Topic
Energy tower
About: Energy tower is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 84 publications have been published within this topic receiving 209 citations.
Papers
1 Jan 2001
TL;DR: In this paper, two power plant types that utilize a convective flow for electricity generation are discussed: The so-called "Solar Chimney", and a down-draught power plant named "Energy Tower".
Abstract: Two power plant types that utilize a convective flow for electricity generation are discussed: The so-called 'Solar Chimney', and a down-draught power plant named 'Energy Tower'. Both power plants utilize a convective flow caused by the density difference between the air column inside a large chimney - open at the bottom and the top - and the surrounding atmosphere: - Inside a Solar Chimney the air is less dense than the adjacent atmospheric air outside the chimney. This is accomplished by combining a large air collector with the central chimney. Hot air is produced by solar radiation and flows up the chimney, driving turbines installed at the chimney base. - The air inside an Energy Tower is denser than the adjacent air outside the chimney due to water being sprayed into the chimney at the chimney top. The water evaporates, thus cooling the air inside the chimney below ambient temperature. The air therefore flows down the chimney. The thermodynamic basics required to model both power plants are given. Results obtained with the simple models are compared to each other, to the values found in literature, and – in the case of the Solar Chimney – to measured values of a Solar Chimney prototype. In the case of the Energy Tower a comparison to measured values was not possible, as no test results from a prototype have been published yet. In general, there is good agreement between the values found using the simple models and the values from literature. In the case of the Energy Tower this is true with the restriction that agreement is only found as long as very optimistic meteorological conditions are taken as given. Otherwise the calculated electric output is significantly lower than the numbers claimed by the proponent. It is found that under real world meteorological conditions the electric power that can be generated with an Energy Tower is in the range of one fifth up to a maximum of approximately one third of the electric power of a Solar Chimney of the same (chimney) dimensions. When comparing the two power plant types, it must be kept in mind that the Solar Chimney requires a large air collector surrounding the chimney, whereas the Energy Tower does not.
24 citations
Patent•
14 Oct 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, an open-type multi-source double-effect energy tower is characterized in the open state running, so that the temperature difference between the secondary refrigerant and the air and other low-grade energy is reduced, and the efficiency of the air conditioning unit is higher.
Abstract: The utility model relates to an open-type multi-source double-effect energy tower which comprises an air duct, an induced draft fan, a tower body, a water pond, a high-efficiency water collector, a spraying nozzle, a packing material, an air guide louver, an air guide pipe, an auxiliary heat-source heat exchanger, an air inlet valve plate, a water supply valve, a sewage water valve, an overflow pipe, a secondary refrigerant concentration device and a valve. The open-type multi-source double-effect energy tower is characterized in the open state running, so that the temperature difference between the secondary refrigerant and the air and other low-grade energy is reduced, and the efficiency of the air conditioning unit is higher; and the open-type multi-source double-effect energy tower can utilize various low-grade energy, is taken as an evaporative cooling device for the air conditioning unit in the summer and is taken as a condensation heat-absorbing device for the air conditioning unit in the winter. Since the secondary refrigerant concentration device is arranged on a circulating water pipe, the concentration of the secondary refrigerant can be adjusted so as to prevent the air and the condensed water form entering due to the long-term running in the winter, otherwise, the concentration of the secondary refrigerant is reduced, the freezing point rises, the defrosting effect is reduced and the normal running of the system is affected; and due to the adoption of the multi-source double-effect energy tower, the traditional central air conditioner is modified, a boiler is removed, the pollution is reduced, the dual functions of cooling and heating can be realized and the running cost of the air conditioner is reduced.
23 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that while the efficiency of energy recovery of P2M technology is lower than for several other methods, due to the low self-discharge and negligible standby losses, it can be a suitable and cost-effective solution for seasonal and multi-seasonal energy storage.
Abstract: The time-range of applicability of various energy-storage technologies are limited by self-discharge and other inevitable losses. While batteries and hydrogen are useful for storage in a time-span ranging from hours to several days or even weeks, for seasonal or multi-seasonal storage, only some traditional and quite costly methods can be used (like pumped-storage plants, Compressed Air Energy Storage or energy tower). In this paper, we aim to show that while the efficiency of energy recovery of Power-to-Methane technology is lower than for several other methods, due to the low self-discharge and negligible standby losses, it can be a suitable and cost-effective solution for seasonal and multi-seasonal energy storage.
17 citations
Patent•
14 Oct 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, an open and closed combined type multi-source double-effect energy tower is characterized in that various low-grade energy can be utilized, and the closed type spraying nozzle can be taken as an evaporative cooling device for the air conditioning unit in the summer and can be used as a condensation heat absorbing device in the winter; and the open type running, closed type running or the open-close type combined running can be realized by switching the pipeline.
Abstract: The utility model relates to an open and close combined type multi-source double-effect energy tower which comprises an air duct, an induced draft fan, a tower body, a water pond, a water collector, an open type spraying nozzle, a packing material, a closed type spraying nozzle, a heat exchange coil pipe, an air guide louver, an air guide pipe, an auxiliary heat-source heat exchanger, an air inlet valve plate, a water supply valve, a sewage water valve, an overflow pipe, a circulating pump, an antifreezing fluid concentration device, a constant pressure pot, an automatic air vent valve and a valve. The open and close combined type multi-source double-effect energy tower is characterized in that various low-grade energy can be utilized, and the open and closed type multi-source double-effect energy tower can be taken as an evaporative cooling device for the air conditioning unit in the summer and can be taken as a condensation heat-absorbing device for the air conditioning unit in the winter; and the open type running, the closed type running or the open-close type combined running can be realized by switching the pipeline. Various measures are taken to prevent the secondary refrigerant of the open and close combined type multi-source double-effect energy tower from leaking. Therefore, the utility model reduces the pollution to the environment, improves the utilization ratio of the device, saves the energy and reduces the expenses of the air conditioner.
10 citations
Patent•
16 Jul 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, an intelligent vertical shaft wind power generator multi-set is provided with three air inlet type sets: a horizontal wind inlet typed set, an upper air inLET typed set and a lower air inlets typed set.
Abstract: The invention relates to an intelligent composite generation power source tower, in particular to an intelligent composite generation power source tower, which is used for a multi-wind regime and all-weather intelligent vertical shaft full wind regime generator set, and rectifies a natural wind by the combination of multi-machine in series and a rising heat airflow. The intelligent vertical shaft wind power generator multi-set is provided with three air inlet type sets: a horizontal wind inlet typed set, an upper air inlet typed set and a lower air inlet typed set, the multi-set is also called full wind regime wind power generator set. The invention is a wind-collecting and external rotor high-efficiency magnetic suspension wind power system, with the configuration of wind-collecting and rectifier suspension, vertical shaft multi-machine in series, low damping and direct drive system. The energy source tower is added with an intelligent wind collector and an intelligent wind collecting chamber on the basis of the generator set, can change the area and the angle of the wind collector and the height of a wind collecting chamber door according to the wind power, and greatly improves the utilization ratio of the wind energy; the multi-generator set configuration keeps working at all weather and working conditions (single machine with low wind speed and automatic parallel machine at high wind speed), keeps the maximum output of the rated power, and improves the efficiency and the benefit of a fan system. In a no-wind state, the energy tower can continue to generate power by a geothermy which is generated by solar energy, industrial residual heat and according to a chimney ventilation principle; high-pressure gas and water which are stored underground can be released in time so as to drive a turbomachine to generate the power, thus ensuring the balance of power supply.
9 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2016 | 6 |