind energy; the energy from the moving air stream being usable to energize an energy receiving device within the building for conversion or diversion of the energy; and the formation comprising at least one helix extending longitudinally along the stack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An energy generating power plant according to claim 1 wherein the helix formation includes first and second helical sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A power plant according to claim 2 wherein the first and second helix sections respectively define first and second helix passages. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A power plant according to claim 3 wherein the first and second helix passages are separated from each other by a valve assembly which selectively allows air communication between said first and second passages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A power plant according to claim 4 wherein, the helix formations also incorporate a stairway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A power plant according to claim 5 wherein the stack is used to transfer air from surrounding city structures. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A power plant according to claim 6 wherein the power generating device provides power for at least one building. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A power plant according to claim 7 wherein the atmospheric wind contributes to a vortex updraft in the helix formations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A power plant according to claim 8 wherein the building further comprises a cladding defining at least one internal space between an outer surface of the cladding and an outer surface of the building. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A power plant according to claim 9 wherein air in said at least one internal space is heated by solar power. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A power plant according to claim 10 wherein the cladding comprises at least one layer of glass which allows solar radiation to pass therethrough, thereby heating the air in the at least one space which supplements air drawn into said stack from the atmosphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A power plant according to claim 11 wherein the at least one space is capable of receiving water for heating by solar power. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A power plant according to claim 12 wherein heated air rising in said helix spiral is supplemented by air heated in said space between the cladding and said building. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A power plant according to claim 13 wherein, the at least one space includes solar radiation collectors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A power plant according to claim 14 wherein each solar radiation collector includes at least one air passage which receive thermal energy from a heating source to supplement heating of air drawn into the building. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A power plant according to claim 15 wherein condensate from said cladding surfaces is collected by a pipe network for use as a water supply. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A power plant according to claim 16 wherein said heating source is provided by waste heat of air conditioning systems from nearby structures. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A power plant according to claim 16 wherein said heating source is provided by water circulated in glazing systems. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A power plant according to claim 17 wherein said heating source is provided by heat absorbed by hard surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A power plant according to claim 17 wherein said heating source is provided by heat trapped by glass roofs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) A power plant according to claim 17 wherein said heating source is provided by piped hot water. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) A power plant according to claim 17 wherein the stack is inside the building. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) A power plant according to claim 17 wherein the stack is located outside the building. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A power plant according to claim 23 wherein a baffle channels said air along passages in said stack to generate an air spiral. ### Claim 25 An energy generating power plant for integration with a high rise building and which is capable of energizing at least one power generating device, and receiving atmospheric wind energy from a first location and capturing the energy for transfer to another location to augment energy requirements of the building; the plant comprising: a stack integrated with the building and having a base and at least one inlet and at least one outlet; the at least one inlet leading to at least one through passage in the stack which each receive air drawn from an air source exterior of the building; the air source generating an air stream upon entry into said at least one inlet thereby moving the air stream from the first location to said other location via a formation generating a vortex; the at least one passage in the stack communicating between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet and which each receive the air stream drawn from the air source; the stream of air moving within the passage under the energy generated by said wind energy; the energy from the moving air stream being usable to energize an energy receiving device within the building for conversion or diversion of the energy; and the formation comprising at least one helix extending longitudinally along the stack, wherein a baffle channels said air along passages in said stack to generate an air spiral, and wherein said baffle is computer controlled and the inlets to the stack include adjustable louvers.