Gravity Energy Storage Truss Tower Aerodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems face inefficiencies due to the need for individual transport bogies for each ballast block, lack of control over individual blocks, wind resistance issues from cubic shapes, and limited exposure for photovoltaic cells, which hinder energy storage efficiency and integration with wind turbines.
Innovation Solution
A gravity energy storage system utilizing a truss tower structure with a reinforced concrete cylindrical design, allowing independent control of ballast blocks, reduced wind resistance, and integration of photovoltaic cells for energy harvesting, featuring a modular truss tower with lifting cables and energy conversion units connected through a gear system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual transport bogies are used for each ballast block, then ballast blocks can be transported, but device complexity increases and control over individual blocks is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transport bogies from the system entirely. Instead of using bogies to carry ballast blocks, the blocks are directly suspended from the lifting cables that run through the tower structure. This extraction of the bogie component simplifies the system while maintaining the ability to transport and control individual ballast blocks independently through the lifting mechanism.
2Productivity
If lifts are located only in the outermost perimeter of the energy storage tower, then structural support is provided, but unstacking efficiency is reduced due to sequential operation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lifting system into multiple independent lifting lines distributed throughout the tower structure, not just at the perimeter. Each lifting line can operate independently to move ballast blocks, allowing parallel operations that significantly increase unstacking speed. This segmentation of the lifting function across multiple locations enables simultaneous handling of multiple blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional perimeter-based lifting arrangement to a three-dimensional distributed lifting network throughout the tower volume. Lifting cables are positioned at multiple heights and locations, allowing blocks to be accessed and moved from any position in the stack, not just from the outer perimeter, thereby enabling more efficient unstacking operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cubic shape is used for the energy storage tower, then construction is simplified, but wind resistance increases which adversely affects operation near wind turbines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the tower shape from a cubic form to a cylindrical structure. The curved cylindrical surface allows wind to flow smoothly around the tower, significantly reducing wind resistance and turbulence compared to the flat surfaces and sharp edges of a cubic shape. This aerodynamic improvement makes the tower suitable for locations near wind turbines where minimizing wind interference is critical.
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
This design enables efficient energy storage and generation by allowing simultaneous lowering of all ballast blocks, reducing wind resistance, and maximizing photovoltaic energy capture, resulting in improved efficiency and independence from weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a ground-to-height and height-to-ground ballast block transfer system... The system takes advantage of the principle that when electricity prices are low, the system stores energy by transporting the ballast block from the ground to a certain elevation and when electricity prices are high, the ballast block is lowered to the ground
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the ballast block drives the gear mechanism or flywheel during the lowering process, which in turn drives the electricity generator
Implementation Method 3
an energy conversion system that uses the concept of kinetic energy generation to drive electrical power generation equipment
Implementation Method 4
The purpose of the reinforced concrete cylindrical structure (7) is to improve the aerodynamics of a building such as an energy storage, which, among other things, protects it against wind pressure
Implementation Method 5
create a surface which allows photovoltaic cells to be exposed to sunlight
Data Source
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AI summary
The gravity energy storage system utilising a truss tower structure, which includes the ballast block storage zone in its upper section, a ground-to-height and height-to-ground ballast block transfer system and a energy conversion system, characterized in that it consists of a reinforced concrete cylindrical structure (7) set on the foundation (11) and truss tower structure (4) placed centrally in it, which is made up of modular sections (5) of the truss tower, containing at least two truss modules (5a) placed one on top of the other, inside which ballast blocks composed of at least one ballast move vertically (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) suspended on lifting cables (2), where the modular sections (5) of the truss tower are arranged by adding them next to each other, and in the lowest truss module (5a) there is an energy conversion unit (9), which is connected through a gear and a lifting system with appropriate ballast block (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) and the height of the reinforced concrete cylindrical section (7) is at least equal to the height of the modular section (5) of the truss tower.