What is Air HES?

Air HES stands for air hydroelectric station.

It is a new way to effectively obtain green energy, with minimal costs.

Be the first to know when Air HES comes to production.

It concerns you

We all use electricity on a daily basis. That means every one of us needs an energy source. Today we use nuclear power plants, regular hydroelectricity plants and thermal power stations. However, none of these energy sources are actually safe, and the way they work is harmful to the environment.

But we are able to change it, with your support.

We want to make green and cheap energy available for everyone in the World.

In fact, we don’t only want it, but we also know how to do it.

Air HES is an effective and completely green energy source, that also gives you clean water that you can drink or use however you want.

The second (after Sun) source of renewable power (~800TW) and
the first source of fresh water (~11 times more than all rivers)

Now the project is free for all, but frozen due to lack of investment

If you feel this is something you want the World to have, please consider participating in the crowdfunding of the project so we can finally build a reliable prototype and run all the necessary experiments.

The essence of the solution

It is known that the solar energy reaching to the planet is about 10,000 times greater than the needs of humanity. About a quarter of it goes to the evaporation of water and virtually always more or less evenly accumulates in the atmosphere at any point around the world. Since the annual precipitation is about 1 m of rainfall with an average height of 5 km, this gives a potential capacity of about 810 TW, which is more than 60 times greater than all the current needs of humanity (13-16 TW). Standard hydroelectricity can only use a small fraction of this energy, because all precipitation lose most of their potential energy on the way to the ground to overcome the resistance of the air and hit the ground. In order to use this potential energy more cost-conscious, it is necessary to collect the water at that altitude, where it condenses, and use all possible vertical hydraulic head. This is what constitutes the essence of the decision.

Interestingly, already having gotten this solution, I began to search the Internet for key words such ideas, and unexpectedly found that in 1915 in one of the articles the genius Nikola Tesla was nearly half a step to the realization of this idea: he was correct in principle estimation of the required resource, but had not found a scheme to implement it, although all technics already was ready for it hundred years ago. It's a pity. If he had pursued the idea, then we would live in a different world—clean, ecological, abundant, without wars for oil, etc... Unfortunately, humanity has lost a hundred years!

How to implement a solution – AirHES – Air Hydro Power

The scheme of one of the solutions is shown in Fig. AirHES provides a downstream (water‌’s outflow) 1, upstream (water‌’s inflow) 2, conduit (pipe, penstock) 3, the turbo generator 4, mesh, fabric or film surfaces 5, airship (air-balloon) 6, and the fastening ropes (tethers, lines) 7.

The airship 6 lifts the surfaces 5 at the height of near or above the dew point (condensation level by ARL sounding, base of clouds) for current atmospheric conditions (typically 2-3 km). There supercooled atmospheric moisture begins to condense (or collect LWC from clouds) on the surfaces 5. The drainage system on the surfaces 5 assigns the water in a small reservoir (upstream 2), where water under pressure from whole hydraulic head (2-3 km) flows through the penstock or conduit 3 to the downstream 1 on the ground, producing electricity in the turbo generator 4.

The AirHES can be easily mounted in any convenient place for the consumer of electricity and water, simply by lifting and moving it entirely by using the same airship 6.

If at this point the winds are blowing steady permanent or it is a portable unit (for example, for tourists or military), you can do without the airship 6 and use surfaces 5 like the paragliding wing for self-containment of the assembly in the air (as occurs when you run a kite).

Also, the surfaces 5 can be performed with full or partial metallization (for example, by weaving metal wire). This will increase the structural strength, reduce solar heat, to increase the condensation of water vapor through the filing of an electric field (for example, have experimented with this corona discharge), as well as the need to reduce the ice due to current supply.

Generally, icing can be used as the standard mode, since the system has automatic resistance – with the accumulation of ice the whole structure will fall in the region of higher temperature of the atmosphere, and after the melting of the ice itself will rise to the desired height.

Since AirHES (as well as any other renewable energy) depends on the weather, the best way is to use of combinable system. Obvious that the balloon in the shape of almost flat glider makes it easy to place on the upper surface of the solar panels that will actively work just in the absence of clouds. At the same time you can use and the significant wind speed at such height by applying as a fastener a distributed cross-flow turbine under the patent CA 1041872. This will solve simultaneously the problem with delivery of water and energy without using pressure or gravity pipe. Thus, the system will be almost independent of weather conditions.

In addition to direct energy storage in the form of water supply upstream (similar to that performed on any Hydropower) AirHP can easily be modified to increase its storage capacity is about 600 times! It's enough to add hydrogen hose and to use ballonet aerostat, which in this case will not only ensure the maintenance AirHP elements, but also to keep a stock of hydrogen as an energy storage agent. It is easy to show that 1 kg of hydrogen (with a calorific value 120.9 MJ/kg) holds in the upper reach of about 10 kg of water with a supply of hydropower only 0.2 MJ. So on AirHP during overproduction of energy can always be by pumping hydrogen (produced by electrolysis at the bottom) and balanced drain to provide the necessary amount of water in the upper reach (to maintain steady-state design and minimize the tension holding the ropes) and magnified 600 times the amount of energy which, if necessary energy, can always be balanced so as to get back in the fuel cells (from hydrogen) and a turbogenerator (from water). By the way, you can still pick up on it and transporting hydrogen itself as a fuel in these airships, dirigibles transport such loads, etc.

Also, as you know, one of the main problems for renewables is their irregularity (meteo dependence), and hence the need for further significant investments in energy storage. One of the best solutions for today of this task is a pumped-storage plant (PSP). By using a suitable hill, you can build a reversible hydroelectric power plant, which operates either the pump mode, or the regenerative mode. At the same time the efficiency of reversible hydroelectric units are generally much worse than conventional water turbines.

AirHES of cascade type can elegantly solve this problem, and at the same time solve the problem of the meteo dependence. If there is a suitable hill, but there is no a river, the AirHES can easily create this artificial "river" and the intermediate upstream by draining its water in natural (meteo dependent) mode NOT to the downstream, BUT to this intermediate upstream of the cascade hydropower plant. Then the lower hydroelectric power station and will play the role of accumulator (PSP) with usual hydraulic turbines, and coordinated work of the AirHES and this cascade conventional HPP will completely eliminate a meteo dependence. The pump mode in this case can be eliminated - Sun will operate itself as the pump by lifting the water up to the clouds.

How it works

In terms of electricity generation it works the same way as in conventional hydropower, but the conventional HPS has a general principle drawbacks: they require significant capital expenditures for the construction of dams, occupy large areas under the reservoir, causing damage to the environment and are usually far from the consumer. In addition, there is always a potential danger of possible collapse of the dam. To a certain extent, these shortcomings are a consequence of the relatively small hydraulic heads with the huge volumes of water, typical for the majority of lowland rivers.

Nevertheless, the heads of 2 km, like in AirHES, are not extraordinary. There are some plants (Bieudron Swiss HPS) that work with these heads and using a simple turbine, invented in 1889 by an American engineer Allan Pelton.

The principal difference AirHES is the condensation of moisture from the air that at first glance it seems funny and impractical curiosity. Nevertheless, there is nothing unusual. In the world there are several great working systems, known as fog collectors. For example, a device for collecting drinking water in Chile was tested in 1987 and is well described with all specifications.

What it gives

almost eternal and unlimited gratuitous electricity and clean water for drinking and irrigation, and anywhere in the world, where consumers want
minimum space on the ground (as under this HES and under power lines), as well as the ability to use any surface (including the vast areas of deserts, seas, oceans, etc.)
modular (you can collect any power plants from standard modules, for example, by 1 MW)
mobility (for rapid redeployment, if necessary, or even for use in transport, for example, to supply ocean ships by electricity and drink water)
cleanness and ecology because of the relatively small local hydro flows (in comparing with conventional HPS) and the complete absence of thermal, chemical or nuclear releases into the environment
increasing the specific hydroelectric power (that is power per liter of water) by using the maximum possible hydraulic head between the upper and lower water level (from the height of the condensation of atmospheric moisture to the ground)
significantly lower capital costs per unit of capacity and operational costs by comparing with any other known types of renewable and non-renewable energy
possibility of additional uses for network communication, video surveillance, high-rise advertising, lightning protection, climate protection (for example, against hurricanes and tornadoes in the U.S. by placement on the seaboard of Gulf of Mexico), regulation of climate (by cutting off rains in St. Petersburg by placement on the dam at the prevailing southwest wind rose), AD (for example, for Israel), shade in hot countries, and much more…

Technical and economic calculations

(more see Complex model of AirHES, Feasibility study, Design Example, Blow-by-Storm, Optimization of mesh, Dr. Baibikov: Cloud potential...)

Operable unit can even be portable. For example, a tourist or cottager can build it just as a glider or a kite.

According to the Chilean install such a surface mesh was given from 3 to 13 (maximal data up to 300) liters per square meter per day. Given that the installation in Chile have been completely passive, and we can actively manage the AirHES, changing the position of the surfaces 5 and height (to a maximum condensation) and the orientation of the wind (for a maximum flow of atmospheric moisture), it is hoped that the yield of water will be significantly increased. But even taking the same level of ~ 10 l/m²/day, we find that only a piece of nylon mesh 10 x 10 m (100 m²) fully meets the needs of one person in the water (~ 1000 l/day) and Household electricity (~ 150-200 kWh/month).

Let us estimate, for example, technical-economic data of the AirHES for a small village with 100 people. This setup will provide water to 100 m³/day (1.16 l/s) and have a capacity of 20-50 kW (depending on balloon‌’s height).

Let the minimum – the height of 2000 m, 20 kW – 10,000 m² mesh (100 x 100 m)
Price of nylon mesh is from $ 0.5/m², weight is from 10 g/m² – $ 5000, 100 kg
Balloon 500 m³ raises 500 kg – the shell even $ 2,000, hydrogen is only $ 100 ($ 2/kg) – or about $ 5000 for helium.
The total weight of water in the hose, the meshes and in the upper reservoir – from 200 kg (for waterfall hose) to 1400 kg (for pressure hose)
A simple turbine + generator 20 kW + nylon ropes and so on – even though $ 3000

Total, even with such extremely low power, we have for this AirHES:

The total price is ~ $ 10,000 ($ 100 to each inhabitant of the village).
The weight is 200-400 kg (with airlift of the balloon is up to 500 kg).
The specific capital costs is $ 500/kW.
The operational costs is close to zero.

In this example the evaluation was carried out for the minimum productivity - passive fog collection system ~ 2 W/m² for private AirHES. Now let's see what really gives nature, if we want to build a powerful station on the tropical coast - estimation of maximal productivity. In a thundercloud, we have up to 5 g/m³ of water. Let it be only 1 g/m³, the altitude of 5 km, the usual wind speed here of 10 m/s, we get 500 W/m². For comparing, a NPP unit of 500 MW is equal ~ 1 km² of mesh for AirHES. Not so much. And NPP unit is on the ground with the same space. And this land is lost. But we need only in a place for the turbine, the rest part is on the altitude of 5 km.

So, if use economical approximation by extensive factor (i.e. on 1 m² of active surface - $0.5 for double layer of PP mesh), then for big Air Hydro Power units by law “quadrate – cube” we can estimate the following specific capital costs:

For pessimistic estimation (by average data of passive fog collectors) ~ 2 W/m² -> ~ $250/kW
For optimistic estimation (by maximal data of active fog collectors) ~ 50 W/m² -> ~ $10/kW
For super optimistic estimation (by physical calculation on equator) ~ 500 W/m² -> ~ $1/kW

In comparison,

today the cheapest energy is gas turbine PP with ~ $ 500-700/kW for the largest cost about 5 cents per kWh,
Conventional TPP with ~ $ 1500/kW for ~ 2.5 cents per kWh,
Hydro PP with ~ $ 1000-3000/kW for ~ 0.5 cents per kWh,
Nuclear PP with ~ $ 5000/kW for ~ 2.5 cents per kWh.

Major trends associated with the transition to renewable energy sources. It then becomes clear that resources are only sufficient for sun and (possibly) wind. Traditional hydropower does not have enough resources. However, the use of cloud energy changes this assessment. Principally it results from economics. All three methods of conversion (PV, wind, clouds) are the same order of magnitude of the energy density (~ 100 W/m2) , but only for AIR HYDRO all this energy with virtually no loss can be merged into one point (pipe / turbine), making part of the proportional m2 far cheaper than other alternatives. This implies the 1-2 orders of magnitude smaller Payback period that allows quickly rebuild the energetics and successfully pass the collapse of climate & oil in 2050.

In total: Each cloud over your head is NPP unit, but much cheaper and cleaner…

AirHES can solve all energy problems of mankind. Approximate Market: at least $1000 billion. If someone wants to start production, to bring happiness to mankind and at the same time become the richest man on Earth – contact us, please, because we are looking for a Business Angel and now we need in a little grant and lab/place for creating a minimal prototype. Also you can just invite me to your lab for creating this new green energetics worldwide.

I decided to free all my patents. Now AirHES project is free...

(Patent RU 2500854 C1 from 17.04.12, International Application PCT/RU2013/000070 and proper Patent Applications for Europe [EPV], USA, China, India)

(original text in Russian)

Appendix: Optimistic technical business plan

R&D - calculation simulation and practical tests for different types of meshes and kites (ideally, in mountains by using orographic clouds) - it demands ~$10k and ~ half of year
Creating the normal kite's technical prototype for getting fresh water in any place where there are clouds - it demands ~$20-30k and ~ half of year (if success, it can be producted already as business of water supply, itself)
Creating the energy & water technical prototype (~20-50kW) with kite/mesh/aerostat for working long time - it demands ~$50-100k and ~ half of year
Creating a big unit (~20-50MW) - it demands ~$1M and ~ half of year and will give a big profit already (ROI payback ~ a month)
Creating a huge unit (~1GW) and solving all problems of mankind for 10-20 years

NB! for experiment we must have permission to flight on altitude 2-3 km from local authorities.

Test device, Seliger, Russia, July 30, 2013