The ACERU - Protected by U.S. Patent No. 11,841,158.
ACERU: Air Conditioner Energy Recovery Unit
During the operation of an air conditioner the air conditioning unit expels moving air. This moving air dissipates into the ambient air surrounding the air conditioner and any potential energy associated with the moving air is lost. The dissipation of the moving air is a lost opportunity to recover energy and improve energy conservation efforts.
Every time the AC unit turns on - the ACERU creates energy out of the wasted wind energy from the AC unit.
ACERU Design
The ACERU is scalable to any size air conditioner and can be up-sized to be adapted to commercial and industrial applications (ie: Cooling tower fans or exhaust fans) and can be installed in any position. It requires no modifications to the AC/HVAC units and creates energy out of the air blowing out of the AC units.
The ACERU can be constructed out of almost any material - the pyramid shape is self-supporting (the initial R&D models were built with cardboard) even with the weight of the fans installed. The internal inverted pyramid also provides support and directs air flow through the fans.
ACERU Cost Recovery
The average annual electricity cost to operate a central air conditioning (AC) unit in the US is in the range of $600 to $1500 with significant variation based on location, local electricity rates, unit size and efficiency and hours of use.
Using an average of $1200 in central states (higher in the S and lower in the N) Usage of 8 hours/day x 30 days = 2400 hours of operation a month
Electricity rate per kwh average is $0.16
AC power draw is an average of 3500 Watts per AC unit
Watts x hours/month x electricity rate/1000 = $1344 annually per AC unit. In hotter climates larger homes could have multiple AC units meaning annual costs will be considerably higher.
Every time an AC unit runs the ACERU can recapture some of the energy costs by utilizing the wasted wind energy expelled by the cooling fan.
Depending on the efficiency of the AC unit (energy recovered varies) - power is recovered and can be used to charge a bank of batteries (similar to a wind turbine) and/or run through an inverter to power electrical appliances or sent directly back to the electrical grid to lower energy costs.
ACERU Efficiency Enhancer
Studies show that keeping your air conditioner out of direct sunlight helps it perform more efficiently. The ACERU covers the top (or side) of the air conditioning unit and keeps the direct sunlight off of it. It performs a twofold function, keeping the direct sunlight off without increasing any power consumption and generates power from the exhausted air through its fan array.