Inflatable Solar Updraft Tower Geometry With Active Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar updraft towers face challenges due to the high cost and fragility of tall chimney structures, as well as low efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity, with traditional designs requiring expensive materials and posing engineering difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A self-supporting chimney apparatus comprising inflatable toroidal compartments filled with air or lighter gases, optimized for structural integrity and efficiency through dynamic pressure control and geometric design, including a converging-diverging cross-section for enhanced airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional tall chimney structures are used, then structural stability is achieved, but construction cost increases and structural fragility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inflatable membrane structures to replace traditional rigid chimney constructions. The chimney is formed by inflating a flexible membrane structure that can be made from lightweight, inexpensive materials while maintaining structural stability through internal pressure. This resolves the contradiction by achieving stability without requiring expensive traditional materials like steel or concrete.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses buoyant gases (helium or hot air) inflated into the chimney structure to counteract the weight of the chimney itself and the thermal mass within it. This anti-weight approach allows the chimney to achieve structural stability without requiring heavy, expensive supporting materials, thereby reducing construction costs while maintaining stability.
2Strength
If traditional chimney structures are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but adaptability to extreme weather conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically adjustable inflatable structure where the chimney can be inflated to full operational height during normal conditions and deflated or reduced during extreme weather events. This dynamic adaptability allows the structure to maintain integrity by reducing exposure to damaging forces while preserving structural strength through the inflatable membrane design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and parameters of the chimney structure by controlling the inflation pressure and volume of the membrane. During extreme weather, the structure can alter its parameters by deflating or reducing height, thereby maintaining structural integrity while adapting to harsh conditions. This parameter control enables both strength and adaptability.
3Device complexity
If conventional chimney designs are used, then simplicity of design is maintained, but energy conversion efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates curved and optimized geometric profiles in the inflatable chimney structure, including tapered sections and optimized cross-sectional shapes, to enhance airflow dynamics and thermal convection efficiency. These curved designs improve energy conversion by optimizing the flow path of heated air while maintaining relative design simplicity through the flexibility of inflatable membrane construction.
4Productivity
If taller chimney structures are built, then efficiency increases, but structural fragility and construction difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible inflatable membranes to construct tall chimney structures that can reach heights necessary for efficiency while avoiding the fragility of traditional tall structures. The flexible nature of the inflatable structure allows it to flex and adapt to environmental forces without breaking, maintaining reliability at great heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs buoyant gases inflated into the tall chimney structure to counteract gravitational forces and reduce the effective weight at height. This anti-weight mechanism enhances reliability by preventing structural failure from self-weight and external loads, enabling the construction of tall, efficient chimneys without increased fragility.
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 solution reduces construction costs, enhances structural stability, and increases energy conversion efficiency by up to 37% through improved airflow and reduced pressure loss, while allowing for easy maintenance and adaptation to extreme weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The sidewalls may comprise at least one inflatable compartment, with at least one inflatable compartment being filled with a gas... The gas used to fill at least one inflatable compartment may be either air or a gas lighter than air (e.g., helium)
Implementation Method 2
Sunlight 1, passes through the greenhouse covering and heats up the air in the heating space
Implementation Method 3
The heated air then flows through the air inlets into the base and up through the tower to reach the cooler mass of air located above the tower. This convection flow of heated air drives the turbines, producing electricity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a self-supporting chimney apparatus. The chimney apparatus having at least one inflatable compartment. In some embodiments, the chimney apparatus may have a plurality of toroidal compartments, with the dimensions of the toroidal compartments calculated to maximize the structural integrity of the chimney apparatus, and with the pressure in the compartments dynamically adjusted to minimize deflection under wind loading. The self-supporting chimney apparatus may be used to construct an improved solar updraft tower, with the shape of the tower, the greenhouse surrounding its base, and the ground under the greenhouse optimized together to minimize energy losses. The efficiency of the power plant based on the design is further enhanced by combining solar thermal energy generation with photovoltaic energy generation and utilizing the waste heat of the latter.