Wind-Powered Compressed Air Energy Storage System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind-powered energy generation systems face challenges in storing energy for later use, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for immediate power usage.
Innovation Solution
A wind-powered energy generator system that captures wind energy to compress air, which is then stored for later use in generating electricity. The system includes a rotor-driven air compressor, an air intake system, a storage system, and a conversion system to convert compressed air back into rotational mechanical energy for electricity production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If electricity is generated by wind towers and fed into the electrical grid, then electricity production is achieved, but transmission losses and high material costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the core function of wind energy conversion while removing the dependency on electrical grids. Instead of generating electricity that must be transmitted through loss-prone grids, the system captures wind energy and stores it as compressed air locally, eliminating transmission losses and grid material costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by compressing air using wind power and storing it for later use. The compressed air can be transported through pipes to remote locations where it drives turbines to generate electricity, replacing the electrical grid transmission infrastructure with a pneumatic transmission system.
2Power
If electricity is generated by wind towers, then power production is achieved, but the electricity cannot be easily stored and must be used immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing wind energy when available and converting it to compressed air for future use. This allows energy to be stored in advance during periods of high wind availability, enabling electricity generation at later times when wind conditions may be less favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and storage parameters of the captured energy. Instead of storing electrical energy in batteries or capacitors, the system converts wind energy into compressed air, changing the energy form from electrical to pneumatic, which can be stored indefinitely in pressurized containers and transported as needed.
3Productivity
If wind-powered electricity generation is implemented, then renewable energy production is achieved, but operational costs increase due to inability to store energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing wind-powered locations to capture and store their own energy production in the form of compressed air. This eliminates the need to purchase electricity from external grids during periods when storage is needed, reducing operational costs while maintaining renewable energy production.
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 system effectively converts transitory wind energy into storable compressed air, allowing for flexible electricity generation at a later time, reducing energy wastage, and lowering operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor converts the linear force of the wind into rotational mechanical energy for operating the air compressor
Implementation Method 2
an air compressor for compressing incoming air
Implementation Method 3
a cooling system for cooling the compressed air to allow a higher amount of compressed air energy to be stored within a given storage system
Implementation Method 4
a conversion system for converting the compressed air energy back into rotational mechanical energy for producing electricity
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy generator system is provided that is capable of capturing the transitory energy contained within the wind and converting it to a form of storable energy for later use in generating electricity. The energy generator system includes a compression system including an air compressor for compressing incoming air and a rotor for operating the compressor in response to the wind flowing over the rotor. An intake system is associated with the compression system and provides clean ambient air to the air compressor. The compression system and the intake system c contained in a wind tower having a head for supporting the rotor and an elongate pylon for positioning the rotor at a sufficient height to capture the energy of the wind. The natural energy system additionally includes a storage system for storing the compressed air produced by the air compressor.