Energy harvesting device
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-rise buildings face challenges in meeting energy demands due to limited rooftop space for renewable energy installations, and existing solar panel solutions on building façades are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
An energy harvesting device that combines a wind turbine with a channel directing wind and a solar receiver, where sunlight heats air to create low pressure, accelerating wind flow and enhancing energy generation, and includes a rotatable design to optimize sunlight exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If PV or SHW panels are integrated into building façades, then solar energy can be harvested, but the solar intensity received is lower and the cost is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wind turbine functionality with solar receiver integration within a single façade-mounted channel structure. The channel serves dual purposes: directing wind to the turbine while housing solar receivers that capture sunlight to heat air and create low-pressure zones. This merging of functions reduces overall system cost and improves energy harvesting efficiency compared to separate PV panel installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a wind directing channel, houses solar receivers for thermal energy capture, provides structural mounting for the wind turbine, and creates aerodynamic flow patterns. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and lowers installation costs while maximizing energy harvest from limited façade space.
2Use of energy by moving object
If PV or SHW panels are integrated into building façades, then solar energy can be harvested, but the solar intensity received is lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms solar thermal energy into aerodynamic pressure differences by heating air within the channel. This parameter change from thermal to pressure domain creates low-pressure zones that accelerate wind flow toward the turbine, effectively converting solar intensity into enhanced wind energy harvesting rather than relying directly on solar radiation intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
Heated air acts as an intermediary medium between solar receivers and wind turbine. The solar receivers heat the air, creating pressure differences that mediate the interaction between solar energy and wind flow, ultimately enhancing the wind turbine's performance even when direct solar intensity is low.
3Productivity
If a channel is made elongate in width to encompass multiple turbines, then energy generation capacity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate channel is segmented into multiple sections, each capable of housing wind turbines and solar receivers. This segmentation allows the system to scale energy generation capacity by adding modular units along the channel length while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be installed on building façades.
4Productivity
If the channel is designed to accelerate wind to the turbine, then energy generation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel structure serves multiple functions: it directs wind flow, houses solar receivers, provides structural support for turbines, and creates aerodynamic acceleration zones. By combining these functions into a single integrated structure rather than separate components, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving wind acceleration for improved energy generation efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device increases energy generation efficiency by utilizing wind at lower speeds and improves solar panel performance by cooling and concentrating sunlight, making it suitable for high-rise building façades.
Implementation Method 1
sunlight striking a solar receiver within a wind directing channel can heat air present in the channel
Implementation Method 2
This can create an area of low pressure in the channel to help accelerate air in the channel towards the wind turbine
Implementation Method 3
the solar concentrator may comprise a lens for focusing sunlight onto the solar receiver
Implementation Method 4
Suitably, the solar concentrator may comprise a Fresnel lens
Data Source
AI summary
In general terms the present invention proposes a device 100 for harvesting renewable energy. The device 100 comprises a wind turbine 140, a channel 160 for directing wind 198 to the wind turbine 140, and a solar receiver 155 positioned on an internal of the channel 160 for receiving sunlight 194 entering the channel 160.