# US 9,038,385 B1 · System for extracting energy from wind and thermal gradients > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,385 B1 - Document ID: US9038385B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/757,836 - Filed: 2013-02-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-03 - Applicants: Kyung N. Khim - Inventors: Kyung N. Khim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038385B1 ## CPC - F03D 9/30: Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (means for mounting or supporting wind motors F03D13/20) - F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators - F03D 9/007: {the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy} - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 9/35: within towers, e.g. using chimney effects - F03D 13/25: specially adapted for offshore installation - F03D 80/00: Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00 - F03D 80/70: Bearing or lubricating arrangements - F03G 6/045: {by producing an updraft of heated gas or a downdraft of cooled gas, e.g. air driving an engine} - H02J 3/04: Arrangements for connecting networks of the same frequency but supplied from different sources - F03D 1/02: having a plurality of rotors - F05B 2260/24: for draft enhancement in chimneys, using solar or other heat sources - 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 10/727: Offshore wind turbines - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02P 80/10: Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - 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 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract An inverted funnel-shaped columnar tower (115) includes a window region (120), a heat absorbing surface (130), an air entrance (116) and exit (117). Solar energy passes through the window region and heats the heat absorbing surface. A plurality of fans (145), each connected to a generator (150), are suspended within the tower and extract energy from convectively rising air, generating electricity. A fan (160) outside the tower intercepts wind and turns an internal fan (145′) that aids the convective flow, providing a self-starting feature. A plurality of rotors (100) with wings (705) are connected in groups to generators (725) and all are arranged adjacent the tower. The rotors intercept wind energy and deliver it to the generators for conversion to electricity. The rotors include a flap (800) that predetermines the direction of rotation of the rotor, providing a second self-starting feature. The convection and wind capture functions operate independently. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for extracting energy from wind and thermal gradients, comprising: a source of air, a source of solar energy, a funnel-shaped columnar structure having a larger end and a smaller end and an exterior and an interior, said larger end being an entrance for air and said and said smaller end being an exit for said air, said structure being oriented so that said smaller end forms a top and said larger end forms a bottom of said structure, a window region extending over at least a portion of said structure and arranged to admit said solar energy to said interior of said structure, a layer of heat absorbing material beneath said structure arranged to receive and be heated by said solar energy that is admitted to said interior of said structure, thereby heating said air adjacent to said layer of heat absorbing material and urging said air to rise convectively within said interior of said structure, a plurality of fans of a first kind secured to said interior of said structure, said fans of said first kind being oriented so that they are urged to rotate by said air that rises vertically within said interior of said structure, each of said fans of said first kind having means for transferring rotary motion to an electrical generator attached thereto, an exterior fan of a second kind secured to said structure and located outside and adjacent said exit of said structure, said exterior fan of said second kind arranged to rotate in response to wind blowing at said structure and in turn arranged to transfer said rotary motion to one of said fans of said first kind and said electrical generator attached thereto, thereby to cause said generator and said interior fan of said first kind to rotate so that said interior fan of said first kind urges said air to leave said structure via said exit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a second layer of heat absorbing material on top of said first-named layer of heat absorbing material for receiving additional heat from said solar radiation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said second layer comprises a black material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said layer of heat absorbing material is mixed with a predetermined amount of black material in order to receive additional heat from said solar radiation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a pipe arrangement for circulating a heat trapping fluid within said layer of heat absorbing material for increasing the heat-trapping capability of said system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further including a pump connected in said pipe arrangement for improving circulation of said heat trapping fluid within said pipe arrangement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein said pipe arrangement is configured so that circulation of said heat trapping fluid within said pipe arrangement is urged by convection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including an electrical load connected to said electrical generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further including a one-way clutch interposed between said exterior fan of said second kind and said one of said fans of said first kind and said generator attached thereto so that said one-way clutch disengages when said exterior fan of said second kind rotates more slowly than said interior fan of said first kind. ### Claim 10 A system for extracting energy from wind and thermal gradients, comprising: an inverted funnel-shaped columnar structure containing a plurality of fans of a first type for extracting energy from convective air flow due to heating by solar radiation, each of said fans being rotatably connected to an electrical generator for generating electricity, and a fan of a second type rotatably connected to one of said fans of said first type for urging convection in said convective air flow, and a plurality of rotors arranged in layers on a post-and-beam structure located outside said inverted funnel-shaped columnar structure that are urged to turn in a predetermined direction by wind air flow, each of said rotors being connected to an electrical generator for generating electricity, whereby electrical energy is extracted when said solar radiation is present and when said wind air flow is present, and said electricity derived from said fans and said rotors are independently obtained. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further including a transmission that is operably connected to at least two of said rotors so that said at least two of said rotors urge said second kind of electrical generator to turn and generate electricity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further including a power controller for receiving the electrical output of a plurality of said generators and delivering said electrical output to said electrical load. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said inverted funnel-shaped columnar structure is made of materials selected from the group consisting of concrete, a concrete composite material, metal, a lightweight metal composite material, and plastic composite materials. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said inverted funnel-shaped columnar structure further includes a transparent window made of materials selected from the group consisting of glass and polycarbonate plastic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein said fans are made of materials selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and reinforced composite plastic materials. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further including a load connected to said electrical generator.