The Downdraft Tower is a hollow cylinder with a water spray system at the top. Pumps deliver water to the top of the Downdraft Tower to spray a fine mist across the entire opening. The water evaporates and cools the hot dry air at the top. The cooled air is denser and heavier than the outside warmer air and falls through the cylinder at speeds up to and in excess of 50 mph, driving the turbines located at the base of the structure. The turbines power generators to produce electricity.
In geographic areas where atmospheric conditions are conducive, the exterior of the Downdraft Tower may be constructed with vertical “wind vanes” that capture the prevailing wind and channel it to produce supplemental electrical power. This dual renewable energy resource enhances the capability and productivity of the Clean Wind system.
Various parties in the United States and other nations are pursuing clean energy solutions that use efficient and cost- effective renewable resources to serve society while avoiding the adverse effects associated with fossil and nuclear fuels, and also the obvious limitations of solar collectors that work only when the sun shines or wind turbines that work only when the wind blows.
The Downdraft Tower has the capability of being operated with virtually no carbon footprint, fuel consumption, or waste production. The technology has the potential to generate clean, cost effective and efficient electrical power without the damaging effects caused by using fossil or nuclear fuels, and other conventional power sources. The Company also believes that increasing emphasis on green technologies and governmental incentives in the energy industry should have a positive long-term effect on the Company’s planned business and the wind energy industry in general.
Abundant, Clean, Affordable Energy Production
As currently designed, the Company anticipates that each Downdraft Tower will be capable of generating up to 2,500 megawatts per hour, gross, of which approximately 1/3 will be used to power its operations. From normal to ideal circumstances the Tower should have a potential yield of 1,100 to 1,500 megawatts per hour available for sale to the power grid. One megawatt equates to 1,000,000 watts or 1,000 kilowatts of electricity. Currently, avoided costs per kilowatt in California are running approximately $0.11 per kilowatt hour.
The annual capacity factor for the downdraft portion of the Energy Tower is predicted at approximately 51%. Prime production periods are daytime and evening during spring, summer and fall, which closely align with electricity demand patterns. However, the External Wind Capture keeps working 24/7, whenever a wind is blowing, including cold winter months and at night. Its capacity factor is estimated at approximately 75%, which raises the Energy Tower’s overall capacity factor to above 60%.
Jobs Created -Since the Downdraft Tower will be constructed using conventional materials, equipment and techniques, associated industries surrounding each Tower site will benefit significantly from the creation of professional jobs, manufacturing, construction and transportation jobs.
The Clean Wind Energy downdraft tower is a U.S. based invention that will provide clean renewable energy at a cost more favorable than nuclear plants with no negative impacts to our planet.
Source: Clean Wind Energy