Patent ID: 9038385
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: F01D,F03D,F03G,F05B,H02J,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
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.