Technical field

The invention relates to a power system utilizing a renewable source of mechanical energy, whereby the system comprises an air compression device, which is with its compressed air outlet connected to at least one reservoir of compressed air, and means for dissipating heat generated during air compression, whereby the reservoir of the compressed air is further connected to at least one consumer of the compressed air.

The background art

Energy production is currently relatively well managed. However, storing energy for later use is a problem.

The method of storing energy in the form of compressed air is well-known. This is used mainly to store surplus electricity production, when the produced surplus electricity is utilized for driving electric motors of air compressors which compress the air. The compressed air is forced into reservoirs, usually into large underground spaces, such as abandoned mines, etc. At the same time, the heat generated during air compression is dissipated into a heat reservoir for later use in the production of electricity from this compressed air, as will be discussed below. Once the primary production of electrical energy has dropped and it is necessary to supplement electrical energy from other sources, the previously compressed air is fed from the reservoirs to the blades of turbines connected to generators of electrical energy, which are thus driven by the compressed air and produce electricity. Before being fed to the turbines, the compressed air is heated by the heat which was dissipated from the compressed air during air compression and by means of this heat the compressed air is reheated before entering the turbine with an electrical generator, in order to achieve better conditions for the operation of the turbine.

These systems of storing electrical energy are economically highly demanding and technically complicated and therefore their applicability is limited only to large- scale production units. Another disadvantage is that systems of this kind require multiple steps or processes in which energy undergoes a whole series of transformations, which leads to relatively high energy losses, when at first electrical energy is generated, then it is converted to mechanical motion, with the aid of which the air is compressed and the generated heat is stored with a loss, whereby subsequently the energy of the compressed air, which is with another energy loss heated by the heat which has been dissipated before, is converted into mechanical energy, which is converted into electrical energy in the generator. Each step during the conversion energy process is accompanied by energy losses. These are the principal drawbacks of the background art.

Principle of the invention

The aim of the invention is achieved by a power system using a renewable source of mechanic energy, whose principle consists in that a device for compressing air is mechanically connected to an outlet of at least one converter of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion, whereby the converter of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion is with its inlet alignable with at least one renewable source of mechanical energy, whereby at least one reservoir of the compressed air is aligned with at least one first heat exchanger, which is connected to at least one immediate heat consumer, and at least one reservoir of the compressed air is further connected to at least one inlet of the compressed air connected to at least one remote local pneumatic motor, whose outlet is mechanically connected to at least one energy consumer.

The advantage of the invention is completely independent and utterly ecological production, since storing and distribution of energy is performed with a minimal number of transformations of one form of energy into another. The solution according to the invention is fully adaptable to both the current and future needs of the relevant area, consumers/appliances, loading, capacity utilization, weather conditions, etc. Another positive aspect is the fact that several ecological sources of mechanical energy for air compression can be easily combined, including sources of different types, such as air turbines, water wheels, etc. Other advantages include the variability of the whole system, effortless extensibility, adjustability, etc. Description of the drawings

The invention is schematically represented in the drawing, where Fig. 1 shows an overall diagram of the system according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a configuration of the invention in an urbanized zone and Fig. 3 illustrates an example of utilization of a residential building or another facility for storing the compressed air to be used in the system according to the invention.

Examples of embodiment

The invention will be described with reference to schematic embodiments representing functional connections between the individual components of the power system utilizing a renewable source of mechanical energy.

The power system comprises at least one converter 1 of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion, which is aligned with at least one renewable source of mechanical energy.

A renewable source of mechanical energy for the purposes of this invention can be a moving natural fluid resource, which generally may be a gas or a liquid. A typical natural fluid for the purposes of this invention is air as a gas and water as a liquid. Therefore, the renewable source of mechanical energy for the purposes of this invention is moving air (i.e. wind) or moving water (flowing water, tidal energy, etc.).

The converter Λ of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion is therefore at its inlet driven by the action of the natural environment, e.g., the converter is composed of a wind turbine or a water wheel or a water turbine, or a combination thereof, etc., which is in a suitable manner exposed to the action of weather conditions, such as the wind, a stream of water, the movement of water, etc. For that purpose, e.g., a wind turbine is rotatably mounted on a pylon or a water wheel or a water turbine is rotatably mounted by its blades in a water stream or a water stream is fed to the blades of a water turbine to the blades of the water turbine or the water wheel, etc. Thus an ecological converter Λ_ of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion is created for the power system according to the invention, when this converter obtains energy from the so-called renewable sources. The converter 1. of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion is mechanically connected to an input shaft of at least one air compressor 3, whose air inlet is connected to the surrounding atmosphere to suck in the air into the compression apparatus of the compressor 3. According to one embodiment, one air compressor 3_is connected to each converter Λ . According to another embodiment, at least two or even more compressors 3 are connected to one converter _. According to another example ofembodiment, at least one of the compressors 3 is connected to at least two converters 1 of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion, etc.

The air compressor 3 with its outlet of the compressed air is connected to at least one reservoir 4 of compressed air, e.g. it is connected to it via at least one pressure pipe 5. In an unillustrated example of embodiment, at least two air compressors 3 are connected to one reservoir 4 of compressed air.

The reservoir 4 of compressed air is designed eiher as a separate unit (vessel), or it is built into a pylon 2 of a wind turbine, or it is designed in another suitable manner or in at least one other suitable space, or it is configured as a combination of several units, spaces, etc.

The reservoir 4 of compressed air in Fig. 3 (configured as a separate unit or as several units) is created as a part of a facility 6, wherein the corner parts 7 of the facility 6 are designed as hollow pillars to be filled with compressed air. The details regarding the embodiment in Fig. 3 will be further described in the text below.

The reservoir 4 of compressed air and/or the pressure pipe 5 of compressed air and/or directly the air compressor 3 is aligned with a first heat exchanger 8 to transfer heat from the compressed air to another heat transfer medium, e.g., water, etc., whereby water is an ecological heat transfer medium. The first heat exchanger 8 is composed, e.g., of an air to water exchanger, where the heat from the compressed air is transferred to the water flowing through the first exchanger 8. This water is discharged outside the heat exchanger 8 to the immediate heat consumer 9, where the heat from the compressed air is utilized, e.g., by means of a second heat exchanger 10. The immediate heat consumer 9 for the purposes of this invention is, e.g., a heating system in a greenhouse, or a heating system in a swimming pool or a heating system of the building or a system for heating domestic hot water (DHW) or a heat reservoir for later heat consumption in a different manner than by reheating the compressed air. According to another unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the immediate heat consumer 9 is, e.g., a pond or a part thereof or it is water in a part of the sea, which is useful for increasing the water temperature in the respective area, e.g., for the production of algae or fish, etc. Such a water area can be then called a natural area of water mass.

In another exemplary embodiment, the immediate heat consumer 9 is composed of a combination of several means of immediate consumption of heat which have been listed before. The above-mentioned reservoir of heat is preferably formed, e.g., by a reservoir for storing heat in stone dust, etc. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first heat exchanger 8 is situated in the inner space of the reservoir 4 of compressed air, or it passes through it as a pipeline. In an unillustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger 8 is disposed on the surface of the body of the reservoir 4 of compressed air, or it is provided in the casing of the reservoir 4 of compressed air. In another unillustrated exemplary embodiment, the first heat exchanger 8 is provided on the surface of the pressure pipe 5 of compressed air, etc. In another unillustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger 8 is created as a cooling system of the air compressor 3. In another unillustrated embodiment, the first heat exchanger 8 is designed by using another suitable method or by a combination of two or more methods, including those which have been explicitly mentioned here, as well as those which have not been mentioned here. Nevertheless, the principle of these methods is always dissipation of the heat generated by compressing the air in the air compressor 3. A specific embodiment and dimensions of the first heat exchanger 8 are basically selectable according to the needs of the immediate heat consumer 9.

In the illustrated example of embodiment, in the pipe of the heat transfer medium between the first heat exchanger 8 and the immediate heat consumer 9 is arranged a circulator 11., which is provided with a pneumatic motor, which is via suitable regulation and control elements connected to the reservoir 4 of compressed air, which means that the circulator 11_ is driven by the compressed air from the reservoir 4 of compressed air without the need for the conversion of energy of the compressed air into electrical energy, which is connected with energy losses.

Likewise, if also the above-mentioned second heat exchanger 10 needs mechanical energy for its operation, e.g., for the driving of the circulator, fan, etc., the second heat exchanger 2 is preferably equipped with a pneumatic motor, which is via appropriate regulation and control elements connected to the reservoir 4 of compressed air, by which it is in this manner driven without the need for lossy conversion of compressed air energy into electrical energy. If electrical energy is needed, e.g., to control the first and second heat exchangers 8, 10, or for the operation of the regulation and control elements, the reservoir 4 of compressed air is connected to a pneumatic motor with an appropriate generator of electrical energy, whose electric circuit is connected to the consumers which are in need of energy, e.g., to the regulation and control elements of the first and second heat exchangers 8, 10, the control system of the immediate consumer 9, etc. Importantly, in the concept of the invention everywhere where there is no immediate need for electrical energy, pneumatic motors are used to drive mechanically the respective elements of the system according to the invention, and only where it is necessary to use electrical energy, a pneumatic motor which is coupled with an appropriately dimensioned generator ideally dimensioned adequately for the needs of the connected electrical devices is used. The system is based on the principle that it is better to use a larger number of small pneumatic motors functioning independently with correspondingly small generators for local needs, rather than use one large pneumatic motor with a large generator and distribute electricity by classical power lines to all electrical consumers/appliances.

For the purposes of this invention, under a pneumatic motor we understand a device capable of converting the effect of a stream of compressed air into mechanical motion, typically into mechanical rotational motion, by which another suitable device, a pump, a generator, a fan, etc., is driven. Such a pneumatic motor is, e.g., a piston pneumatic motor or a pneumatic turbine engine, etc.

At least one remote local pneumatic motor 13 is further connected through the inlet 12 of the compressed air to the reservoir 4 of compressed air in at least one facility 14, e.g. in a residential building or industrial facility, etc. The local pneumatic motor 13 is with its shaft mechanically connected to a driven device, which may be a fan, a pump, a lift, a motor of a cooling circuit of a refrigerator or other equipment, etc., or even a generator 45 of electrical energy to cover the possible need for electrical energy in the residential building or the industrial facility. The generator 15 of electrical energy is connected to the electrical wiring 16, in which batteries 17 are connected optionally, either as an electrical energy reservoir and/or as a compensation element of the distribution of electricity, etc. In an unillustrated embodiment, the wiring 16 is configured without batteries 17. Various electrical consumers or appliances in the facility 14 are further connected to the wiring 16 of electrical energy, e.g., the electric system of a heat pump 18 for heating the facility and/or for heating water, for air conditioning, etc., for refrigerators, televisions, computers and other common electrical appliances, etc.

As is well-known, during the expansion of the compressed air in the pneumatic motor, and therefore also in the local pneumatic motor 13^ the compressed air is cooled, and so the outlet of the air from the local pneumatic motor 13 is connected to a suitable local heat exchanger, e.g., to a cooling system of the facility 14 or to the machinery and equipment in the facility 14^ etc. The cooling of the air condenses water vapor from the air and this water vapor can be collected for other uses, e.g., as supply water, etc., in an appropriate condensing tank 19. Having been exploited in this manner, the compressed air is freely discharged into the environment, whereby there is no contamination or formation of exhalations, etc.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the local pneumatic motor 13, the generator 15 of electrical energy, the outlets to the wiring 16 of electrical energy, the electric baterries 17, the heat pump 18, the tank 19 for collecting liquids, etc., or at least some of these elements have been buit into a common housing 20, which is provided with respective inlets, outlets, connectors, control system etc., and therefore it is simply, quickly and reliably connectable into the system according to the invention, including a possible connection to the control systems of the individual parts of the system according to the invention, which are installed in the particular facility 14. In an unillustrated embodiment, photovoltaic panels on the facility 14 or in its surroundings, etc., are connected to the wiring 16 of electrical energy as an additional source of electrical power.

Fig. 2 shows the utilization of the invention in an urbanized area, where the converter 1. of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion is mounted on a pylon 2 and is mechanically coupled to the air compressor 3, to whose outlet of the compressed air is connected a reservoir 4 of compressed air along with a first heat exchanger 8. The reservoir 4 of compressed air is connected to local pneumatic motors 13 in the individual facilities 14 by means of variously structured inlets 12 of the compressed air and these local pneumatic motors 13 are connected to the generators 15 of electrical energy in the individual facilities 14. Another arrangement in the individual facilities 14 is, e.g., according to Fig. 1 , whereby it may vary in different facilities 14, depending on the purpose of the particular facility 14, whether it is a residential building, an office building or an industrial facility, etc.

The power system according to the invention is further provided with an unillustrated control system to ensure the operation and protection against possible accident, etc. The system includes also various means for stopping air compression by means of disconnecting the compressors 3 from the converters 1 of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion and/or by means of braking the converters 1 of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion, and/or by means of controlled release of the compressed air from the reservoir 4 of the compressed air, and/or by means of controlled disconnecting local pneumatic motors 13 in the facilities 14, and/or by means of regulating the operation of the first and second heat exchangers 8, 10, or also other heat exchangers, etc. In order to ensure their function, the control system and the individual safety elements and control elements are connected to at least one source of electrical energy, preferably to a source of electrical energy produced by the pneumatic motor connected to the reservoir 4 of compressed air and coupled to a appropriately dimensioned generator of electrical energy connected to the electrical wiring of the control system and the other electric elements of the system according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows an example of the utilization of the invention in a highly urbanized zone, when, e.g., in the corner parts of the facility 6 are formed hollow spaces serving as reservoirs 4 of compressed air connected to at least one compressor 3, which is connected to at least one converter of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion located on a roof of the facility 6. The above-described functions of the individual parts of the system according to the invention, e.g. the first and the second heat exchangers 8, 10, of the facilities 14, the wiring, etc. of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, here in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, are assumed by the individual parts of the facilities 6, such as the heating and air-conditioning systems of the facility, the electrical wiring in different parts of the facility connected to suitably disposed local pneumatic motors 13 and the generators 15 of electrical energy coupled to them, the wiring 16 of electrical energy around the facility 6, back-up batteries 17, and other consumers/appliances of electrical energy, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, the facility 14 is provided with its own distribution system of the compressed air connected to the reservoir 4 of compressed air, whereby other local pneumatic motors 13 driving appropriate equipment are connected to the distribution system of the compressed air around the facility 14_in appropriate places, whether these are devices for the household equipment or devices for the needs of the entire building or facility.

Apparently, the individual mechanical connections of the moving elements of the system are performed either directly, or, more preferably, via a suitable transmission or another suitable means for adjustment of mechanical interconnection of these moving elements.

In an unillustrated embodiment, at least one of the pneumatic motors, e.g. a local pneumatic motor 13 is with its shaft connected to an air compressor with a higher output pressure of the compressed air than the pressure of the compressed air exiting from the air compressor 3 driven by the converter 1_ of renewable mechanical energy into mechanical motion. The compressed air with a higher pressure thus produced is guided to other consumers of the compressed air, e.g., to other pneumatic motors, etc., or it is forced into a pressure vessel for later use. In this example of embodiment, it is ideal to use as compressed air the already compressed from the reservoir 4 of the compressed air.

It is evident that the above-described examples serve for illustration purposes only.