Heated-air conduit for energy conversion systems and methods

摘要

In an energy conversion system, a flexible conduit is disposed on the outside of a high rise of terrain drawing a stream of heated air through the conduit from a low to a higher elevation, a support structure supports the flexible conduit to maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area of the conduit orthogonal to its longitudinal axis. A plurality of longitudinal sections are included that individually include a plurality of lateral modular segments disposed orthogonally about the longitudinal axis of the conduit to laterally enclose the interior of the individual section of the conduit. The conduit has an interior surface of a repetitive varying contour that reduces friction between the interior surface and the air that flows through the conduit.

主权项

1. A conduit system for use in an energy conversion system, comprising:
a flexible conduit disposed on the outside of a high rise of terrain to draw a stream of heated air through the conduit, wherein the conduit extends from a first elevation to a second elevation that is of a higher elevation than the first elevation, with at least a portion of the conduit leading in a direction that is non-orthogonal to vertical and horizontal; and a support structure that supports a substantial portion of the flexible conduit in such a manner as to maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area of the conduit orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit wherein the support comprises: a plurality of pillars secured to the terrain and intermittently disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the conduit along a substantial portion of the length of the conduit; and a plurality of primary cables that so connect individual said pillars to portions of the conduit at various positions along the orthogonal perimeter of the conduit as to pull the portions of the walls of the conduit to which the pillars are connected away from the longitudinal axis of the conduit.