Windmill power apparatus and method

Patent · Tue Jun 26 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6339709

Earle, J L

Air compressed by a windmill-driven compressor is stored as liquid in an underground cryogenic insulated tank. Pressurized air released from the tank is vaporized by a refrigerant circuit, heated, and used to operate an air motor which drives an electrical generator. Heat of compression extracted by compressor coolant heats vaporized air entering the motor and heats water stored in a ground-level tank located directly above the cryogenic tank. Solar and fossil fuel heating circuits further heat vaporized air entering the motor. Motor exhaust is used as a coolant in refrigeration circuits. The inlet and outlet conduits to the cryogenic tank are arranged to effect heat exchange. The windmill has a vertical axis rotor with curved blades mounted in a vaned housing.

• Assignee: EDB-84-189572
• Patent Number(s): US 4455834
• OSTI ID: 6339709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170602* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250200 -- Energy Storage-- Compressed & Liquified Gas
AIR
COMPRESSED AIR
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE
COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
COMPRESSED GASES
COMPRESSORS
CONTAINERS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS COMPRESSORS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATERS
MACHINERY
RADIATIONS
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
STORAGE
TANKS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VERTICAL AXIS TURBINES
WASTES
WIND TURBINES