199 results about "Alternative energy" patented technology

Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the control of energy supply and demand. An energy control unit includes one or more algorithms for scheduling the control of energy consumption devices on the basis of variables relating to forecast energy supply and demand. Devices for which energy consumption can be scheduled or deferred are activated during periods of cheapest energy usage. Battery storage and alternative energy sources (e.g., photovoltaic cells) are activated to sell energy to the power grid during periods that are determined to correspond to favorable cost conditions.

Devices and methods are described for converting a carbon source and a hydrogen source into hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, for alternative energy sources. The influents may comprise carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas or water, obtainable from the atmosphere for through methods described herein, such as plasma generation or electrolysis. One method to produce hydrocarbons comprises the use of an electrolytic device, comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. Another method comprises the use of ultrasonic energy to drive the reaction. The devices and methods and related devices and methods are useful, for example, to provide a fossil fuel alternative energy source, store renewable energy, sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, counteract global warming, and store carbon dioxide in a liquid fuel.

Provided is a wearable, self-contained drug infusion or medical device capable of communicating with a host controller or other external devices via a personal area network (PAN). The medical device utilizes a PAN transceiver for communication with other devices in contact with a user's body, such as a physiological sensor or host controller, by propagating a current across the user's body via capacitive coupling. The wearable nature of the medical device and the low power requirements of the PAN communication system enable the medical device to utilize alternative energy harvesting techniques for powering the device. The medical device preferably utilizes thermal, kinetic and other energy harvesting techniques for capturing energy from the user and the environment during normal use of the medical device. A system power distribution unit is provided for managing the harvested energy and selectively supplying power to the medical device during system operation.

This invention relates to the treatment of a patient's lung, for example, a lung exhibiting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in particular to methods and devices for affecting lung volume reduction, preferably for achieving acute or immediate lung volume reduction following treatment. The lung volume reduction is effected by delivering a condensable vapor at a temperature above body temperature to the desired regions of the patient's lung to damage tissue therein. Blood flow and air flow to the damaged tissue region is essentially terminated, rendering the target region non-functional. Alternative energy sources may be used to effect the thermal damage to the lung tissue.

A highly energy efficient automobile that provides payload, safety and performance capacities similar to a comparable vehicle of a given vehicle class. The current invention is ideal for short to medium range urban and suburban driving. The current invention incorporates components in a unique and novel way, in which these components combine to form a system that produces an automobile that reduces overall air pollution while encouraging the commercialization of alternative energy sources. The current invention features an lightweight, low rolling resistance, digitally controlled and direct-drive electric propulsion system. A lightweight spaceframe with a suspension system provides a structure for mounting a low-aerodynamic-drag body system and other components. An intelligent power and thermal management system coupled with a removable auxiliary power module supplies the electrical energy required. While the preferred embodiment is substantially a passenger vehicle, the current invention may be scaled to other land vehicles.

A method and apparatus for a computer assisted surgery (CAS) system using alternative energy tissue and bone alteration technology. The CAS system utilizes alternative energy technology which is a directed to a surgical instrument including an alteration or cutting tip. The tip may be in contact with the tissue or bone, or, alternatively, the tip may be distant from the tissue or bone and the energy is projected to the desired cut or alteration site. The CAS system recognizes the location of the tip relative to a desired alteration location or area and de-energizes or varies the energy level when the tip moves away from or out of the predetermined alteration location or path. The CAS system provides a method for altering or resecting bone, for example, in preparation for a prosthetic implant, or a method for altering tissue, for example, cauterizing blood vessels or bonding ligaments to bones.

An automatic transfer switch configured for connection to a non-traditional, full-time or intermittent power source, such as a wind turbine or solar panel, selectively connects the non-traditional power source as a primary power source and a utility-derived power source as a secondary power source. The intermittent power source includes an energy storage device, such as a bank of DC batteries, to supplement power delivery during periods of low energy production. The power is provided to an AC load via a DC-to-AC inverter. The transfer switch includes an input to monitor the voltage level on the energy storage device and will switch from the primary power source to the utility power source when the voltage level on the energy storage device drops below a preset level. Thus, a loading condition that exceeds the rating of the inverter will not fault the inverter or limit the power available to the loads.

Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.

A ventilation system comprising a fan to bring air into a building or exhaust air out of the building, a rechargeable battery to power the fan in the absence of an alternative energy source, and an alternative energy harnessing device to power the fan and to recharge the rechargeable battery in the presence of an alternative energy source. A sensor may be operatively connected to a controller or logic circuit to measure environmental factors, wherein the controller utilizes the measured environmental condition to select the power source with which to activate the fan. The ventilation system is configured to be a modular device with versatile fasteners for easy installment in windows or attics without the need for modification of the building, such as cutting holes.

A roadway system and method for energy generation and distribution are presented. This system allows a geothermal infrastructure to be tied into the roadway system electricity grid. The geothermal infrastructure may include energy exchangers that are electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid. By connecting the energy exchangers electrically to the roadway system electricity grid, the energy exchangers may be powered by solar and/or wind generating devices. In one embodiment of the invention, a roadway system for energy generation and distribution comprises a plurality of energy harnessing devices (e.g., solar and/or wind generating devices). The roadway system electricity grid is configured for mass distribution of electricity. The energy exchangers are configured to electrically connect to the roadway system electricity grid. Each of substantially all of the energy harnessing devices, is electrically connected to the roadway system electricity grid and positioned on part of one of the roads.

A wind energy apparatus is made up of a plurality of modular wind energy devices or units. Each unit has a housing and at least two turbines mounted on the housing. Each of the turbines has a blade set extending upward from the housing. Each blade set has a vertical axis extending upward in relation to the housing. Each of the turbines has a generator connected thereto, each generator being disposed in the housing, and having a rotor and a stator. Each turbine is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing, and mounted to the rotor so that they rotate together. Each housing has a positive connector and negative connector on each side of the respective unit. The units, when placed together, connect their respective poles, positive and negative, together completing a circuit. Therefore, one may connect multiple units together.

The method included herein is an alternative energy wireless solar panel wind turbine communication server appliance node mechanism with built in communications server array, wireless energy and communications mechanism with protection, sharing, storage, accessing, authentication, battery management, certification, processing attachment and tracking mechanisms. The method and mechanism is utilized via networked servers, solar panels, and wireless electronic devices (online and offline) as well as mobile (wireless) communications devices built into one waterproof, temperature, controlled self-sensing hardware package. The method and mechanism also works as part of a kilowatt hour banking system, and thermal passive solar control mechanism for living spaces.

Described is a digital electrical routing control system for use with electrical storage systems and conventional and alternative energy sources, and methods of using the same. In one aspect is described a method of determining an amount of energy used by a load using a computer, with the energy being provided from a first battery and a second battery, and with other energy being supplied to charge the first battery and the second battery, the method comprising the steps of: initiating, using the computer, charging of the first battery with the other energy while the second battery is being drained by connection to the load; initiating, using the computer, charging of the second battery with the other energy while the first battery is being drained by connection to the load; and detecting, using the computer, an amount of energy consumed during an interval of time based upon an amount of charging of the first battery and the second battery during the interval of time.

A multivariable control system provides regulation for a plurality of control variables of interest based on selecting a particular one of the variables for regulation relative to a corresponding setpoint, while continuing to monitor the other variables and switching regulation control over to another one of the variables as needed to maintain all of them within their allowed ranges. The system includes one or more PID regulators that tune themselves for the particular variables selected for regulation control. In an exemplary embodiment, the control system is configured for controlling an alternative energy system, wherein it includes one or more power flow devices that control power flow between electrical energy storage devices (EESDs) and a common dc bus and/or power flow between the dc bus and an external ac electrical system.

The instant invention provides a system and apparatus for direct retrofit into any internal combustion engine a system and apparatus for an engine that uses only water as the raw fuel sources hydrogen, oxygen, and steam. The system is designed for on demand conversion of distilled water to hydrogen, oxygen and a slight amount of water vapor. Sensors, minor chamber modifications are the only minor changes to the original or OEM system provides an elegant answer to a question of alternative energy. With addition of multiple heat exchange units or steam generators, surplus energy is made.

An alternative energy system utilizes a combination of renewable energy components creating a synergy for generating electricity to power a large vehicle. The renewable energy components include, a primary solar panel, a transparent solar panel, and a brake apparatus. The primary solar panel and the transparent solar panel substantially cover the surface area of a vehicle. The primary solar panel and the transparent solar panel have an ultrathin configuration to enable enhanced resiliency, and to at least partially wrap around a substantial portion of the surface area of the vehicle, including the windows. The brake apparatus includes a regenerative brake that converts kinetic energy of the moving vehicle to electricity when the brakes are applied. The generated electricity is carried to an electricity storage device that selectively powers an electric motor. The system is effective with large vehicles that have spacious surface area and large kinetic energy when braking.

The system contained within this application for non-provisional patent protection provides the ability to convert municipal solid waste materials, used tires, various biomass including wood chips and other agricultural waste, and the addition of coal into synthesis gas (syngas), with oxygen as plasma gas. The system will accommodate the possibility for variation in feedstock co-gasification of the various materials with plasma torches that will be embedded in a plasma gasification unit. One converted into synthesis gas (syngas), the syngas will be cleaned of acid gases and carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide will be captured and converted for various industrial applications instead of being released into the atmosphere. Clean syngas generated by the system will become the gas fuel for various energy solutions including clean electricity, as substitute for natural gas, and ultra clean FT synthetic fuels.

An integrated alternative energy roofing panel incorporates an array of solar concentrator tubes interconnected with transparent web to form a joined plate supported in frame elements with an attached working fluid manifold. The working fluid in the manifold is operatively in contact with the solar concentrator tubes for transferring heat from the tubes. In one exemplary construction, each of the solar concentrator tubes terminates in a conducting metal sleeve which extends beyond the frame element into the manifold. A safety glass panel is attached to one frame element beneath the joined plate. The joined plate and safety glass panel may be sealed to the frame elements to form a chamber and the chamber may be evacuated. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are embedded in the web for supplemental lighting. An array of photovoltaic cells mounted to a top surface of the manifold and a battery are interconnected for powering the LEDs. The manifold incorporates a compartment to house the battery as a portion of the integrated panel.