Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
415400100 | Natural fluid current force responsive | 63 |
20080298950 | NACELLE COMPARTMENT PLENUM FOR BLEED AIR FLOW DELIVERY SYSTEM - A gas turbine engine is provided with a nacelle having a hollow inner space. The inner space is utilized as a plenum for directing air from an inlet to an outlet at the upstream end of the nacelle to allow control of an effective lip width of the nacelle under certain flight conditions. | 12-04-2008 |
20090081020 | Wind turbine - A wind turbine for use in generating electricity. The wind turbine includes a housing being secured atop a tower. A wheel is mounted within the housing and is rotatable about a horizontal axis when struck by winds passing over the front of housing. The wheel has a hub and a number of paddles radiating outwardly from the hub and above the housing. An electrical current generator is connected to the wheel so as to be powered thereby. A wind shield is mounted within the housing for selectively preventing winds passing over the front of the housing from reaching the wheel. | 03-26-2009 |
20100329841 | California wind engine - The CWE Concepts are designed to extract the maximum possible wind energy passing through a given square footage area of influencing machine interface at given calculated velocities, to deliver that energy to two power take off shafts for end user's useful work (electrical power generation and other requirements). A multi-bucket “S” rotor, airfoils, baffles and cowling combined, utilize one hundred percent of that moving air volume most efficiently. Our strategies are to use smaller units, yielding more power than existing designs while being installed at much lower levels, urban friendly, less visible, nearly-enclosed rotating machinery, quieter, and safer for indigenous wildlife populations. We plan to market for commercial and residential customers, in turn providing HVAC and electrical power augmentation to utility companies—a reliable and robust addition to the national power grid. Our goals—reduce dependency on foreign oil and provide a clean alternative. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329842 | Arrangement and method to control the yawing of a wind turbine - A wind turbine and a method of controlling yawing of a wind turbine are provided. A nacelle is mounted rotatable around a first axis by an adjustable yaw angle and a hub is mounted rotatable around a rotational axis. The hub includes a blade rotating around the rotational axis, the blade defining a rotor plane perpendicular to the rotational axis. A channel of the wind turbine has an opening, the opening being located at a predefined distance to the rotor plane. At least one component of incoming wind is guided through the opening and into the channel as air flow. A measuring device is provided for measuring the air flow, the measuring device being connected to a controller. The controller detects a yaw angle error between a direction of the incoming wind and the rotational axis, the yaw angle error being used to adjust the yaw angle of the nacelle. | 12-30-2010 |
20110020107 | MOLDED WIND TURBINE SHROUD SEGMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIONS FOR SHROUDS - A wind turbine shroud that comprises a plurality of wind turbine shroud segments engaged to each other in a radial pattern about a central axis. Each wind turbine shroud segment may be created through a rotational molding and/or blow molding process and can be engaged with other wind turbine shroud segments to create a variety of wind turbine shrouds. | 01-27-2011 |
20110027067 | COATED SHROUDED WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine has an impeller surrounded by a shroud. The shroud includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The surface is coated with a silicone polyurethane polymer. The resulting surface has reduced surface energy, and can shed rain, snow, and ice more easily. | 02-03-2011 |
20110091311 | HIGH EFFICIENCY TURBINE SYSTEM - The present invention is a high efficiency turbine system which can increase a pressure differential between an upstream location and a downstream location. The turbine system includes a propeller attached to a shaft, which can both be located in a shroud. The shroud includes a projection, such as a brim, which protrudes inward and/or outward from the shroud. The projection includes brim units arranged asymmetrically and/or in repeating patterns to generate various vortex and swirl patterns. The brim units can have a different size, shape, width, and/or height than an adjacent brim unit. The brim units can be arranged in a non-parallel manner and can be rotatable. Furthermore, the brim units can form brim groups which can be arranged asymmetrically and/or in repeating patterns to generate various swirl patterns. The turbine system can also be used in a renewable energy system, which can be used to power electronic devices. | 04-21-2011 |
20130195617 | Wind Turbine Power Enhancements - Systems are provided for increasing the power to be extracted from a wind stream by a wind turbine, including placing a duct and nozzle system, or cluster of such systems, up-stream of the wind turbine. | 08-01-2013 |
20140064918 | DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR HARVESTING THE ENERGY OF A FLUID STREAM - Device for harvesting the energy of a fluid stream comprising a turbine with a rotation axis at right-angle to the fluid stream, the turbine comprising a plurality of blades that during its rotation sweeps an annular area around the rotation axis which has an inner and outer perimeter with a first and second radial distance to the rotation axis, and first and second fluid guide located opposite each other, with the plurality of blades arranged for rotation there between and arranged for guiding the fluid stream towards the at least one blade, wherein the first and second fluid guide are formed each with a guide foil section having a suction side, a pressure side and a guide foil incidence angle, wherein each fluid guide is arranged such that the suction sides of the guide foil sections are facing each other, wherein an open central area around the rotation axis is provided. | 03-06-2014 |
20150118020 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A power generation system includes a generator and a rotary mechanism. The rotary mechanism includes a rotary shaft rotatably connected to the generator and at least one drive module connected with the rotary shaft. The drive module has a flow collection hood. The flow collection hood has a hood body and a flow direction control unit. The hood body defines a front opening and a rear opening and has a peripheral wall positioned between the front and rear openings. The flow direction control unit is disposed on the hood body. The flow direction control unit serves to block and interrupt a fluid flowing from the front opening to the rear opening, while permitting a fluid flowing from the rear opening to the front opening to freely flow through the hood body, whereby the drive module is drivable by the fluid to drive the rotary shaft to one-way rotate. | 04-30-2015 |
20150337801 | VANE DEVICE FOR A WIND TURBINE APPARATUS - A vane device includes a rotary shaft and a plurality of vane units angularly spaced apart from each other relative to the rotary shaft. Each of the vane units includes a grid frame that has grid spaces, and a plurality of vanes. Each of the vanes is disposed adjacent to a respective one of the grid spaces, and has a connecting end that is pivotally connected to the grid frame, and a swing end that is opposite to the connecting end. Each of the vanes is swingable between a cover position, where the swing end is adjacent to the grid frame to cover the respective one of the grid spaces, and an open position, where the swing end is away from the grid frame to uncover the respective one of the grid spaces. | 11-26-2015 |
415400200 | Vertical runner axis | 28 |
20080213083 | Vertical Axis Windmill And Wind Turbine System For Generating Electricity From Wind Energy - A lift-type wind turbine having a substantially vertical rotating shaft and a plurality of substantially vertical blades secured to the shaft. Each blade includes a front portion, a rear portion, and a pivot axis pivotally securing the rear and front portions. The rear portion pivots relative the front portion. The blades additionally include bottom and top edges positioned on each of the front portions. Each bottom edge is arranged substantially equidistant from the shaft proximate a first circumference extending substantially horizontally about the shaft, whereas each top edge is arranged substantially equidistant from the shaft proximate a second circumference extending substantially horizontally about the shaft. The blades are angled relative to the rotating shaft. The blades have an open, drag means position as well as a closed, lift means position, and passively switch between the positions based on wind speed for efficient rotation. | 09-04-2008 |
20080317582 | Vertical axis dual vortex downwind inward flow impulse wind turbine - A wind-powered turbine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. Located in the housing is a cylindrical stator array having a plurality of spaced-apart stators located in it. An annular cylindrical rotor array having a plurality of cups rotates about a central axis, fits inside of the stator array. The stators are positioned to cause air which flows around the outer periphery of the stator array to impinge on the rotors and an air handling system causes air entering the housing to be distributed substantially around the periphery of the stator array. | 12-25-2008 |
20090097960 | Vertical axis windmill assembly - A windmill assembly includes (a) a support frame; (b) a rotor rotatably mounted to the support frame for rotation around a vertical axis in response to the movement of wind passing the wind engine. The rotor includes (i) a shaft, (ii) at least two wings extending radially from the shaft, and (iii) a plurality of vanes pivotally mounted to one side of each wing and movable between a closed first position wherein the vanes prevent wind from passing through the wing and an open second position wherein the vanes permit wind to pass through spaces between the vanes and through the wing, wherein the wings are arranged such that when the vanes on one wing are in the closed position the vanes on the other wing are at least partially open. | 04-16-2009 |
20090155043 | Vertical Multi-Phased Wind Turbine System - A vertical axis multi-phased wind turbine power generating system is disclosed. An adjustable air scoop directs air from a first phase of the prevailing wind into an air turbine for efficient power generation. An exit section, which uses a second phase of the prevailing wind in combination with an optional and adjustable exit section drag curtain or barrier, provides for efficient re-entrainment of this first stage of power generating air back into the downstream prevailing wind. The adjustable air scoop and adjustable exit drag curtain or barrier, where utilized, is automatically rotated in a self correcting manner to be suitably and optimally oriented to the prevailing wind direction. The design provides for a second stage of power generation to be accomplished by additionally utilizing a portion of the second phase of prevailing wind to directly or indirectly drive the turbine in a second stage of power production. | 06-18-2009 |
20090169354 | Apparatus for Use of Flow Energy - The apparatus for use of flow energy has elongated circumferential elements ( | 07-02-2009 |
20090324383 | Wind compressor - A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine. | 12-31-2009 |
20100034636 | Stabilizing Apparatus For Vertical Axis Wind Turbine - A stabilizing apparatus is provided, applicable to all kinds of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), including a plurality of ball units and at least a guiding unit. The guiding unit has a circular cross-section and forms a ring-shaped housing space inside for housing the ball units. The inner wall of the bottom of the ring-shaped housing space inside the guiding unit forms a ring-shaped guiding surface. The ring-shaped guiding surface extends from the center of the apparatus towards the brink of the circumference of the apparatus. The straight line connecting the edge of the inner circle and the edge of the outer circle of the ring-shaped guiding surface forms an angle of 0-45° to the horizon surface. When the present invention is installed with the wind turbine rotor of a VAWT and rotates with the wind turbine rotor synchronously, the ball units move outward along the ring-shaped guiding surfaces because of the centripetal force; hence, the rotational inertia of rotor system increases as the rotor rotation speed is increased by wind so that the wind turbine rotor can start with a lower starting torque and spin more stably. | 02-11-2010 |
20100054910 | FLUID TURBINE SYSTEMS - Various fluid turbine systems and methods are described. The turbine can be a vertical axis wind turbine configured to generate power from wind energy. The turbine system can have a blade assembly. The blade assembly can have a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. The turbine system can have a concentrator positionable upwind and in front of a return side of the blade assembly. The concentrator can define a convex surface facing the wind. The turbine system can also have a variable concentrator positionable upwind of a push side of the blade assembly. The variable concentrator can be adjustable between a first position and a second position, the variable concentrator being capable of deflecting more wind toward the turbine in the first position than in the second position. | 03-04-2010 |
20100254798 | Vertical axis windmill - An upstanding bladed rotor is journalled from support structure and a windshield assembly is also journalled from the support structure for angular displacement about an upstanding axis about the rotor. The windshield assembly includes a wind-shielding portion which extends generally about one half the periphery of the rotor and further includes a wind vane operative to maintain the assembly in predetermined position relative to wind incident upon the rotor with the wind-shielding portion in position to shield generally one lateral half of the rotor from the incident wind. The windshield assembly additionally includes a combined wind booster and excess wind controlling vane supported therefrom and disposed outward of the other lateral half of the rotor into the sweep area thereof responsive to high velocity wind incident thereon so as to apply rotary torque to the windshield assembly partially overcoming the directional control thereon by the wind vane and swinging the wind-shielding portion into position across the side of the rotor upon which the wind is incident so as to reduce the amount of high velocity wind available to drive the rotor and thus prevent the latter from overspeeding. | 10-07-2010 |
20100266383 | BALANCED SAIL WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine includes a rotor rotatably mounted to a vertically disposed shaft. A plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated mounting arms extends radially from the rotor. A corresponding plurality of elongated generally planar sails extends along and is pivotally connected to the elongated arms. Sails are balancingly mounted on the arms and rest in a rest position generally at a 45° angle relative to a horizontal disposition when not acted upon by wind or rotor rotation. As the sails drive the rotor, the balanced sails move effortlessly into and out of alignment with the direction of current flow of the wind. | 10-21-2010 |
20100296913 | WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM WITH VERTICAL AXIS JET WHEEL TURBINE - A wind power generating system that is a technology for converting wind energy to electrical energy is provided. The system blocks flow of air inside the impeller, so that a high speed jet pressure on an I.G.V. (inlet guide vane) is converted to a constant pressure between the blades disposed downstream of the flow which has passed through the inlet guide vane, thus generating a large amount of torque. | 11-25-2010 |
20110052369 | ENHANCED VORTEX ENGINE - The invention covers improvements to the Atmospheric Vortex Engine. A tornado-like convective vortex is produced by admitting air at the base of a cylindrical wall via tangential entry ducts. The heat required to sustain the vortex is provided in peripheral heat exchange means located outside the cylindrical wall. The heat source for the peripheral exchange means can be waste industrial heat or warm sea water. The preferred heat exchange means is a cross-flow wet cooling tower. The mechanical energy is produced in a plurality of turbines. The air can enter an arena via tangential entries or via an opening at the center of the arena floor. The invention can be used to produce mechanical energy, to reduce the temperature of cooled water or to produce precipitation. The invention includes a circular forced draft cooling tower that can operate in non-vortex mode or in vortex mode. | 03-03-2011 |
20110255954 | FLUID-DRIVEN MILL - A fluid-driven mill includes: a supporting unit including a vertical shaft and a plurality of stoppers; and a plurality of vertical plate members, each of which is pivoted to the supporting unit so as to be rotatable relative to the supporting unit about a corresponding rotational axis which is parallel to a central vertical axis defined by the vertical shaft between a pushing position and a release position. The vertical plate members are angularly displaced from each other and are disposed around the central vertical axis. The stoppers are disposed between the vertical shaft and an imaginary cylindrical plane formed by the rotational axes. | 10-20-2011 |
20110280707 | Wind Turbine Utilizing Wind Directing Slats - Various embodiments of a wind turbine are disclosed having a plurality of pivotable slats disposed about a rotor coupled to one or more blades. Each of the plurality of slats can be pivoted such that the open slats on a windward side redirect the wind to cause rotation of the rotor and the closed slats on a leeward side retain at least a substantial portion of the wind within the interior. | 11-17-2011 |
20120121379 | TOWER TYPE VERTICAL AXLE WINDMILL - A tower type vertical axle windmill includes a tower portion. The tower portion has a plurality of layers and a plurality of wind turbines and a computer is used to open and close the walls of the tower portion. Each of the wind turbines includes a seat portion, an energy output assembly and a rudder assembly. The seat portion can carry other components. A circular platform is disposed on the base portion of the energy output assembly and is supported by bearings to enable it to turn around. A flywheel is disposed on the outmost portion of the blade module and can store the energy extracted from the wind and enhance the balance of the windmill. In addition, an output axle is connected with the circular platform and a generator. | 05-17-2012 |
20120121380 | KINETIC ENERGY TRANSFORMING MODULE - A kinetic energy transforming module includes a main shaft perpendicularly and rotatably standing on supporting surface and at least one blade structure horizontally mounted on the main shaft for driving the main shaft via wind power. The blade structure includes a horizontal shaft, an upper fan blade and a lower fan blade. The horizontal shaft is fixed on the main shaft. The two fan blades are respectively hinged on the horizontal shaft. Combining these three pieces together becomes a plane, perfect arc or a half circle shape. Find suitable place on the horizontal shaft building some stoppers to control the upper fan blade rotation angle from 5 to 90 degrees, and the lower blade rotation angle from −15 to −90 degrees. Hence, the blade structure is able to keep blades rotating and accelerating to achieve higher wind power efficiency. | 05-17-2012 |
20120171011 | WIND TURBINE-TYPE DEVICE - The invention relates to a wind turbine-type device for utilizing the energy contained in an air flow. Said device is equipped with a rotating cylinder ( | 07-05-2012 |
20130051978 | Wind Energy Conversion Devices - A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind currents having an open frame structure and a central passage through the structure with at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatably mounted blades positioned about the central passage and at least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontal blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis of the device. The open frame structure includes a unique rod and cable central structure offset from the periphery of the frame. In one embodiment, the frame structure is suspended from a rotatable hub at the top of a stationary mast. | 02-28-2013 |
20130280034 | WIND DIRECTION ADJUSTABLE BLADE TYPE VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - The present invention relates to a wind direction adjustable blade type vertical axis wind turbine that is configured to allow blades to be automatically swung, thereby making more efficient use of wind power. The wind turbine includes: a rotating shaft adapted to be rotated by means of wind power; an upper plate adapted to be coupled to the upper portion of the rotating shaft; a lower plate adapted to be coupled to the lower portion of the rotating shaft; a plurality of blades disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate; and swing motion units disposed between the top end of each blade and the upper plate and between the underside end of each blade and the lower plate in such a manner as to form the center of rotation of each blade, while allowing each blade to be rotatable in accordance with the wind direction. | 10-24-2013 |
20140079534 | SAVONIUS WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine, of the savonius wind turbine type, comprises a rotatable member extending along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outwards from the rotatable member and spaced apart around the circumference thereof. The rotatable member is arranged such that, in normal use, the longitudinal axis extends in a substantially vertical direction and the blades travel around the longitudinal axis. The wind turbine further comprising a wind deflector operable to deflect wind to provide a sheltered region for the blades as they travel towards the wind and thereby substantially reducing the drag induced on the turbine. | 03-20-2014 |
20140079535 | WIND ENERGY CONVERSION DEVICES - A wind turbine for harvesting energy from both horizontal and vertical wind currents having an open frame structure and a central passage through the structure with at least three wind energy harvesting generally vertically disposed and rotatably mounted blades positioned about the central passage and at least three wind energy harvesting generally horizontal blades projecting radially from the central vertical axis of the device. The open frame structure includes a unique rod and cable central structure offset from the periphery of the frame. In one embodiment, the frame structure is suspended from a rotatable hub at the top of a stationary mast. | 03-20-2014 |
20140099186 | Wind Engine - A wind motor includes a post tower or other supporting structure, a bottom base ( | 04-10-2014 |
20140105724 | System and Methodology for Wind Compression - A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a Venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine. | 04-17-2014 |
20140356130 | Enclosed Vertical Axis Fluid Rotor - A enclosed vertical axis fluid rotor used as a wind turbine of two designs having multiple sails that are concave on the inside and convex on the outer side which allows omni-directional wind or other fluids to engage sails to create optimum fluid momentum. These are sectional segmentation of each rotor that can be stacked upon one another at locating lug points to be attached to each rotor to keep radial alignment precise during assembly. The preferred embodiment would be of composite materials or plastics that can be molded to a given design of three or more stages. The advantage of this turbine is using the fluids to their optimum efficiency. These designs have low starting speed, low precession, and low drag. One design has a central axis that turns with bearings with the rotor and the other design is a central static (non-turning) axis shaft that allows the turbine to turn on bearings. | 12-04-2014 |
20150063978 | WIND TURBINE - A vertical axis wind turbine system is provided that converts wind energy into electrical or mechanical energy. The turbine comprises at least one turbine rotor with a plurality of curved blades for receiving head-on wind generated airflow. Shield means mountable around at least a portion of the rotor serve to protect the upstream-moving blades from head-on wind airflow and thereby reduce drag. In one embodiment, load compensation means are provided to adjust the moment of inertia of the turbine rotor. One or more of the turbine rotor blades is hollow and defines a closed volume for holding a fluid, the fluid being displaceable in use through baffle means towards or away from the vertical axis of the rotor as the rotational velocity of the rotor changes. | 03-05-2015 |
20150098795 | Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine With Protective Screen - A vertical-axis wind turbine apparatus is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a substantially vertically-oriented main shaft. A blade assembly is coaxially aligned with and rotatably engaged about the main shaft. The blade assembly provides an at least one blade radially projecting therefrom. A housing is rotatably engaged with the main shaft and configured for selectively encompassing the blade assembly. A first screen is integral with the housing and configured for shielding a return portion of the blade assembly. A second screen is rotatably engaged with the housing and configured for selectively moving between a retracted position, wherein the second screen is positioned substantially adjacent to the first screen such that a catch portion of the blade assembly is exposed, and a deployed position, wherein the second screen is rotated away from the first screen for at least partially shielding the catch portion from the wind. | 04-09-2015 |
20150110598 | Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Wind Vanes - An embodiment of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) concept with the rotating impellers and the wind vanes attached to the impellers through the vane angle adjusting device is described. This feature allows for a number of improvements over the current state of the art including damage protection and the ability to remain operational during high wind conditions. Further described is the vane angle adjusting device and the impeller with the high load capacity and increased output. In addition, the cone clutch is described that blocks the power transmission from the wind vane and the impeller in case of strong gusts or wind. | 04-23-2015 |
20150330360 | SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR WIND COMPRESSION - A wind compressor system having one or more wind turbines and a plurality of wind compressors located proximate the one or more wind turbines. The wind compressors optimize the energy created by the wind turbines by redirecting and converging the wind from the wind compressor to the wind turbines. Each of the wind compressors comprises an obstruction having a size and shape adapted to converge the wind currents by means of a Venturi effect toward the one or more turbines thereby increasing the velocity and force of the wind hitting the wind turbine. A plurality of transporters coupled to the wind compressors. The transporters configured to move at least one wind compressors to a location that maximizes the force of the wind encountered by the turbine. | 11-19-2015 |
415400300 | Axial flow runner | 24 |
20080260514 | Method for Damping Tower Vibrations in a Wind Turbine Installation - A method in connection with a wind turbine installation for damping tower vibrations, in particular a floating wind turbine installation comprising a floating cell, a tower arranged over the floating cell, a generator mounted on the tower that is rotatable in relation to the wind direction and fitted with a wind turbine, and an anchor line arrangement connected to anchors or foundations on the sea bed. The tower's eigenvibrations, ω | 10-23-2008 |
20080317583 | Offshore Wind Turbine with Device for Ice Prevention - Offshore wind turbine ( | 12-25-2008 |
20090087300 | Vertical axis dual vortex downwind inward flow impulse wind turbine - A wind-powered turbine has a housing with an inlet and an outlet. Located in the housing is a cylindrical stator array having a plurality of spaced-apart stators located in it. An annular cylindrical rotor array having a plurality of cups rotates about a central axis, fits inside of the stator array. The stators are positioned to cause air which flows around the outer periphery of the stator array to impinge on the rotors and an air handling system causes air entering the housing to be distributed substantially around the periphery of the stator array. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087301 | Machine for increased hydro power generation - A multidirectional hydrokinetic power generating turbine has an impeller housing with one or more impellers disposed within the impeller housing, one or more adjustable ducts pivotally connected to the impeller housing, and a plurality of duct leafs disposed about the one or more ducts. The plurality of duct leafs articulate and cause the one or more adjustable ducts to converge and diverge to selectively disposing a fluid about the one or more impellers. | 04-02-2009 |
20090238676 | Accelerator for use in a wind power electrical generating system - An accelerator for a wind power electrical generating system which mounts at least one wind turbine and which defines an air passageway capturing and delivering wind to the turbine. The accelerator comprises a cage-like support structure of thin sturdy members which defines in three-dimensional outline the air passageway. A cover which is mounted on and about the support structure in a floating relationship therewith may be injection-molded or thermo formed plastic. Connecting members between accelerators are provide with labyrinth seals. | 09-24-2009 |
20090285667 | Fluid movement device with method - A rotatable impeller is a hollow conical/cylindrical stack, with at least one slanted/vertical side portion and at least one level of stack portions. Each impeller comprises at least one shape of airfoil/hydrofoil for thrust to propel, or pull, i.e., to draw in, vapor or fluid; plus a dynamic application utilizes a reverse operation to generate electricity from the kinetic energy of the flow of vapor or fluid. One airfoil/hydrofoil configuration of a stack impeller comprises serpentine rectangular segments positioned by internal rib members. Considered additional levels are enlarged copies of the first level of the stack impeller, positioned at an engineered distance from each level, are considered to amplify propulsive or vacuum force; or for energy recovery to operate a dynamo generator. | 11-19-2009 |
20090290972 | FLOW DEFLECTION DEVICES AND METHOD FOR ENERGY CAPTURE MACHINES - The flow of fluid into energy capture machines is crucial for determining the amount of energy extracted, particularly in the field of renewable energy resources. The current invention describes devices and methods for applying the physics of flow to energy capture machines, most commonly wind and water turbines, by enhancing the flow into the energy capture component by the appropriate placement of various objects called flow deflection devices (FDD). FDDs can make a highs significant improvement in power output. | 11-26-2009 |
20090317231 | WIND TURBINE WITH MIXERS AND EJECTORS - A Mixer/Ejector Wind Turbine (“MEWT”) system is disclosed which routinely exceeds the efficiencies of prior wind turbines. Unique ejector concepts are used to fluid-dynamically improve many operational characteristics of conventional wind turbines for potential power generation improvements of 50% and above. Applicants' preferred MEWT embodiment comprises: an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud with an inlet; a ring of stator vanes; a ring of rotating blades (i.e., an impeller) in line with the stator vanes; and a mixer/ejector pump to increase the flow volume through the turbine while rapidly mixing the low energy turbine exit flow with high energy bypass wind flow. The MEWT can produce three or more time the power of its un-shrouded counterparts for the same frontal area, and can increase the productivity of wind farms by a factor of two or more. The same MEWT is safer and quieter providing improved wind turbine options for populated areas. | 12-24-2009 |
20100080683 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING A WIND TURBINE IN HIGH WIND CONDITIONS - Systems for protecting a wind turbine in high wind conditions are disclosed. A shrouded turbine may have an ejector shroud disposed adjacent and downstream of a turbine shroud. In one version, the ejector shroud can move to surround the turbine shroud. In another version, the turbine can be pivoted on a support tower to cover the intake end of the turbine and rotate the turbine about an axis at a right angle to the tower axis. In another version, the turbine is supported by a telescoping tower which may be retracted to lower the turbine in high winds. In another version, the tower sections may be connected by a pivotable connection and supported by guy wire(s) which may be lengthened to lower the upper tower section pivotally. | 04-01-2010 |
20100143093 | ARRANGEMENT TO DETECT A HIGH ROTATIONAL-SPEED OF A BLADE - An arrangement for determining a rotational-speed of a blade rotating around an axis is provided. A transmit-unit is located at the rotating blade, while a receive-unit is located at the rotating hub of the blade. The transmit-unit and the receive-unit are connected by a transmission-system, which is used to transmit a signal from the transmit-unit to the receive-unit. A detection-unit is located at the blade, which is used to detect a force acting on the blade due to the rotation of the blade. The detection-unit is built to interrupt the transmission of the signal when the detected force exceeds a predetermined value. The receive-unit comprises a control-unit, which detects a high rotational-speed of the blade by evaluating the interrupted transmission of the signal. The transmission-system is built as an optical-transmission system, which transmits an optical-signal from the transmit-unit to the receive-unit for evaluation. | 06-10-2010 |
20100158661 | REPAIR OF ROTOR BLADE ROOTS - A method for repairing a wind turbine is described. The method may include preparing the surface of the blade, removing a plurality of mounting bolts, and replacing the mounting bolts with rod members. The rod members may be bonded to the blade root thereby strengthening the blade root and/or repairing any damaged or weakened regions. This repair may be performed on blades and blade coupling regions of various characteristics as well in modular fashion using pre-molded sections attached together around the blade root. The method of repair may be performed while the blade is still attached to the turbine hub. Wind turbines repaired according to these methods are also described. The method may also be used for attaching and otherwise handling new turbine blades and new wind turbines. | 06-24-2010 |
20100247289 | SEGMENTED WIND TURBINE - Disclosed are wind turbines comprising a turbine shroud and optionally an ejector shroud. The shrouds are segmented, or in other words have longitudinal spaces between segments. Such wind turbines have reduced drag load, particularly those loads due to off-axis wind forces. | 09-30-2010 |
20110142594 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for monitoring wear of a blade pitch brake within a rotor blade pitch control system of a wind turbine is described. The rotor blade pitch control system includes a blade pitch actuator. The method includes engaging the blade pitch brake and measuring a blade pitch displacement while the blade pitch brake is engaged. The method further includes determining a brake wear level based on the measured blade pitch displacement while the blade pitch brake is engaged, and generating a brake wear level output signal corresponding to the brake wear level. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142595 | WIND TURBINE BLADES WITH CONTROLLED ACTIVE FLOW AND VORTEX ELEMENTS - A wind turbine blade includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. A plurality of vortex elements are formed on at least one of the suction side or pressure side surfaces. An active flow control system is operably configured with the vortex elements so as to direct pressurized air through the vortex elements and along the blade surface. The aerodynamic performance of the blade is modified by a combined effect of the vortex elements and the active flow control system. | 06-16-2011 |
20110286832 | Back to back turbine - Since a normal turbine will not rotate in one direction with a bidirectional force, this turbine uses two turbines back to back to rectify this force. When the flow comes in one direction the turbine will present one face, when the flow reverses direction the turbine will present the other face. This is so because of this back to back design of this turbine. Each blade of this turbine has one side with a pitch angle but the back side of the blade has 0 degrees pitch that is it is flat. In other words the flat side of each blade will be facing each other and the pitch side of each blade will be facing outward. When seen from the top this back to back blade has a separation between the flat sides of the blades. This is so they will have less resistance with the air when rotating. | 11-24-2011 |
20120301273 | ADJUSTABLE EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR A RAM AIR TURBINE GENERATING SYSTEM - An adjustable exhaust apparatus for use with a pod having a pod housing formed with at least one exhaust opening comprises a number of exhaust panels each hinged to the pod housing in position to move between a closed position in which the at least one exhaust opening is sealed, and an open position in which the exhaust panels are oriented at up to about a 30° angle relative to the pod housing. The exhaust panels, when in the open position, are effective to create a negative pressure within at least the aft portion of the pod housing to draw air into the pod and to assists in maintaining or at least avoiding an appreciable drop in the kinetic energy of an air stream moving through the pod interior. | 11-29-2012 |
20130251506 | WIND TURBINE ELECTRICITY GENERATING APPARATUS - A wind turbine electricity generating apparatus includes a wind collecting unit having a funnel-shaped wall and terminating at inlet and internal-port ends to define an air channel for passage of a main stream of incoming wind, and a rotor unit having a rotor rotated by united wind streams dashing into a rotor housing so as to generate electricity by a generator. A wind-stream accelerating unit disposed outwardly of the funnel-shaped wall to speed up the velocity of a side stream taken up through an uptake port such that an accelerated side stream of wind is delivered into the air channel and entrained in the main stream to induce a negative pressure, thereby forming the united stream with an increased velocity. | 09-26-2013 |
20130272847 | VARIABLE TURBINE/COMPRESSOR GEOMETRY - A variable turbine geometry may have a blade bearing ring and guide blades, each rotatably mounted therein via one of a plurality of respective blade bearing pins. An adjusting ring for adjusting the rotary position of the guide blades may be arranged on a side of the blade bearing ring facing away from the guide blades. The cover disc may define through-openings aligned with the blade bearing pins of the guide blades. The blade bearing ring may define at least one channel configured to create a pressure equalization between the control space and the flow space. | 10-17-2013 |
20130287543 | DOWN WIND FLUID TURBINE - A shrouded fluid turbine includes a support structure, a nacelle body rotationally coupled to the support structure and configured to pivot about a pivot axis passing through the support structure, a rotor coupled to the nacelle body and having a rotor plane passing therethrough, the rotor plane being offset from the pivot axis, and an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud surrounding the rotor and having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a plurality of mixing elements disposed therein. A center of pressure may be located downstream of the rotor plane with respect to direction of a fluid flow, and a combination of the nacelle body, the rotor, and the aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud may be configured to pivot about the pivot axis in response to a force exerted on the combination by the fluid flow such that the leading edge faces into the direction of the fluid flow. | 10-31-2013 |
20130294885 | AUGMENTED FLUID TURBINE WITH RETRACTABLE WALL PANELS AND AERODYNAMIC DEFLECTORS - A fluid turbine apparatus for use with a turbine comprising a convergent section, a fluid turbine section adjacent to an outlet of the convergent section, and a divergent section adjacent to the fluid turbine section. The fluid enters through the convergent section and exits through the divergent section. The convergent and divergent sections are constructed using a modular grid-like structure supporting retractable wall panels. The internal vacuum created by the diffuser and the wind shear stresses on the convergent and divergent sections can be limited. Configurations of the convergent and divergent sections can be adjusted to suit prevailing wind velocities. Barriers of rotating deflectors are used to increase the effective area of the convergent and divergent sections during low wind conditions. Horizontally mounted aerodynamic deflectors may be used to decrease wind shear and drag on the divergent section, the turbine section, and on side walls of the convergent section. | 11-07-2013 |
20130315702 | BANDED TURBINE - A banded turbine configuration has an integral outer band support structure capable of providing two point simple support for a multiplicity of blades. A large scale vertical array has a set of twelve 23 m-diameter banded turbines with up to nine blades and resting on an Open Web Steel Joist (OWSJ) platform. The banded turbine configuration is supported off of a main shaft hub assembly, which is supported by forward and aft pillow block bearing assemblies. The banded turbine allows for a protective screen for bird- and bat-kill prevention. Each banded turbine employs DC alternators to provide a switchable output which is subsequently fed to a dedicated set of high efficiency grid-compatible solid state invertors or, alternatively, to energy storage. | 11-28-2013 |
20140255151 | Fluid Turbine With Slip Ring - Example embodiments are directed to fluid turbines that include a turbine shroud and a rotor assembly disposed within the turbine shroud. The rotor assembly includes a nacelle pivotally engageable with a tower structure and a slip ring disposed within the nacelle. The slip ring electrically connects one or more cables in the nacelle to one or more cables in the tower structure. The slip ring is engaged with the nacelle by a mounting apparatus which allows movement of the slip ring along at least one of an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis. Example embodiments are further directed to methods of maintaining untwisted electric cables in a fluid turbine. | 09-11-2014 |
20140321974 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM - A wind turbine system having a street light having an upright support or post on which is mounted a canopy housing any suitable lighting gear, and a wind turbine mounted above the canopy and operable to generate electrical energy with which to power the light, the canopy being adapted to augment the flow of air through the wind turbine. | 10-30-2014 |
20150354529 | Super Turbine for water wind and concentrated solar with accelerated flow - My invention relates to turbines used in linear flowing current such as rivers, canals, any ocean current including tidal flow ebb and flood, wind and concentrated solar. It will Accelerate the incoming current when it arrives at the intake chamber with the intensifying flow guide and the second acceleration occurs when the current changes from the large rectangular opening to the smaller round opening of the turbine, and the third acceleration occurs when it flows through the openings in the transition plate and enter the vanes of the turbine. The openings in the transition plate can be of many different sizes to provide the desired ratio to get the accelerated flow speed for a suitable installation site where the existing flow rate is low. The openings in the transition plate extend to the outside wall of the turbine. A plurality of vanes, uniformly spaced around the turbine, and drive an alternator to produce electricity that will be charged in to the grid or to the locale power provider. | 12-10-2015 |