The invention relates generally to systems for storing compressed air and extracting energy from the compressed air, and more particularly, to such systems comprising a turbine house having an air inlet and turbine blades oriented in a way as to generate an air flow from the air inlet into the turbine house.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Compressed air energy systems are known and are typically configured to produce and store compressed air in large volumes e.g. for use at a later time of for creating large air flows. Such systems typically comprise a turbine house wherein a turbine shaft is rotatably mounted, and wherein the shaft is coupled to a plurality of first turbine blades revolvable in the turbine house with the turbine shaft. The blades are thus designed to create an air flow into the turbine house via an air inlet section with a first diameter and an air inlet axial to the turbine shaft. The majority of these systems is powered by electrical power or engine power which adds to the energy cost. The invention aims to realize a more acceptable reduction for the energy costs that are currently seen as normal for various technical applications. Improvement is therefore desirable.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention pertains to a system for generating an air flow, comprising a turbine house and a turbine shaft rotatably mounted in the turbine house. The shaft is coupled to a plurality of turbine blades. The turbine house has a first air inlet section with a first diameter and an air inlet axial to the turbine shaft, said turbine blades oriented in a way as to generate an air flow from the air inlet into the turbine house. The system further comprises a first high pressure inlet to be coupled to a high pressure source and fluidly coupled to first exhaust ports concentrically arranged at corresponding radial positions relative to the first turbine blades, the first turbine blades arranged to convert high pressure jets exhausted from the exhaust ports into a driving motion of the turbine shaft, wherein the turbine house is further shaped to compress the air flow to a second section of the turbine house having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, so as to accelerate the gas flow generated by the first turbine blades and having second turbine blades arranged in said second section, also revolvable in said turbine house with said turbine shaft, wherein at least a second high pressure inlet is to be coupled to a high pressure source and is fluidly coupled to second exhaust ports concentrically arranged at corresponding radial positions relative to the second turbine blades, and arranged to convert high pressure jets exhausted from the second exhaust ports into an additional driving motion of the turbine shaft; wherein the turbine house has an exit port section for exiting the thus generated air flow.

Accordingly, an alternative driving method of the turbine shaft is proposed, wherein air flow generation can be further optimized. Further details of these and other aspects of the subject matter of this application will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings included below. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an axial view of an inlet section part;

Figure 3 illustrates cross sectional view of the turbine house according to line A-A in Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a lateral view of the turbine house;

Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional view according to line B-B in Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs as read in the context of the description and drawings. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and methods may be omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present systems and methods. Terminology used for describing particular embodiments is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

While example embodiments are shown for systems and methods, also alternative ways may be envisaged by those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure for achieving a similar function and result. E.g. some components may be combined or split up into one or more alternative components. Finally, these embodiments are intended to be merely illustrative of the present system and should not be construed as limiting the appended claims to any particular embodiment or group of embodiments. Thus, while the present system has been described in particular detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, it should also be appreciated that numerous modifications and alternative embodiments may be devised by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present systems and methods as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

Turning to Figure 1 there is disclosed an embodiment of a system according to the invention. In particular, a system 100 is provided for generating an air flow via an air inlet 10 to an air outlet 20. The system further comprises a turbine house 50 and a turbine shaft 60 rotatably mounted in the turbine house. The shaft 60 is coupled to a plurality of turbine blades 70 revolvable in the turbine house 50 with the turbine shaft 60. Preferably each high pressure inlet 80, 90 is provided with a shutter valve 85, 95, to create a pulsed pressure that is pulsed in synchronicity with an angular position of the turbine blades. Furthermore, by suitably controlling the shutter valves 85, 96, the turbine speed of the first and second various sections is balanced in accordance with a sensed pressure of the pressure sensors in a respective section by pressure sensors 86, 87.

Going further to Figure 2, an axial view is illustrated of an inlet section 100 that has a first diameter D and an air inlet 11 axial to the turbine shaft 60. The turbine blades are oriented in a way as to generate an air flow from the air inlet 10 into the turbine house 50. In the figures it is shown that the system comprises a high pressure inlet 80 to be coupled to a high pressure source (not shown), e.g. between 10 and 500 Bar and fluidly coupled via a concentric duct 81 to exhaust ports/nozzles 82 concentrically arranged at corresponding radial positions relative to the turbine blades 70. See Figure 3 that illustrates a cross sectional view of the turbine house according to line A-A in Figure 2. The turbine blades 70 are arranged to convert high pressure jets exhausted from the exhaust ports 82 into a driving motion of the turbine shaft 60.

The turbine house 50 at inlet section 51 is further shaped to compress the air flow to a second section 200 of the turbine house 50 having a second diameter d smaller than the first diameter D. In this way gas flow is accelerated that is generated by the turbine blades 71 at section 100. In a second mid section 200 further turbine blades 72 are arranged in said second section 200, also revolvable in said turbine house with said turbine shaft 60. A second high pressure inlet 90 to be coupled to a high pressure source (not shown) exits in second exhaust ports 92 concentrically arranged at corresponding radial positions relative to the second turbine blades 72. Likewise, the exhaust ports or nozzles 92 are arranged to convert high pressure jets exhausted from the second exhaust ports 92 into an additional driving motion of the turbine shaft 60. The turbine house 50 has an exit port section 300 for exiting the thus generated air flow.

Figure 4 illustrates a lateral view of the turbine house 50, in particular, inlet section 100, mid section 200 and exhaust section 300. While the embodiments only shows a single mid section 200, turbine house 50 can be further shaped to further compress the air flow to a further section e.g. downstream inlet section 100 of the turbine house 50 having an even smaller diameter, so as to further accelerate the gas flow generated by the inlet section 100 first turbine blades. Likewise in such additional sections turbine blades can be arranged also revolvable in said turbine house with the turbine shaft, and having a respective high pressure inlet to be coupled to a high pressure source. In the illustrated embodiment (see also Figure 3), turbine house 50 at section 52 is shaped to decompress the air flow to end section 300 of the turbine house 50 having a diameter D’ larger than the first diameter, so as to decelerate the gas flow generated by the first turbine blades and having turbine blades 73 arranged in said section 52. By suitably choosing diameters D, d and D’ of the various sections of the turbine housing the air can be accelerated effectively, in synchronicity with shutter valves - 85,95 see Figure 1. To that end, a digital circuit may be provided to control the shutter valve 85 in correspondence with the detected angular location of the turbine blades 70.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of exit port section 300 according to line B-B in Figure 4. In the exit port section, shaft 60 is mounted in a mounting part, which may be used for power take off purposes. Furthermore, the generated air flow is exited via exit port 20. In the exit port additionally a pressure sensor 88 may be present, with an enlarged view showing it of a (known) venturi type to measure the flow. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which may be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Also kinematic inversions are considered inherently disclosed and can be within the scope of the invention. In the claims, any reference signs shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The terms 'comprising' and ‘including’ when used in this description or the appended claims should not be construed in an exclusive or exhaustive sense but rather in an inclusive sense. Thus expression as 'including' or ‘comprising’ as used herein does not exclude the presence of other elements, additional structure or additional acts or steps in addition to those listed. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. Features that are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may additionally be included in the structure of the invention without departing from its scope. Expressions such as: "means for ...” should be read as: "component configured for ..." or "member constructed to ..." and should be construed to include equivalents for the structures disclosed. The use of expressions like: "critical", "preferred", "especially preferred" etc. is not intended to limit the invention. To the extent that structure, material, or acts are considered to be essential they are inexpressively indicated as such. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as determined by the claims.