Patent Description:
In densely-populated areas, industrial and other human-produced factors as well as natural processes are responsible for high concentrations of chemicals and particulate matter in the air. Known colloquially as smog - a combination of "smoke" and "fog" - this particular matter can be defined as the presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere near the land surface. Common pollutants in smog include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ozone (<NUM>), particulate matter (small suspended particles of varying sizes), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Particulate matter is found in the air in solid and liquid forms. It is measured in total suspended particulates (TSP) of several sizes: PMI0, PM2. <NUM>, and PM2. <NUM>, which describes particulate matter measuring <NUM> (µm=micrometer or <NUM>·<NUM>), in diameter or less, <NUM> or less, and <NUM> or less, respectively. The smallest particulate matter easily penetrates the respiratory tract, causing health problems. It can also carry chemicals such as metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other pollutants into the lungs.

The persistent haze that is visible in many cities is the polluted air. It usually forms a hectometer thick layer above the land surface. When the weather is cooler, for example in the evening and during the winter months, smog may form over a populated area. Summer time and winter-time days are less prone to standing smog. More than four-fifths of the world's urban population lives in cities whose air quality fails to meet World Health Organization guidelines. Smog has many negative impacts on human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers air pollution as one of the greatest environmental risks to our health, with outdoor air pollution causing more than <NUM> million premature deaths per year. This number has remained nearly constant since <NUM>. The majority of these deaths are in Asia and Africa.

Current solutions to reduce the negative health effects of smog are severely inadequate. Face masks are commonly warn in highly-polluted cities such as Beijing, China. However, these masks are inconvenient. Cities like Krakow, Poland have deployed large, towering filters to pull pollutants from the air. However, these filters Jack sufficient capacity to effectively reduce smog over a large area of population. Same sources of pollutants are equipped with filters or scrubbers, but these may not sufficiently reduce the pollutant output of the sources. And some people are simply advised to remain indoors in filtered-air environments, which is limiting and highly impractical.

<CIT> discloses a device to drain contaminated urban atmospheres. The device comprises multiple propellers that are attached to towers and have an upward oriented air output.

<CIT> shows an exhaust air handling system that draws air into underground sewers and pumps the contaminated air upwards through very tall smokestacks for jet discharging into upper elevation air.

<CIT> discloses a fan arrangement attached to a smokestack such that a plume of air is created concentric to the pollutants rising upwards.

<CIT> shows an artificially created atmospheric circulation system that comprises at least one pulse detonation engine in order to create a rapid series of gas pulses. Each gas pulse entrains surrounding atmosphere.

The artificially created atmospheric circulation system disclosed in <CIT> comprises a plurality of vortex generating units. The vortices are directed upwards and all vortices together provide a single atmospheric vortex.

Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for reducing smog in an urban area. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A system for reducing smog in an urban area includes an urban area having an urban surface, which is a horizontal surface located at the ground of the urban area. A smog atmospheric layer is located above the urban surface and vertically adjacent an extending above the urban surface with a vertical thickness. A mixing atmospheric layer is located above the smog atmospheric layer. A plurality of turbines is located on the urban surface. The plurality of turbines comprises an air pump or similar turbine, which is in communication with the at least one air conduit to direct air from a portion of the smog atmospheric layer proximate to the ground into the plurality of turbines and through the at least one ir conduit and into the mixing atmosphere layer. The at least one air conduit extends above the smog atmospheric layer and into the mixing atmospheric layer such that a top opening of the at least one air conduit expels air into the smog atmospheric layer. The at least one air conduit is freestanding and formed from a substantially flexible material having a tube-like shape. The at least one air conduit has a naturally deflated state and when a positive air pressure is applied with an air pump or similar turbine, the at least one air conduit converts to an expanded state, wherein continuous or semi-continuous positive air pressure the plurality of turbines maintains the expanded state. The present disclosure can also be viewed as providing methods of reducing smog in an urban area. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing a plurality of turbines within an urban area, the urban area having an urban surface being a horizontal surface located at a ground of the urban area, a smog atmospheric layer located above the urban surface and vertically adjacent to the urban surface and extending above the urban surface with a vertical thickness, and a mixing atmospheric layer located above the smog atmospheric layer; orienting the plurality of turbines to direct air between the smog atmospheric layer and the mixing atmospheric layer; and operating an air pump or similar turbine of the plurality of turbines to move the air between the smog atmospheric layer and the mixing atmospheric layer through the at least one air conduit to direct air from the plurality of turbines and through the at least one air conduit and into the mixing atmospheric layer, wherein the at least one air conduit extends above the smog atmospheric layer and into the mixing atmospheric layer such that a top opening of the at least one air conduit expels air into the smog atmospheric layer, wherein the at least one air conduit is freestanding and formed from a substantially flexible material having a tube-like shape, wherein the at least one air conduit has a naturally deflated state and when a positive air pressure is applied with the air pump or similar turbine, the at least one air conduit converts to an expanded state, and wherein continuous or semi-continuous positive air pressure from the plurality of turbines maintains the expanded state.

Cities generate heat and depending on whether ambient wind exists or not, we can distinguish two types of atmospheric structures over a city: an urban dome that forms when there is no ambient wind and an urban plume that forms when there is ambient wind present. They extend up to an urban boundary layer (UBL) that converges with a rural boundary layer (rural BL or RBL), which may extend <NUM> meters or more above the surface of the urban area. <FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of urban dome smog <NUM> over an urban area <NUM>, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of urban plume smog <NUM> over an urban area <NUM>, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The urban area <NUM> may include an urban surface <NUM>, smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, and mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. A rural area <NUM> may be adjacent to the urban area <NUM>. The urban area <NUM> may include a city, town, village, campus, or other area where urban buildings generate or collect smog <NUM>, <NUM>. The rural area <NUM> may be located adjacent to, but substantially outside of, the urban area <NUM>. The rural area may be defined by city or town limits, a marked change in the density of buildings and other structures, or a marked change in the density of accumulated urban dome or urban plume smog <NUM>, <NUM>. In one example, the transition between urban and rural areas <NUM>, <NUM> may be gradual; an urban area <NUM> may gradually become a rural area <NUM>. In general, the urban area <NUM> may be considered the geographic area wherein a sufficient amount of smog <NUM>, <NUM> has originated.

The urban area <NUM> may include an urban surface <NUM>, smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, and mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. The urban surface <NUM> may be a horizontal surface located at the ground or base level of the urban area <NUM>. The smog atmospheric layer <NUM> may be a layer of smog extending above the urban surface <NUM> any dimension. The smog atmospheric layer <NUM> may be vertically adjacent to the urban surface <NUM> and may extend above the urban surface <NUM> with a vertical thickness. The smog atmospheric layer <NUM> is the layer closest to the urban surface <NUM> in which there is vigorous turbulent mixing. However, the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> does not mix easily with the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. That Jack of mixing results in the accumulation of pollutants in the smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, particularly when there is no ambient wind, during winter time, at night, and during the day (also known as photochemical smog).

In the urban dome shown in <FIG>, the warm urban area air rises, and at or below the height of the RBL <NUM>, it moves horizontally away from the urban area <NUM>. The air then comes down at the edges of the urban area <NUM> and moves towards the urban area <NUM> above the urban surface <NUM>. This circulation forms a convection cell that continuously moves air around. In the urban plume scenario shown in <FIG>, the urban area air rises and then it is taken by ambient wind <NUM> and moved away from the urban area <NUM>. More severe smog may form under the urban dome conditions in <FIG> because the polluted urban air is not removed, but merely circulated. Less severe smog may exist under the urban plume scenario in <FIG>. Other factors, such as season, time of day, temperature and the vertical structure of the atmosphere (thermal inversion) also play important roles and further complicate urban air circulation.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a system <NUM> for reducing smog <NUM> in an urban area <NUM>, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows the system <NUM> operating in the urban plume scenario shown in <FIG>, above. <FIG> shows the system <NUM> operating in the urban dome scenario shown in FIG. <FIG> and <FIG> are discussed together below, unless otherwise stated.

The system <NUM> includes an urban area <NUM> having an urban surface <NUM>. A smog atmospheric layer <NUM> is located above the urban surface <NUM>. A mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> is located above the smog atmospheric layer <NUM>. A plurality of turbines <NUM>,<NUM> are located on the urban surface <NUM> and move a quantity air <NUM> between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be any devices suitable for moving a sufficient quantity of air <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may include pumps, fans, wind turbines, and the like. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be distributed throughout the urban surface <NUM>. In one example, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be located nearest to sources of smog <NUM> in the urban area <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be concentrated near those sources in order to move the most smog <NUM> allowable. In another example, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be distributed so as to create a particular air flow scheme throughout the urban area <NUM>. For instance, if wind <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) naturally blows through certain paths within the urban area <NUM>, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be distributed to optimally direct air <NUM> into the path of the wind <NUM>. As another example, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be located near the tallest structures <NUM> within the urban area <NUM>, which may allow the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> to move an optimal quantity of air <NUM> away from those structures. In yet another example, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be evenly distributed throughout the urban area <NUM>.

The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be oriented to move a quantity of air <NUM> between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, this orientation may direct air <NUM> in a substantially upward direction. As shown in <FIG>, below, this orientation may direct air <NUM> in a substantially horizontal direction away from the urban area <NUM>. In one example, a number of the plurality of turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may direct the air <NUM> in a horizontal direction within the urban area <NUM>, while others direct the air <NUM> in a vertical direction. This may allow the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> to focus the smog <NUM> to locations within the urban area <NUM> that will more optimally dilute or remove the smog from the urban area <NUM>. The orientation of the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may depend on the geography or topography of the urban area <NUM>, structures within the urban area <NUM>, natural weather patterns, local seasonal climate, and the like. In one example, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be oriented to prevent smog from being moved through a particular area, such as a school or hospital.

In examples according to the invention, the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> include one or more air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> to guide the air <NUM> upward. This may allow the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> to be oriented in a non-vertical direction, which may allow optimal collection of smog at urban surface <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>,<NUM> may be in communication with the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> and may direct air <NUM> from the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> through the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, and into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. The air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be permanent or temporary installations. In examples outside the scope of the invention, the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be chimneys, pipes, or other channels that are permanently located within the urban area <NUM>. The permanent air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be freestanding or affixed to a building, post, or other infrastructure. For instance, a standard industrial chimney may be used. In another example, the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be temporary. According to the invention, the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> are inflatable tubes that become vertical and semi-rigid when air <NUM> is moved through them. They may operate at particular times, for instance, during the night or during times of heavy smog. When not in use, they may be deflated and stored away. The temporary air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be made of any suitable materials, including plastic, vinyl, fabric, paper, or any combination thereof. In another example, the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be made from telescoping segments of specific height. The segments may fit together and may be telescopically extendable when in use. In another example, the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be rigid conduits, such as those made from plastic, metal, polymer, and the like. The rigid air conduits may be temporarily affixed to a support structure while the system <NUM> is in use. The air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may extend above the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>, such that a top opening of the air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> can expel air into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>.

The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may move a quantity of air <NUM> between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may move or draw air from a portion of the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> proximate to the ground surface, which is generally an area of the urban setting which is open to the outside atmosphere and has smog. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may then direct smog <NUM> or air <NUM> within the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> upward and into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. The turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may direct the smog <NUM>, air <NUM>, or some combination thereof by moving air <NUM> within the urban area <NUM> between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. As air <NUM> is moved between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>, the smog <NUM> may be directed higher into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, at greater heights, wind <NUM> may blow over the urban area <NUM> at the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> and may carry the smog <NUM> away from the urban area. As shown in <FIG>, where there is little wind, the pollutants in the smog <NUM> may mix with the moved air <NUM> in the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. This may cause the smog <NUM> from the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> to be mixed and diluted within the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> at a higher altitude over the urban area <NUM>. Over time in both scenarios, the amount of smog <NUM> in the urban area <NUM> may be reduced.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a system <NUM> for reducing smog <NUM> in an urban area <NUM>. The system <NUM> may be deployed in an urban area <NUM> having an urban surface <NUM>, smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>, and structures <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, above. The system <NUM> may include a plurality of turbines <NUM>, <NUM> located on the urban surface <NUM> within the urban area <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the plurality of turbines <NUM>,<NUM> may be oriented to move a quantity of air <NUM> between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> by directing air <NUM> generally horizontally and outside of the urban area <NUM>.

The plurality of turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be distributed within the urban area <NUM> and may work individually or in concert to direct air <NUM> outside of the urban area <NUM>. As discussed relative to <FIG> above, the plurality of turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may be distributed in a variety of different ways to optimize and direct the air <NUM> being moved through the urban area <NUM>, for instance, in proximity to sources of pollutants, in strategic pathways or areas where smog may be carried away efficiently, or positioned to avoid certain areas of the urban area <NUM> The plurality of turbines <NUM>, <NUM> may include air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> in communication with the turbines <NUM>, <NUM>. The air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> may direct the smog <NUM>, air <NUM>, or a combination of thereof outside of the urban area <NUM>. The air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> may be permanent or temporary, as discussed above. In one example, the air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> may be located on or above the urban surface <NUM>. In another example, the air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> may be located underneath the urban surface <NUM>, for instance, as a buried pipeline or conduit. The buried conduit may surface outside or near the outside of the urban area <NUM>. Existing infrastructure, such as tunnels, sewer lines, metro tunnels, and the like may also be used as air conduit <NUM>, <NUM> for the smog <NUM>.

In operation, pollutants, air <NUM>, or smog <NUM> may be moved from within the urban area <NUM>, for example within the smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, to an area outside of the urban area <NUM>. The horizontal movement of this air <NUM> or smog <NUM> may cause low pressure over the urban area <NUM>, which may cause air <NUM> in the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> to move into the smog atmospheric layer <NUM>. This may in turn cause the air <NUM> moved by the turbines <NUM>, <NUM> to rise outside of the urban area <NUM> and be drawn into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM> in a circular motion. Over time, the pollutants from the air <NUM> in the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> may move between the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> and the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>, diluting the amount of smog in the air above the urban area <NUM>. This may reduce smog <NUM> within the urban area <NUM>.

In another example, the system shown in <FIG> may operate in the opposite direction, drawing air <NUM> from outside of the urban area <NUM> and moving it into the urban area <NUM>. The air <NUM> from outside the urban area <NUM> may be clean air. As it is moved into the urban area <NUM>, it may force the smog <NUM> within the smog atmospheric layer <NUM> upward and into the mixing atmospheric layer <NUM>. This may dilute the concentration of pollutants in the smog atmospheric layer <NUM>, reducing smog <NUM> within the urban area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a system <NUM> for reducing smog in an urban area. The system <NUM> includes an urban area <NUM> and a rural area <NUM> adjacent to the urban area <NUM>. A plurality of turbines <NUM> is located within the rural area <NUM> and moves a quantity of air <NUM> between the urban area <NUM> and the rural area <NUM>.

The urban area <NUM> may be any city, town, village, campus, or other developed area where smog may originate from or settle, as described in <FIG>, above. The rural area <NUM> may be the area adjacent to, but outside of, the urban area <NUM>. In <FIG>, the rural area <NUM> is shown as being demarcated by an urban boundary <NUM>. This is for illustrative purposes only. In operation, the urban boundary <NUM> may not be a physical boundary, but may simply be a geographical point where the urban area <NUM> ends and the rural area <NUM> begins. As discussed relative to FIGS. IA-1B, above, the urban boundary <NUM> may be the point where urban structures within the urban area <NUM> are not present or fall below a certain density. In another example, the urban boundary <NUM> may be the point where the density of smog falls below a threshold. For instance, the urban area <NUM> may be an area where <NUM>% of localized smog is located; the urban boundary <NUM> may be the geographical location where the <NUM>% threshold is met; and the rural area <NUM> may be the localized area immediately outside of the urban boundary <NUM>.

A plurality of turbines <NUM> is located within the rural area <NUM> and moves a quantity of air <NUM> between the urban area <NUM> and the rural area <NUM>. The turbines <NUM> may be any suitable devices for moving a quantity of air <NUM>, including wind turbines, air pumps, fans, and the like. For instance, large-scale wind turbines used to generate renewable energy, such as those made by Acciona®, Siemens Gamesa®, and the like, may be used. These turbines may be powered by electricity, rather than generating it, in order to turn the rotors and move a sufficient quantity of air. A large Siemens® wind turbine has a sweep area of approximately <NUM>,<NUM> square meters and is rated to work with wind speeds of tens of meters per second. Operating it to generate wind, and taking a conservative wind speed of <NUM>/s, the turbine may move <NUM>,<NUM> cubic meters per second. Air having a volume of <NUM> billion cubic meters may be moved by approximately one or two such turbines operating over the course of a day. A plurality of such wind turbines may be used to maintain air flow in the desired direction. In another example, a plurality of smaller wind turbines with a sweep area of <NUM>,<NUM> square meters may be used instead of fewer large ones. This may be advantageous in that the plurality of smaller turbines can be individually controlled - for example switched on when needed or oriented according to ambient pressure and wind condition. Another advantage would be that because of their smaller sizes they would be less visible and thus aesthetically less displeasing. The sweep area of the plurality of turbines may be larger or smaller than <NUM>,<NUM> square meters, depending on the turbines used. For instance, turbines with a sweep area of up to <NUM>,<NUM> square meters may be used in one implementation, while turbines with a sweep area of down to <NUM> square meters may be used in another implementation. Any turbine with a suitable sweep area may be used. In one example, a combination of turbines having different sweep areas may be used. For instance, where more air must be moved, a larger turbine may be used. In locations where less air must be moved, one or more smaller turbines may be used. This may allow air to be directed efficiently within the area. In another example, a high-bypass turbofan engine, such as those used to power the Boeing® <NUM>, may be used to move a sufficient quantity of air. Such an engine can pump approximately <NUM>,<NUM> cubic meters of air per second. Approximately <NUM> engines may be able to pump the quantity of air within a <NUM> billion cubic meter volume in a day. In another example, a Rietz® high-volume air pump having a maximum flow rate of <NUM> cubic meters per second may be used. Approximately <NUM> pumps may be able to pump <NUM> billion cubic meters of air within a day. Other types of turbines, pumps, or fans may be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

The plurality of turbines <NUM> may be distributed within the rural area <NUM>. The distribution may be determined by the number and capacity of the turbines <NUM>, the geographical characteristics of the rural area <NUM>, the natural weather or climate patterns in the area, and the like. In one example, the plurality of turbines <NUM> may be distributed to create artificial circulation around and through the urban area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of turbines <NUM> may be located and distributed in order to direct air <NUM> from the rural area <NUM> into the urban area <NUM>. The air <NUM> may be moved by the plurality of turbines <NUM> from the rural area <NUM> to the urban area <NUM> I, causing air <NUM> in the urban area <NUM> to rise higher in the atmosphere. The rising air <NUM> may contain smog. After rising, the smog may mix with clean air <NUM> above the urban area <NUM>, diluting the smog and reducing the smog in the urban area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a system <NUM> for reducing smog in an urban area <NUM>. The system <NUM> may include an urban area <NUM>, rural area <NUM>, and urban boundary <NUM>, as discussed in <FIG>, above. A plurality of turbines <NUM> may be located within the rural area <NUM> and may be configured to move a quantity of air <NUM> between the urban area <NUM> and the rural area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of turbines <NUM> may be facing away from the urban area <NUM>, drawing air <NUM> from the urban area <NUM> into the rural area <NUM>. The air <NUM> from the urban area <NUM> may contain smog, which may be moved from the urban area <NUM> to the rural area <NUM>. The resulting low pressure may cause clean air <NUM> from higher in the atmosphere to be drawn into the urban area <NUM>. This may reduce the smog in the urban area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a system <NUM> for reducing smog in an urban area <NUM>. The system <NUM> may include an urban area <NUM>, rural area <NUM>, and urban boundary <NUM>, as discussed in <FIG>, above. A plurality of turbines <NUM> may be located within the rural area <NUM> and may be configured to move a quantity of air <NUM> between the urban area <NUM> and the rural area <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the plurality of turbines <NUM> may be positioned to direct air <NUM> to circulate through the urban area <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, directing air <NUM> through the urban area <NUM> may include directing the air <NUM> in a substantially straight path from one point of longitude or latitude to another point. In another example, this may include directing the air <NUM> along a plurality of paths through the urban area <NUM> and back into the rural area <NUM>. This may depend on the size and layout of the urban area <NUM>, the location and placement of the plurality of turbines <NUM>, natural weather patterns, and other factors. The system <NUM> may artificially generate wind originating in one portion of the rural area <NUM>, moving through the urban area <NUM>, and moving back into a second portion of the rural area <NUM>. As the air is moved from the rural area <NUM> to the urban area <NUM> and back to the rural area <NUM>, it may cause smog from the urban area <NUM> to be moved from the urban area <NUM> to the rural area <NUM>. This may reduce the smog within the urban area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic illustration of a computer-controlled system <NUM> for reducing smog in an urban area <NUM>, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the plurality of turbines <NUM> may be operated and controlled using a computer system <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may be in electrical communication with the plurality of turbines <NUM> over at least one network <NUM>. The at least one network <NUM> may be any suitable network, including wired connections such as local area networks, wide area networks, intranets and wireless connections such as radio, Wi-Fi®, satellite, Bluetooth®, and the like. The at least one network <NUM> may be connected to the Internet, and may be operable remotely. The computer system <NUM> may include one or more computers, servers, or distributed computing devices, which may be in communication with a cloud computing network <NUM> or similar network which may compile, analyze, and/or distribute data relating to turbines in other locations.

In one example, the computer system <NUM> may automatically control the operation of the plurality of turbines <NUM> based on the local topology, instant wind conditions, predicted weather conditions, amount of smog to be moved, and the like. For instance, local or remote sensors may measure the. current wind conditions to be stronger in a first portion of the rural area <NUM> and weaker in a second, different portion of the rural area <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may use the sensor information to control the operation of turbines <NUM> in the first and second portions of the rural area <NUM> differently. For instance, where the wind conditions are stronger, the computer system <NUM> may operate the turbines <NUM> at a lower level or over a shorter period. Where the wind conditions are weaker, the computer system <NUM> may operate the turbines <NUM> at a higher level or over a longer period. As another example, a sensor within the urban area <NUM> may detect and report higher concentrations of smog in a first portion of the urban area <NUM> and lower concentrations of smog in a second portion of the urban area <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may direct turbines <NUM> in connection with the first portion of the urban area <NUM> to operate at a higher level or for a more sustained period than turbines <NUM> in connection with the second portion of the urban area <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may direct the turbines <NUM> in different portions of the rural area <NUM> to operate differently based on any one or more factors. The computer system <NUM> may control turbines <NUM> individually or in one or more groups. The computer system <NUM> may be used with any of the turbines, fans, or other air movers described relative to <FIG>, or otherwise within this disclosure.

<FIG> are illustrations of permanent air conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, the air conduit <NUM> is positioned vertically to direct air upward. The air conduit <NUM> may operate with the system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, the air conduit <NUM> is positioned horizontally to direct air outward from an urban area. The air conduit <NUM> may operate with the system <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be any suitable length for directing air between the urban area and the rural areas of <FIG>. In one example, a plurality of air conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be used to direct the air.

<FIG> are illustrations of temporary conduits <NUM>, <NUM>, with <FIG> showing a temporary conduits <NUM>, <NUM> in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In <FIG>, the conduit <NUM> may be a collapsible conduit made from fabric, synthetic materials, plastics, and the like. When not in use, the conduit <NUM> may be in a retracted state <NUM>, and when a positive air pressure is applied with an air pump <NUM> or similar device connected to the conduit <NUM> with a transfer hose <NUM>, the conduit <NUM> converts to an expanded state <NUM>. The structure of the conduit <NUM> may provide a semi-rigid guide for the air within. The conduit <NUM> may be comprised of a plurality of segments <NUM> connected together. <FIG> illustrates a similar example, where the conduit <NUM> is formed from a flexible fabric or fabric-like material having a tube-like shape. The conduit <NUM> may have a naturally deflated state <NUM>, and when a positive air pressure is applied with an air pump <NUM> or similar device connected to the conduit <NUM> with a transfer hose <NUM>, the conduit <NUM> converts to an expanded state <NUM>. The continuous or semi-continuous positive air pressure from the air pump <NUM> maintains the expanded state <NUM> and also transfers surface air through the conduit <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a similar design, where the conduit <NUM> may be a telescoping conduit made from rigid or semi-rigid plastics, polymers, metals, and the like. When not in use, the conduit <NUM> may be in a retracted state <NUM>. When a positive air pressure is applied with an air pump <NUM> or similar device connected to the conduit <NUM> with a transfer hose <NUM>, the conduit <NUM> converts to an expanded state <NUM>. When this occurs, the plurality of segments <NUM> that fit together may be telescopically extended into an expanded state <NUM>. The structure of the conduit <NUM> may provide a rigid guide for the air within. The plurality of segments <NUM> may be held in the expanded state <NUM> by friction, locking mechanisms, or other means. The plurality of segments <NUM> may nest when in the retracted state <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart <NUM> illustrating a method of reducing smog in an urban area, in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the present disclosure in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.

Step <NUM> includes providing a plurality of turbines within an urban area having an urban surface, a smog atmospheric layer located above the urban surface, and a mixing atmospheric layer located above the smog atmospheric layer. The plurality of turbines may be located within the urban area as described relative to <FIG>, above.

Step <NUM> includes orienting the plurality of turbines to direct a quantity of air between the smog atmospheric layer and the mixing atmospheric layer. The plurality of turbines may be oriented as described relative to <FIG>, above. The plurality of turbines may be oriented to direct the quantity of air in a substantially vertical, upward direction, in a substantially horizontal outward direction, in a substantially horizontal inward direction, or some combination thereof.

Step <NUM> includes operating the plurality of turbines to move the quantity of air between the smog atmospheric layer and the mixing atmospheric layer. The plurality of turbines may operate to move the quantity of air. Depending on the orientation of the turbines, the quantity of air may move upward from the smog atmospheric layer or outward from the urban area. Air moving upward from the smog atmospheric layer may move from the smog atmospheric layer to the mixing atmospheric layer. As shown in <FIG>, the smog may mix with air in the mixing atmospheric layer or may be carried away by ambient wind. This may cause smog from the smog atmospheric layer to mix with clean air in the mixing atmospheric layer, resulting in reduced smog within the urban area. Air moving outward from the urban area may be directed into a rural area located adjacent to the urban area. The plurality of turbines may direct smog from within the smog atmospheric layer outward into the rural area. The low pressure created by the moving air may cause clean air from the mixing atmospheric layer to flow into the smog atmospheric layer, diluting the amount of smog in the smog atmospheric layer. This combined removal of urban area smog to the rural area and mixing of air and smog between the smog atmospheric layer and mixing atmospheric layers may reduce the amount of smog within the urban area.

The method may further include any other features, components, or functions disclosed relative to any other figure of this disclosure.

Claim 1:
A system for reducing smog in an urban area (<NUM>), comprising:
an urban area (<NUM>) having an urban surface (<NUM>), the urban surface (<NUM>) being a horizontal surface located at a ground level of the urban area (<NUM>);
a smog atmospheric layer (<NUM>) located above the urban surface (<NUM>) and vertically adjacent to the urban surface (<NUM>) and extending above the urban surface (<NUM>) with a vertical thickness;
a mixing atmospheric layer (<NUM>) located above the smog atmospheric layer (<NUM>),
the system comprising
a plurality of turbines (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising an air pump (<NUM>) or similar device, located on the urban surface (<NUM>);
at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the air pump (<NUM>) or similar device is in communication with the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) to direct air from a portion of the smog atmospheric layer (<NUM>) proximate to the ground into the plurality of turbines (<NUM>, <NUM>) and through the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and into the mixing atmospheric layer (<NUM>), characterized in that
the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extends above the smog atmospheric layer (<NUM>) and into the mixing atmospheric layer (<NUM>) such that a top opening of the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) expels air into the smog atmospheric layer (<NUM>), wherein the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is freestanding and formed from a substantially flexible material having a tube-like shape, wherein the at least one air conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has a naturally deflated state (<NUM>) and when a positive air pressure is applied with said air pump (<NUM>) or similar device , the at least one conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) converts to an expanded state, and wherein continuous or semi-continuous positive air pressure from the air pump (<NUM>) or similar device maintains the expanded state (<NUM>).