Hybrid system for electric power generation from solar-thermal energy and wind energy sources

{
  "publication_number": "US9562521B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Hybrid system for electric power generation from solar-thermal energy and wind energy sources",
  "abstract": "A hybrid system for electric power generation from solar-thermal energy and wind energy sources is described. The system includes a wind electric power generation system, a solar-thermal generation system and an air compressing system powered by a wind electric power generation system, and a compressed air storage system. A solar-thermal generation system includes two air receivers illuminated by heliostats to heat compressed atmospheric air provided from a compressed air storage system for driving the solar-thermal generation system. The hybrid system also includes a thermal energy storage system storing thermal energy and preheating the pressurized atmospheric air flow provided by the compressed air storage system.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A hybrid system for electric power generation from solar-thermal energy and wind energy sources, comprising: a wind turbine electric power generation system (101) configured for receiving wind to generate electric power; an air compressing system (102) including: a compressor (4) electrically coupled to said wind turbine electric power generation system (101) and driven by the electric power received therefrom, and an air cooling system (105) configured for passing atmospheric air through the compressing system (102) for cooling thereof and for releasing heat removal air having a temperature higher than a temperature of the atmospheric air; a compressed air storage system (48) configured for receiving compressed atmospheric air from said air compressing system (102) and for storing the compressed atmospheric air at a predetermined pressure; a first air receiver (5) configured for receiving the compressed atmospheric air flowing from said compressed air storage system (48), heating the compressed atmospheric air to a predetermined heating temperature, and releasing a pressurized heated air flow; a thermal energy storage system (3) being in air flow communication with the air cooling system (105) and with said compressed air storage system (48), said thermal energy storage system (3) configured for storing thermal energy transferred from the air cooling system (105) and preheating the compressed atmospheric air provided by said compressed air storage system (48); a second air receiver (6) being configured for receiving the preheated compressed air flowing from said thermal energy storage system (3), further heating the preheated compressed air to a predetermined heating temperature and for releasing a pressurized heated air flow; a plurality of heliostats (1) configured for receiving solar light and reflecting the solar light into said first air receiver (5) and said second air receiver (6); a three-ports valve (26) having a first valve inlet (262) being in gas flow communication with said first air receiver (5), a second valve inlet (263) being in gas flow communication with said second air receiver (6) and a valve outlet (261); and an electric power thermal generation system (111) being in gas flow communication with the valve outlet of said three-ports valve (26), and configured for receiving a pressurized heated air flow from either one or from both the first air receiver (5) and the second air receiver (6) to generate electric power.",
    "2. The hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising a second three-ports valve (20) having one first valve inlet (201) being in gas flow communication with the compressed air storage system (48) and two first valve outlets (202, 203), said second three-ports valve (20) configured to permit connection of the first valve inlet (201) to either of the first valve outlets (202, 203).",
    "3. The hybrid system of claim 1, further comprising a fan (2) being in gas flow communication with said second air receiver (6) and with said thermal energy storage system (3); the fan being configured to provide air circulation between said second air receiver (6) and said thermal energy storage system (3) for transferring heat therebetween.",
    "4. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein said wind turbine electric power generation system (101) includes: a tower (25); and an electric power generating apparatus (250) rotatably mounted to the tower (25) to rotate about a vertical axis (200) of rotation centrally passing through the tower (25); the power generating apparatus (250) including: a blade section (180) comprising a plurality of turbine blades (29), and a rotation hub (28) to which the blades (29) are connected; and a nacelle section (22) comprising a rotary speed changing drive system (221) mechanically coupled to the blade section (180), and a wind electric power generator (27) mechanically coupled to the rotary speed changing drive system (221).",
    "5. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the air compressing system (102) includes a booster (50).",
    "6. The hybrid system of claim 5, wherein the cooling system (105) includes an air inlet (106) and an air heat removal outlet (104), the air cooling system (105) being configured for receiving the atmospheric air through the air inlet (106), and for releasing the heat removal air through the air heat removal outlet (104).",
    "7. The hybrid system of claim 5, wherein said heat removal air from the air cooling system (105) is fed to the thermal energy storage system (3).",
    "8. The hybrid system of claim 4, wherein the first air receiver (5) and the second air receiver (6) are mounted on the tower (25) under the electric power generating apparatus (250).",
    "9. The hybrid system of claim 4, wherein the thermal energy storage system (3) includes a housing containing heat capacitive elements (36) comprising at least one type of elements selected from a ceramic three dimensional matrix, checker-work heat medium elements, a rock-bed, and pebbles.",
    "10. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the electric power thermal generation system (111) includes a thermal turbine (23) activated by the pressurized heated air flows provided by the first air receiver (5) and the second air receiver (6).",
    "11. The hybrid system of claim 4, wherein the electric power generated by the wind turbine electric power generation system (101) is combined with the electric power generated by the electric power thermal generation system (111).",
    "12. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the thermal energy storage system (3) is configured to have a gradually varying temperature profile during operation.",
    "13. The hybrid system of claim 12, wherein a highest temperature of the gradually varying temperature profile is around 800° C., and a lowest temperature of the gradually varying temperature profile is around 200° C.",
    "14. The hybrid system of claim 13, wherein the thermal energy storage system (3) includes a heater (49) configured to maintain the highest temperature of the gradually varying temperature profile during operation.",
    "15. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein at least one air receiver selected from the first air receiver (5) and the second air receiver (6) includes: two receiver headers (31 a, 31 b), each having a tubular shape and being in a parallel arrangement with each other; and a plurality of absorber tubes (32) coupling the receiver headers (31 a, 31 b) to provide a gas communication between the receiver headers (31 a, 31 b).",
    "16. The hybrid system of claim 15, wherein each absorber tube (32) has an omega-type shape having two leg portions (322, 323) at ends of each absorber tube (32), wherein the ends of each absorber tube (32) are attached to the receiver headers (31 a, 31 b), and each absorber tube (32) further comprises a round portion (321) positioned between the leg portions (322, 323).",
    "17. The hybrid system of claim 16, wherein the at least one air receiver (5 or 6) also includes a receiver shield (30) surrounding the round portions (321) of the absorber tubes (32), the receiver shield forming a receiver cavity (330) in which the round portions (321) of the absorber tubes (32) are located.",
    "18. The hybrid system of claim 17, wherein the receiver shield (30) has a highly reflective inner surface that faces the absorber tubes (32).",
    "19. The hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the compressed air storage system (48) includes a cavity (52) arranged in the ground at a predetermined depth, and an underground pressure tank (485) mounted within the cavity (52).",
    "20. The hybrid system of claim 19, wherein the underground pressure tank (485) includes an inflatable elastic balloon (53).",
    "21. The hybrid system of claim 19, wherein the underground pressure tank (485) further includes a water balloon (57) arranged within the inflatable elastic balloon (53)."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to a system and method for solar energy utilization, and more specifically to a system and method for generation of electricity.\n\nA significant amount of research and development has been undertaken in recent years towards generation of energy from natural sources, such as sun and wind. Attempts to reduce reliance on oil and coal, such as from foreign sources, have become an important issue. Energy experts fear that some of these resources, including oil, gas and coal, may someday become exhausted.\n\nSolar energy is known as a type of various clean energy sources that can be converted to produce electricity. However, the output of a solar power generating system relies to a great extent on weather conditions. For instance, many solar panels are designed to convert solar energy only during sunny daylight hours. They do not produce significant amounts of energy on cloudy days or during night hours.\n\nWhile solar thermal power may be the most widely known natural source, there exists also the potential for harnessing significant amounts of energy from wind. Wind farms, for example, have been built in many areas where the wind naturally blows. To use wind energy for generation of electricity is a clean, renewable, and ecologically-friendly alternative to traditional fossil-based energy supplies.\n\nOne drawback of using wind as an energy source, however, is that the wind does not always blow, and even if it does, it does not always blow at the same speed, i.e., it is not always reliable.",
  "cpc": [
    "F03G 6/068",
    "F03D 9/001",
    "F03D 9/002",
    "F03D 9/007",
    "F03D 9/17",
    "F03D 9/18",
    "F03D 9/25",
    "F03D 9/255",
    "F03D 9/28",
    "F03G 6/06",
    "Y02E 10/46",
    "Y02E 10/50",
    "Y02E 10/72",
    "Y02E 10/725",
    "Y02E 60/15",
    "Y02E 60/16",
    "Y02E 70/30"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F03D 9/02",
    "F03D 9/00",
    "F03G 6/06"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Or Yogev"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-04-24",
  "publication_date": "2017-02-07",
  "grant_date": "2017-02-07",
  "priority_date": "2012-04-24",
  "application_number": "US-201314396866-A",
  "family_id": "49482307",
  "cited_by_count": 15,
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}