Wind turbine system

Abstract

A wind turbine system for producing compressed air from wind energy. The wind turbine harvests energy from wind to produce mechanical energy. A compressor receives mechanical energy from the wind turbine to compress air to an elevated pressure. Thermal energy may be removed from the air, and the air is stored in a storage devices, such that the air may be released from the storage device on demand.

1 . A system for producing compressed air from wind energy, the system comprising:
 a wind turbine that harvests energy from wind to produce mechanical energy;   a compressor that receives mechanical energy from the wind turbine to compress air to an elevated pressure;   a storage device that receives the air from the compressor such that the air can be released from the storage device on demand; and   an expander for expanding air received from the storage device to generate electric energy;   wherein thermal energy is removed from the air prior to being received by the storage device, further wherein thermal energy is added to the compressed air prior to being expanded to generate electric energy.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy added to the compressed air is provided by a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the renewable energy source comprises one or more of solar energy, biomass energy, and geothermal energy. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy is added via a fluid medium into the compressed air. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid medium is a heated vapor. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the heated vapor is steam. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the fluid medium is a combustible gas that provides thermal energy to the compressed air as the fluid medium is combusted. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy is added via a working fluid that is heated remotely from the compressed air. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the working fluid is heated by a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , used to create renewable energy credits. 
     
     
         11 . A system for producing desalinated water with the assistance of wind energy, the system comprising:
 a wind turbine that harvests energy from wind to produce mechanical energy;   a compressor that receives mechanical energy from the wind turbine to compress water vapor to an elevated pressure and temperature;   wherein water vapor provided to the compressor is drawn from a fluid containing system of a desalination facility to promote the evaporation of feed water.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger that transfers heat of the compressed water vapor so the feed water to promote evaporation.   
     
     
         13 . A system for producing liquefied air products utilizing wind energy, the system comprising:
 a wind turbine that harvests energy from wind to produce mechanical energy;   a compressor that receives mechanical energy from the wind turbine to compress air to an elevated pressure; and   an expander to expand air received from the compressor to produce liquefied air products from the compressed air.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger positioned to cool compressed air prior to the compressed air being expanded.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive air expanded by the expander to pre-cool compressed air. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the compressor and the expander are positioned in a nacelle of the wind turbine. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the expander comprises a expander that derives mechanical work from air that is expanded therein. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the compressor and the expander are mechanically coupled, and work produced by the turbine helps drive the compressor. 
     
     
         19 . A method of producing compressed air from wind energy, the method comprising:
 harvesting wind with a wind turbine to produce mechanical energy;   compressing air to an elevated pressure with a compressor driven by the mechanical energy;   removing thermal energy from the air;   conveying the air to a storage device after thermal energy is removed from the air;   storing the compressed air in the storage device at a working pressure greater than 10 atmospheres;   conveying the compressed air to an electric energy production facility;   adding thermal energy to the compressed air; and   expanding the compressed air to drive a turbine to produce electric power.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein adding thermal energy comprises adding a thermal energy from a renewable energy source. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the renewable energy source comprises one or more of solar energy, biomass energy, and geothermal energy. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein adding thermal energy comprises adding thermal energy via a fluid medium into the compressed air. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein adding thermal energy comprises adding thermal energy via a working fluid that is heated remotely from the compressed air. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 creating renewable energy credits.   
     
     
         25 . A method of producing desalinated water with the assistance of wind energy, the method comprising:
 harvesting wind with a wind turbine to produce mechanical energy;   compressing water vapor to an elevated pressure with a compressor driven by the mechanical energy;   drawing water vapor from a fluid containing system a desalination facility to promote evaporation of a feed water.   
     
     
         26 . A method for producing liquid air products utilizing wind energy, the method comprising:
 harvesting wind with a wind turbine to produce mechanical energy;   compressing air to an elevated pressure with a compressor driven by the mechanical energy;   expanding the compressed air to produce liquefied air products from the compressed air.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 cooling the compressed air prior to expanding the compressed air.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 cooling the air during the process of compressing the air.   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 driving the compressor with energy received by the expander as the compressed air is expanded.