Abstract: A water vaporization apparatus is provided which uses the heat from the sun to vaporize water from a water collection means. The water collection means has a water container member which may be partially submerged in a water reservoir, or connected to a remote reservoir of water. The water container member has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member, as the sun vaporizes water from the water container member, since the water levels will naturally try and reach equilibrium. An electricity generation means may be operatively connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity. In an alternate configuration, a water condenser means may be connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the vaporized water may be transformed back into liquid form, for use as drinking water and/or industrial water.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the alignment of a heliostat with respect to a receiver, wherein an image sensor device is arranged on a mirror device of the heliostat, wherein the heliostat is aligned by the image sensor device using image recognition in such a way that a first angle of a first vector pointing towards the sun, relative to a prescribed vector of the mirror device, and a second angle of a second vector pointing towards a prescribed target area of the receiver, relative to the prescribed vector, are in a relationship to each other which is dependent upon the prescribed vector of the mirror device, and wherein images of the sun and the prescribed target area and their position relative to the prescribed vector are determined.

Abstract: The invention includes a solar collector subsystem and a heat engine. The solar collector system uses heliostat mirrors, a parabolic mirror, and a convex concentrator lens or compound parabolic concentrator to gather a large amount of solar energy into a very intense beam. The beam is used to vaporize an injected droplet of working fluid, whereby multiple opposed pistons responsive to the vapor formed reciprocate to produce electric energy by means of linear electric generators. The heat engine includes a chamber having three orthogonal sets of opposed pistons, wherein each piston is independently axially reciprocable and coupled to a linear electric generator. One piston is provided with an axially located window that admits the concentrated solar beam from the solar collector subsystem into the chamber of the heat engine. Another piston is provided with an injector that selectably injects a water drop into the center of the chamber where it can be vaporized by impingement of the concentrated solar beam.

Abstract: While solar energy is widely available, current means to harness it are sufficiently expensive that for most applications it is not economically viable. The basic problem is that solar energy is not sufficiently concentrated, and the cost of the collector becomes the limiting factor. This invention teaches a way of building a solar collector and an associated energy conversion engine that together allow one to build cost effective solar electric systems that can compete with natural gas based power plants.

Abstract: A solar power station includes a solar panel assembly, having a substantially planar solar panel, and first, second and third towers. Each of the towers includes multiple vertically stacked floors and a main bearing structure pivotally mounting the solar panel assembly to the tower upper end. Each of the floors includes an arrangement of robots that are connected to each vertically adjacent floor. At least some of the robots including hydraulic jacks. A controller selectively actuates the hydraulic jacks, such that each of the towers is individually extendable from a bottom position to an extended position. Selectively moving one or more of the towers rotates the solar panel about one or both of the axes, whereby the solar panel is maintained at an optimal orientation for collecting solar power.

Abstract: Designs of cooling systems that operate entirely on solar energy are disclosed. Such cooling systems may be used in refrigeration and air conditioning. According to one aspect of the designs, a solar energy collecting device is disposed outdoor to collect solar energy. A first heat-to-electricity pump operating on heated liquid is provided to produce electricity. A storage tank is used to store heated water. A second heat-to-electricity pump is disposed in the storage and operates on the heated water to generate electricity. A cooling system operates on at least three types of working fluids to achieve low temperature evaporation and high temperature condensation to derive cooling effects. A working unit powered by at least one of the first generator and the second generator is provided to utilize the cooling effects from the cooling system.

Abstract: A generating facility is provided for generating electricity from both solar and non-solar energy sources. The solar generating portion of the facility includes capability to directly generate electricity from solar insolation, or to store the solar energy in a tangible medium, including stored heat, or solar generating fuel. The generating facility is configured to generate electricity simultaneously from both solar and non-solar sources, as well a solely from immediate solar insolation and from solar energy stored in a tangible medium. Additionally, the solar generating capacity may be segregated; such that separate spectra of solar insolation are used to capture heat for steam turbine based electrical generation, capture light energy for photovoltaic based electrical generation, and to grow biomass to generate a solar fuel.

Abstract: A high temperature solar power tower system includes a molten salt heat transfer medium, a high temperature solar receiver, and an energy conversion system. The molten salt heat transfer medium is capable of being heated to a temperature of at least approximately 1200 degrees Fahrenheit by the high temperature solar receiver. The energy conversion system uses the heated molten salt to generate power.

Abstract: A solar power system capable of storing heat energy and converting sun light to electrical power. The solar power system includes a solar collection system which gathers and transmits concentrated solar energy to an absorber/cavity. The thermal energy is extracted from the absorber/cavity via a fluid and transported to a heat conversion system. The heat conversion system uses the thermal energy to create electricity.

Abstract: A system for producing electricity includes a boiler unit which has a lens mounted thereon in a position to concentrate solar rays onto fluid contained in the boiler unit. A conduit system has an inlet end fluidically connected to the boiler unit to receive heated fluid therefrom and conduct the heated fluid to and through a turbine which produces electricity as a result of the heated fluid passing therethrough. The conduit system further fluidically connects an exit end of the turbine to a heat exchanger unit which contains a fluid that is heated by the fluid exhausted from the turbine. The fluid heated in the heat exchanger unit is conducted via the conduit system back to the turbine to assist the turbine in producing electricity.

Abstract: A turbine system includes a rigid frame including a plurality of elongated rectilinear beams. The rigid frame spans across a top portion of a cooling tower and is axially registered with the passageway for receiving a unidirectional convection air stream upwardly therethrough. At least one generator fan is coaxially registered above the cooling tower and has a plurality of equidistantly offset blades operably coupled thereto. The generator fan is conjoined to the frame and protrudes downwardly therefrom. A plurality of generator motors are fastened to the rigid frame and are oppositely situated from the generator fan. The turbine system further includes a mechanism for directly transferring kinetic energy from the generator fan to the generator motors such that a regulated quantity of electrical energy can be created for consumption. The generator motors are operably coupled and synchronized with an AC power grid for transmission and distribution.

Abstract: A method of operating a solar power station solar power station including a solar panel assembly having multiple towers, a solar panel pivotally mounted to an upper end of each tower, and a control system. Each of the towers has multiple floors and is individually extendable from a bottom position to an extended position. The control system includes a main routine for operating the towers comprising a normal operation subroutine for selectively positioning the towers between the bottom position and the extended position, whereby the solar power panel is positioned for maximum solar collection. A monitor parameter subroutine continually monitors the earthquake and wind sensors. A withdraw towers subroutine initiates withdrawal of the towers to the bottom position when the earthquake sensor or the wind sensor sense a seismic event or a high wind force, respectively, that is likely to damage the solar power station.

Abstract: A solar power system capable of storing heat energy and converting sun light to electrical power. The solar power system includes a solar collection system which gathers and transmits concentrated solar energy to an absorber/cavity. The thermal energy is extracted from the absorber/cavity via a fluid and transported to a heat conversion system. The heat conversion system uses the thermal energy to create electricity.

Abstract: An enhanced pumped storage power system. More particularly, the invention is a regenerative power system that utilizes the gravitational forces of downward movement of large quantities of water to convert same to electrical energy. In the preferred mode of implementation, the system utilizes a man-made lake at a first level of elevation. Though higher altitudes can be effective, the lake need only be approximately twenty to thirty feet in elevation. The lake, which may exceed one hundred acres in size, may be elevated above and adjacent a natural body of water, such as seawater at a coastline. As such, sandy terrain associated with the region facilitates initial construction of the system. An underground generator is utilized for the power conversion and pumping of the water back to the upper reservoir during times of low energy demand, allowing for significant noise reduction.

Abstract: Recovery of electric power from low-grade waste heat/solar energy, comprising a closed-cycle charged refrigerant loop. Pressurized refrigerant fluid is pumped at ambient temperature through a heat exchanger connected to a waste heat/solar source to extract heat energy during conversion to a high pressure gas. Heated/pressurized refrigerant gas is inlet into an expander to power an output shaft during the expansion of the fluid to a cooled gas at approximately 0 psig. Cooled gaseous refrigerant is condensed to a liquid at low pressure and ambient temperature, and recycled under pressure to the heat exchanger. The expander is a reverse-plumbed gas compressor; the pressurized, hot refrigerant gas is inlet at what is ordinarily its outlet, and the normal inlet becomes the expander end. The refrigerant gas mass flow pressure/temperature drop spins the expander shaft for direct mechanical power take-off, or coupling to a synchronous or inductive generator to produce electricity.

Abstract: Systems and methods capable of producing electrical power from solar energy through the use of air cycles without fossil fuel combustion. The system includes a solar receiver, a generator, a compressor, and an expander. The expander is coupled to the generator to drive the generator and coupled to the compressor to drive the compressor. The system uses solar generated heat from the solar receiver to heat compressed air from the compressor. The solar generated heat can be directly transferred from the solar receiver to the compressed air as the compressed air flows through receiver tubes of the solar receiver, or the solar receiver can transfer the solar generated heat to a liquid metal, with the liquid metal transferring thermal energy to the compressed air. The expander receives and expands the heated compressed air to drive the generator to produce electricity, and to drive the compressor to compress air.

Abstract: A solar power plant having a plurality of receiver panels mounted in a circular fashion about a solar receiver. Each receiver panel includes a plurality of tubes that terminate at each end at a header. To eliminate the presence of gaps between the tubes of adjacent receiver panels the headers are staggered or beveled. In the staggered configuration the headers of adjacent receiver panels are located in different elevations so that the headers of adjacent receiver panels may overlap each other, thus allowing the headers and tubes of adjacent receiver panels to be positioned closer together to eliminate gaps between the tubes of adjacent panels. In the beveled configuration the headers are angled such that the terminal ends of adjacent headers are parallel and positioned in a closely abutting relationship, resulting in the absence of gaps between adjacent headers and tubes.

Abstract: A water displacement apparatus is provided which uses the heat from the sun to displace water from a water collection means. The water collection means has a water container member which may be partially submerged in a water reservoir, or connected to a remote reservoir of water. The water container member has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member. The water from the reservoir will move into the water container member as the sun evaporates water from the water container member, since the water levels will naturally try and reach equilibrium. An electricity generation means may be operatively connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity.

Abstract: A solar power collection system capable of operating with a positioning system that provides movement of the system about only a single axis of rotation. The solar power collection system includes a concentrator having at least one parabolic-trough-shaped mirror that focuses sun light reflected therefrom along a longitudinal focus line defined by a focus of the parabolic-trough shaped mirror. An absorber having a heat absorbing tube and a heat absorbing shoe is supported from the mirror such that the tube is positioned coaxially along the focus line to receive reflected sun light. The tube absorbs thermal from the sun light and conductively heats the shoe. The shoe supplies this thermal energy to an energy conversion engine. The engine, in one preferred form, is a Stirling engine that converts the thermal energy into electrical energy. A pointing system moves the concentrator about a single axis of rotation to track the sun across the horizon.

Abstract: A solar-based power generating system including an electrical alternator or generator for generating electrical power in which the alternator or generator is driven by a refrigerant circulating through a closed-loop heat transfer system including an evaporator exposed to solar energy and a condenser disposed within a large heat sink such as a body of water.

Abstract: A high altitude construction including a buoyant device, a base installed on the ground level, a conduit connecting the buoyant device and the base, and an air raising device is provided. The air raising device includes a heating device for heating air. Air heated by the heating device passes through the conduit from the base to the buoyant device, and the heated air provides buoyant force to the buoyant device so that the buoyant device floats in the atmosphere and the conduit is suspended between the buoyant device and the base. The base also includes a turbine and an electricity generator connected to the turbine. The turbine is rotated by air flow in the conduit from the base to the buoyant device.

Abstract: Objects of the invention is to make a fuel for generating power unnecessary, to generate no carbon dioxide (CO2) by generating power without burning substance, and to make it possible to supply a hot water at the same time of generating power. A solar heat utilization stirling engine power generation plant is constituted by a Fresnel lens (1) for collecting a solar heat, a quartz glass light guiding fiber (3) for guiding a heat source collected by the Fresnel lens (1) and having a temperature between about 600° C. and about 2000° C. to a predetermined place, a stirling engine (4) driven by the heat source from the light guiding fiber (3), and a power generator (5) driven by the stirling engine (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the design and fabrication of a micro solar electric power generating apparatus and, more particularly, a method of using microsolar thermal jets to produce electrical power by economical means for residential and commercial buildings. A simple rotary jet engine has been developed to drive an electrical generator. A hybrid solar concentrator that combines the benefit of both parabolic dish and trough has been used to raise the enthalpy of the working fluid without having end thermal flux leakage that is common to the conventional troughs.

Abstract: The SOLAR VORTEX ELECTRIC POWER GENERATOR utilizes hot, unstable air on a flat surface when drawn under the collector surface to rise in a central tower where it acts as a controlled tornado turning blades and a shaft to power a generator. This provides power during peak summer demand for air conditioners and a water pump can also be driven directly by the sea to power a reverse osmossis plant. One square mile of collector area at 25% effeciency on a hot summer day can provide 640 megawatts at the generator. This is very cheap to make as surplus, rusty corrigated sheet steel can be used as the collector.

Abstract: A solar power system is provided for converting sunlight into electricity. The solar power system utilizes a mirror to focus the sunlight into a cavity of an absorption chamber. The cavity includes heat conducting shoes which absorb the solar energy reflected by the mirror and conduct the thermal energy to a plurality of a free piston Stirling converters mounted to the absorption chamber. The Stirling converter converts the thermal energy into electrical energy. The solar power system of the present invention reduces costs of typical solar power systems by using a plurality of free piston Stirling converters of a size small enough to allow the use of a simple monolithic heater head which is simple and inexpensive to fabricate and does not require complex external tubular heat exchangers. The free piston Stirling converter does not require a crankshaft or contacting seals and thereby is reliable and low maintenance.

Abstract: A flow of molten salt is provided through a solar-thermal heat exchange receiver. The receiver converts solar energy, reflected from heliostats, to thermal energy that is stored in molten salt. A vessel holds a store of molten salt for cooling the receiver upon a loss of flow. At the outlet of the receiver, an air separator removes air entrained in the flow of molten salt. From the air separator, the flow of molten salt proceeds through a downcomer having flow obstacles to a hot storage tank.

Abstract: Systems or combinations and methodology for converting solar energy to electrical energy and thermal energy and for converting the resultant thermal energy to electrical energy are disclosed. Systems and methodology for conversion of low temperature thermal energy, wherever obtained, to electrical energy using a Rankine cycle mechanism to drive an electrical generator or do other work in a cost effective way are also disclosed.

Abstract: A water evaporation apparatus is provided which uses the heat from the sun to evaporate water from a water collection means. The water collection means has a water container member partially submerged in a water reservoir. The water container member has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member. The water from the reservoir will move into the water container member as the sun evaporates water from the water container member since the water levels will naturally try and reach equilibrium. An electricity generation means may be operatively connected to the water collection means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity.

Abstract: A liquid is evaporated by the sun, raised as vapor, condensed and stored in tanks. These tanks are connected to a turbine. Turbine is feed by the condensed liquid, and then the liquid is evaporated again. The system is closed and the liquid has an intermediate boiling point between ambient temperature in sun areas (South) and ambient temperature in shade areas (North).

Abstract: Systems or combinations and methodology for converting solar energy to electrical energy and thermal energy and for converting the resultant thermal energy to electrical energy are disclosed. Systems and methodology for conversion of low temperature thermal energy, wherever obtained, to electrical energy using a Rankine cycle mechanism to drive an electrical generator or do other work in a cost effective way are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cyclonic or anti-cyclonic conversion tower which consists of a central vortical duct (1), and at least one convector made up of two vertical membranes or screens (2) and (3), generated by a curve and which are limited at one of their sides by the central vortical duct (1), and at least tow stiffeners (4) and (5) per convector, there being a blocking device (6) per convector, a diffuser (23), a deflector (24), and means for converting kinetic energy into electrical or mechanical energy, the blocking devices (6) having the shape of a guiding crown and can turn on the outer circumference of the central vortical duct (1), the general context adopting the shape of a cylinder or a cylinder ending in an inverted cone trunk.

Abstract: A power module system that uses an electric motor and a turbine generator motor in combination to create a power generating loop. In this power-generating loop the user may not only generate their own power, but also generate excess power that can be sold back to the power company. On the large scale the loop starts with a pair of fuse boxes in a home or office with one fuse box hooked to the grid. The present invention uses a power storage base to start the self-running system and a fuse box to run electric motor that uses low power and increases power for the residence or office.

Abstract: A system for employing the Coriolis effect for the generation and/or storage of energy generally comprises a vortex chamber for rotational acceleration therein of superheated, supersaturated water vapor and heated air and a water intake assembly and an adjustable air intake assembly each in fluid communication with the vortex chamber. The water intake assembly is adapted to deliver a directed flow of superheated water vapor to a lower portion of the vortex chamber while the air intake assembly is adapted to deliver a flow of heated air to the lower portion of said vortex chamber. The air intake assembly comprises an electrical generator operable by airflow drawn from the air intake assembly.

Abstract: A hybrid high-temperature solar receiver is provided which comprises a solar heat-pipe-receiver including a front dome having a solar absorber surface for receiving concentrated solar energy, a heat pipe wick, a rear dome, a sidewall joining the front and the rear dome, and a vapor and a return liquid tube connecting to an engine, and a fossil fuel fired combustion system in radial integration with the sidewall for simultaneous operation with the solar heat pipe receiver, the combustion system comprising an air and fuel pre-mixer, an outer cooling jacket for tangentially introducing and cooling the mixture, a recuperator for preheating the mixture, a burner plenum having an inner and an outer wall, a porous cylindrical metal matrix burner firing radially inward facing a sodium vapor sink, the mixture ignited downstream of the matrix forming combustion products, an exhaust plenum, a fossil-fuel heat-input surface having an outer surface covered with a pin-fin array, the combustion products flowing through the

Abstract: The present invention provides for the conversion of domestic sewage into electric power. The invention also allows for the additional creation of redundant systems through the use of solar magnification and human powered generators that would allow the introduction of clean electrical energy to be generated in combination or as independent systems.

Abstract: The SOLAR VORTEX ELECTRIC POWER GENERATOR utilizes hot, unstable air on a flat surface when drawn under the collector surface to rise in a central tower where it acts as a controlled tornado turning blades and a shaft to power a generator. This provides power during peak summer demand for air conditioners and a water pump can also be driven directly by the sea to power a reverse osmossis plant. One square mile of collector area at 25% effeciency on a hot summer day can provide 640 megawatts at the generator. This is very cheap to make as surplus, rusty corrigated sheet steel can be used as the collector.

Abstract: A solar power system having a solar concentrator for concentrating solar energy, a receiver for converting the solar energy into another form of energy, and a control system for controlling the flux input to the solar receiver. The control system includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. The solar receiver is divided into a plurality of discrete sectors, with at least one of the sensors being coupled to each sector and producing a sensor signal that is related to the magnitude of the flux input to that sector. The controller is coupled to the sensor monitors each of the sensor signals, calculates a differential.

Abstract: A building, or other self-supporting structure, incorporating a multi-stage system for energy generation, is disclosed. The system comprises several elements connected together to form a loop within the self-supporting structure. A moving fluid circulates within the loop. Part of the loop is comprised of a series of connected solar building blocks incorporated into the walls of the structure. The building blocks concentrate and collect solar radiation, to directly produce electricity by means of embedded photovoltaic cells, and to heat a moving fluid which carries thermal energy away from the solar cells and vertically up to a gas turbine connected to an electrical generator. The returning fluid, is condensed to a liquid and directed downwardly to a liquid turbine connected to an electrical generator. A return pipe closes the loop by returning the fluid to the bottom of the series of building blocks.

Abstract: A method of providing a user who has installed a solar power generator with appropriate information, including the steps of receiving data of the quantity of generated power and quantity of power draw from a solar power generator connected to a network, calculating the quantity of buy power and quantity of sell power on a time zone basis, reading out a rate table of buy power and sell power, calculating the electric power charge for buy power and sell power classified into contract types, determining the type of contract that is most economical as to the value to be paid to a power company, calculated by subtracting the amount to be received for sell power from the amount to be paid for buy power, and producing appropriate information based on the determined contract type and calculated amount of payment.

Abstract: A flexible solar power assembly includes a flexible photovoltaic device attached to a flexible thermal solar collector. The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a system for generating electricity and potable water 42. The system comprises an array of solar cells 12 which produce an amount of current. The solar cells have electrical connection means 14 to a bank of batteries 18. The batteries are connected by electrical connection means to an electrolytic device 20. The positive pole of the battery is connected to the cathode electrode 46 and the negative pole is connected to the anode electrode 48 which induces the electric current to pass through the liquid electrolyte 24. The current dissociates the water into its collectable gaseous component parts, oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen is released into the atmospheric air but could be collected for some further process. A compressor 26 having electrical connection means to the batteries 18 and connection means to the electrolytic device 20 collects the hydrogen gas.