Abstract
Downdraft energy towers are a known class of systems for extracting mechanical work from the latent heat of water through evaporative cooling of an air column. In conventional designs, overall efficiency and power output scale primarily with column height, reflecting the dependence on the gravitational potential energy of the densified air mass. The system disclosed herein describes a variation in which a turbine-driven fan is incorporated to convert a portion of the available pressure rise within the column into increased mass flow rate. This approach does not alter the fundamental thermodynamic limits imposed by column height, but enables a higher rate of energy conversion at the turbine shaft by favoring increased throughput at the expense of greater water consumption.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Karrer, Zachary R., "Apparatus for the Conversion of Evaporation-Induced Downdraft into Mechanical Work", Technical Disclosure Commons, (February 02, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9264