The present application pertains to novel methods to generate power. In a representative embodiment, power is generated by warming a body of air having a temperature lower than the freezing point of liquid water by contacting the body of air with liquid water. The liquid water has a temperature greater than the freezing point of liquid water. Liquid water freezes thereby generating latent heat from freezing and thereby warming the body of air. The warmed body of air may be passed through an air turbine to generate power. Other methods and systems are described that use similar principles.

Systems and methods of a solar light and thermal energy collector assembly are disclosed. The system includes a central pole mounted vertically on a base, a support structure having concentric racks extending radially from the central pole, the racks positioned at different vertical distances along the central pole and having a configuration that supports the solar panels, wherein each rack does not impede the passage of air and light through the rack, at least one solar panel affixed to each rack, each solar panel including a curved reflector formed at the radial edge of the solar panel, an airflow turbine disposed at the top of the central pole, the central pole having one or more apertures and ducts to direct heated air toward the airflow turbine; and electrical conductors for supplying electricity derived from photovoltaic cells in each solar panel and from the electricity-generating turbine.

The present application pertains to novel methods to generate power. In a representative embodiment, power is generated by warming a body of air having a temperature lower than the freezing point of liquid water by contacting the body of air with liquid water. The liquid water has a temperature greater than the freezing point of liquid water. Liquid water freezes thereby generating latent heat from freezing and thereby warming the body of air. The warmed body of air may be passed through an air turbine to generate power. Other methods and systems are described that use similar principles.

A renewable-energy power plant including a first structure, a second structure, a first flue, a second flue and a turbine arrangement comprising at least one turbine, wherein the first structure includes a primary fluid inlet and the second structure includes a secondary fluid inlet and a primary fluid outlet, wherein the secondary fluid inlet is connected to the first flue, wherein the primary fluid inlet is located lower than the secondary fluid inlet and the primary fluid outlet is located lower than the secondary fluid inlet, wherein the turbine arrangement is provided inside the second flue, wherein the power plant includes wetting means arranged to discharge an additive fluid to the working fluid passing through the secondary fluid inlet, wherein the turbine arrangement is arranged to generate power due to the working fluid flowing in a downwards direction inside the second flue and passing through the turbine arrangement.

An apparatus, system and method for generating electricity using stored kinetic energy of a flywheel. The apparatus has a generating mechanism, an air passageway, a heating chamber and a heating mechanism. A wind turbine rotates a drive shaft and a pair of flywheels that are independently and selectively rotated by the drive shaft. Input air flowing in the passageway rotates the wind turbine. While one flywheel rotates with the drive shaft to build up kinetic energy, the other flywheel rotates free of the drive shaft to use kinetic energy to drive an output shaft and generate electricity. A heat exchanger heats air in the heating chamber to produce convective air flow to draw input air through the passageway. A thermal energy storage tank stores heat for the heat exchanger. The system includes a source of electricity to power a pump. The method uses the apparatus to produce electricity.

Kinetic Energy Electric Power is an ecofriendly method of producing utility-scale electricity. It does not need high pressure steam to operate, there is no need for expensive steam turbines, nor do any of its operating plants need to be placed within any particular geographical location or weather condition such as sunny, windy, near water, etc. This invention is driven by heated air flowing through a system of solar thermal panels containing mineral oil, or another suitable heat-retaining liquid, that is circulated within a closed circuit piping network through one or more thermal energy storage tanks then through heat exchangers located in one or more large heat chambers that have a chimney stack extending skyward in order to facilitate the draft of air. As the air inside the chambers is heated and expands, it is forced out the top, because of stack effect, through the chimney, thus forcing fresh air to flow in through an opening at the chambers' bottom that brings outside air in via a passageway and travels through one or more paddlewheel-like wind turbines that drive multiple large, weighted flywheels that have multiple electric generators attached to them via gear/clutch mechanisms and producing utility-grade electricity 24/7, 365.

A solar chimney street lighting pole having a hollow pole with a first end and a second end, an air inlet circumferentially arranged at the first end and an air outlet arranged at the second end. Dome-like solar heaters are arranged along a length of the hollow pole. The hollow pole is vertically secured relative to the ground with the first end proximal to the ground, and the dome-like solar heaters configured to heat air inside the hollow pole using solar radiation, thereby creating an upward air stream therein. A fan is arranged inside the hollow pole and proximal to the air outlet. A controller is electrically connected to a sensor and a fan actuator to command the fan actuator to switch the fan based on the signal from the sensor. The solar chimney pole transports a polluted air proximal to the ground to the air outlet.

A solar chimney street lighting pole having a hollow pole with a first end and a second end, an air inlet circumferentially arranged at the first end and an air outlet arranged at the second end. Dome-like solar heaters are arranged along a length of the hollow pole. The hollow pole is vertically secured relative to the ground with the first end proximal to the ground, and the dome-like solar heaters configured to heat air inside the hollow pole using solar radiation, thereby creating an upward air stream therein. A fan is arranged inside the hollow pole and proximal to the air outlet. A controller is electrically connected to a sensor and a fan actuator to command the fan actuator to switch the fan based on the signal from the sensor. The solar chimney pole transports a polluted air proximal to the ground to the air outlet.

A flat solar chimney in accordance with the invention reduces a building's cooling load by dissipating the solar energy outside the building. What Applicants have done is construct an outer wall having an inner air space before the building structure. The solar light is absorbed by the outside layer which includes a porous metal layer. The heated high surface area foam metal creates a convective air flow in the channel that extends vertically with openings at the bottom and top. This flow dissipates the absorbed heat and is totally external to the building's interior.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a plurality of rectangular slats either horizontally or vertically disposed act as venetian style blinds. The dynamic blinds allow visual function or the solar chimney as per need.

A device of high-temperature solar gas turbine power generation with thermal energy storage includes a combustion chamber, a solar receiver, a thermochemical energy storage tank, a triple valve A and a triple valve B. The thermochemical energy storage tank has a high-temperature side and a low-temperature side. One outlet of the triple valve A is connected to the compressed air inlet of the solar receiver, and the other outlet is connected to the inlet of the triple valve B. One outlet of the triple valve B is connected to the low-temperature side of the thermochemical energy storage tank, and the other outlet is connected to the inlet of the combustion chamber.