Solar-wind energy conversion system

Patent · Tue Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6406157

Lewis, A C

A combined solar-wind energy conversion system in which the combined effects of solar and wind energy are utilized in raising water from a lower to an upper water storage tank to increase its potential energy for generation of electricity. Incoming solar energy heats water to form steam which is temporarily stored. The stored steam is vented to one of first and second steam storage tanks from which it is coupled to first and second water pumping tanks. When the water enters one of the water pumping tanks, it forces the water temporarily sotred therein to flow upwards the first steam storage tank. As soon as the water pumping tank is emptied, the steam condenses forming a partial vacuum in the tank. The vacuum causes water to be drawn from the lower water storage tank into the corresponding water pumping tank and the process repeated. The second water pumping tank is filled while the first water storage tank is emptied. Water flowing from the first water storage tank turns an electrical generator. Wind energy is also used to raise water from the second water storage tank to the first water storage tank to increase the available energy. When excess electrical energy is available, it is used to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen which are stored for later burning during periods when insufficient wind and solar energy are available.

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4462213
• OSTI ID: 6406157
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 16 Oct 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-311814
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
17 WIND ENERGY
08 HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
ELECTROLYSIS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
STEAM GENERATORS
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES
DESIGN
FEEDWATER
HEAT STORAGE
PUMPING
STEAM GENERATION
TANKS
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
WATER
BOILERS
CONTAINERS
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
MACHINERY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STORAGE
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VAPOR GENERATORS
140700* - Solar Thermal Power Systems
170603 - Wind Energy Engineering- Power-Conversion Systems
080101 - Hydrogen- Production- Electrolysis