Apparatus for recapturing lost energy in a thermoelectric generating plant

Claim 2

In a thermoelectric generating plant utilizing heat to generate electric energy and having a recirculating water system in which the water is heated during passage through the plant and must be cooled before recirculation to the plant thus causing a heat loss and resultant loss of energy; the combination therein of means for recapturing a portion of the normally lost energy comprising: a natural air draft, cooling tower defining a generally vertically extending passageway for the flow of air therethrough from the bottom thereof to the top thereof and being disposed in said recirculating water system for receiving the heated water and passing the heated water through the flow of air at generally the bottom of said passageway for cooling the heated water and heating the air to cause a natural draft flow of air up through said passageway; rotor means positioned in said passageway of said cooling tower for being rotated by the natural draft flow of air therethrough; and electric generating means connected with said rotor means for being driven thereby to generate electric energy by the rotation of said rotor means and thus recapture a portion of the normally lost energy from said plant.

Claim 3

In a thermoelectric generating plant, as set forth in claim 1, in which said air passageway through said cooling tower is generally venturi shaped defining a generally medial, constricted portion and outer flaring portions, and in which said rotor means is positioned within the constricted portion for being rotated by the maximum velocity of the flow of air through said passageway of said cooling tower.

Claim 4

In a thermoelectric generating plant, as set forth in claim 1, in which said cooling tower further includes a generally horizontally and radially extending portion around the bottom thereof and being generally hollow to define a generally horizontally and radially extending passageway from the outside to the inside thereof which communicates with the generally vertically extending passageway in said cooling tower for establishing an air flow therethrough, and in which said radially extending portion includes means for receiving the heated water from said plant on the top thereof and passing the heated water generally vertically into and through the passageway therethrough for contact with the flow of air therethrough for cooling of the water and heating of the air.

Claim 5

In a thermoelectric generating plant, as set forth in claim 1, in which said rotor means comprises at least two oppositely extending, opposing, generally curved blades for being rotated by the flow of air through said cooling tower.

Claim 6

In a thermoelectric generating plant utilizing heat to generate electric energy and having a recirculating water system in which the water is heated during passage through the plant and must be cooled before recirculation to the plant thus causing a heat loss and resultant loss of energy; the combination therein of means for recapturing a portion of the normally lost energy comprising: a natural air draft, cooling tower comprising an elongate, vertically extending, hollow, venturi shaped, main portion of generally circular cross-sectional shape defining a generally medial constricted portion and outer flaring portions and having a top open end and a bottom end having openings around the circumference thereof for defining a passageway therethrough for the flow of air therethrough from the bottom thereof vertically upwardly and out of the top thereof, and a hollow portion extending generally horizontally and radially outwardly from said main portion circumferentially around said openings in said bottom end of said main portion and having openings in an outer surface thereof for the introduction of air therethrough and into the hollow interior thereof for flow into said main portion and up through said passageway in said main portion and out of the top thereof, said radially extending portion including means for receiving the heated water from said plant on the top thereof and passing the heated water generally vertically into and through the hollow interior thereof for contact with the air passing therethrough for cooling of the water and heating of the air to cause a natural draft flow of air up through said passageway in said main portion of said cooling tower; rotor means positioned in said constricted portion of said passageway of said venturi shaped main portion of said cooling tower for being rotated by the natural draft flow of air therethrough; and electric generating means connected with said rotor for being driven thereby to generate electric energy by rotation of said rotor means and thus recapture a portion of the normally lost energy from said plant.

Claim 7

In a thermoelectric generating plant utilizing heat to generate electric energy and having a recirculating water system in which the water is heated during passage through the plant and must be cooled before recirculation to the plant thus causing a heat loss and resultant loss of energy; the combination therein of means for recapturing a portion of the normally lost energy comprising: a natural air draft, cooling tower comprising an elongate, vertically extending, hollow, venturi shaped, main portion of generally circular cross-sectional shape defining a generally medial constricted portion and outer flaring portions and having a top open end and a bottom end having openings around the circumference thereof for defining a passageway therethrough for the flow of air therethrough from the bottom thereof vertically upwardly and out of the top thereof, and a hollow portion extending generally horizontally and radially outwardly from said main portion circumferentially around said openings in said bottom end of said main portion and having openings in an outer surface thereof for the introduction of air therethrough and into the hollow interior thereof for flow into said main portion and up through said passageway in said main portion and out of the top thereof, said radially extending portion including means for receiving the heated water from said plant on the top thereof and passing the heated water generally vertically into and through the hollow interior thereof for contact with the air passing therethrough for cooling of the water and heating of the air to cause a natural draft flow of air up through said passageway in said main portion of said cooling tower; rotor means positioned in said constricted portion of said passageway of said venturi shaped main portion of said cooling tower for being rotated by the natural draft flow of air therethrough; and electric generating means connected with said rotor for being driven thereby to generate electric energy by rotation of said rotor means and thus recapture a portion of the normally lost energy from said plant.