Cooling Tower Power Generators Patents (Class 261/DIG87)
  • Convection towers
    Patent number: 5395598
    Abstract: Convection towers which are capable of cleaning the pollution from large quantities of air, of generating electricity, and of producing fresh water utilize the evaporation of water sprayed into the towers to create strong airflows and to remove pollution from the air. Turbines in tunnels at the skirt section of the towers generate electricity, and condensers produce fresh water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Melvin L. Prueitt
  • Convection towers
    Patent number: 5284628
    Abstract: Convection towers which are capable of cleaning the pollution from large quantities of air and of generating electricity utilize the evaporation of water sprayed into the towers to create strong airflows and to remove pollution from the air. Turbines in tunnels at the skirt section of the towers generate electricity. Other embodiments may also provide fresh water, and operate in an updraft mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Melvin L. Prueitt
  • Vortex-augmented cooling tower-windmill combination
    Patent number: 4499034
    Abstract: A cooling tower for cooling large quantities of effluent water from a production facility by utilizing natural wind forces includes the use of a series of helically directed air inlet passages extending outwardly from the base of the tower to introduce air from any direction in a swirling vortical pattern while the force of the draft created in the tower makes it possible to place conventional power generating windmills in the air passages to provide power as a by-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: John E. McAllister, Jr.