Energy Harvesting Airport

Abstract

An example system for harvesting energy from air vehicle thrust operations includes a runway surface for air vehicle takeoff and landing, where the runway surface comprises a door, and where the door is openable to a cavity positioned below the runway surface. A plurality of wind turbine blades is positioned within the cavity, and the plurality of wind turbine blades are rotatable by air flowing into the cavity. The system also includes a generator coupled to the plurality of wind turbine blades such that the generator produces electricity in response to the rotation of the plurality of wind turbine blades.

1 . A system for harvesting energy from air vehicle thrust operations comprising:
 a runway surface for air vehicle takeoff and landing, wherein the runway surface comprises a door, and wherein the door is openable to a cavity positioned below the runway surface;   a plurality of wind turbine blades positioned within the cavity, wherein the plurality of wind turbine blades are rotatable by air flowing into the cavity; and   a generator coupled to the plurality of wind turbine blades such that the generator produces electricity in response to the rotation of the plurality of wind turbine blades.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the door comprises an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when the door is in the open position, the door is arranged at an angle of incline with respect to the runway surface such that air flowing toward the door is redirected into the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each wind turbine blade plurality of wind turbine blades comprises a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, wherein each wind turbine blade plurality of wind turbine blades is disposed between two parallel discs, wherein the first disc is coupled to each first longitudinal end, and wherein the second disc is coupled to each second longitudinal end. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wind turbine blades is coupled to a rotatable shaft, and wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the generator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the door is one of a plurality of doors, wherein the rotatable shaft is one of a plurality of rotatable shafts, and wherein each door corresponds to one of the rotatable shafts. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises a duct positioned to provide a fluid connection between the runway surface and the plurality of wind turbine blades. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the door is openable via a hinge, and wherein the door comprises louvers positioned to redirect air flowing toward the louvers such that, when the door is in a closed position, the door is openable at the hinge by the redirected air. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the door is coupled to a spring that maintains the door in an open position, wherein, when the door is in the open position, the door is arranged at an angle of incline with respect to the runway surface, and wherein the door is closable by compressing the spring, thereby decreasing the angle of incline with respect to the runway surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the door is coupled to a proximity sensor such that the door is openable in response to detection of an air vehicle approaching the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor coupled to the door, wherein the motor is operable to move the door between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the runway surface comprises an initial takeoff zone, and wherein the plurality of wind turbine blades is located within the initial takeoff zone. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the runway surface extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the initial takeoff zone extends 100 feet along the runway surface from the first end of the runway surface. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wind turbine blades is a first plurality of wind turbine blades, wherein the generator is a first generator, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a blast fence extending from the runway surface, wherein the blast fence comprises a second plurality of wind turbine blades, wherein the second plurality of wind turbine blades are rotatable by air flowing toward the blast fence; and   a second generator coupled to the second plurality of wind turbine blades such that the second generator produces electricity in response to the rotation of the second plurality of wind turbine blades.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second plurality of blades is coupled to a rotatable shaft, and wherein the rotatable shaft is coupled to the second generator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the blast fence is movable with respect to the runway surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the blast fence is movable to a recessed position below the runway surface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electricity distribution grid, wherein the second generator is coupled to the electricity distribution grid. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second generator is coupled to a second alternating current converter, wherein the second alternating current converter is positioned between the second generator and the electricity distribution grid. 
     
     
         19 . A method of harvesting energy from air vehicle thrust operations comprising:
 positioning a blast fence behind an air vehicle, wherein the blast fence comprises a plurality of wind turbine blades;   rotating, via air vehicle engine exhaust air flowing toward the blast fence, the plurality of wind turbine blades; and   producing, via a generator coupled to the plurality of wind turbine blades, electricity in response to the rotation of the plurality of wind turbine blades.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the blast fence behind the air vehicle comprises moving the blast fence with respect to the runway surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the blast fence behind the air vehicle comprises moving the blast fence from a recessed position below the runway surface. 
     
     
         22 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of harvesting energy from air vehicle thrust operations comprising:
 opening a door in a runway surface for air vehicle takeoff and landing, wherein the door is openable to a cavity positioned below the runway surface;   rotating, via air vehicle engine exhaust air flowing into the cavity, a plurality of turbine blades positioned within the cavity; and   producing, via a generator coupled to the plurality of wind turbine blades, electricity in response to the rotation of the plurality of wind turbine blades.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein opening the door comprises opening the door from a closed position to an open position such that the door is arranged at an angle of incline with respect to the runway surface such that air flowing toward the door is redirected into the cavity. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the door is openable via a hinge, wherein the door comprises louvers positioned to redirect air flowing toward the louvers, and wherein opening the door comprises opening the door at the hinge by redirecting air flowing toward the louvers. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the door is coupled to a spring, the method further comprising:
 after opening the door, maintaining the door in an open position via the spring such that the door is arranged at an angle of incline with respect to the runway surface; and   closing the door by compressing the spring, thereby decreasing the angle of incline with respect to the runway surface.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the door is coupled to a proximity sensor, and wherein opening the door comprises opening the door in response to detection of an air vehicle approaching the proximity sensor. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising a motor coupled to the door, wherein opening the door comprises operating the motor to move the door from a closed position to an open position.