HYBRID POWER GENERATION STATION

Abstract

The present invention is a hybrid wind and solar power generator. The system uses a concentrated sun light and diluted sun light to increase the efficiency of the whole system. The combination of solar and wind power generators decreases the cost of common elements for generating electricity.

Claims

1. A hybrid wind and solar power generator comprising: a. a solar dish collector comprising of: i. a base and a stand; ii. a parabolic surface having a front portion and a back portion, wherein said front portion having a plurality of mirrors to capture and concentrate sun light; iii. a vertical railing system, wherein said solar dish collector rotates over said vertical railing system; iv. a horizontal railing system, wherein said solar dish collector rotates over said horizontal railing system; v. an optical means to receive and concentrate sun light and to reflect infrared energy to a heat receiver; vi. an aiming mirror to reflect concentrate light to a high-concentrated photovoltaic (HCPV) receiver, wherein said aiming mirror has a means to adjust a mirror; vii. a bearing system to rotate said aiming mirror; viii. a support bracing system to pivotally connect said solar dish collector to said aiming mirror; ix. a heat receiver at said back portion sized to receive said infrared energy, wherein said heat receiver heats a cold molten salt fluid and makes a hot molten salt fluid; x. a control system having an adjusting means to adjust and align said parabolic surface during a day time to face to the sun as the sun moves relative to the position of said solar dish collector; b. a wind turbine having a wind tower with a plurality of said HCPV installed on said wind tower, said wind turbine converts mechanical energy to an electricity; c. a molten salt storage system to circulate said cold molten salt and hot molten salt, and d. a steam turbine generator to use said molten salt storage system to generate electricity.

2. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said aiming mirror comprises of: a. a body; b. a first reflecting mirror to reflect said concentrated light; c. a plurality of rollers installed at the edges of said first reflecting mirror to adjust said first reflecting mirror during a day, and d. said control system control said rollers during a day time to make sure the reflected light received by said HCPV receivers.

3. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said aiming mirror rotates at a distal end of said base.

4. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said solar dish collector rotates around a pivot point at a distal end of said aiming mirror.

5. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said wind turbine further has a water cooling system, whereby said water cooling system cools said wind turbine and said HCPV receiver.

6. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said solar dish collector further has a plurality of light direction sensors to track the sun and face said parabolic surface to the sun as the sun moves.

7. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said means to adjust a mirror comprising of a plurality of rollers installed at each edge of said mirror to moves a first end of said mirror horizontally and a second end of said mirror vertically.

8. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said heat receiver comprises of a plurality of solar cells installed at a back portion of said parabolic surface.

9. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said optical means comprises of a plurality of concave and convex lenses.

10. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said solar dish collector moves over said vertical railing system and horizontal railing system by a motor.

11. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said optical means is located at a focal length of said parabolic surface.

12. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said support bracing system pivotally connects to said aiming mirror.

13. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said parabolic surface further having an opening.

14. The hybrid power generator of claim 1, wherein said heat receiver further having two flexible ducts to carry said molten salt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a solar dish collector of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a solar dish collector of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of an optical means of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 4B shows a side view of an optical means of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4C shows a side view of an optical means of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a light reflector of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 5B shows a side view of a light reflector of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 6A shows a top view of the light reflector with the bearing system;

[0032] FIG. 6B shows a side view of the light reflector with the bearing system;

[0033] FIG. 7 shows a wind turbine and a plurality of HCPV receiver installed at wind tower; and

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a wind turbine and a plurality of solar dish collectors of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0036] The technology disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

[0037] The schematic concept of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The combination of harvesting solar energy 11 and wind energy 12 with present parabolic mirror reflector 10 and wind turbine 20 with the necessary elements are shown in FIG. 1. Solar energy 11 is collected by a parabolic mirror reflector 10, which has an optical means 39 to concentrate visible spectrum light 13 and reflect the rest of the spectrum light e.g. infrared energy 14. The reflected infrared energy is captured by a receptor e.g. heat receiver 50 in the back portion of the parabolic mirror reflector 10 to be used to heat cold molten salt 60. The concentrated visible light 13 is reflected to high concentrated photovoltaic HCPV receiver 40 by an aiming mirror 30. The diffused light collect by the thin film solar cells 15 designed at the back portion of the parabolic mirror reflector 10. The electricity produces from the cheat solar cells used for tracking control system 17 and the DC heater 16 to heat up the molten salt in the molten salt storage system 60.

[0038] Again as shown in FIG. 1, a water cooling system 71 for heat removal for wind turbine 20 and HCPV receiver on wind tower 40 are combined in the present invention to decrease the cost for having two separate cooling systems for the HCPV receivers and wind turbine.

[0039] Again as shown in FIG. 1, the infrared energy 14, captured by a heat receiver 50 installed in the solar dish collector 10 provides the necessary energy to heat a molten salt reservoir 60. To increase the efficiency, a storage tanks is used to store the molten salts 60 for indirect heat exchanger system 65. The molten salt 60 storage tank offers an inexpensive means of storing solar energy in comparison to other storage media, such as batteries. In addition, the molten salt 60 has a higher lifetime and efficiency compared to batteries.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the molten salt 60 can be used to provide heat for heat exchanger system 65 to generate high pressure steam 70 for steam turbine generator 72 to produce electricity. The used steam in the proposed system will return to the condenser 73 and to the wind tower water cooling system 71.

[0041] By combining the solar energy 11 and wind energy 12 in the present embodiment, the components, such as DC to AC inverter 82, step up transformers 84, for transferring electricity to the substation 89 and the grid 90, can be used for both systems to decrease the cost.

[0042] One embodiment of a solar dish collector 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2-3. The solar dish collector 10 comprises of a parabolic surface 102, a plurality of support bracing 103-106 to hold an optical means 39 and also pivotally attach to an aiming mirror 30. The solar dish collector further has a support base 110 to support whole structure and the aiming mirror 30. Again as shown in FIG. 2, the parabolic surface 102 comprises of a plurality of mirrors which are attached to the surface 102 to collect and concentrate the sun light.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the front portion of the parabolic surface 102 is covered by a plurality of mirrors. At the back portion of the parabolic surface 102, a heat receiver 107 locates to absorb heat from the diffused light. The diffused light passes through an opening 140 at the centre of the parabolic surface 102 and hits the heat receiver 107. The heat receiver 107 is fixed to the back portion of the parabolic surface 102.

[0044] Two flexible ducts carry a molten salt to the heat receiver 107 and to the two fixed ducts at the bottom portion of the solar dish collector. The fixed ducts are responsible for carrying molten salt in the molten salt storage system. A cheat photovoltaic cell can be replaced at the back portion of the parabolic surface 102 to generate electricity. The electricity which produced from the thin film solar cell can be used for a DC heater to heat the molten salt and also provide electricity for the tracking system.

[0045] The heat absorbs by heat receiver 107 is collected by a molten salt circulation system, which is installed at the back portion of the dish 10. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, a piping system 61-62 circulates the molten salt in the proposed system, as an indirect heat exchanger system. The fixed ducts 61-62 are located at the bottom portion of the solar dish collector 10, two flexible ducts connect to the fixed ducts 61-62 and the heat receiver 107. Flexible ducts are used in the proposed system, because the solar dish collector is moving and tracking the sun light during a day time.

[0046] Again as shown in FIGS. 2-3, during a day, the solar dish collector 10 traces the sun movement. For tracking sun movement, the solar dish collector 10 moves by the support bracings 103-106 over a railing system 200 at the back portion. The railing system 200 supports the dish in a specific position, the movement of the solar dish collector 10 over the railing system 200 drives by a mechanical motor (not shown). The railing system supports by a plurality of pillars 201-202 over the ground 400. For the horizontal movement, a circular rail 300 is used, the circular rail provides the horizontal movement for the whole structure, the circular railing rotates around the bearing point 301. The solar dish collector 10 and the aiming mirror 30 rotate over the bearing point 301. The solar dish collector 10 also rotates over a pivot point 111 which is located at a distal end of the aiming mirror 30.

[0047] At least one light direction sensor 130 is installed in the parabolic surface 102 to detect sun light direction and move the solar dish collector 10 with bearing system 120 and the support bracing systems 103-106 over the pivot point 111. The solar dish collector 10 is designed to follow the sun, and its direction is changed to collect the sun light when the light direction is changed.

[0048] A control system 100 controls the light direction sensor 130, the bearing system 120 and the movement of support bracing system 103-106 over the pivot point 111 and the railing system 200. The purpose of the control system 100 is to track the sun light during a day time to make sure the visible spectrum light reflects to the wind tower.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 2, 6A and 6B, the aiming mirror 30 has a bearing system 120. The bearing system 120 is designed at a distal end of the support base 110. The bearing system 120 rotates the aiming mirror 30 by the rotation of the solar dish collector 10. When the solar dish collector 10 rotates over the circular railing 300, the aiming mirror 30 also rotates by the bearing system 120.

[0050] The optical means 39 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. The optical means 39 is designed to concentrate the visible spectrum light and reflect the rest of the spectrum (Infrared). The optical means 39 comprises of a plurality of lenses 391-392. Any combination of concave lenses and convex lenses is possible to concentrate some portion of sun light and reflect the inferred. In the FIG. 4B, one example for the present invention is shown. The optical means 39 which is connected to the support bracing and the pivot point on the light reflector is located in the focal point in all time to concentrate and reflect the sun light.

[0051] The aiming mirror 30 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B and 7C. The aiming mirror 30 comprises of a reflector-body 31 and a reflecting mirror 32. The first reflecting mirror 32 has a moving means 23-26 to move a distal end 35 of the first reflecting mirror 32 on a horizontal surface 37 and a proximal end 36 on a vertical surface 38. The moving means for the first reflecting mirror 32 have a plurality of rollers 23-26 on the edges. When the distal end 35 of the first reflecting mirror 32 moves back on the horizontal surface 37, the proximal end 36 moves up on the vertical surface 38. The reflector-body 31 has an L-shaped opening 115 in a distal end near the first reflecting mirror 32. The first reflecting mirror 32 stretches over the opening 115.

[0052] The control system 100 of the present invention controls the movement of the rollers 23-26 for the first reflecting mirror 32 and the dish movement to make sure that the sun light is efficiently captured and reflected to the wind tower.

[0053] Again as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, the location of the optical means 39 is fixed by the movement of the parabolic surface 102. The first reflecting mirror 32 moves by the rotation of the parabolic surface 102. The rollers 23-26 help the first reflecting mirror 32 to stretch. The control system 100 controls the movement of the first reflecting mirror 32 and the parabolic surface 102. The control system makes sure the reflecting light will pass through the second reflecting mirror installed at the top portion of the support base 110.

[0054] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a wind turbine 20, which has a plurality of HCPV receivers 40. The HCPV 40 has multi-junction solar cells that absorb the sun light and produce electricity. The cooling system for the wind turbine 20 and the HCPV receivers 40 are combined to achieve economical solution for both systems. The HCPV receivers 40 are installed on the tower body 21 along its lengths.

[0055] Again as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of solar dish collectors 10 is arranged in circular arrangement to harvest the sun light and reflect it to the wind tower 21. Each HCPV receiver 40 is assigned for one dollar dish collector 10. The combination of solar energy and wind energy of the present invention can be applied in new power plants or existing wind farms or solar farms to decrease the cost of installing common equipment for both systems.

[0056] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

[0057] With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.