CN101014817A - Apparatus and method for cooling of air - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine apparatus (40) for cooling of air having a wind turbine (10) axially connected to a refrigeration compressor (13) arranged to compress refrigerant, means (18) for conducting compressed refrigerant centrifugally outwards, means for causing the compressed refrigerant to lose pressure (23) so as to cool fades (16) of the wind turbine (10), and means for returning spent refrigerant centripetally to the compressor (13).

Description

Apparatus and method for cooling air

technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cooling air.

Contents of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wind turbine installation for cooling air is provided, characterized in that the wind turbine installation comprises a wind turbine axially connected to a refrigeration compressor arranged to compress refrigerant, for centrifugally Means for directing the compressed refrigerant outward, means for depressurizing the compressed refrigerant to cool the blades of the wind turbine, and means for returning the used refrigerant centripetally to the compressor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of condensing water in ambient air, the method comprising the steps of: driving a wind turbine installation of the present invention installed in a conduit by ambient wind so that the wind turbine's blade cooling, thereby cooling an ambient airflow passing through the duct and the wind turbine and causing water vapor in the ambient airflow to condense to form liquid water; and collecting the liquid water.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind turbine comprising: at least one blade mounted on a compressor housing mounted on a shaft for axial rotation relative to the shaft; means for directing the compressed refrigerant centrifugally outward; and means for returning the refrigerant centripetally via the or each said vane so that the refrigerant loses pressure, changes phase from a liquid to a gas, thereby cooling The or each said blade.

Description of drawings

Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, illustrate the present invention by example, in accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a wind turbine according to the present invention, showing a single turbine blade;

FIG. 2 is another schematic top view similar to FIG. 1 showing a plurality of turbine blades;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the device for conveying air according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a side view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a wind turbine according to the invention for use in a third embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a top view of a further embodiment of the wind turbine of the present invention used in the fourth embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a compressor used in the air cooling device of the present invention;

10 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the compressor used in the air cooling device of the present invention;

A, b, c and d among Fig. 11 are each view of Fig. 10 compressor;

12 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the compressor used in the air cooling device of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 14a, Figure 14b and Figure 14c schematically show various positions of the scroll refrigeration compressor that can be used in the present invention;

Figure 15a is a top view of another form of scroll compressor that may be used in the present invention; and

Figure 15b is a side view of the scroll compressor of Figure 15a.

Detailed ways

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a wind turbine installation 10 comprising a central shaft 12 and having a compressor 13 comprising a housing 14 . The compressor housing 14 is arranged to rotate axially relative to the shaft 12 . Furthermore, a plurality of turbine blades 16 (only one of which is shown) are mounted on the compressor housing 14 . As shown, a tube 18 extends outwardly from the housing 14 to the perimeter cooling coil 20 . A bellows 22 extends from the cooling coil 20 back to the housing 14 . A constriction 23 is provided on the tube 22 adjacent to the cooling coil 20 .

In use, the turbine blades 16 are rotated axially about the shaft 12 by the kinetic energy of the surrounding airflow. Rotation of the blades 16 causes the compressor housing 14 to rotate, and the refrigerant in the compressor housing 14 is compressed to change phase from gas to liquid. The compressed liquid refrigerant, driven by the compressor and by centrifugal force, flows outward along the tubes 18 to the cooling coil 20 which acts as a manifold.

As shown, the refrigerant must flow almost a full circle to reach tube 22 . This allows the compressed refrigerant to be cooled during its residence in the cooling coil 20 .

The refrigerant leaves the cooling coil 20 through the constricted portion 23 of the inlet tube 22 . At this time, the refrigerant loses pressure rapidly, thereby evaporating and returning to the gas phase, and cooling the blade 16 . The spent refrigerant then flows centripetally back to the shell 14 on a low pressure line from the compressor 13 .

Cooling of the blades 16 results in cooling of the ambient airflow, the practical effect of which will be described below.

In Fig. 2, a device 30 similar to that shown in Fig. 1 is shown. Turbine blades 16 , tubes 18 , a cooling coil 20 and tubes 22 can be seen in FIG. 2 . In this embodiment, compressed refrigerant flows along tube 18 to cooling coil 20 . Compressed refrigerant enters an internal manifold 26 from the cooling coil 20 via a plurality of short tubes 28 . Refrigerant compressed as described above enters tube 22 from internal manifold 26 via constriction 23 . Thus, the compressed refrigerant does not directly enter tube 22 , it is cooled by stagnating in cooling coil 20 , short tube 28 and internal manifold 26 .

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement 40 comprising a wind turbine 10 . Each internal manifold 26 adjacent the outer end of each vane 16 is also shown. Compressed liquid refrigerant initially enters each internal manifold 26 from the cooling coils 20 via short tubes 28 . The refrigerant then enters the tube 22 through the constriction 23 as described above.

In addition, FIG. 3 shows the air collecting duct 42 and the outlet condensing chamber 44 . The conduit 42 includes a wide portion 46 on the outside and a relatively narrow narrow portion 48 on the inside. The combination of wide portion 46 and narrow portion 48 increases the wind speed in duct 42 .

Ambient airflow blown in the direction of arrow 50 flows through wind turbine 10 causing wind turbine 10 to rotate thereby cooling blades 16 . This causes the air temperature to drop below the condensation point, or dew point, and water vapor in the surrounding air condenses to form liquid water. This is enhanced by the baffle 52, which blocks the air flow and directs the liquid water to collect thereon. The liquid water flows from the baffle plate 52 onto the sloping plate portion 54 , from which the liquid water flows into the collecting tank 56 . The cooling air from which moisture has been removed is discharged through the upper outlet 58 . As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the coil 20 is located outside of the conduit 42 so that heat lost from the compressed refrigerant is dissipated into the surrounding air rather than within the conduit 42 .

FIG. 4 shows a device 60 similar to that shown in FIG. 3 , except that in FIG. 4 the inlet 62 is located lowermost and a flap 64 is provided. In this case, the air flaps 64 only open on the windward side of the device 60 as shown. The airflow passes upwardly through the turbine 10 and exits through the condensing chamber 66 and out the top exhaust port 68 . And the liquid water collects on the baffle 52 again, and it flows along the sloping plate 54 to collect in the groove 56 .

Figure 5 shows an apparatus 70 similar to that shown in Figure 4, except that in Figure 5 the exhaust 68 is provided with an additional wind turbine 72 to reduce the pressure in the exhaust 68 and enhance exhaust gas removal. The energy obtained from wind turbines can be used for any practical purpose.

FIG. 6 shows a wind turbine 10 including wind guides 62 with flaps 64 positioned between adjacent wind guides 62 . When the damper 64 is facing the direction of the surrounding air flow, it is arranged in an open and wide rectangle as shown in the figure.

Figure 7 shows an alternative form of the device of the invention.

In this figure is shown a device 80 comprising a ventilator 82 in an intermediate position and a downwardly directed biasing device 84 . The device 84 is arranged to pivot about a substantially vertical axis so as to, in use, be oriented towards a position which most efficiently directs ambient airflow through the wind turbine 10 . The cooled air may then enter condensation chamber 86 below wind turbine 10 and deposit moisture on baffle 88 . Subsequently, the deposited moisture may flow into the collection tank 90 . Afterwards, the cooling air from which moisture has been removed may flow upward to the upper exhaust port 92 .

FIG. 8 shows a wind turbine 10 similar to that shown in FIG. 7 . As shown, device 84 faces the incoming ambient airflow. An airflow is introduced into wind turbine 10 .

Figure 9 shows a compressor 90 in a preferred form of the invention. The compressor 90 has a central rotating cylindrical hub or housing 92 on which are mounted the blades 16 of the wind turbine 10 described above and the tubes carrying the refrigerant. Compressor 90 includes compressor blades 94 mounted on a drive shaft 96 . The blades 94 are arranged to be driven at high speed by a transmission mechanism 98 fitted on the inner wall of the hub 92 . The spent refrigerant that flows back to the compressor 90 centripetally as described above is compressed again and sent outward centrifugally as described above.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative form of compressor 100 mounted within a cylindrical hub or housing 102 . In this embodiment, the refrigerant is transferred by rollers 104 mounted eccentrically on shaft 106 relative to the main shaft 108 of compressor 100 .

As shown in a, b, c and d in Fig. 11, the operation of the compressor 100 is as follows. The compressor 100 includes a central shaft 101 on which an eccentric wheel 102 is installed. A rotatable housing 103 is installed around the eccentric wheel 102 . A pipe 104 protrudes from the housing 103 and a pipe 105 protrudes into the housing 103 . A spring biased vane 106 extends through the wall of housing 103 and contacts the outer surface of eccentric 102 . The rotation of the housing 103 causes the refrigerant in the housing to be compressed and flow out through the tube 104 . Similarly, spent refrigerant is returned to housing 103 via tube 105 . The vanes 106, which are spring biased into engagement with the outer surface of the eccentric 102, facilitate this process.

FIG. 12 shows another alternative form of compressor 120 mounted within a cylindrical hub 122 . In this embodiment, the refrigerant is contained in an elastic chamber 124 . The chamber 124 alternately contracts and expands. This is achieved by an eccentric disc 126 fixedly mounted on a central shaft 128 . Each disc 126 has an annular channel 130 formed on its inner side. A slidable bearing 132 is installed in each channel 130 . Each rod 134 extends from each bearing 132 to a respective end plate 136 of the chamber 124 . Each rod 134 is constrained by a circular guide 138 .

In use, the hub 122 rotates axially about the shaft 128 and the chamber 124 rotates with the hub 122 . This rotation causes bearing 132 to slide in channel 130 and rod 134 to reciprocate in guide 138 accordingly. Chamber 124 thus expands and contracts to alternately perform compression, allowing compressed refrigerant to exit through one-way valve 146 and spent refrigerant to enter through one-way valve 142 .

FIG. 13 shows a wind turbine 130 similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this embodiment, a wind funnel 132 is positioned to direct ambient airflow above the water surface 134 . The water may be brackish or fresh. The airflow then enters wind turbine 10 up through a standpipe 136 (or sloped conduit on a slope) and then to condensation chamber 138 with baffle 52 and slope 54 from which water flows into collection tank 56 . Exhaust gases exit via outlet 58 . The absolute humidity of the air entering the device 130 increases so that the density of the air decreases. Thus, as the moist air rises to the wind turbine 10, the air flow caused by the wind is enhanced by convection.

The refrigeration compressor used in the apparatus of the present invention can also be set as a scroll compressor.

This embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 14a, 14b and 14c of the accompanying drawings.

Figures 14a-14c show a scroll compressor 150 having a housing 151 in which a circular plate 152 is mounted. Furthermore, a ring gear 154 mounted on an axial shaft (not shown) of the wind turbine extends around the inner circumference of the housing 151 . Turbine blades 16 are mounted on housing 151 and allow wind force to cause axial rotation of housing 151 on a fixed shaft (not shown).

As mentioned above, in use, the casing 151 is rotated by the rotation of the blades of the wind turbine.

As indicated above, the scroll compressor 150 is mounted on bearings on a fixed axial shaft (not shown). One turbine 156 is connected to the housing 151, while the other turbine 158 is driven by three planetary gears 160 mounted on the housing 151 at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Gear 160 is driven by ring gear 154 . Turbine 158 may be described as a wobbling scroll.

Gears 160 are asymmetrically connected to plate 152 by pivotal connections 162 . In use, the housing 151 is rotated axially by the wind turbine. This causes the planetary gears to rotate due to meshing with the fixed ring gear 154 . This causes the ring gear 154 to rotate, which in turn causes the planet gears 160 to rotate. Rotation of the planetary gears 160 causes the plate 152 to move in an oscillating motion, thereby moving the turbine 158 accordingly.

As shown in Figures 14a-14c, this causes the gap between the two turbines 156 and 158 to alternately open and close in a progressive manner. This action causes the refrigerant vapor contained between the two turbines to be compressed so that the vapor undergoes increased pressure and transforms into liquid form.

As described above, the compressed liquid refrigerant is thereby pushed outward from the compressor housing 151 through a tube (not shown) by centrifugal force. In addition, as described above, the spent refrigerant is returned to the interior of the housing 151 via a tube (not shown), where the refrigerant enters the gap between the turbines 156 and 158 .

In contrast to the scroll compressor shown in Figures 14a-14c, Figures 15a and 15b show another structure of scroll compressor 180 used in the present invention. Similar components are denoted with the same reference numerals. It should be noted that only the turbine 158 is shown in Figure 15a.

In this embodiment there is a central shaft 182 on which a housing 184 is mounted. The housing is mounted on a bearing on shaft 182 . Shaft 182 may be continuous or discontinuous. A sun gear 186 is fixedly mounted around the shaft 182 . This gear 186 is connected to three planetary gears 188 .

Furthermore, it can be seen from Figure 15b that a turbine wheel 156 is secured to the housing 184 by any suitable means (not shown), such as an end plate. The other turbine wheel 158 is mounted on an end plate 190 and is connected to the planetary gear 188 via an eccentric pin 192 .

Shaft 182 and gear 186 are fixed in place. Housing 184 is configured to rotate about axis 182 as described above. Planetary gears 188 mesh with gears 186 to rotate as housing 184 rotates. This rotation of the planetary gears 188 moves the worm gear 158 on the plate 190 via the pin 192 so that the worm gear 158 performs an oscillating action as described above.

Modifications and changes apparent to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1, a kind of wind turbine equipment that is used to cool off air, it is characterized in that this wind turbine equipment comprises: wind turbine, the device that is used for outwards guiding eccentrically refrigerant compressed that axially is connected with the refrigeration compressor that is set to compressed refrigerant, be used to make the refrigerant compressed decompression and cool off this wind turbine blade device and be used for the device that used cold-producing medium is back to this compressor centripetally.

2, wind turbine equipment according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, this wind turbine equipment comprises a central shaft, and this refrigeration compressor has the housing of installing around this central shaft, and this compressor housing is set to can be with respect to this central shaft axial rotation.

3, wind turbine equipment according to claim 2 is characterized in that, a plurality of turbo blades are installed on this housing, and described a plurality of turbo blade extends away from this housing.

4, wind turbine equipment according to claim 3 is characterized in that, from the protruding pipe unit of this housing, and this pipe unit and a peripheral coil pipe are connected to each other.

5, wind turbine equipment according to claim 4 is characterized in that, this coil pipe is arranged at the outside of this wind turbine equipment, thus air radiation heat towards periphery.

6, according to claim 4 or 5 described wind turbine equipment, it is characterized in that, respectively extend a return duct from this coil pipe via one or more described turbo blades, this return duct or each described return duct are provided with a necking part at contiguous this coil pipe place, make the cold-producing medium decompression, and cooling off described turbo blade, the cold-producing medium of using then is back to this housing centripetally in the low-pressure side of this compressor.

7, according to the described wind turbine equipment of above-mentioned each claim, it is characterized in that, this wind turbine equipment is provided with a wind-drive device for air-flow inflow on every side, this wind-drive device comprises this wind turbine, and air-flow rotates this wind turbine on every side, thereby cold-producing medium is compressed by this refrigeration compressor, and under action of centrifugal force, outwards flow, and be back to this refrigeration compressor centripetally, cool off described blade thus, so that the water vapor condensation in the air-flow forms aqueous water on every side.

8, wind turbine equipment according to claim 7, it is characterized in that, this wind-drive device comprises the import ventilator that is positioned at this wind turbine upstream, the outlet condensation chamber that is positioned at this wind turbine downstream and the pars intermedia narrower than this import ventilator, and this pars intermedia comprises this wind turbine.

9, wind turbine equipment according to claim 8 is characterized in that, this condensation chamber comprises the baffle plate that promotes the condensate moisture in the surrounding air.

10, according to Claim 8 or 9 described wind turbine equipment, it is characterized in that this outlet condensation chamber is provided with and is used to collect from the device of the aqueous water of condensation on every side.

11, according to Claim 8 each described wind turbine equipment is characterized in that this wind-drive device is provided with air flap-10, and described air flap is being set to open when facining the wind direction.

12, according to Claim 8 each described wind turbine equipment is characterized in that-11, and this outlet condensation chamber has an exhaust outlet, and this exhaust outlet is provided with an extra wind turbine, reducing the pressure in this exhaust outlet, and strengthens the removal of waste gas.

13, according to Claim 8 each described wind turbine equipment-12, it is characterized in that, this wind turbine has adjacent many to air guide member, has air flap separately between each air guide member, and described air flap is set to open over against the direction of air-flow on every side the time.

14, according to Claim 8 each described wind turbine equipment-13, it is characterized in that, this wind turbine equipment is provided with a bias unit, this bias unit is set to pivot around the axis of near vertical, thereby air-flow is through on the position of this wind turbine around being positioned at the most effective guiding in use.

15, wind turbine equipment according to claim 1, it is characterized in that, this refrigeration compressor has the rotatable housing of central authorities, be provided with blade in this housing, this refrigeration compressor also comprises the compressor blade that is installed on the driving shaft, and described compressor blade is set to be driven by the transmission mechanism on the inwall that is assemblied in this housing.

16, wind turbine equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the housing of this refrigeration compressor comprises the housing that contains the eccentric roller of installing.

17, wind turbine equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, this refrigeration compressor comprises the housing that contains the elastic chamber, and this elastic chamber comprises cold-producing medium, and this elastic chamber is set to alternately pucker ﹠ bloat.

18, wind turbine equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, this refrigeration compressor comprises the housing that contains scroll compressor.

19, a kind of method from the surrounding air condensed water, this method may further comprise the steps: by wind-force drive installation on every side in a conduit, according to the wind turbine equipment of claim 1, thereby make the blade cooling of this wind turbine, the air-flow on every side of this conduit and this wind turbine is passed in cooling thus, and the water vapor condensation in the feasible air-flow on every side is to form aqueous water; And collect this aqueous water.

20, a kind of wind turbine comprises: at least one blade, and described blade is installed on the refrigerant compressor housing, and this refrigerant compressor housing is installed in one and goes up with respect to this axial rotation; Be used for outwards guiding eccentrically the device of refrigerant compressed; And be used for device that cold-producing medium is returned centripetally via this blade or each described blade, thus the cold-producing medium decompression, be gaseous state from liquid phase-change, cool off this blade or each described blade thus.

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