Use of intersecting vane machines in combination with wind turbines

Abstract

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a fluid compressor comprising: a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast; a toroidal intersecting vane compressor (TIVC) characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the compressor. The combination of the TIVC and turbine permits good to excellent control over the hours of electrical power generation, thereby maximizing the commercial opportunity and meeting the public need during hours of high usage. Additionally, the invention avoids the need to place an electrical generator off-shore. Further, the apparatuses of the invention can be operated with good to excellent efficiency rates.

1 . A fluid compressor comprising: 
 (a) a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast;    (b) a toroidal intersecting vane compressor characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the compressor.    
     
     
         2 . A generator apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a rotatable turbine mounted to a mast;    (b) at least one toroidal intersecting vane compressor characterized by a fluid intake opening and a fluid exhaust opening, wherein the rotation of the turbine drives the compressor;    (c) a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal end is attached to said fluid exhaust opening;    (d) at least one toroidal intersecting vane expander characterized by a fluid intake opening attached to said fluid exhaust opening;    (e) an electrical generator operably attached to said expander to convert force transmission means.    
     
     
         3 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the turbine is rotated by air flow.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus of  claim 3  where the air flow is wind.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of  claim 2  where in the turbine is rotated by water flow.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the water flow is generated by an ocean wave or a dam.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the fluid compressed by the compressor is air.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus of  claim 2  comprising at least two toroidal intersecting vane compressors, wherein the compressors are configured in series or in parallel.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the toroidal intersecting vane compressor comprises a supporting structure, a first and second intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said supporting structure, said first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of said first rotor with said radially inner peripheral surface of said first rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of said primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between said primary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of primary chambers, said second rotor having a plurality of secondary vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer peripheral surface of said second rotor with said radially outer peripheral surface of said second rotor and a radially outer peripheral surface of each of said secondary vanes being transversely convex, with spaces between said secondary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers, with a first axis of rotation of said first rotor and a second axis of rotation of said second rotor arranged so that said axes of rotation do not intersect, said first rotor, said second rotor, primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged so that said primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at only one location during their rotation.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the toroidal intersecting vane compressor is self-synchronizing.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the turbine drives the compressor by a friction wheel drive which is frictionally connected to the turbine and is connected by a belt, a chain, or directly to the compressor.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the conduit collects, stores, and/or transmits compressed air.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the compressed air can be heated or cooled.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the compressed air is heated while maintaining a constant volume.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the compressed air is heated while maintaining a constant pressure.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the source of heat is solar, ocean, river, pond, lake, power plant effluent, industrial process effluent, combustion, and geothermal energy.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the toroidal intersecting vane expander comprises a supporting structure, a first and second intersecting rotors rotatably mounted in said supporting structure, said first rotor having a plurality of primary vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially inner peripheral surface of said first rotor with said radially inner peripheral surface of said first rotor and a radially inner peripheral surface of each of said primary vanes being transversely concave, with spaces between said primary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of primary chambers, said second rotor having a plurality of secondary vanes positioned in spaced relationship on a radially outer peripheral surface of said second rotor with said radially outer peripheral surface of said second rotor and a radially outer peripheral surface of each of said secondary vanes being transversely convex, with spaces between said secondary vanes and said inside surface defining a plurality of secondary chambers, with a first axis of rotation of said first rotor and a second axis of rotation of said second rotor arranged so that said axes of rotation do not intersect, said first rotor, said second rotor, primary vanes and secondary vanes being arranged so that said primary vanes and said secondary vanes intersect at only one location during their rotation.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the toroidal intersecting vane expander is self-synchronizing.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the expander is configured to operate independently of the turbine and compressor.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the expander and compressor are the approximately the same or different sizes.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus of  claim 2  comprising two or more toroidal intersecting vane expanders.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the expanders are configured in series with a means for heating the fluid disposed between each expander.  
     
     
         23 . An apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a heat exchanger attached to the expander exhaust opening, whereby the expanded fluid is employed as a coolant.  
     
     
         24 . An apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the turbine is an off-shore windmill or arrays of wind turbines.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the conduit transmits the compressed fluid from the windmill site to land.