Patent•
Wind energy converter utilizing vortex augmentation
14 Mar 1983-
TL;DR: In this paper, a wind energy conversion apparatus is described for converting the linear momentum of wind energy into a pair of concentrated, counter-rotating and side-by-side regions of high angular momentum which includes a wing having variable angle of attack positionable forward of the entrance to an elongated duct having a bell mouth.
Abstract: A wind energy conversion apparatus is disclosed herein for converting the linear momentum of wind energy into a pair of concentrated, counter-rotating and side-by-side regions of high angular momentum which includes a wing having variable angle of attack positionable forward of the entrance to an elongated duct having a bell mouth including an upper, inner reflex angular surface leading into a bifurcated duct section terminating in a diffuser augmenter at the aft facing area of the duct and which includes propellors operable to extract energy from the angular momentum in the established regions for driving electric generators or generator therefrom.
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Patent•
19 Nov 2004
TL;DR: In this article, the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism is used to convert kinetic energy of a moving fluid (e.g., wind) into rotational mechanical power by the reaction of the moving fluid with the turbine.
Abstract: A protective wind energy conversion chamber provides a protected multiple turbine mechanism axially aligned to convert kinetic energy of a moving fluid (e.g., wind) into rotational mechanical power by the reaction of the moving fluid with the turbine. The conversion chamber may either be configured as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) or horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). The conversion chamber repositions an intake windward to collect and concentrate the wind prior to converting the wind into energy via the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism. The remaining wind is released via a leeward-facing exhaust. Completely enclosed by the protective wind energy conversion chamber, the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism avoids interference by birds and other outside objects.
99 citations
Patent•
23 Sep 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, a method for improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of axial flow wind turbines is proposed, where the primary air stream is transferred to the impeller via a mixer and an ejector.
Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of wind turbines. Applicants' preferred method comprises: generating a level of power over the Betz limit for an axial flow wind turbine, of the type having a turbine shroud with a flared inlet and an impeller downstream having a ring of impeller blades, by receiving and directing a primary air stream of ambient air into the flared inlet and through the turbine shroud; rotating the impeller inside the shroud by the primary air stream, whereby the primary air stream transfers energy to the impeller; entraining and mixing a secondary flow stream of ambient air exclusively with the primary air stream, which has passed through the impeller, via a mixer and an ejector sequentially downstream of the impeller. Unlike gas turbine mixers and ejectors which also mix with hot core exhaust gases, Applicants' preferred method entrains and mixes ambient air (i.e., wind) exclusively with lower energy air (i.e., partially spent air) which has passed through a turbine shroud and rotor. Applicant's method further comprises harnessing the power of the primary air stream to produce mechanical energy while exceeding the Betz limit for operational efficiency of the axial flow wind turbine over a non-anomalous period.
99 citations
Patent•
09 Mar 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, a wind turbine with a rotor having a shaft (82) with blades (88) extending therefrom is located in the middle conduit portion (46), where a splitter (60) is located between inlet and outlet conduit portions (44, 48), having a main inlet (54) and outlet (56) of the conduit.
Abstract: A wind powered turbine (30) has a conduit (34). A middle conduit portion (46) is located between inlet and outlet conduit portions (44, 48), having a main inlet (54) and outlet (56) of the conduit (34), respectively. A rotor (80) having a shaft (82) with blades (88) extending therefrom is located in the middle conduit portion (46). The blades (88) are located completely within the middle conduit portion (46). Preferably, a splitter (60) is located in the inlet conduit portion (44) to provide upper and lower sub-tunnels (61, 62) that both feed into the middle conduit portion (46). Upper and lower interior walls (91, 92) of the middle conduit portion (46) have substantially circular plane shapes that are substantially centered at the rotational axis (84) of the shaft (82). Clearance gaps (93, 94) are located between the blades (88) and the upper and lower interior walls (91, 92), respectively.
85 citations
Patent•
22 Dec 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, a wind generating device employs modules each having two turbines, coaxially aligned and arranged one downstream from the other, with a proximal channel with a leading portion having decreasing radius toward the first rotor which acts as a collector and a following portion connecting fluidly the first and second rotor and a distal channel which is separate from the proximal channels and opens into the following portion thereby adding to the airflow to the second rotor.
Abstract: The wind generating device employs modules each having two turbines. Each of the turbines employs two rotors, coaxially aligned and arranged one downstream from the other. The arrangement includes a proximal channel with a leading portion having decreasing radius toward the first rotor which acts as a collector and a following portion connecting fluidly the first and second rotor and a distal channel which is separate from the proximal channel and opens into the following portion thereby adding to the airflow to the second rotor. Downstream from the second rotor is a diffuser with radius increasing with distance from the rotor. The device includes mounting modules vertically stacked which allows for yaw responsive to wind. The device further includes mounting the modules on a tower.
72 citations
Patent•
06 Oct 2004
TL;DR: In this article, a machine and system for power generation through movement of water having an array of power generating cells electrically interconnected, where the array is configured in an interchangeable modular fashion and the cells are positioned to receive kinetic energy from the movement of a water turbine to generate electricity through the movement within each cell.
Abstract: A machine and system for power generation through movement of water having an array of power generating cells electrically interconnected, where the array is configured in an interchangeable modular fashion and the cells are positioned to receive kinetic energy from the movement of water to generate electricity through the movement of an electrical turbine within each cell. The individual turbines and cells may generate relatively small amounts of electricity and use polymer magnetics in the impellers and windings in the turbine to withstand ocean environments and are stacked on electrically conductive trays for ease of installation and replacement.
67 citations
References
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Patent•
09 Jul 1980TL;DR: In this article, a diffuser is fabricated with slots between sections of duct to enlarge the effective area swept by the turbine blades for increased power availability from the turbine, and the diffuser can be configured for overlapping.
Abstract: In a wind turbine assembly incorporating a diffuser, the diffuser includes an articulated duct formed of a set of members, such as the sectors of a conic section, which are pivotable about axes in a plane normal to the turbine axis. To permit an enlargement or contraction of the articulated duct, the members are joined by flexible gussets or, alternatively, are configured for overlapping. Springs offset from the pivoting axes are attached to the members to provide a bistable attitude thereto. In response to high winds, the spring forces are overcome by the wind forces on the articulated duct to allow the members to pivot inwardly reducing the effective wind capture area of the diffuser. The diffuser is further fabricated with slots between sections of duct to enlarge the effective area swept by the turbine blades for increased power availability from the turbine.
115 citations
Patent•
06 Aug 1974
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method of generating power from wind comprising providing a turbine in an airstream with the turbine having a rotor having a plurality of blades and a stator with a pluralityof blades upstream of the rotor.
Abstract: A method of generating power from wind comprising providing a turbine in an airstream with the turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades and a stator with a plurality of blades upstream of the rotor. A portion of the ambient airstream is increased in velocity and reduced in pressure by passing such portion of the ambient airstream through the stator to provide an incoming airstream. The incoming airstream is passed through the rotor to drive the rotor and to provide an exiting airstream. The exiting airstream is conducted through a duct to increase the pressure and decrease the velocity of the exiting airstream, and subsequently the exiting airstream is discharged from the duct to the atmosphere.
98 citations
Patent•
24 Jul 1978
TL;DR: In this paper, a horizontal wind powered electrical generator is disclosed in which a horizontal reaction turbine is disposed within an augmentor cowling which extends downwind of the turbine, and a venturi-structured diffusor is carried by said augmentor in a downwind position to lower the pressure generally and assist the action of the secondary stator blades.
Abstract: A horizontal wind powered electrical generator is disclosed in which a horizontal reaction turbine is disposed within an augmentor cowling which extends downwind of the turbine. First stage curved stator blades interconnect the augmentor with the turbine cowling, and secondary stator blades are spaced downwind from said primary stator blades to extend inwardly from the augmentor to terminate short of the turbine cowling. These secondary stator blades have a greater angle of departure than the primary stator blades to increase the rotational velocity of the air at the expense of its axial velocity while permitting the axial velocity of the air moving inwardly of the secondary stator blades to be undiminished. A venturi-structured diffusor is carried by said augmentor in a downwind position to lower the pressure generally and assist the action of the secondary stator blades.
77 citations
Patent•
18 Feb 1975
TL;DR: The horizontal and vertical wind energy concentrators are structurally simple and light and are capable of concentrating the wind energy at least six times with very high efficiency as discussed by the authors, which permits a corresponding reduction in the frontal area of the wind turbine and increases its speed without sacrifice in wind energy harnessed.
Abstract: The herein described horizontal and vertical wind energy concentrators are structurally simple and light and are capable of concentrating the wind energy at least six times with very high efficiency. This permits a corresponding reduction in the frontal area of the wind turbine and increases its speed without sacrifice in wind energy harnessed. The wind energy concentrator is a high lift, short aspect ratio wing, which is designed to maximize the induced drag. This induced drag takes the velocity out of the wind but transforms the wind energy into rotational energy present in the shed vortex system. The design is such that most of this rotational energy can be harnessed by a small high speed wind turbine placed in the rolled up wing tip vortex.
39 citations
Patent•
03 Apr 1975TL;DR: In this paper, a fluid flow energy conversion system employing aerodynamic flow-separation vortex generation for focusing the kinetic energy of flow in the working area of the turbine is described.
Abstract: Fluid flow energy conversion systems employing aerodynamic flow-separation vortex generation for focusing the kinetic energy of flow in the working area of the turbine are disclosed herein in the context of wind power plants. As a consequence of this augmentation, fluid velocity acting on the rotor is increased by a substantial amount over the free stream velocity, resulting in substantial increases in power output for a given turbine configuration. The illustrative embodiments include simple flow separation, vortex augmenting surfaces, such as those found in delta planforms which in this context generate vortices and therefore function as aerodynamic lenses; these surfaces are oriented to the wind turbine so that generated vortices are directed at the turbine blades. The latter are configured to be driven by the vortex and drive in turn electrical or other power generating devices or machines. Provisions for varying the angle of attack of the augmentor surface for control purposes are also described as are configurations employing multiple augmentor surfaces and both slender body and bluff body augmentors. Also disclosed are vortex mixing techniques for controlling the wind gradient to achieve a more optimum wind velocity distribution and magnitude relative to the wind converter.
38 citations