JP7599754B2 - Power generation device, updraft generating device, power generation method, and updraft acceleration method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power generation device, an updraft generating device, a power generation method, and a method for increasing the speed of an updraft, and in particular to a power generation device that generates or increases the speed of an air current inside a cylindrical body by utilizing renewable energy.

In order for wind power generation to replace conventional nuclear and thermal power generation, it is essential to develop technology to increase the output and stabilize the power generation equipment. For this reason, power generation equipment known as solar towers and solar chimneys (hereafter referred to as solar towers) has been proposed.

A solar tower generates wind power by taking advantage of the physical phenomenon that when the temperature of air rises, its density decreases and it turns into thermal rising wind, which creates an artificial air current inside the tower. The mechanism by which the artificial air current is generated is as follows.

Figure 15 is a reference cross-sectional view showing the basic configuration of such a conventional solar tower P100. The solar tower P100 comprises a cylindrical body 101, a translucent heat collecting section 102 laid out at a predetermined interval between the ground G and the peripheral area of the lower end opening 101a of the cylindrical body 101, and an impeller 103 arranged around the lower end opening 101a of the cylindrical body 101, and is configured to generate electricity by rotating the impeller 103. The space inside the cylindrical body 101 is connected to the space between the surface of the heat collecting section 102 and the ground G, and the impeller 103 is arranged in this connected space.

First, when sunlight is irradiated onto the heat collection section 102, the air between the heat collection section 102 and the ground G is heated. Here, the height of the ceiling of the heat collection section 102 gradually increases toward the center, i.e., toward the cylinder 101, so the air that has been heated and has an increased temperature becomes a hot rising wind and gathers at the lower end opening 101a of the cylinder 101. Then, the air that reaches the lower end opening 101a of the cylinder 101 becomes an updraft due to the chimney effect and rises inside the cylinder 101, and is discharged into the sky from the upper end opening 101b of the cylinder 101.

The solar tower P100 is a device that generates wind power by using the energy of the air currents artificially generated by this principle to rotate the impeller 103. Therefore, in order to make the solar tower P100 a power generation device with as high output as possible, it is effective to make the air between the heat collecting part 102 and the ground G as hot as possible and to make the height of the cylinder 101 as high as possible in order to obtain a strong chimney effect by the cylinder 101 that utilizes the temperature difference between the air inside and outside the cylinder.

The inventors have proposed a solar tower type power generation device that creates a low pressure area by generating an airflow with vortexes in the direction opposite to the natural airflow at the top end of a cylinder, thereby artificially increasing the speed of the airflow (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5551748

However, solar towers are very costly to build, so there was a great need to further improve power generation efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a solar tower type power generation device, etc., which has higher power generation efficiency than conventional devices.

A first aspect of the present invention is a power generating device comprising a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, an impeller provided in a gas path passing through the cylinder, and an impeller generator that generates electricity in conjunction with the rotation of the impeller, the gas rotating the impeller to generate electricity, and the power generating device further comprises low pressure forming means on the side of the cylinder for forming a low pressure region in the internal space of the cylinder in order to increase the upward speed of the updraft inside the cylinder.

A second aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to the first aspect, wherein the low pressure forming means has a side opening on the side of the cylindrical body that spatially connects the internal space with the outside of the cylindrical body.

A third aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to the second aspect, wherein the side opening spatially connects the internal space with a low pressure portion outside the cylinder and formed around the side by an external flow based on a boundary layer or a separated shear layer.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a power generation device according to the third aspect, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder including the side opening has a corner, and the side opening is located downstream of the corner of the external flow.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device of any of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the upper end of the cylindrical body is connected in the circumferential direction.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, comprising a spiral flow forming means for turning the ascending air current into a spiral flow in the peripheral region of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is the power generation device of the sixth aspect, wherein the spiral flow forming means is a plurality of guide plates erected toward the cylindrical body, and the plurality of guide plates are installed such that adjacent guide plates are inclined at approximately the same angle in the same rotational direction relative to each other.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device of the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the rotation direction of the impeller and the rotation direction of the spiral flow are the same.

A ninth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device of any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the height of the cylinder is lower than the height of the spiral flow generated.

A tenth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, further comprising a heat collection section laid out at a distance from the ground in the peripheral region of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a power generation device according to the tenth aspect, in which the heat collection section is arranged so as to extend asymmetrically from the central axis of the cylindrical body.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a power generation device of the tenth or eleventh aspect, further comprising a reflector that reflects solar light, the reflector heating the air inside the heat collection section.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, wherein the cylindrical body has a translucent portion that is at least partially translucent, and further includes a reflecting portion through which reflected sunlight passes through the translucent portion to heat the air below the impeller.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a power generation device according to any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects, wherein the heat collection section has a translucent body that transmits sunlight and further has a solar cell panel installed on and in contact with the translucent body, or has a solar cell panel as all or part of the ceiling of the heat collection section, and the heat from the solar cell panel heats the air inside the heat collection section.

A fifteenth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device of any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, comprising a plurality of the cylindrical bodies.

A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is a power generation device according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, in which the cylindrical body is constructed integrally with, adjacent to or in close proximity to a building.

A seventeenth aspect of the present invention is a power generating device according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, further comprising a vertical axis wind turbine having a rotating shaft coaxial with the cylindrical body and a plurality of blades around the side surface of the cylindrical body, and a wind turbine generator that generates power in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft.

An 18th aspect of the present invention is an updraft generating device that includes a cylindrical body having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, a heat collecting section that is installed with a gap between it and the ground in the peripheral area of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body, and causes gas in a first space, which is the space between the ground and the lower end opening, to flow into a second space, which is the internal space of the cylindrical body, to generate an updraft, and the updraft generating device is provided with low pressure forming means on the side of the cylindrical body for forming a low pressure region in the second space in order to increase the upward speed of the updraft.

A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is a method for generating electricity using a power generating device comprising a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, an impeller provided in a gas path passing through the cylinder, and an impeller generator that generates electricity in conjunction with the rotation of the impeller, in which the gas rotates the impeller to generate electricity, the power generating device comprising low pressure forming means on a side surface of the cylinder that forms a low pressure region in the internal space of the cylinder in order to increase the upward speed of an updraft inside the cylinder, the low pressure forming means including a low pressure forming step that forms the low pressure region in the internal space.

A twentieth aspect of the present invention is a method for accelerating an updraft using a cylindrical body having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, a heat collecting section laid out at a distance from the ground in the peripheral region of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body, and an updraft generating device that generates an updraft by causing gas in a first space, which is the space between the ground and the lower end opening, to flow into a second space, which is the internal space of the cylindrical body, wherein the updraft generating device is provided with low pressure forming means on a side surface of the cylindrical body that forms a low pressure region in the second space, and the low pressure forming means includes a low pressure forming step for forming the low pressure region in the second space, and an accelerating step for the low pressure region to increase the upward speed of the updraft.

According to each aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the power generation efficiency by forming a low pressure area on the side of the cylinder and increasing the upward speed of the updraft. Therefore, it is possible to provide a solar tower type power generation device that can stably supply power even if it is a relatively small structure.

Furthermore, according to the second and third aspects of the present invention, a low pressure forming means can be realized with structurally simple ingenuity, making it possible to increase the speed of the updraft.

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the generation of a low-pressure region downstream of a corner due to the flow of a separated shear layer. This makes it easier to realize a low-pressure generating means and to accelerate the updraft.

Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it becomes easier to maintain the structural strength of the cylindrical body.

Furthermore, according to any of the sixth to ninth aspects of the present invention, the rising air current is less likely to collapse even when it exits the upper opening of the cylinder, making it possible to make the cylinder shorter than in the past.

In particular, according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to increase the rotational efficiency of the impeller and further improve power generation efficiency.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by heating the air around the lower end opening, it becomes easy to generate and accelerate an ascending air current inside the cylinder.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, by placing the cylinder at the end of the heat collection section rather than at the center, the distance that the airflow passes through the space between the ground and the lower end opening (first space) is increased. This increases the distance over which the air in the heat collection section is heated from the surroundings, such as the ground. At least in part, this increases the wind speed of the updraft due to the buoyancy effect caused by the increased temperature difference, making it possible to further improve power generation efficiency.

According to any of the twelfth to fourteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to further increase the speed of the ascending air current by heating the heat collection section and/or the air below the impeller.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when there are multiple locations where heat sources and/or strong winds are available, efficient power generation can be facilitated by providing a cylindrical body close to each of the locations.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it becomes easy to utilize the exhaust heat from a building. Moreover, by integrating a part of the cylindrical body with the building, it becomes possible to significantly reduce the construction costs of the solar tower.

According to the 17th aspect of the present invention, power generation can also be performed using a vertical axis wind turbine, thereby further improving power generation efficiency.

Furthermore, according to the eighteenth or twentieth aspect of the present invention, the present invention can be regarded as an updraft generating device or an updraft acceleration method. This makes it possible to reduce the energy required for exhaust and ventilation, which consume several megawatts of power, such as in factory exhaust chimneys and ventilation towers.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an external perspective view of a power generating device according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a partial cross-sectional view of a power generating device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of guide plates in a heat collecting section. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an experimental device for investigating the relationship between the presence of a guide plate and upper air wind and the generation of a spiral flow. 13 is an example of a graph showing a horizontal wind speed distribution inside a cylinder. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a reflector and a heat storage body. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an arrangement of solar cell panels. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changing the position of a cylinder. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the position of a cylinder and the wind speed of an ascending air current. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an external perspective view of a power generating device according to the present invention that includes a Darrieus wind turbine. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an external perspective view of a power generating device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a result of an output performance test of the power generating device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which one heat collecting section has a plurality of cylindrical bodies. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of constructing a power generation device adjacent to a building. FIG. 1 is a reference cross-sectional view of a conventional solar tower.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

An example of a solar tower type power generation device P1 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 is an external perspective view of the power generation device P1, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a partial cross-sectional view of the power generation device P1.

The solar tower type power generating device P1 according to the present invention comprises an upwardly expanding cylindrical body 1 erected with an upper opening 1b and a lower opening 1a, a heat collecting section Hc including a light-transmitting body 2 laid at a distance from the ground G in the peripheral region of the lower opening 1a of the cylindrical body 1, an air flow passage 3 (an example of a "path" described in the present invention) formed by connecting a first space S1, which is the space between the ground G in the peripheral region and the light-transmitting body 2, and a second space S2, which is the internal space of the cylindrical body 1 (an example of the "internal space" and "second space" described in the present invention), an impeller 4 provided in the air flow passage 3, and a generator 5 (an example of the "impeller generator" described in the present invention) that generates power in conjunction with the rotation of the impeller 4.

The cylinder 1 is supported by a cylinder support 7 provided at the bottom of the lower end opening 1a. The cylinder support 7 is formed of a structure capable of sufficiently supporting the weight of the cylinder 1, and is configured to communicate with the first space S1 and the second space S2. By communicating the first space S1 and the second space S2 to form an air flow passage 3, the air (an example of the "gas" and "air" described in the present invention) below the translucent body 2 warmed by solar energy rises along the lower surface of the translucent body 2 and gathers in the center, and rises inside the cylinder 1 due to the chimney effect and is discharged into the sky from the upper end opening 1b. In this way, an artificial air flow Fa is generated in the air flow passage 3, flowing from below the periphery 2a of the translucent body 2 toward the upper end opening 1b of the cylinder 1.

It is preferable that the cylindrical support section 7 has a shape that does not impede the flow of the artificial airflow Fa as much as possible. For example, if the cylindrical support section 7 is composed of multiple pillars and the cross-sectional shape of each cylindrical support section 7 composed of the pillars is made to be a streamlined shape with respect to the flow of the artificial airflow Fa, the flow of the artificial airflow Fa from the first space S1 to the second space S2 can be made smooth.

The power generating device P according to the present invention generates electricity by rotating the impeller 4 using the wind energy of the generated artificial airflow Fa. The impeller 4 can be installed anywhere in the air flow passage 3 through which the artificial airflow Fa passes, and multiple impellers may be installed. Since the flow speed of the artificial airflow Fa increases closer to the center, it is preferable to install the impeller 4 as close as possible to the lower end opening 1a of the cylinder 1.

The cylinder 1 has a cutout 9 (an example of the "low pressure forming means" and "side opening" in the claims) on its side that spatially connects the second space S2, which is the internal space of the cylinder 1, to the outside. The cutout 9 spatially connects the second space S2 to a low pressure portion L1 outside the cylinder 1 and formed around the side by an external flow based on a boundary layer or a separated shear layer. This forms a low pressure region L2 on the side of the cylinder 1 and in the second space S2 that is spatially connected to the side. As a result, the power generation efficiency can be improved by accelerating the artificial airflow Fa, which is an updraft.

In addition, the upper end opening 1b of the cylindrical body 1 in Example 1 is connected in the circumferential direction without any cuts. This makes it easier to maintain the structural strength of the cylindrical body.

The cylinder 1 has a narrow throat portion 1c at the lower end opening 1a, and is formed as an upwardly expanding type (diffuser type) that expands upward from the throat portion 1c. That is, the horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal space of the cylinder 1 is smallest at the throat portion 1c, and gradually increases upward from the throat portion 1c. By making the shape of the cylinder 1 upwardly expanding, a diffuser effect is produced, and the throat portion 1c, where the horizontal cross-sectional area of the internal space is smallest, becomes low pressure. As a result, the flow speed of the artificial airflow Fa flowing through the throat portion 1c is greatly increased.

Therefore, by disposing a rotatable impeller 4 around the central axis of the cylindrical body 1 in the throat section 1c, the amount of electricity generated can be effectively increased. In this case, it is advisable to provide a certain clearance between the blade tip of the impeller 4 and the inner wall of the throat section 1c, and to make the rotor diameter of the impeller 4 as large as possible to match the size of the cross section of the throat section 1c.

The divergence angle θ of the cylinder 1 is preferably about 4 to 10 degrees. In this specification, the divergence angle θ refers to the angle of inclination of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 1 relative to the vertical direction. By setting the divergence angle θ to about 4 to 10 degrees, the flow velocity of the artificial airflow Fa in the throat portion 1c of the cylinder 1 can be sufficiently increased. In the case of a non-viscous fluid, the larger the divergence angle θ, the higher the pressure recovery rate, so that the throat portion 1c becomes lower pressure and the artificial airflow Fa flowing through the throat portion 1c is further accelerated. However, in the case of air, which is a viscous fluid, if the divergence angle θ exceeds 10 degrees, boundary layer separation is likely to occur, so the effect of increasing the velocity of the artificial airflow Fa in the throat portion 1c is not sufficiently obtained. On the other hand, if the divergence angle is less than 4 degrees, the loss due to friction between the inner wall of the cylinder 1 and the artificial airflow Fa becomes dominant, so the effect of increasing the velocity of the artificial airflow Fa in the throat portion 1c is not sufficiently obtained.

In reality, an impeller 4 is provided in the air flow passage 3, and the impeller 4 is considered to be a resistor to the flow of the artificial airflow Fa. There may also be other things, such as low pressure forming means, that can be resistors to the flow of the artificial airflow Fa. Therefore, since the optimal value of the spread angle θ differs depending on the design of the power generation device P, it is preferable to find the optimal value of the spread angle θ according to the design.

The cylindrical body 1 has a light-transmitting portion, at least a portion of which is light-transmitting, for example, near the lower end opening 1a. The power generation device P also has a reflecting portion on the outside of the cylindrical body 1, through which reflected sunlight passes through the light-transmitting portion and heats the air below the impeller. By heating the air below the impeller, it is possible to further accelerate the updraft.

The heat collecting section Hc is configured to heat the air between the translucent body 2 and the ground G using solar energy, which is a renewable energy source, or exhaust heat from factories and geothermal heat. The translucent body 2 is made of a translucent material such as glass or plastic that allows sunlight to pass through, and the heat collecting section Hc acts as a greenhouse, allowing the air between the translucent body 2 and the ground G to be efficiently heated by solar energy. In this case, the larger the installation area of the translucent body 2, the greater the amount of solar energy that can be used, and the greater the amount of power generated by the power generating device P. Note that, although the translucent body 2 is installed in a substantially circular shape in FIG. 1, the installation shape may be designed appropriately according to the conditions of the land on which the power generating device P is installed.

The translucent body 2 is laid without gaps on a number of supports 6 erected on the ground G in the area surrounding the lower end opening 1a of the cylinder 1, with a specified distance provided between the translucent body 2 and the ground G. The height of the translucent body 2 is configured to gradually increase toward the central cylinder 1. The lower end opening 1a of the cylinder 1 opens out downward in a trumpet shape, smoothly continuing with the central part of the translucent body 2.

The heat collecting section Hc has a number of guide plates 15 in the peripheral area of the lower end opening 1a of the cylinder 1 as a spiral flow forming means for turning the ascending air current into a spiral flow. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the guide plates 15. Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of the heat collecting section having a cylinder and guide plates. Figure 3(b) is a side view of the heat collecting section having a cylinder and guide plates. Figure 3(c) is a plan view of the heat collecting section having a cylinder and guide plates. However, the cylinder is drawn as a transparent body so that the arrangement of the guide plates can be easily seen. Figure 3(d) is a perspective view of only the guide plates.

The guide plates 15 are erected vertically towards the cylindrical body 1. Furthermore, these guide plates 15 are installed so that adjacent guide plates 15 are tilted in the same direction at approximately the same angle. Specifically, the guide plates 15 are erected at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the direction facing the central axis of the cylindrical body 1. This makes the updraft generated inside the cylindrical body 1 a spiral flow, which is less likely to collapse even above the upper end opening 1b of the cylindrical body 1. This characteristic makes it possible to reduce construction costs by making the height of the cylindrical body 1 lower than the expected height of the updraft.

In addition, the direction of inclination of the guide plate 15 coincides with the direction of rotation of the impeller 4. Therefore, the direction of rotation of the spiral flow does not interfere with the rotation of the impeller 4, but rather makes it possible to accelerate it.

Figure 4 shows an example of an experimental device for investigating the relationship between the presence of guide plates 15 and wind in the air and the generation of a spiral flow. Figure 4(a) shows the measurement section of the experimental device, and Figure 4(b) is an enlarged view of the measurement device. Referring to Figure 4(a), wind was generated in a predetermined direction above (above) the cylinder. The speed of the updraft was controlled by controlling the wind speed of the wind in the air. Inside the cylinder, as shown in Figure 4(b), the temperature and wind speed inside the cylinder were measured using a thermocouple and an ultrasonic flow meter inside the cylinder. Note that the origin was set as the center of the tower, and the wind speed was measured every 0.02 m in the range of -0.08 m ≦ x ≦ 0.08 m. The tower was 1.5 m high. Eight guide plates were prepared and set up vertically under the cylinder. Here, the guide plates were measured in two cases: (1) when all the guide plates were facing the center of the tower, and (2) when all the guide plates were tilted 45 degrees in the same direction from the direction of (1).

Figure 5 is an example of a graph showing the horizontal wind speed distribution inside the cylinder. Figure 5(a) shows the horizontal wind speed distribution inside the cylinder when all guide plates are facing the center of the tower. Figure 5(b) shows the horizontal wind speed distribution inside the cylinder when all guide plates are tilted by 45 degrees in the same direction.

Referring to Figure 5(a), when all the guide plates are facing towards the centre, some horizontal velocity component occurs when the wind speed in the sky is fast, but it is very small. On the other hand, referring to Figure 5(b), when all the guide plates are tilted in the same direction by 45 degrees, a horizontal swirling flow is clearly generated. In fact, because the horizontal component of the updraft is measured, it can be seen that the higher the wind speed in the sky, the stronger the spiral flow that occurs.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the reflector and heat storage body. The power generation device P has a reflector 11 that reflects sunlight as a light collecting section. This reflector 11 reflects sunlight and heats the air inside the heat collecting section Hc. This makes it easy to heat the air inside the heat collecting section Hc. The reflector 11 may be installed anywhere, such as above the translucent body 2, outside the heat collecting section Hc, or inside the heat collecting section Hc, as long as it can effectively heat the air inside the heat collecting section Hc.

Furthermore, the power generation device P is provided with a heat storage body 13 in the heat collection section Hc at the bottom of the cylindrical body 1. This heat storage body 13 absorbs sunlight, stores heat, and releases it over time. Therefore, it is possible to release the heat stored during the day at night as well, accelerating the ascending air current inside the cylindrical body 1 at night as well. Moreover, since the reflector 11 reflects sunlight and collects it on the heat storage body 13, it becomes easy to store heat in the heat storage body 13 efficiently.

In addition, the heat storage body 13 may not be limited to the lower part of the cylindrical body 1, but may be in the shape of a plate extending inside the first space S1.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of solar cell panels. The power generation device P is provided with a solar cell panel 8 in contact with the light-transmitting body 2. This allows heat from the solar cell panel 8 to be transferred to the light-transmitting body 2, making it easier to heat the air in the heat collection section Hc. In other words, the solar cell panel 8 contributes not only to the supply of power through solar power generation, but also to the supply of power through wind power generation. It is desirable for the solar cell panel to be able to transfer heat efficiently even when the light-transmitting body 2 is curved, and it may be a film type.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of changing the position of the cylindrical body 1. Figure 8(a) is a diagram showing a case where the cylindrical body 1 is provided in the center of the heat collection section Hc. Figure 8(b) is a diagram showing a case where the cylindrical body 1 is provided at the end of the heat collection section Hc. The power generation device of the present invention may be configured to move the cylindrical body 1 toward the end of the heat collection section Hc as shown in Figure 8(b). In other words, the heat collection section Hc shown in Figure 8(b) is laid out so as to spread asymmetrically from the central axis of the cylindrical body 1. By moving the cylindrical body 1 toward the end of the heat collection section Hc rather than the center, the distance that the airflow passes through the first space S1 is increased. At least due to this, it becomes easier to accelerate the artificial airflow Fa.

Figure 9 shows (a) a power generation device (Type A) in which the cylinder 1 is provided in the center of the heat collection section Hc, (b) a power generation device (Type B) in which the cylinder 1 is provided at the end of the heat collection section Hc, and (c) the wind speed of the ascending air current inside the cylinder 1. As shown in Figure 9(c), when the cylinder (b) is provided at the end of the heat collection section, the wind speed is higher than when the cylinder (a) is provided in the center of the heat collection section.

Figure 10 is an external perspective view of the power generating device P of the present invention further comprising a Darrieus wind turbine, which is a type of vertical axis wind turbine. The power generating device P of the present invention may be configured to further comprise a vertical axis wind turbine having a rotating shaft coaxial with the cylindrical body and multiple blades around the side surface of the cylindrical body, and a wind turbine generator that generates power in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft. The power generating device P of Figure 10 can also generate power using a Darrieus wind turbine, making it possible to further increase power generation efficiency.

11 is a diagram showing an example of a perspective view of the power generating device P2 according to the second embodiment. The power generating device P2 according to the second embodiment may have one or more thin and deep notches 29 (another example of the "low pressure generating means" and "side opening" in the claims) extending axially from the upper end opening 1b side as low pressure generating means provided on the side of the cylindrical body 21.

Figure 12 shows an example of the results of an output performance test using the power generation device P2. The crown-shaped power generation device P2 with multiple notches 29 had a higher power generation capacity than a power generation device without notches. It was also revealed that the performance was comparable to that of a power generation device equipped with a vortex generating plate, which shows high power generation capacity.

In addition, the cylinder is not limited to a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. The cross section of the cylinder may be an ellipse, a polygon, or another shape. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the cylinder including the cut portion may have a corner, and the cut portion may be located downstream of the wind flow outside the cylinder (external flow) as viewed from this corner.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, one heat collecting section may have multiple cylinders. When there are multiple locations where heat sources and/or strong winds are available, providing cylinders near each of these locations makes it easier to generate electricity efficiently.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of constructing a power generation device close to a building. The power generation device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be constructed by integrating the cylindrical body 1 with the building 16 and adjacent to or close to it. Figure 14 shows an example of a configuration in which the cylindrical body 1 is supported by a support 17 close to the building 16. This makes it easy to utilize exhaust heat from a heat generating part 18 inside the building 16. In particular, when the cylindrical body 1 is constructed by integrating it with a part of the wall of the building 16, it is possible to significantly reduce the construction costs of the solar tower.

Furthermore, the WST (Wind-Solar Tower) power generation technology, which is a hybrid technology of wind power generation and solar power generation shown in this example, can also be used as an energy-saving technology. Forced exhaust fans are often installed in factory exhaust chimneys and ventilation towers for undersea or underground tunnels. These fans often consume several megawatts of power to create wind inside the chimney.

By adding a low-pressure generating structure, which is a WST technology, to these chimney outlets or by making the chimney itself into a diffuser, it is possible to turn it into an updraft generator that effectively uses the heat of the exhaust itself and the natural winds above to create wind inside the chimney. This method of increasing the speed of the updraft using an updraft generator can reduce the power consumption of fans.

In Xi'an, an inland city in China where air pollution is serious, a 60m-tall, 10m-diameter solar tower known as an "air purification tower" has been constructed and a filter installed inside to remove air pollutants. WST's diffuser-type tower and aerial wind utilization technology can also be used in ventilation systems that do not have exhaust fans, and it is expected that this will contribute to improving the efficiency of air creation and making towers more compact.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms with various combinations and modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the configurations and combinations shown in the drawings, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the intent and technical ideas described in the above embodiments for implementing the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Cylinder 1a Lower end opening 1b Upper end opening 1c Throat portion 2 Light-transmitting body 3 Air flow passage 4 Impeller 5 Generator 8 Solar cell panel 9 Cut-out portion 11 Reflector 13 Heat storage body 15 Guide plate 16 Building 17 Support 18 Heat generating portion 21 Cylinder 21a Lower end opening 21b Upper end opening 29 Cut-out portion Fa Artificial air flow G Ground Hc Heat collecting portion P1 Power generating device P2 Power generating device S1 First space S2 Second space

Claims (14)

A power generating device comprising: a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening; an impeller provided in a gas passage passing through the cylinder; and an impeller generator that generates power in conjunction with the rotation of the impeller, the gas rotating the impeller to generate power,
a low pressure forming means for forming a low pressure region in the internal space of the cylinder in order to increase the upward speed of the updraft inside the cylinder, the low pressure forming means being provided on a side surface of the cylinder ;
The low pressure forming means has a side opening on the side surface of the cylindrical body that spatially connects the internal space with the outside of the cylindrical body . The power generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the side opening spatially connects the internal space with a low pressure portion outside the cylinder and formed around the side by an external flow based on a boundary layer or a separated shear layer. The cross-sectional shape of the cylinder including the side opening is
It has corners,
The power generating device of claim 2 , further comprising said side opening downstream of said corner of said external flow. The power generating device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the cylindrical body is connected in a circumferential direction. a spiral flow forming means for forming the ascending air current into a spiral flow in a peripheral region of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body ,
The power generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the height of the cylindrical body is lower than the height of the spiral flow to be generated . The cylindrical body further includes a heat collecting section disposed at a distance from the ground in a peripheral region of the lower end opening ,
The power generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the heat collecting portions are arranged so as to spread asymmetrically from a central axis of the cylindrical body . The power generating system of claim 6 , wherein the cylinder is constructed integral with, adjacent to, or adjacent to a building. A reflector that reflects sunlight on the outside of the heat collecting unit ;
The heat collecting portion further includes a heat storage body that absorbs sunlight and releases the stored heat over time ,
The power generating device according to claim 6 or 7 , wherein the reflector heats air within the heat collecting portion by reflecting solar light onto the heat storage body and collecting the light on the heat storage body . The heat collecting portion includes a light-transmitting body that is laid at a distance from the ground in a peripheral region of the lower end opening of the cylindrical body,
The light-transmitting body is made of a light-transmitting material through which sunlight can pass,
The solar cell panel is further provided on the light-transmitting body in contact therewith, or the solar cell panel is provided as a part or the whole of a ceiling of the heat collecting section,
The power generating device according to claim 6 , wherein heat from the solar cell panel heats air inside the heat collecting section. The power generating device according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the cylindrical bodies. A vertical axis wind turbine having a rotating shaft coaxial with the cylindrical body and a plurality of blades around the side surface of the cylindrical body;
The power generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a wind turbine generator that generates power in conjunction with rotation of the rotating shaft. An updraft generating device that generates an updraft by causing gas in a first space, which is a space between the ground and the lower end opening, to flow into a second space, which is an internal space of the cylinder, comprising: a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening; a heat collecting section that is installed at a distance from the ground in a peripheral area of the lower end opening of the cylinder;
a low pressure forming means for forming a low pressure region in the second space in order to increase the upward speed of the updraft is provided on a side surface of the cylindrical body ;
The low pressure forming means is an updraft generating device having a side opening on the side of the cylinder that spatially connects the internal space with the outside of the cylinder . A power generation method using a power generation device comprising a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, an impeller provided in a gas passage passing through the cylinder, and an impeller generator that generates power in conjunction with rotation of the impeller, the gas rotating the impeller to generate power, comprising:
the power generating device is provided with a low pressure forming means on a side surface of the cylindrical body for forming a low pressure region in an internal space of the cylindrical body in order to increase the upward speed of an ascending air current inside the cylindrical body;
the low pressure generating means has a side opening on the side surface of the cylindrical body for spatially connecting the internal space with the outside of the cylindrical body,
The power generating method includes a low pressure forming step in which the low pressure forming means forms the low pressure region in the internal space. A method for accelerating an updraft using a cylinder having an upper end opening and a lower end opening, a heat collecting section installed at a distance from the ground in a peripheral area of the lower end opening of the cylinder, and an updraft generating device that generates an updraft by causing gas in a first space, which is a space between the ground and the lower end opening, to flow into a second space, which is an internal space of the cylinder,
the updraft generating device is provided with low pressure forming means on a side surface of the cylindrical body for forming a low pressure region in the second space,
the low pressure generating means has a side opening on the side surface of the cylindrical body for spatially connecting the internal space with the outside of the cylindrical body,
a low pressure forming step in which the low pressure forming means forms the low pressure region in the second space;
and an accelerating step of increasing the upward speed of the updraft in the low pressure region.