Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080293132 | High Density Bioreactor System, Devices, and Methods - A bioreactor and bioreactor system are suitable for the growth of materials from algae. More specifically, the system preferred embodiments use concentrated sunlight in a solo- or co-generation system to produce algae and products therefrom as well as solar thermal energy. | 11-27-2008 |
20090155864 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR EMPLOYING SOLAR ENERGY TO PRODUCE BIOFUELS - A photo-bioreactor can be arranged to receive incident solar radiation. The photo-bioreactor can contain photosynthetic organisms. The photosynthetic organisms can be genetically modified to produce an organic substance. The organic substance can be a biofuel or a precursor to a biofuel. The precursor can be isolated and converted into a biofuel. The biofuel can be extracted from the photo-bioreactor for use, for example, in energy generation or as a fuel. | 06-18-2009 |
20090197322 | SOLAR PLANT EMPLOYING CULTIVATION OF ORGANISMS - A method of growing algae is described that is part of a cogenerational energy production plant in which solar energy from a solar collecting and concentrating field is used to provide photonic energy for the growth and stress phase of algae as well as to provide heat for driving a turbine. The supplementary energy for the power plant is provided by natural gas and by biomethane that is produced by fermentation of the algal biomass. The carbon dioxide that is a by-product of the combustion of both the natural gas and the biomethane is recycled to provide the carbon source for the algal growth. | 08-06-2009 |
20100300510 | SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS WITH REFLECTING AND PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION MEANS - A solar power system may include at least one reflector The reflector may have a surface configured to convert a first part of the sunlight incident thereon to electrical power The surface of the reflector may also be configured to reflect a second part of the sunlight incident thereon The at least one reflector may be configured to direct the second part of the sunlight incident thereon to a solar receiver A power management system may also be provided The power management system may receiver electrical power derived from the first part from the reflector. | 12-02-2010 |
20110126883 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ENERGY FROM INSOLATION - Light management systems and related methods disclosed herein are able to re-direct solar insolation. In some embodiments, a system for harvesting insolation may include a solar target, such as one or more photovoltaic assemblies and/or bioreactor targets. In some embodiments, a substantially uniform light distribution is provided within and/or on the targets. | 06-02-2011 |
20150113940 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR LIQUID AIR ENERGY STORAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH POWER GENERATING CYCLES - Systems, methods, and devices are provided for liquid air energy storage in conjunction with power generating cycles. A system can comprise a power generation apparatus and an energy storage apparatus. The energy storage apparatus can comprise a thermal energy storage unit, and the power generation apparatus and energy storage apparatus can be interconnected via the thermal energy storage unit enabling energy transfer from a first cycle of one of the power generation apparatus and energy storage apparatus to a second cycle of the other apparatus. | 04-30-2015 |
20150236527 | ASYMMETRIC DISPATCHING SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS - An energy storage apparatus comprising a storage unit, a charge unit, and a discharge power units. The charge unit can have a power capacity that is N/efficiency higher than that of the discharge power unit, where N is significantly greater than unity. The apparatus can comprise a storage dissipation component that can selectively waste stored energy, incoming energy, or withdrawn energy such that the total energy storage capacity or rate capacity of energy storage is increased. Efficiency can be defined as maximum quantity of energy that can be withdrawn for a given quantity stored of the energy storage apparatus with zero waste energy storage selected. The charge unit can be connected to receive power from one or more power sources and the discharge power unit can be connected to dispatch power to a power consumer. | 08-20-2015 |
20150240654 | SOLAR POWER AND LIQUID AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES - A solar energy production and storage apparatus includes an energy storage unit, a solar photovoltaic (PV) unit, a solar thermal unit, and a high temperature thermal storage unit. The energy storage unit can be a Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) unit which can include an electrical energy input, an electrical energy output, and one or more conduits to transfer at least one of thermal energy and working fluid between the LAES unit and the high temperature thermal storage unit. The solar PV unit can produce electrical energy and can include an electrical energy output. The solar thermal unit can produce thermal energy, the solar thermal unit comprising a thermal energy output. The high temperature thermal storage unit can include a thermal energy input and one or more conduits to transfer at least one of thermal energy and working fluid between the LAES unit and the high temperature thermal storage unit. | 08-27-2015 |