초록 ▼

A building, or other self-supporting structure, incorporating a multi-stage system for energy generation, is disclosed. The system comprises several elements connected together to form a loop within the self-supporting structure. A moving fluid circulates within the loop. Part of the loop is compris

A building, or other self-supporting structure, incorporating a multi-stage system for energy generation, is disclosed. The system comprises several elements connected together to form a loop within the self-supporting structure. A moving fluid circulates within the loop. Part of the loop is comprised of a series of connected solar building blocks incorporated into the walls of the structure. The building blocks concentrate and collect solar radiation, to directly produce electricity by means of embedded photovoltaic cells, and to heat a moving fluid which carries thermal energy away from the solar cells and vertically up to a gas turbine connected to an electrical generator. The returning fluid, is condensed to a liquid and directed downwardly to a liquid turbine connected to an electrical generator. A return pipe closes the loop by returning the fluid to the bottom of the series of building blocks.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An integrated system for producing electricity in a static structure using electromagnetic radiation and the earth's gravitational field, wherein the system comprises the following elements, in combination,a vertically extending wall in the static structure having an outer side that can be irradi

1. An integrated system for producing electricity in a static structure using electromagnetic radiation and the earth's gravitational field, wherein the system comprises the following elements, in combination,a vertically extending wall in the static structure having an outer side that can be irradiated with the electromagnetic radiation and an inner side, said wall comprised of a plurality of vertically aligned building blocks, each building block comprised of a body having an outer side which is part of said wall outer side and which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation and having an internal cavity therein which can receive the electromagnetic radiation, a photovoltaic cell mounted in said body cavity so as to be exposed to the electromagnetic radiation and which produces electric power upon the impingement thereof of the electromagnetic radiation, a substantially vertically extending duct in said body, said duct having a wall on which the electromagnetic radiation can impinge, said photovoltaic cell being mounted in contact with said duct wall, and said duct of one of said building block being in alignment with said ducts of building blocks thereabove and therebelow so as to provide a substantially vertical primary pipe or conduit for a fluid that can be contained in said conduit and that can be heated by the electromagnetic radiation, said primary pipe having a lower end portion and an upper end portion, and the fluid having a liquid state and a gaseous state such that said fluid can be transformed from the liquid state to the gaseous state upon being heated in said primary pipe; a primary electricity generating assembly comprised of a heat turbine and a primary electric generator driven by said heat turbine, said heat turbine being in fluid communication with said primary pipe upper end portion such that said heat turbine can be driven by a heated fluid in said primary pipe, said primary electricity generating assembly being mounted at an upper location in said static structure; a substantially vertical secondary pipe having an upper end portion and a lower end portion and mounted in the static structure in fluid communication with said heat turbine at said upper end portion, said secondary pipe providing a conduit through which fluid coming from said heat turbine can fall vertically downwardly; a secondary electricity generating assembly comprised of a hydraulic turbine and a secondary electric generator driven by said hydraulic turbine, said hydraulic turbine being in fluid communication with said secondary pipe lower end portion such that said hydraulic turbine can be driven by a falling fluid in said secondary pipe, said secondary electricity generating assembly being mounted at a lower location in said static structure; and a return pipe in fluid communication between the hydraulic turbine and said primary pipe lower end portion.