Abstract:
The first goal in this design is to combine Wind and Solar energy creating a new system that will increase the efficiency of the power collection system and which will therefore operate at a higher power density than conventional horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). The second goal is to store the generated energy where it is generated efficiently. The design is designated as a Vertical Axis Solar Turbine (VAST) which maybe suitable for grid power application. The unique method of construction of the VAST would be more visually appealing to the communities that will use it. Further there would be less risk of killing flying animals and insects and the noise level would also be less as there are no spinning blades. The VAST encompasses prior work done in three different fields; wind power, solar PV and energy storage

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application PPA 62,021,279 filed on 2014 Jul. 7 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERAL SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    N/A 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    N/A 
       BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
       [0004]    The following is a tabulation of some of the prior art that presently appears relevant: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Pat. Nos. 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 4,496,283 
                 Jan. 29, 1988 
                 Kodric 
               
               
                   
                 4,729,716 
                 Mar. 8, 1988 
                 Schmidt 
               
               
                   
                 4,818,180 
                 Apr. 4, 1989 
                 Lin 
               
               
                   
                 5,086,664 
                 Feb. 11, 1992 
                 Wagner 
               
               
                   
                 6,016,015 
                 Jan. 18, 2000 
                 Willard 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,853,096 B1 
                 Feb. 8, 2005 
                 Yu 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,399 B2 
                 Apr. 26, 2005 
                 Burstall 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,454 B2 
                 Sep. 13, 2005 
                 Ohlmann 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 7,453,167 B2 
                 Nov. 18, 2008 
                 Gilbert 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 7,931,440 B2 
                 Apr. 26, 2011 
                 Bobowick 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 7,963,112 B1 
                 Jun. 21, 2011 
                 Joseph 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 8,177,481 B2 
                 May 15, 2012 
                 Liang 
               
               
                   
                 U.S. Pat. No. 8,341,957 B2 
                 Jan. 1, 2013 
                 Joseph 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Pending 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 US 2008/0047270 A1 
                 Feb. 28, 2008 
                 Gilbert 
               
               
                   
                 US 2009/0035134 A1 
                 Feb. 5, 2009 
                 Kuo 
               
               
                   
                 US 2009/0066088 A1 
                 Mar. 12, 2009 
                 Liang 
               
               
                   
                 US 2009/0220342 A1 
                 Sep. 3, 2009 
                 Wu 
               
               
                   
                 US 2009/0284018 A1 
                 Nov. 19, 2009 
                 Ellis 
               
               
                   
                 US 2010/0143133 A1 
                 Jun. 10, 1010 
                 Bobowick 
               
               
                   
                 US 2011/0175370 A1 
                 Jul. 21, 2011 
                 Dugas 
               
               
                   
                 US 2011/0200436 A1 
                 Aug. 18, 2011 
                 Wu 
               
               
                   
                 US 2012/0121379 A1 
                 May 17, 2012 
                 Chio 
               
               
                   
                 US 2012/0074705 A1 
                 Mar. 29, 2012 
                 Stephens 
               
               
                   
                 US 2012/0061972 A1 
                 Mar. 15, 2012 
                 Young 
               
               
                   
                 US 2013/0177426 A1 
                 Jul. 11, 2013 
                 Andreu 
               
               
                   
                 US 2014/0265598 A1 
                 Sep. 18, 2014 
                 Isabella 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This VAST relates to a hybrid electrical generation system and advanced storage of said energy; synergizing and combining renewable energy sources, such as wind kinetic energy and solar radiation that can be safely collected efficiently and environmentally and then stored in the VAST for use later. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    There are three basic wind turbine designs that have been developed which are: the horizontal axis wind turbine HAWT Towered; The vertical axis wind turbine VAWT Savonius; and the vertical axis wind turbine VAWT Darrieus, or “eggbeater.” Each of these basic methods has many variations that have been developed over the years. Of these three types of wind turbines only the HAWT types are made in commercial quantities today. 
         [0007]    HAWT Towered turbines are the ones most often seen today as they are being installed all over the country and the world. They have the main rotor and normally three blades, a connecting shaft, the gear box and an electrical generator at the top of a tall tower, and must be pointed into the wind by some method as they are not self orienting. The large blades are connected to a gearbox, which turns the slow rotation of the blades into a quicker rotation that is used to drive an electrical generator which could be either AC or DC. 
         [0008]    VAWT The vertical axis wind turbine Savonius, which are drag-type devices with two (or more) scoops, are used in common anemometers. If there are at least three scoops they are always self-starting. This design is not generally used for power generation as they have a very low torque output because there is too much counter force from the returning scoops limiting output. 
         [0009]    The vertical axis wind turbine VAWT Darrieus or “eggbeater” turbines were named after their French inventor, Georges Darrieus. They have good running efficiency, but produce large torque stress on the tower which can be reduced by using three or more blades which results in greater solidity of the rotor. They also generally require some external power source to start them turning because the wind starting torque of this design is very low. These designs are sometimes seen in private non-commercial installations. 
         [0010]    There are two basic methods of collection solar energy for electricity, which are photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP). Photovoltaic&#39;s (PV) convert light directly into electric current by using the photoelectric effect and are the most common as they were first developed about 110 years ago. Since then much progress has been made in the collection efficiency of PV but other than that they are basically the same as when first invented. Almost the entire installed base of solar PV today is of this type. 
         [0011]    Concentrated solar power systems (CSP) are newer and use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam which can be used to produce electricity in a special kind of high temperature PV photo cell or which can be used to heat an object such as water which can be turned to steam to run a conventional turbine generator. Current development is improving the efficiency of these two systems but they are still basically experimental. 
         [0012]    Energy storage for any form of renewable energy i.e. wind or solar energy is a key item if grid level power base or peak is desired. There are three forms of storing energy in large amounts, pumping water to a higher elevation, chemical batteries and flywheels. Capacitors and other exotic methods have yet to be shown practical for anything other than small local special situations. Each of these methods has its limitations but to date the pumped storage of water is the only one that has been used in quantities that are commercial. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0013]    There are numerous patents and patent applications relating to these wind turbines and solar photovoltaic (PV) panel devices, currently more in photovoltaic than wind turbines since the core concepts in wind turbines were developed long before the present time. Virtually all of these newer patent and patent applications are for refinements of the old methods of construction or manufacturing of various aspects of building and using these previously mentioned methods of turning solar and wind energy into useable kinetic or electric energy. The source of all the energy that these devices use is the sun. The sun sends energy that reaches the Earth&#39;s surface and by warming creates the winds for the turbines. The sun also sends light and that provides the optical energy for photovoltaic collectors so the sun is the fuel of all green energy devices. 
         [0014]    HAWT wind turbine designs are the current prevailing method of collecting energy from the movement of the earth&#39;s atmosphere in the form of wind. These designs by their very nature have limitations which make them unsuitable for base load grid level power. The most serious of these issues is their unreliable output defined in the industry as Uptime which is the percentage of a year (24 hours per day for 365 days) in which the device is generating usable power, i.e. a modern coal or nuclear fueled plant will operate at 90% or more uptime. To generate reliable power there must be a constant source of fuel, in this case the wind blowing at a high enough velocity to justify the cost of an installation. The general rule of thumb is that these HAWT systems have an uptime of at best 25% to 30%. Many installed HAWT systems have lower uptimes so this is the most serious of the HAWT wind turbine system flaws. 
         [0015]    HAWT wind turbine designs have another major issue and that is an inherent vibration as one of the spinning blades must pass in front of the supporting tower. This sets up a vibration that is difficult to engineer around because it is not a constant since the frequency depends on the RPM of the blades. This problem manifests itself in two forms, one a structural vibration or harmonic, and two an audible pulsing in the air which can cause problems for both people and animals. The vibrations in the HAWT structure have caused major damage to existing wind turbines to include total loss of the installed HAWT device and also shutting them down so people can sleep at night which reduces their usefulness and defeats the purpose of building them. 
         [0016]    HAWT wind turbine designs have one other problem which is they are difficult to make and deliver to installation sites because of the size of the turbine blades. In general they are limited today to 2.5 mW on land and 5.0 mW in the oceans. Larger sizes are in development, but even still, they need to be installed in wind farms of hundreds of units to be practical for grid power. 
         [0017]    Solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar concentrator designs CSP) are more current then wind turbines but have similar limitations. Although, like wind turbines, much effort has gone into making improvements and great progress has been made. The inherent limitations of a source of a constant supply of light make these systems just as unsuitable for grid level power as conventional wind turbines. 
         [0018]    Solar photovoltaic (PV) does need fuel and in this case, it is sun light that reaches the earth&#39;s surface. Therefore since the planet rotates every 24 hours the best possible active time for Solar PV is 12 hours per day over the solar year since the panels will only be in the light for that amount of time. The sun also raises, peaks and then sets and, unless the panels can track the sun, this places additional limitations on them such that this reduces the theoretical Uptime to probably less than 30% uptime with the additional problem of cloud cover. 
         [0019]    Next, Solar PV panels have very low conversion efficiencies although much progress has been made to improve the low efficiency. Today a conversion efficiency of 25% would be very good. Combining the physical limit of less than 50% of the time there is light with the conversion efficiency of at best 25% and then considering cloud cover that blocks light gives an overall conversion efficiency of less than 10% and therefore very large areas would be needed to generate meaningful levels of power. 
         [0020]    Lastly there is one other issue with solar PV that has not been discussed yet and that is tens of thousands of acres of black solar panels will change the albedo of the planet making it hotter completely reversing the desired effect that is being promoted with their use. 
         [0021]    Wind turbines and concentrated solar power have one thing in common. They both kill lots of flying animals and insects with either the spinning blades of the wind turbines or with the super high temperature focused light beams from the mirrors and lens of concentrated solar energy. This is the worst flaw here since the energy beams are basically invisible to the flying animals and insects. 
         [0022]    Energy storage is one of the more difficult subjects in the field of energy since we use most of our energy in the form of electricity and electricity must be used and generated at the same time. In fact, what makes the grid work is the ability to achieve this almost perfect match of use to generation and do so extremely reliably. Currently only pumped water storage has been used for storage but it only works where there is a nearby higher elevation that is suitable for holding a large body of water; so it is inherently very limited. 
         [0023]    Electrical energy storage takes many forms mostly very small scale, in comparison with grid level power that works well for uses such as cell phones and portable computer devices such as tablets. Actual electricity is not stored in batteries, it&#39;s converted into a chemical form and then released back to electricity when used. Each of these conversions reduces the efficiency as no conversions are even close to 100%. All of these forms of electrical storage are prohibitively expensive for storage of mW&#39;s of power that would be needed for grid power. Further it&#39;s unlikely that any chemical battery design could be developed for economically storing mW&#39;s of power for the grid barring a major breakthrough, which doesn&#39;t seem possible today. 
         [0024]    Flywheel systems have been designed that store energy, however all of these designs are very expensive since they use extremely high rotation speeds for energy storage. In that form of using high RPM, it means they would not be suitable for grid level power storage in a device such as used in the VAST system being presented here. 
       ADVANTAGES 
       [0025]    There are three main advantages to the system shown here and designated as a Vertical Axis Solar Turbine or VAST. 
         [0026]    The first relates to higher efficiency and uptime:
       A. Dual fuel, wind and solar, provides for higher energy of up to 18 time more kW/m 3  than either of these two fuel sources alone.   B. The dual fuel concept means there will be a much higher uptime than other designs of up to 60% versus the conventional of 30%.   C. Servo or stepper motor control of the rotating Wind/Solar panels means that the system can be optimized for either wind or solar, depending on the actual conditions at the site at the time.   D. The design used here, with the surrounding support cage and moveable panels (wings), allows for a larger wind collection area, than other designs, which direct wind or light into the VAST.   E. All the heavy operating items i.e. generators, gear boxes, transformers, etc. are located on the ground of the building or in the basement for easier maintenance and construction.   F. The VAST is easily scalable and the components that are used to make the VAST can all be transported by normal means and thereby the VAST is more flexible than other systems.       
 
         [0033]    The second advantage is safety:
       A. The vertical axis system, although rotating, presents a solid front to flying animals or insects which will minimize the killing of them.   B. Without any spinning turbine blades, there will be much less noise coming from this system.   C. The addition of moveable panels on the support structure allows for protection of the VAST when needed.       
 
         [0037]    The third is temporary Energy storage:
       A. Flywheel energy storage will also help to improve uptime by storing the fuel energy collected with minimum energy conversion.   B. A variable density flywheel, using a fluid, that can be filled with a liquid by pumping it in or pumping it out to give any amount of mass desired.   C. A hydraulic support system that acts as both a bearing and as a lifting method.       
 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS AND FIGURES 
         [0041]      FIG. 01 , Overview of the basic parts of the design 
           [0042]      FIG. 02 , Exploded view of the main structural components 
           [0043]      FIG. 03 , Plan view showing the wings open 
           [0044]      FIG. 04 , Plan view showing the wings closed 
           [0045]      FIG. 05 , Side and plan views of the top set of wind/Solar collector panels 
           [0046]      FIG. 06 , Side and plan views of the bottom set of Wind/Solar panels 
           [0047]      FIG. 07 , Main components of one Wind/Solar panel 
           [0048]      FIG. 08 , Wind/Solar panel and support and control system 
           [0049]      FIG. 09 , Servo/Stepper motor for Wind/Solar panel 
           [0050]      FIG. 10 , Counter-rotating panel assembly 
           [0051]      FIG. 11 , Rotating collar support interface 
           [0052]      FIG. 12 , Rotating Collar rotation device 
           [0053]      FIG. 13 , Counter rotating panel mounting system 
           [0054]      FIG. 14 , Upper and lower sections of counter rotation system 
           [0055]      FIG. 15 , Gear system in counter rotating system 
           [0056]      FIG. 16 , Gear detail 
           [0057]      FIG. 17 , Step Up speed gear box mounting 
           [0058]      FIG. 18 , Main components of gear box 
           [0059]      FIG. 19 , Housing of gear box 
           [0060]      FIG. 20 , Planetary Gear system detail 
           [0061]      FIG. 21 , Power collection and storage system overview 
           [0062]      FIG. 22 , Main column components 
           [0063]      FIG. 23 , Detail view of column 
           [0064]      FIG. 24 , Placement of power storage system in building 
           [0065]      FIG. 25 , Flywheel 
           [0066]      FIG. 26 , Flywheel system 
           [0067]      FIG. 27 , Flywheel support and control system 
           [0068]      FIG. 28 , Flywheel electrical power generation system 
           [0069]      FIG. 29 , Detail of hydraulic support and control device 
           [0070]      FIG. 30 , Wing, Wind diverter panel 
           [0071]      FIG. 31 , Wind flow through the VAST 
           [0072]      FIG. 32 , Flow Diagram 
           [0073]      FIG. 33 , Prospective view of a VAST 
           [0074]      FIG. 34 , Section view of a VAST 
       
    
    
     LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0075]    Item  101 , Wind/Solar collection panel, upper 
         [0076]    Item  102 , Wind/Solar collection panel, lower 
         [0077]    Item  103 , Gear Box 
         [0078]    Item  104 , Counter rotating collar assemblies 
         [0079]    Item  105 , Column support assembly 
         [0080]    Item  106 , Main support assembly 
         [0081]    Item  107 , Flywheel assembly 
         [0082]    Item  108 , Main support for flywheel 
         [0083]    Item  109 , Hydraulic Fluid Reservoir 
         [0084]    Item  110 , Outer support column 
         [0085]    Item  111 , Wind diverter (Wing) and enclosure panel, open 
         [0086]    Item  112 , transparent roof dome 
         [0087]    Item  113 , Building roof 
         [0088]    Item  114 , Basement 
         [0089]    Item  115 , Ground level 
         [0090]    Item  116 , Support and power collector ring 
         [0091]    Item  117 , Lower scatter shield 
         [0092]    Item  118 , Upper scatter shield 
         [0093]    Item  119 , Motor generator armature 
         [0094]    Item  120 , Motor generator field 
         [0095]    Item  121 , Fixed support column 
         [0096]    Item  122 , Power transfer column 
         [0097]    Item  123 , Power collection column 
         [0098]    Item  124 , Bushings/Bearings 
         [0099]    Item  125 , Hydraulic pump assembly 
         [0100]    Item  126 , Hydraulic lines flywheel to pump 
         [0101]    Item  127 , Wind/Solar panel plan view of one set 8 panels in position 1 
         [0102]    Item  128 , Wind/Solar panel plan view of one set 8 panels in position 2 
         [0103]    Item  129 , Wind/Solar panel plan view of one set 8 panels in position 3 
         [0104]    Item  130 , Wind diverter and enclosure panel, closed 
         [0105]    Item  131 , Counter rotating energy collecting collar assembly, top 
         [0106]    Item  132 , Wind/Solar energy collection panel, upper assembly in down position 
         [0107]    Item  133 , Wind/Solar energy collection panel, upper assembly in up position 
         [0108]    Item  134 , Servo/Stepper motor 
         [0109]    Item  135 , Counter rotating energy collecting collar assembly, bottom 
         [0110]    Item  136 , Wind/Solar energy collection panel, lower assembly in down position 
         [0111]    Item  137 , Wind/Solar energy collection panel, lower assembly in up position 
         [0112]    Item  138 , Air dam frame for wind solar collection panels 
         [0113]    Item  139 , Air dam frame for wind solar collection panels, side view 
         [0114]    Item  140 , Opening for wind solar panel 
         [0115]    Item  141 , Air dam divider 
         [0116]    Item  142 , Individual solar PV panel 
         [0117]    Item  143 , Individual solar PV panel, side view 
         [0118]    Item  144 , Wind/Solar panel stiffener 
         [0119]    Item  145 , Wind/Solar panel stiffener, side view 
         [0120]    Item  146 , Assembly Wind/Solar panel and stiffener, side view 
         [0121]    Item  147 , Rotational Shaft 
         [0122]    Item  148 , Cross section of item  116  support and power collector ring left 
         [0123]    Item  149 , Cross section of item  116  support and power collector ring right 
         [0124]    Item  150 , Connector shaft 
         [0125]    Item  151 , Power and signal conductive rings 
         [0126]    Item  152 , Front view Servo/Stepper motor for bottom panels 
         [0127]    Item  153 , Front view Servo/Stepper motor for top panels 
         [0128]    Item  154 , Cross section Item  148  with Item  152  installed 
         [0129]    Item  155 , Cross section Item  149  with Item  153  installed 
         [0130]    Item  156 , Building roof supports 
         [0131]    Item  157 , Gear box top 
         [0132]    Item  158 , Gear box shell 
         [0133]    Item  159 , Sun gear lock plunger assembly 
         [0134]    Item  160 , Adapter to flywheel assembly shaft 
         [0135]    Item  161 , Wind/Solar assembly lift disk assembly 
         [0136]    Item  162 , Sun gear locks 
         [0137]    Item  163 , Adapter to fixed column 
         [0138]    Item  164 , Ring gear 
         [0139]    Item  165 , Lower planet gear carrier 
         [0140]    Item  166 , Upper planet gear carrier 
         [0141]    Item  167 , Planet gear 
         [0142]    Item  168 , Planet gear locating pin 
         [0143]    Item  169 , Sun gear 
         [0144]    Item  170 , Planet gear assembly 
         [0145]    Item  171 , Planet gear assembly with shell 
         [0146]    Item  172 , Bearing outer column to fixed column 
         [0147]    Item  173 , Bearing Inner column to fixed column 
         [0148]    Item  174 , Main support piston 
         [0149]    Item  175 , Adapter power column to main piston 
         [0150]    Item  176 , Counter rotating Servo/Stepper platform 
         [0151]    Item  177 , Counter rotating Servo/Stepper motor 
         [0152]    Item  178 , Hydraulic fluid level 
         [0153]    Item  179 , Slip collar for hydraulic lines to rotating column 
         [0154]    Item  180 , Basement floor 
         [0155]    Item  181 , Piston rod 
         [0156]    Item  182 , Plunger 
         [0157]    Item  183 , Cylinder assembly 
         [0158]    Item  184 , Cylinder top 
         [0159]    Item  185 , Cylinder top, side view 
         [0160]    Item  186 , Cylinder bottom 
         [0161]    Item  187 , Cylinder bottom side view 
         [0162]    Item  188 , Cylinder body 
         [0163]    Item  189 , Hydraulic line, pump feed 
         [0164]    Item  190 , Hydraulic line, flywheel fill 
         [0165]    Item  191 , Hydraulic line, flywheel empty 
         [0166]    Item  192 , Bearing counter rotating bottom collar, bottom 
         [0167]    Item  193 , Bearing counter rotating bottom collar, top 
         [0168]    Item  194 , Adapter ring gear to lower collar 
         [0169]    Item  195 , Upper rotation gear 
         [0170]    Item  196 , Lower rotation gear 
         [0171]    Item  197 , Spider gear 
         [0172]    Item  198 , Spider gear support shaft 
         [0173]    Item  199 , Outer support for shaft 
         [0174]    Item  200 , Inner support for shaft 
         [0175]    Item  202 , Opening for rotational shaft 
         [0176]    Item  203 , Adapter from Item  131  to Item  123  power collection column 
         [0177]    Item  204 , Central column assembly 
         [0178]    Item  205 , Main support column assembly 
         [0179]    Item  206 , Flywheel composite shell 
         [0180]    Item  207 , Flywheel hollow interior 
         [0181]    Item  208 , Opening for main support for flywheel 
         [0182]    Item  209 , Starting hydraulic oil level 
         [0183]    Item  210 , Hydraulic lines to support cylinder 
         [0184]    Item  211 , Lift/Bearing chamber 
         [0185]    Item  212 , Lower/Return chamber 
         [0186]    Item  213 , Hydraulic piston 
         [0187]    Item  214 , Hydraulic oil fill 
         [0188]    Item  215 , Hydraulic oil level in tank 
         [0189]    Item  216 , Curved structure of wings 
         [0190]    Item  217 , Battery compartment 
         [0191]    Item  218 , Servo/Stepper motor for wing panels 
         [0192]    Item  219 , Upper Servo/Stepper motor 
         [0193]    Item  220 , Lower Servo/Stepper motor 
         [0194]    Item  221 , Plan view wing 
         [0195]    Item  222 , Hole in stiffener item  144   
         [0196]    Item  223 , Electrical connections to servo/stepper motor and power from panels 
         [0197]    Item  224 , Bearing servo/stepper mounting 
         [0198]    Item  225 , Slot for the servo/stepper motor Item  134   
         [0199]    Item  226 , Slot for the connector shaft Item  150   
         [0200]    Item  227 , Counter rotating Servo/Stepper motor assembly Item  105  top plan view 
         [0201]    Item  228 , Building floor 
         [0202]    Item  229 , Gear teeth  150   
         [0203]    Item  230 , Mounting slot 
         [0204]    Item  231 , Mounting ring for gears Item  195  and  196   
         [0205]    Item  233 , Mounting slot 
         [0206]    Item  234 , Thrust bearing for bottom gear Item  196   
         [0207]    Item  235 , Lift disk 
         [0208]    Item  236 , Thrust bearing for lift disk assembly Item  161   
         [0209]    Item  237 , Lock plunger 
         [0210]    Item  238 , Thrust bearing lift plunger assembly item  159   
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0211]    The basic construction of the VAST is a building like structure, and in this version it is about 250 feet tall, about 300 feet in diameter closed and about 550 feet in diameter with the wings open. This structure is a modified Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) designed to maximize wind collection and to supplement that energy collection by the use of solar PV panels; both energy sources which are then stored in a large flywheel with variable mass running at slow speed. The wind collection system in this embodiment is comprised of 10 sets of counter rotation energy collection panels mounted on each collar, and each set has two segments of 4 panels each rotating in opposite directions. Each energy collection panel orientation is controlled by a servo/stepper motor and is made from a series of suitable high efficiency solar PV panels, 15 for each panel in this embodiment. 
         [0212]    By making the energy collection panels dual purpose, the VAST has a much higher up time then either wind or solar system alone since if there is no wind the solar PV panels will produce electricity and if there is no sun light the wind will produce electricity. With neither wind or solar, the power comes from spinning down the internal flywheel that acts as an energy buffer. Lastly with the counter rotating panels, the wind kinetic energy can be collected from both sides of the vertical axis significantly increasing energy collection. This VAST is dual sourced using both the kinetic energy of the wind and the photoelectric energy of the sun light so it is designated a Vertical Axis Solar Turbine or VAST to distinguish it from other Vertical Axis designs. Solar is used instead of the W for wind there since the movement of the wind has at its source the Sun and obviously so does the photoelectric energy, so both have the Sun as their source. The VAST is still a turbine so no change in the name there is required. 
         [0213]      FIG. 1  is a modified front elevation section view of the VAST showing the major items and the main operating components of the VAST system. Ground level Item  115  if for reference that everything below that line being underground and everything above that line being in the open air. The major components are: the basement Item  114 ; the main building Item  113 ; the main building roof supports Item  156 ; the curved transparent roof for the Wind/Solar panels Item  112 ; the main supports for the roof and the wind collection panels Item  110 ; the wind collection panels Item  101  and Item  102 ; the wind diverter panels (Wings) Item  111 ; a step up gear box or transmission Item  103 ; the central support column Item  204 ; a set of counter-rotating collars with Wind/Solar panels Item  104 ; the main support for the wind collection panels, at rest, Item  105 ; the energy storage flywheel Item  107 ; the flywheel support Item  108 ; a hydraulic cylinder to support the flywheel and Wind/Solar collection panels Item  106 ; the hydraulic oil reservoir Item  109 ; and the rotating in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction at start up. In practice with the servo/stepper motors Item  134 , it is possible to set the panels so that they will only turn in the desired direction as shown by the arrow and once started the system is stable. 
         [0214]      FIG. 6  shows the bottom set of counter rotating energy collection panels Item  135 . All functions are identical with the upper set except they are controlled by the servo/stepper motors Item  134  to move Item  137  up and Item  136  down (the opposite of the top set Item  131 ) such that as the rotate they miss each other as they move past one another, each going in the opposite direction of those shown in  FIG. 5  and shown here with an arrow going the other way. 
         [0215]      FIG. 7  shows the items required to make an upper panel Item  132  or lower panel Item  137 . They are identical until mounting to the VAST. These battery backup and buffer electrical storage Item  217 . The right side of this drawing shows the staggered assembly method of the Wind/Solar collector collars Item  104 . 
         [0216]      FIG. 2  shows all the structural components of the VAST. These are all constructed of conventional materials and built by conventional methods. Their purpose is to support the working components of this VAST and they would be sized to fit the actual design for an application which could be larger or smaller than what is shown here. These are: basement Item  114 ; the main building Item  113 ; the main building roof supports Item  156 ; eight support columns, only two are shown here, Item  110 ; and the transparent roof dome Item  112 ; and thirteen support and power collector rings Item  116 . 
         [0217]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view looking down on the VAST with the roof Item  113  removed. In this view we can see three sets of 8 panels, Item  104  each going from top to bottom: the first set Item  127  in position 1; the next set moving down is Item  128  offset by 30 degrees; the third set is Item  129  offset an additional 30 degrees. The sets all rotate around the central column Item  204  (inside item  104  counter rotating collar assemblies). The 30 degree offset can be seen in the elevation view of  FIG. 1  on the right side of the VAST. The eight supporting columns are Item  110 . Item  116  is the collection ring, one for each layer of 4 panels in a rotation collar Item  104 . There is a servo/stepper motor Item  134  on the outer end of each panel assembly Item  131  or Item  135 ; (opposite each other) that rides inside the collection ring Item  116 .  FIG. 3  shows the eight wings Item  111  in the open position and  FIG. 4  is identical to  FIG. 3  but shows the eight wings Item  111  in the closed position, Item  130 . 
         [0218]      FIG. 5  shows an elevation view at the top and a plan view below it of the top counter rotating energy collection set Item  104  is made from, Item  131  shown here and Item  135  shown in  FIG. 6 . All the panels in all sets are controlled by servo/stepper motors Item  134 . In general, two panels will be up Item  132  and two panels will be down Item  133  at all times as they rotate. With this system it is technically possible to have the counter rotating energy collection panels start assemblies are made using normal production techniques as would be used in any commercial solar PV use. In this embodiment of the VAST, 15 solar panels Item  142  and side view Item  143  are assembled into a frame Item  138  which resembles a series of window frames Item  140 . This assembly serves two purposes one to hold the assembly together and two the depth of it as shown in the side view Item  139  creates a series of air dams Item  141  to hold back the wind from sliding off the panels as they rotate around the central column Item  204 . Stiffeners Item  146  are added to each panel as required. These stiffeners item  144  side view Item  145  have a hole Item  222  in the large end that a long pipe used to rotate the assembly Item  147  is placed in and secured making a rigid assembly. 
         [0219]      FIG. 8  shows an elevation view of one set of counter rotating panels with the counter rotating collars Items  131  and Item  135  separated. The top assembly Item  131  shows the Wind/Solar collector panels Item  132  in the down position on the left and the Wind/Solar collector panel Item  133  on the right in the up position; the solar PV panels Item  142  are shown on both. The servo/stepper motor Item  134  that controls the angle is shown on the end of each panel Item  132  and Item  133 . The servo/stepper motor is mounted with the connecting arm Item  150  in the up position on this configuration. The bottom assembly Item  135  shows the Wind/Solar collector panels Item  136  in the down position on the left and the Wind/Solar collector pane Item  137  on the right in the up position. The servo/stepper motor Item  134  that controls the angle is shown on the end of each panel Item  136  and Item  137 . The servo/stepper motor is mounted with the connecting arm Item  150  in the down position on this configuration. If Items  131  and  135  are moved together, the assembly will present a solid face to the wind which means that it captures a larger percentage of the kinetic energy in the wind then other designs. 
         [0220]      FIG. 9  this view is of one complete pair of counter rotating Wind/Solar panel assemblies Item  104  as shown in  FIG. 8 . As shown here in their normal operating mode they present a solid face to the wind and any flying animals so the killing of bird&#39;s, bats, and insects would be minimized. 
         [0221]      FIG. 10  shows the details of the power collector rings Item  116  which are the interface between the Wind/Solar collection panels e.g. Item  131  and Item  135  into the rest of the VAST system. The connections for the Wind/Solar panels e.g. Item  132  are the servo/stepper motors Item  134  and how they are assembled in the support and power collector rings Item  116 . This  FIG. 10  shows the difference between the upper system Item  131  and the lower system Item  135 . The upper system Item  131  is on the right starting with a cross section of the collector ring Item  116  shown as Item  149 . The servo/stepper motor Item  134  is placed in the collector ring Item  116  using the bearings Item  224  to hold it in place. The connecting pipe Item  147  on the collector panels Item  132  and  133  is oriented to the top of the collector ring Item  116 . While assembling the servo/stepper motor Item  134  into the collector ring Item  116  the servo/stepper motor Item  134  must be oriented as shown in Item  153  and then inserted into the slot Item  225  and the control shaft Item  150  with electrical connector Item  151  must be slid into the mating slot Item  226  in the collecting ring Item  116  shown as Item  149 . Once in place there is an electrical connection for the servo/stepper motor assembly Item  134  to the VAST system control through the electrical connection Item  223  making the assembly complete as shown in cross section view Item  155 . 
         [0222]    the lower panel system Item  135  is on the left starting with a cross section of the collector ring Item  116  shown as Item  148 . The servo/stepper motor Item  134  is placed in the collector ring using the bearings Item  224  to hold it in place. The connecting pipe on the collector panes Item  136 , Item  137 , item  147  is oriented to the bottom of the collector ring Item  116 . While assembling the servo/stepper motor Item  134  into the collector ring Item  116  the servo/stepper motor Item  134  must be oriented as shown in Item  152  and inserted into the slot Item  225  and the control shaft Item  150  with electrical connector Item  151  must be slid into the mating slot Item  226  in the collecting ring Item  116  as shown as Item  148 . Once in place there is an electrical connection for the servo/stepper motor assembly Item  134  to the VAST system control through the electrical connection Item  223  making the assembly complete as shown in cross section view Item  154 . 
         [0223]      FIG. 11  shows counter rotating panel assembly Item  131  with the panel attaching shaft Item  147  toward the top and is attached to power collecting column Item  123 . Counter-rotating panel assembly Item  135  with the panel attaching shaft Item  147  toward the bottom is attached to counter rotating assembly Item  131 . Counter rotating panel assembly  135  sits on the column support assembly Item  105  which is the main support for all the rotating collars and the wind solar collections panels. Item  105  is made from two items, the top pad Item  176  that sits on the base Item  177 . The Base Item  177  contains a servo/stepper motor and gearing, not shown, which will rotate the top pad Item  176  and all the structure that is resting on it. This will allow the wind solar collection system to be oriented when required by activating the servo/stepper motor Item  134  from the VAST system controls. Item  105  sits on the fixed support column Item  121  which in turn sits on the Building floor Item  228 . Two sets of the column bearings Item  124  are shown in the view. 
         [0224]      FIG. 12 , shows Item  105  and the two items that make it up the platform Item  176  and the base Item  177 . In the plan view Item  227  the rotation directions are shown with the two arrows and it can be moved 360 degrees in either direction. This Item  105  is very similar to a standard commercial index table, just larger. 
         [0225]      FIG. 13  shows the counter rotating collar assembly Item  104  attached to a segment of the power collection column Item  123 . This assembly is what makes this design work as it allows the wind kinetic energy to be harvested from both sides of the central column Item  204  and all the rotation energy is transferred to the power collection column Item  123  in one rotational direction. Each of the 12 counter-rotating collars Item  104  in the VAST are exactly the same as described here. The top segment of counter rotating collar Item  104  is Item  131  and it is affixed directly to the power collection column Item  123  as shown in  FIGS. 5  that collar Item  131  has 4 arms attached to it, Item  147  (only two are shown) which then each have two Wind/Solar energy panels attached to them Items,  132  and  133  also not shown here. These four Wind/Solar energy collection panels, when properly oriented by the rotating base Item  105 ; also not shown here, will transfer the energy from the wind directly to the power collection column Item  123  in the form of torque. The lower rotating collar item  135  is not attached to the rotating column Item  123  but instead is attached to the bottom of bevel gear Item  196 . To keep Item  135  stable there are two bearings Item  192  and Item  193  between Item  135  and the power collection column Item  123 . 
         [0226]    This rotating collar Item  135  also has 4 arms attached to it but unlike the top collar Item  131  these arms are attached at the bottom of Item  135  not the top. The Wind/Solar panels in this Item are set to operate in the opposite direction from those attached to Item  131  such that if a panel is oriented vertically in Item  131  than it will be oriented horizontally in Item  135  as it passes while they are rotating. The servo/stepper motors Item  134  will control this as the collars rotate. Counter rotating panel assembly Item  135  is attached to counter rotating panel assembly Item  131  which, because it is attached to the power collection shaft Item  123 , that sets the rotation direction for the VAST system. However, the other collar and the Wind/Solar collection panel assembly Item  135  is also producing torque and is causing the counter rotating panel assembly to rotate as well. The panels on this counter rotating panel assembly Item  135  are programmed to put the spin in the opposite direction from the counter rotating panel assembly Item  131 . Since the lower counter rotating panel assembly is attached to the bottom of bevel gear Item  196  with adapter Item  194 , it can only turn in one direction because this gear Item  196  is connected to gear Item  195  through four spider gears Item  197  locking the two collars together in an opposite but equal rotation and thereby transferring the torque from the lower counter rotating panel assembly Item  135  to the upper counter rotating panel assembly Item  131  and then to the power collection column Item  123 . The spider gears Item  197  are attached to counter rotating panel assembly Item  131  with shaft Item  198  and mounting blocks Item  199  and Item  200 . This system has many moving parts but it doubles the energy output of the VAST system. 
         [0227]      FIG. 14  shows the detail of the two counter rotating collars Item  131  and Item  135 . They could be fabricated from metal or composite material or some combination thereof. They are very similar except for the place where the panel shaft Item  147  attaches as shown as Item  202  where in the top collar Item  131  they are located on the top and in the bottom collar Item  135  they are located on the bottom. The other difference is that Item  135  has two bearings Item  191  and Item  192  placed in the inside. There is a mounting ring Item  194  on the top of Item  135  which is used to attach Item  135  to the bevel gear Item  196  in the upper collar Item  131  locking them together. The inner wall of Item  131  is Item  203  and that is fixed to the power collection column Item  123 . 
         [0228]      FIG. 15  shows the assembly details of the gears used to transfer the torque to the power collection column Item  123  from each of the counter rotating columns Items  131  and  135 . Gears Item  195  and Item  196  are almost identical except for mounting details shown in  FIG. 16 . Item  195  is attached to the shell of the collar Item  131 . Item  196  has a thrust bearing Item  232  between it and Item  230  which is attached to the power collection column Item  123  not shown in this view. The plan view at the top shows the top bevel gear Item  195  and the placement of the four spider gears Item  197  and Item  198  is the shaft holding the spider gear Item  197  Item  199  is the outer block that holds the shaft Item  198  and Item  200  is the inner block that holds the shaft Item  198 . 
         [0229]      FIG. 16  shows more detail of the main energy transfer gears Items  195  and  196  and both gears are identical with the only difference being the slot for the mounting of the gears; the top gear Item  195  has slot Item  230  and the bottom gear has slot Item  232  machined into them. Both gears have the same number of teeth Item  229  as determined when built. The mounting ring Item  231  is identical and mounted to the power collection column Item  123 . Once the mounting rings Item  231  are mounted on the power collection column Item  123  the gears Item  195  and Item  196  can be placed on them and attached. The top gear Item  195  sits on the mounting ring Item  231 . The bottom gear Item  196  sits on the thrust bearing Item  233  which sits on the mounting Ring Item  231 . This allows the bottom gear Item  196  to turn freely. 
         [0230]      FIG. 17  shows the main items needed to take the rotational energy from the wind and move it to the flywheel. This is done in a gear box assembly Item  103  which is used to step up the low speed of the Wind/Solar panel collection column Item  123  with a maximum speed of 15 RPM by a factor of three in the planetary gears Item  170  that transfer the torque through adapter item  160  to the power transfer column Item  122  then to the flywheel Item  107  giving it a maximum speed of 45 RPM. The fixed support column Item  121  is fixed to the building at ground level and does not turn. Items  172  and  173  are bearings holding all the columns Item  121 , Items  122 , and Item  123  in place. 
         [0231]      FIG. 18  is a detailed view of the gearbox Item  103 . The basic housing is made from two pieces the top Item  157  and the outer shell Item  158  which is attached to the power collection column Item  123  (not shown here). The ring gear Item  164  of the planetary gear set Item  170  is attached to the side wall the outer shell Item  158 . The next item is the planetary gear carrier Item  170  is made up of the lower carrier Item  165 , the four planetary gears Item  167 , the upper carrier Item  166  and that assembly is attached to Item  163  with pin Item  168  which in turn is attached to the fixed support column Item  121  (not shown in this drawing). 
         [0232]    The last major components serve two purposes. The first is to activate the planetary gear system when the hydraulic cylinder Item  106  (Shown in  FIG. 17 ) in the basement Item  114  moves the power transfer column Item  122  up and attached at the top is adapter Item  160  which also then moves up and when that occurs two things happen in the gear box Item  103 . 
         [0233]    The first thing that happens is that adapter Item  160  is capped by the lift disk assembly Item  161  which is made from two items, Item  235  the base and the thrust bearing Item  236 . When assembly Item  161  moves up and the thrust bearing Item  236  touches Item  157  the top of the gear assembly Item  103  lifts the entire gear box Item  103  and the power collection column Item  123  up, which then lifts the power collection column off the base Item  105 . That allows the Wind/Solar panels Item  104  to start the rotation of the central column Item  204 . The thrust bearing Item  236  allows the Gear box Item  103  to turn at a different RPM than Item  122  the power transfer column. 
         [0234]    The second thing that happens is that as Item  160  moves up it engages the sun gear lock assembly Item  159  made from pin Item  237  and thrust bearing Item  238  which then engages the sun gear lock Items  162  which moves out and locks the sun gear Item  169  to the sun gear lock Item  162  and also the adapter Item  160 . Item  159  also has a thrust bearing Item  238  on it so that it can turn at the same RPM as the power transfer column Item  122 . When the sequence happens the RPM of the outer column is multiplied by a factor of three (with the gearing designed in this design) and that causes Item  160  to rotate at a 3× the RPM of the Gearbox Item  103 . Both the power collection column Item  123  and the power transfer column Item  122  are rotating at very low RPM&#39;s so a slip clutch was not designed in but maybe required in practice. 
         [0235]      FIG. 19  shows the components needed to make the shell for the gear box Item  103  and also the lift mechanism Item  160  and Item  161 . The outer shell Is made from three items, the gear box shell Item  158 , the gear box top Item  157 , and the gear box to the fixed column adapter Item  163 . These are all basic fabricated items joined by using conventional methods. The lift mechanism is also made from basic fabricated and machined materials. The lift assembly Item  161  has a thrust bearing Item  236  on top and the lift plunger Item  159  made from Item  237  and thrust bearing Item  238  on top. Both of these thrust bearings are there to allow a differential in RPM of 1 to 3 to exist in this assembly when activated. The sun gear lock Item  162  (4 of them) is used to lock the sun gear Item  169  to the adapter Item  160 . 
         [0236]      FIG. 20  shows all the pieces required to make the planetary gears for the gear box Item  103 . All of these items require machining or gear hobbing on large machines much like the machinery used to make gear boxes for the more common HAWT that are now being made in large numbers worldwide. With a locked (not rotating) planetary gear carrier Item  170  made from the bottom carrier Item  165  the top carrier Item  168  with four pins Item  166  and 4 Item spider gears  167  Item fixed to the fixed support column Item  121  using the adapter Item  163  the VAST systems gear ration is determined by the number of teeth on the sun gear Item  169  and planetary gears Item  167 . 
         [0237]    There are a number of gear tooth combinations that are possible but since a 1 to 3 ratio was desired it was determined that the best combination that would fit into the allocated space would have a sun gear Item  169  and a planetary gear Item  167  with the same number of teeth, set here at 50 teeth each. The planetary gear set with the carrier locked and with the planetary gears Item  167  and the sun gear Item  169  will have a gear ratio of the ring gear Item  164  tooth count set here at 150 teeth divided by the sun gear tooth count or 150/50 equals 3 in this design. Item  170  is the pitch circle of all the gears and Item  171  is the full teeth engagement of the gear set Item  170 . 
         [0238]      FIG. 21  shows an overview of the main components of the VAST energy producing system which are the central column Item  204  and the flywheel energy storage system Item  107 . Once the wind kinetic energy is collected and converted into rotational energy in the gear box Item  103  it is moved down the central support column Item  204  into the flywheel motor generator system Item  107  where it is either converted directly into electricity or stored in the flywheel Item  107  as angular momentum for use later. The central column Item  204  is held in place by the fixed support column Item  121 . Also shown here are the two scatter shields top Item  118  and bottom Item  117  just in case there is a flywheel failure. Item  106  is the hydraulic bearing and lift mechanism, Item  120  contains the field coils and Item  119  is the Armature for the motor generator that is mounted on the tip of the flywheel. The last major items are the hydraulic pump Item  125  and the hydraulic oil reservoir Item  109 . 
         [0239]      FIG. 22  shows all the components that make up the central column Item  204 . The fixed support column Item  121  is what holds the system in place and it must maintain the structural integrity of the entire VAST power transmission system. Inside the fixed support column Item  121  is the power transfer column Item  122  which is centered in the fixed column by the bearing Item  124 . On the outside of the fixed support column Item  121  is the power collection column Item  123  which is also held centered to the fixed column with another set of bearings Item  124 . The power collection column Item  123  sits on the base Item  105  and the power transfer column Item  122  sits on the hydraulic bearing Item  106 . 
         [0240]      FIG. 23  shows a more detailed view of the central column Item  204  the center section has been cut out to be able to show the detail. In this view the gear box Item  103  has been added to the top of the central support column Item  204 . Item  105  the column support can be seen here as well as a better view of the column bearings Item  124 . The last Item  106  is the lower column support assembly that transfers the torque to the Flywheel Item  107  not shown here. 
         [0241]      FIG. 24  is made from view  FIG. 21  with the central column Item  204  and the gear box  203  and adding back the building Item  113 , the basement Item  114 , and the hydraulic oil supply Item  109  the so the lower portion of the VAST system can be put back together. The next several Figures will be showing how the Flywheel Item  107  and the hydraulic support system Item  106  work. 
         [0242]      FIG. 25  is moving in closer for more detail so we take  FIG. 24  chop off the top of the support column assembly Item  204  and we cut off the left side of the basement Item  114  allowing us to see more flywheel Item  107  detail. First we have the scatter shields Item  117  and Item  118  then the hydraulic system pump Item  125 . In the hydraulic oil holding tank Item  109  we have the fluid level Item  215  and the fill opening Item  214 . In this view we can see the starting hydraulic oil level Item  209  in the bottom of the Flywheel Item  107 . We can also see the tow motor generator components the Field Item  120  and the armature Item  119 . 
         [0243]      FIG. 26  shows the basic flywheel Item  107  in the top elevation view and in the bottom plan view. This Item is made in a very different manner than any other flywheel system. First it is very large with a diameter of 234.75 feet and 16.25 feet high in the middle with a hole in the middle Item  208  10 feet in diameter; it mounts to a shaft that is also 10 feet in diameter Item  181  (not shown here) and which is the central axis for the flywheel. This VAST flywheel shell Item  206  was designed using Carbon Fiber which has a tensile of 5,650,000,000 Pascal&#39;s and with a density of 1750 kg/m3 and it has a hollow core Item  207 . Other materials are available such as Spectra 2000 and T-700 if required, for design reasons. Second, on the outer edge or rim which is 5.0 feet thick, in this configuration, the flywheel Item  107  has built into it the makings of a motor armature Item  119 . This item is both a flywheel and a motor generator armature. When an actual flywheel is made using this design there will be interior baffles and supports required which are not shown here. 
         [0244]      FIG. 27  and also  FIG. 28  show the basic hydraulic oil flows to the pump Item  125 ; from the tank Item  109 ; through line Item  189 ; then from the hydraulic pump Item  125 ; to the flywheel Item  107 . There are two sets of lines from the pump Item  125 ; the first set is Item  210  and the second set is Item  126 . The lines labeled Item  210  go to the bottom of the main support assembly Item  106 ; where they are used to feed into the cylinder high pressure hydraulic oil to raise Item  211  or lower Item  212 . When hydraulic oil is pumped into the lower chamber Item  211 , the piston Item  174  and Item  213  moves up which in turn raises Item  108  and that engages the gear box Item  103  and that allows the 12 Wind/Solar panel assemblies Item  104  to start rotating and generating power. When the flywheel Item  107  is turning, the rim armature Item  119  interacts with the field coils Item  120  and electricity is produced. At this point all the power can be sent to the grid or some of it can be used to run up the Flywheel Item  107  RPM storing energy. 
         [0245]    The other set of hydraulic lines Item  126  serve a much different purpose. The flywheel item  107  is hollow and in this VAST system there is a method used here to fill Item  192  or empty Item  191  that hollow space Item  207  in the flywheel Item  107  with hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic oil has a density about 88% of water at 880 kg/m3 so by pumping in hydraulic fluid or pumping it out the mass of the flywheel Item  107  can be significantly changed. Empty the flywheel Item  107  would be about 2,000 tons and full about 21,000 tons. Although in normal flywheels systems speed is more important than mass; in this application the mass is easier to deal with than super high RPMs so that is what is used in the VAST system. 
         [0246]    Commercial hydraulic pumps, hoses and valves are commonly rated at 3,000 PSI so as designed in this configuration; the hydraulic support column is capable of supporting over 50,000 Tons. This is well over the combined weight of the flywheel, Item  107  and all the supporting structures above it. Rough calculations indicate that the VAST system would be operating with weights requiring more like 2,000 pounds per square inch, well under what is used in commercial industrial systems. At full weight 20,951 tons and spinning at 45 RPM the flywheel would contain 37,489 kWh of power. To get to that level the flywheel Item  107  would first be taken up to speed 45 RPM and then hydraulic fluid would be added to increase mass. The Wind/Solar panels should be capable of 10 mw of power from wind and up to 2 mW of power from solar giving a total system capability of about 12 mW of power in daylight with a wind of 25 mph. This calculation was done based on US latitudes for sunlight. 
         [0247]      FIG. 28  is an extension of  FIG. 27  to show additional detail starting with the interface between hydraulic lines set  126  and the flywheel Item  107 . Both sets of lines go through a slip collar Item  179  then through the adapter Item  178  where they then enter the flywheel Item  107  as shown in  FIG. 27 . Also shown here is the hydraulic fluid level in the flywheel at start Item  178 . Surrounding the flywheel Item  107  are scatter shields Item  117  on the bottom and Item  118  on the top to protect people and system from a flywheel Item  107  failure. Additional protection comes from the building floor Item  228  and the basement floor Item  180 . Lastly we have the fixed support column Item  121 , the column support assembly Item  105 , the power collection column Item  123 , and the power transfer column Item  122 . 
         [0248]    not shown in any of the drawings here are the control wiring, electrical power lines and computer systems required to run all the components of the VAST system. They are not shown as there would be nothing special about them as they would be the same as what would be used to build a piece of automation equipment for industry. 
         [0249]      FIG. 29  shows the makeup of the main support assembly Item  106 . Ten items make up this assembly starting with: the cylinder body Item  188 ; than adding the piston rod Item  181 ; the plunger Item  182 , the top Item  184  plan view, the cylinder top Item  184  plan view; the cylinder bottom Item  187  plan view; thereby making the assembly Item  183 . On top of the piston rod Item  181 , the adapter Item  175  is placed along with the hydraulic lines Items  191  and  192  that are fed into the main support assembly through a slip collar Item  179 . Although lines are shown inside the piston rod they would actually be drilled holes. The fitting required to assemble the hydraulic control system are standard high pressure hydraulic fittings and are not shown here. 
         [0250]      FIG. 30  is a representation of the wind diverter or wing Item  111  which is 205 feet tall and almost 125 feet wide. There are eight of the wings Item  111  on the VAST in this embodiment and they are used to control air flow into the VAST and then also be able to be closed to protect the interior in bad weather. There are two servo/stepper motors Items  219  and Item  220  on the wing Item  111 . A plan view of the wing Item  221  shows the curve Item  216  built into the wing Item  111  so it can close over the round VAST structure. The plan view of Item  221  also shows the plan view of the servo/stepper motor Item  219 . This wing Item  111  could also be made transparent to allow sunlight in and yet keep the panels closed. 
         [0251]      FIG. 31  represents the basic air flow through the VAST system. With appropriate software it may be possible to optimize the size and shape of these wings Item  111 . These wings Item  111  are shown here as only being representative of the concept. 
         [0252]      FIG. 32  is a simple diagram of the energy flows in the VAST which starts with the sun. The sun&#39;s energy reaches us mostly in visible and infrared radiation which can be collected through photoelectric panels and by devices that can harness wind energy which is created from the heating of the earth&#39;s atmosphere by the sun. In the VAST both forms of energy are collected. Light is collected in the photoelectric cells on the wind collection panels Item  142 , which are low voltage DC. This low voltage DC moves to the electronic power converter system which charges a lithium ion battery pack Item  217  of say 20 kW capacity as standby back up power source as the system needs power to start up. The rest of the energy is converted to high voltage AC and connected to the grid along with that collected from the wind side of the system. 
         [0253]    The wind energy in the form of kinetic energy forces the system panels to rotate, one set clockwise Item  101  and the other set counter clockwise Item  102  with all the energy transmitted to the power collection column Item  123 . From there it goes to a gear box Item  103  which speeds up the RPM and then moved down to a flywheel Item  107  to be stored as angular momentum. The flywheel is also a motor generator (M/G set) and so the wind energy now in the form of angular momentum can be used to maintain the flywheel Item  107  speed or moved though the power conditioning system to be sent to the grid. 
         [0254]    The software required to run this system is no different from what would be required to run a large automated piece of industrial equipment used to make parts of assemblies. One of the things that this kind of control gives is that if the wind isn&#39;t blowing fast enough to speed up the flywheel, the central column Item  204  can be shut off by reducing the pressure in the lower chamber Item  211  of the main support Item  106  allowing the power collection column Item  123  to set down on the support column Item  105  and that disengages the gear box Item  103 . At that point the column support assembly Item  105  can rotate the Wind/Solar panels in all the layers to face the Sun maximizing the solar PV output. That energy can be used to speed up the flywheel through the M/D set or supply the Grid depending on conditions. This feature gives the ability to generate power during the day even when there is low speed wind or no winds. 
         [0255]    the VAST system will require an industrial grade computer and software such as provided by Allen Bradley to run the system, the servo/stepper motors, sensors, limit switches and related equipment. The system would be run by a ladder logic style program. The control program has not been written as it would be very specific to the actual components used to build the system. 
         [0256]      FIG. 33  shows a prospective view of the VAST system as described in this patent application. This image was created as a rendering in SketchUp not a 3D CAD program to show the look of the finished VAST design. It does accurately capture what would be seen if this VAST was actually built. All the exterior panels and roof are shown here as being transparent to allow sunlight into the Solar PV panels and not have them in shade from the structure. 
         [0257]      FIG. 34  shows a prospective view of the VAST system as described in this patent application with a section cut through the center so the insides can be seen. The main items are: the transparent roof Item  112 ; the support columns Item  110 ; The transparent wings Item 111 ; the building item  113 ; the flywheel Item  107 ; the basement Item  114 ; the wind/Solar panels Item  101 ; and Item  102 ; the counter rotating Wind/Solar panel assembly Item  104 ; the central column Item  204 ; and the gear box Item  103 . Ground level Item  115  is shown for reference. 
       OTHER EMBODYMENTS 
       [0258]      FIG. 13  shows a cross section view of the counter-rotating collars Item  104  (described in paragraphs 0029 and 0030) which mounts to the central support assembly Item  204  which is made from three items, being the fixed support column Item  121 , the power transfer column Item  122 , and the power collection column Item  123 . Because of the scale of this invention it might be easier to section Items  121 ,  122 , and  123 ; and combine them with the counter-rotating collar assembly Item  104  into a universal assembly. The columns item  121 , Item  122 , and Item  123 ; would than need mounting flanges welded or affixed to them where they were cut (so to speak) such that the resulting modules could be stacked as high as was required for the particular application. If this were done the first step in assembly would be to mount the new column assembly to the one below it and then drop the collar assembly over it; then repeat the process to the required number of collar sets or height. Other items in this design would also need to be modified. 
         [0259]      FIG. 18  shows the detail for the gear box Item  103 . In that Figure a method of engaging the gear box by connecting Item  157  and Item  161  together and it was described as a strictly mechanical means of engagement, a clutch of sorts. This mechanism could be replaced by a torque converter such as found on heavy duty trucks and off road equipment. This addition would be simple to do if it was found to be needed 
         [0260]      FIGS. 27 &amp; 28  shows the detail of Item  106  the hydraulic lift and bearing assembly. In this embodiment when hydraulic pressure is added to the bottom chamber Item  211 , the piston Item  213  will move up to engage the gear box clutch mechanism in the gear box Item  103 . This motion will also raise the Flywheel assembly Item  107  which is attached to the piston rod Item  181 . In lieu of this the Flywheel Item  107  and the piston rod Item  181  could be made with a mating spline on each that would allow the piston Item  181  to move up without moving the flywheel Item  107  up. There would need to be bearings or bushings added to prevent the movement of the flywheel but these would fit in this existing design with very little modification. 
         [0261]    There are a large number of places where servo/stepper motors are used to control motion in this VAST. Almost of these functions could be done with various combinations of gears, cams, pulleys and levers. Although these designs would work, their use would unduly complicate the design. Servo/stepper motors have all but limited gears, cams pulleys and levers in commercial and industrial automation and there does not appear to be a good reason to use them here. 
         [0262]    This design will also work with replacing the flywheel system with a conventional generator which could be placed in the basement space and be connected with a right angle gear drive. To balance loading two generators directly opposite each other would be the first thought or method and following this logic, three generators 120 degrees apart would be even better. This would also give redundancy to the system 
         [0263]    The flywheel assembly used in this VAST would be spinning at up to 45 RPM which would then have a speed on the rim of 380 MPH so running the system in air could pose an issue at that speed. To alleviate that issue the flywheel could be run in a vacuum which would increase the efficiency; this is not shown here but would probably be used in practice. 
         [0264]    Because of the very complex air flows though the VAST it may be required to place baffles, horizontal to the ground, between all the various rotating segments to properly direct the air flow though the system. This would be determined at the time a VAST was actually designed and an Finite Element Analysis (FEA) analysis could be performed on the VAST. This addition would require 11 baffles if used. 
       NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES 
       [0265]    The present VAST concept has been described in relative terms of scale, size and of the shape of the various components and assemblies and this was necessary in order to make drawings to show how the VAST could be made. Other components and assemblies of different shapes and sizes that perform the same functions are therefore considered to be within the scope and embodied shown in this present method of building a VAST as described herein. The scope of the VAST concept shown here is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications and embodiments within the overall scope of the present invention.