A system for generating energy from a confined space that includes heated air therein. The system includes a turbine operatively associated with at least one generator of electricity; and a funnel having an inner channel that is open and unobstructed from a larger bottom opening to a smaller top opening which is in air flow communication with the turbine. The inner channel is configured for accelerating heated air rising through the channel prior to exiting the top opening and entering the turbine. No additional energy is needed, such as the use of a fan or propeller, for this acceleration. The accelerated heated air more effectively drives the turbine without requiring additional energy to provide increased amounts of generated electricity and to do so more efficiently compared to turbine systems that do not contain a funnel and fan or propeller.

A pressure generating device has a housing and a lamellar arrangement with a number of lamellae separated by gaps. The lamellae are manufactured from solar glass. The pressure generating device has a means for converting the solar energy incident through the lamellar arrangement into thermal energy, such that, by this means the air situated in the interior of the pressure generating device can be heated. The pressure generating device has at least one air inlet opening through which air can enter the interior of the pressure generating device and at least one second air outlet opening through which the heated air can emerge from the interior of the pressure generating device.

Various examples are provided for power generation using buoyancy-induced vortices. In one example, among others, a vortex generation system includes an array of hybrid vanes comprising a first vane section in a surface momentum boundary layer and a second vane section above the first vane section. The first vane section is configured to impart a first angular momentum on the preheated air in the surface momentum boundary layer and the second vane section is configured to impart a second angular momentum on preheated air drawn through the second vane section. In another embodiment, a method for power extraction from a buoyancy-induced vortex includes imparting angular momentum to preheated boundary layer air entrained by a thermal plume to form a stationary columnar vortex. The angular momentum can be imparted to the preheated boundary layer air at a plurality of angles by an array of hybrid vanes distributed about the thermal plume.

A system (10) for producing electrical energy, configured to be operatively connected to a machine for generating air flows (12), having a motor of an air conditioner. The system (10) also includes at least one wind turbine (14) and at least one air collector (16), arranged between the machine for generating air flows (12) and a wind turbine (14). The air collector (16) is configured to channel and constantly reinforce the air flow emitted by the machine for generating air flows (12) in order to improve the yield of the wind turbine (14).

The solar chimney of the present invention comprises an elongated chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the chamber defining a path for fluid, such as air, from the inlet to the outlet. Air updrafts in the chamber drive an internal turbine which is connected to an electric generator, or to some other machine. The chamber has the general configuration of an hourglass; the diameter of the chamber becomes progressively smaller with distance from the inlet end, until the diameter reaches a minimum value, then becomes progressively larger, as one proceeds towards the outlet end. Disposed within the chamber are one or more heat exchangers for heating air in the chamber by solar and/or wind energy.

An elevated or ground level vertical cylinder houses one or more propellers and/or turbines that are rotated by heated air convection within or around or above the cylinder. The rotating shafts of the propellers generate electricity in an area at bottom of or below the cylinder. For added, improved air flow directions and volumes; and, for stabilization of the rotating shaft or shafts, a circular pyramid collar structure is disposed below the cylinder. Heat is directed to the cylinder by a plurality of sun tracking concave mirrors that are positioned in concentric circles at various heights. The cylinder may be composed of concrete, ceramics, metal compounds or other materials and operate with a surface temperature that may range 70 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. An optimized system may be constructed on less than one, one or more than one acre of land that could appear as a park like setting.

Apparatus is provided having one or more SWEGS that may be configured to heat air in a draft power tower arrangement. In a closed loop, cold fluid may be pumped into the SWEGS and heated to a temperature in a range of e.g., 100 C.-300 C., and hot fluid pumped out of the SWEGS. This fluid flows through a heating element (e.g., a radiator or specially designed heat exchanger) that heats the air in the draft power tower arrangement.

An elevated or ground level vertical cylinder houses one or more propellers and/or turbines that are rotated by heated air convection within or around or above the cylinder. The rotating shafts of the propellers generate electricity in an area at the bottom of or below the cylinder. For added, improved air flow directions and volumes; and, for stabilization of the rotating shaft or shafts, a cone structure is disposed below the cylinder. Heat is directed to the cylinder by a plurality of sun tracking concave mirrors that are positioned in concentric circles at various heights. The cylinder may be composed of concrete, ceramics, metal compounds or other materials and operate with a surface temperature that may range from 70 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. Disclosed embodiments include the use of heat sinks, internal blades disposed upon pyramid structures and flexible vanes and flaps,

A convection-driven power generator comprising a flow intake configured to supply fluid to the generator, a flow duct having a duct inlet and a duct outlet wherein the duct outlet is spaced downstream from the duct inlet along the flow duct, the duct inlet being fluidly coupled to the flow intake. A heating chamber fluidly is coupled to the duct outlet so as to receive fluid from the duct outlet, the heating chamber comprising an external wall configured to transmit light radiation incident thereon such that fluid within the heating chamber is heated by the transmitted light radiation. A flow exhaust is fluidly coupled to the heating chamber and configured to exhaust fluid heated by the heating chamber from the heating chamber. A turbine is arranged within the flow duct, downstream of the flow intake, and exposed to fluid flow through the flow duct such that when fluid flows through the flow duct the turbine is caused to rotate by the fluid flow; and at least one lens element is configured to focus the light radiation transmitted by the external wall within the heating chamber.

An elevated or ground level vertical cylinder houses one or more propellers and/or turbines that are rotated by heated air convection within or around or above the cylinder. The rotating shafts of the propellers generate electricity in an area at the bottom of or below the cylinder. For added, improved air flow directions and volumes; and, for stabilization of the rotating shaft or shafts, a cone structure is disposed below the cylinder. Heat is directed to the cylinder by a plurality of sun tracking concave mirrors that are positioned in concentric circles at various heights. The cylinder may be composed of concrete, ceramics, metal compounds or other materials and operate with a surface temperature that may range from 70 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit. Disclosed embodiments include the use of heat sinks, internal blades disposed upon pyramid structures and flexible vanes and flaps.