Wind and solar powered turbine

Claim 2

A combination wind and solar powered generating station to produce energy comprising: a first plurality of radial air passage means adapted for receiving ambient wind, for providing a first source of air and for directing said air to a first predetermined location; a second plurality of radial air passage means also adapted for receiving ambient wind for providing a second source of air and for directing said air to a second predetermined location; means for collecting radiant solar energy in the form of thermal energy and for communicating said thermal energy with the second air passage means, thereby heating said air moving in the second plurality of air passage means; first power means communicating with the first predetermined location for extracting energy from the first source of air, and second power means communicating with the second predetermined location for extracting energy from the second source of air and also for extracting further energy from the first source of air.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the first power means include a radial flow turbine.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein the second power means include an axial flow turbine.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 3 further including a generator operatively connected to both turbines.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 further including an auxiliary power source operatively interconnected with the first and second power means for supplementing the cumulative energy output of the first and second power means and for maintaining a minimum level of generated power output independently of variations in the cumulative energy output of the first and second power means.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of air passage means comprise a first plurality of air ducts extending radially outwardly from a central first predetermined location.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 6 wherein the second air passage means include a second plurality of air ducts extending radially outwardly from a central second predetermined location.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 7 wherein the means for collecting radiant solar energy are positioned between the first and second plurality of air ducts and the second plurality of air ducts are relatively transmissive to the incident solar radiation to expose said means for collecting said solar radiation, and wherein said means for collecting are adapted for generating thermal air currents, thereby directing further air to the second predetermined location.

Claim 10

An improved combination wind and solar powered power generating station comprising: a first series of radial air passages disposed approximately horizontally for directing ambient wind to a first predetermined position; a second series of radial air passages positioned above the first series of air passages for directing ambient wind to a second predetermined position; collecting means for solar energy positioned between the first and second series of radial air passages and communicating with the second series for providing thermal air currents to the second predetermined position; first power means communicating with the first predetermined position and extracting energy from the ambient wind directed to the first predetermined position, said first power means directing exhausted ambient wind to the second predetermined position; second power means communicating with the second predetermined position for extracting energy from the ambient wind directed to the second predetermined position, for extracting energy from said thermal currents, and from the exhausted ambient wind directed to the second predetermined position by the second power means.

Claim 11

An improved combination wind and solar powered power generating station comprising: a first series of radial air passages disposed approximately horizontally for directing ambient wind to a first predetermined position; a second series of radial air passages positioned above the first series of air passages for directing ambient wind to a second predetermined position; collecting means for solar energy positioned between the first and second series of radial air passages and communicating with the second series for providing thermal air currents to the second predetermined position; first power means communicating with the first predetermined position and extracting energy from the ambient wind directed to the first predetermined position, said first power means directing exhausted ambient wind to the second predetermined position; second power means communicating with the second predetermined position for extracting energy from the ambient wind directed to the second predetermined position, for extracting energy from said thermal currents, and from the exhausted ambient wind directed to the second predetermined position by the second power means.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 9 wherein the first predetermined position is a first upwardly directed opening located substantially centrally relative to the first series of radial air passages, and the first power means comprise a radial flow turbine disposed in the first opening, and wherein the second predetermined position is a second upwardly directed opening located substantially centrally relative to the second series of radial air passages and substantially concentrically with the first opening and the second power means comprise an axial flow turbine disposed in the second opening.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein the radial flow turbine and the axial flow turbine are concentrically mounted on a rotatable shaft, and wherein the first and second power means further comprise a generator connected to and driven by said shaft.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 10 further comprising a wall separating the first and second series of radial air passages from one another, wherein the collecting means are disposed over said separating wall and comprise a black body adapted for relatively efficiently absorbing solar radiation, and wherein the second series of radial air passages are sufficiently transparent for permitting solar radiation to effectively reach said collecting means.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 12 wherein the first and second series of radial air passages comprise a structure of substantially circular horizontal cross-section, and wherein the radius of the structure is approximately between 35 to 80 feet.

Claim 16

An improved wind and solar powered power generating station comprising: a substantially horizontally disposed substantially disc-shaped structure including a lower compartment and an upper compartment, and a black body disposed between the lower compartment and the upper compartment; a first plurality of air passages located in the lower compartment of the structure and extending radially in the disc-shaped structure, said first plurality of air passages being open at the edge of the disc-shaped structure to communicate with the ambient wind and also being open substantially in the center of the structure to communicate with an upwardly directed central opening therein; a second plurality of air passages located in the upper compartment of the structure and extending radially in the disc-shaped structure, said second plurality of air passages being open at the edge of the disc-shaped structure to communicate with the ambient wind, and also being open substantially in the center of the structure to communicate with the upwardly directed central opening therein; an upper enclosing member of the structure comprising the top cover for the second plurality of air passages, said top cover being of a material substantially transparent to short wave components of solar radiation and permitting said short wave components to substantially reach the black body; a radial flow turbine operatively disposed in the central opening substantially adjacent to the first plurality of air passages; an axial flow turbine operatively disposed in the central opening relative to the second plurality of air passages, whereby ambient wind is directed to drive the radial flow turbine by the first plurality of air passages, ambient wind is directed to drive the axial flow turbine by the second plurality of air passages, whereby ambient wind having passed through the radial flow turbine assists in driving the axial flow turbine, and whereby heat generated in the black body as a result of absorption of solar radiation assists in the flow of ambient wind through the second plurality of air passages to drive the axial flow turbine.

Claim 17

An improved wind and solar powered power generating station comprising: a substantially horizontally disposed substantially disc-shaped structure including a lower compartment and an upper compartment, and a black body disposed between the lower compartment and the upper compartment; a first plurality of air passages located in the lower compartment of the structure and extending radially in the disc-shaped structure, said first plurality of air passages being open at the edge of the disc-shaped structure to communicate with the ambient wind and also being open substantially in the center of the structure to communicate with an upwardly directed central opening therein; a second plurality of air passages located in the upper compartment of the structure and extending radially in the disc-shaped structure, said second plurality of air passages being open at the edge of the disc-shaped structure to communicate with the ambient wind, and also being open substantially in the center of the structure to communicate with the upwardly directed central opening therein; an upper enclosing member of the structure comprising the top cover for the second plurality of air passages, said top cover being of a material substantially transparent to short wave components of solar radiation and permitting said short wave components to substantially reach the black body; a radial flow turbine operatively disposed in the central opening substantially adjacent to the first plurality of air passages; an axial flow turbine operatively disposed in the central opening relative to the second plurality of air passages, whereby ambient wind is directed to drive the radial flow turbine by the first plurality of air passages, ambient wind is directed to drive the axial flow turbine by the second plurality of air passages, whereby ambient wind having passed through the radial flow turbine assists in driving the axial flow turbine, and whereby heat generated in the black body as a result of absorption of solar radiation assists in the flow of ambient wind through the second plurality of air passages to drive the axial flow turbine.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 14 wherein the radial flow turbine and the axial flow turbine are mounted on a single rotating shaft, said shaft being interconnected with a generator for producing electric power.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 14 wherein the black body comprises a multitude of used rubber tires.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 14 wherein the axial flow turbine and the radial flow turbine are operatively connected to drive a first generator to produce electric power.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 17 further comprising an auxiliary fossil fuel powered prime mover operatively connected with a second generator to drive the same, and a sensing and regulating means for sensing the electric power output of the first generator and for regulating the output of the prime mover to generate sufficient power in said second generator to maintain a predetermined minimum combined output of power of the first and second generators regardless of variations of the power output of the first generator.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 18 wherein the prime mover is a diesel engine.

Claim 23

The invention of claim 18 wherein the radial flow turbine and the axial flow turbine are mounted on a single rotating shaft which is operatively connected to the first generator.