A modular, electricity generating apparatus comprises an elongate, central member comprising a first end and a second end; at least one foil disposed about the central member in fluid interacting relation thereto; the solar foil comprising an outer surface having photovoltaic properties; the first end and the second end dimensioned and configured to be connected to a connecting node; and, the elongate central member at least partially formed of an electrically conductive material and configured to conduct electricity from at least one of the connecting nodes to the other of the connecting nodes.

A transportation vehicle may be equipped with electrical energy harvesting systems to harvest electrical energy for use. By way of example, in the transportation vehicle, a Venturi system may be used to receive an air flow and the speed of the air flow increase in a constricted area of the Venturi system, the air flow containing a large amount of kinetic energy. A plurality of electrical energy harvesting systems is disposed in the Venturi system and is configured to convert the kinetic energy contained in the accelerated air flow into electrical energy that can be used to power on-board electronics as well as one or more on-board batteries in the transportation vehicle, as the transportation vehicle is in motion.

A wind power plant includes a shrouded wind turbine having an annular shroud which defines a longitudinal axis and which is rotationally symmetrical thereto. A radially inner upper side of the shroud forms a flow channel for the wind, wherein a propeller which can rotate about the longitudinal axis and is intended for driving an electrical generator is rotatably mounted in the flow channel. A support, which defines a support longitudinal direction, has arranged thereon an annular shroud bearing element on which the shroud, and hence the wind turbine, can be mounted in different pivoting positions about a pivot axis, which extends transversely with respect to the support longitudinal direction.

A wind power plant includes a shrouded wind turbine having an annular shroud which defines a longitudinal axis and which is rotationally symmetrical thereto. A radially inner upper side of the shroud forms a flow channel for the wind, wherein a propeller which can rotate about the longitudinal axis and is intended for driving an electrical generator is rotatably mounted in the flow channel. A support, which defines a support longitudinal direction, has arranged thereon an annular shroud bearing element on which the shroud, and hence the wind turbine, can be mounted in different pivoting positions about a pivot axis, which extends transversely with respect to the support longitudinal direction.

Embodiments herein describe in-plane vibration damping techniques for MR turbines. The MR turbines can include arms that extend from a common tower and support multiple rotors. Because the rotors are disposed laterally away from the tower, side-to-side motion of the tower causes the rotors to have an angled trajectory that includes both lateral and vertical displacement. In addition, a rotor disposed on one side of the tower in MR turbine can have a very different trajectory than a rotor disposed on the opposite side of the tower. To account for the vertical displacement and the different trajectories, in one embodiment, a controller can use different phase offsets for each rotor when calculating pitch offsets for performing in-plane vibration damping. In another embodiment, the controller can use both the lateral and vertical accelerations of the rotors to identify the pitch offsets for the rotors to perform in-plane vibration damping.

Embodiments herein describe in-plane vibration damping techniques for MR turbines. The MR turbines can include arms that extend from a common tower and support multiple rotors. Because the rotors are disposed laterally away from the tower, side-to-side motion of the tower causes the rotors to have an angled trajectory that includes both lateral and vertical displacement. In addition, a rotor disposed on one side of the tower in MR turbine can have a very different trajectory than a rotor disposed on the opposite side of the tower. To account for the vertical displacement and the different trajectories, in one embodiment, a controller can use different phase offsets for each rotor when calculating pitch offsets for performing in-plane vibration damping. In another embodiment, the controller can use both the lateral and vertical accelerations of the rotors to identify the pitch offsets for the rotors to perform in-plane vibration damping.

The Wind Wall is a solid structure composed of one or more Wind Cells, arranged adjacently, one next to the other, in an orderly and symmetrical way, in such a way that as a whole they form a continuous structure of Wind Cells, sustainable by itself and modular along the three physical dimensions, where each Wind Cell has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, where the internal surface comprised from the inlet opening to the outlet opening has the shape of an extrados (upper face) blade profile in revolution, and where the inlet opening and the outlet opening are of equal or substantially equal dimensions.

The Wind Cell, being the constructive component of the Wind Wall, is an aerodynamic structure specially designed to increase the wind speed within a critical space and, therefore, increase the wind power available to be used by the rotor of a Wind Turbine. The increase in wind speed is achieved through the deliberate creation of environments with high pressure differentials and, at the same time, environments dedicated to maintaining laminar wind flow and mitigating turbulent flow.

The Wind Wall is by itself a new generation of Wind Systems based not only on the aerodynamic efficiency of the Wind Turbine, but also on the aerodynamic efficiency of the structure and environment surrounding the Wind Turbine. In this sense, the new generation of Wind Systems, based on the application of the Wind Wall, will be able to increase the wind speed and, therefore, increase the density of the underlying power, given the same wind resource available in nature, allowing this way a general increase in the capacity of generating electric power.

The present disclosure relates to wind turbines comprising a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a wind turbine rotor with a plurality of blades, and a wind turbine generator operatively coupled with the wind turbine rotor. The wind turbine further comprise one or more auxiliary wind energy converters arranged with the nacelle. The present disclosure further relates to methods for providing power to an auxiliary system of a wind turbine.

A multi-stage wind power extractor includes a tunnel and at least two turbines. The tunnel is circular in a cross-section and has a horizontal axis, first and second open ends, and a length that is greater than a diameter of the tunnel. The tunnel diameter progressively increases from the first open end to the second open end. The turbines are arranged in spaced relation within and coaxial with the tunnel. Each includes a rotor having a plurality of radially extending blades, a controller connected with the rotor, and a motor connected with the controller. The controllers independently engage and disengage their respective rotors in accordance with a wind velocity travelling through the tunnel from the first open end to the second. In turn, when a rotor is engaged, the motor provides power to a generator that is connected therewith.

A multi-stage wind power extractor includes a tunnel and at least two turbines. The tunnel is circular in a cross-section and has a horizontal axis, first and second open ends, and a length that is greater than a diameter of the tunnel. The tunnel diameter progressively increases from the first open end to the second open end. The turbines are arranged in spaced relation within and coaxial with the tunnel. Each includes a rotor having a plurality of radially extending blades, a controller connected with the rotor, and a motor connected with the controller. The controllers independently engage and disengage their respective rotors in accordance with a wind velocity travelling through the tunnel from the first open end to the second. In turn, when a rotor is engaged, the motor provides power to a generator that is connected therewith.