This disclosure includes various embodiments of apparatuses for encapsulating and stopping a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) to extract the kinetic energy from the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of systems comprising a plurality of the present apparatuses coupled together and/or one or more of the present apparatuses in combination with one or more flow resistance modifiers (FRMs). This disclosure also includes various embodiments of methods of extracting kinetic energy from a flowing mass of fluid (e.g., liquid such as water, or gas such as air) by stopping the mass, and for exhausting the mass once stopped (spent mass, from which kinetic energy has been extracted). This disclosure also includes embodiments of mechanical energy-storage or accumulation devices.

A rotor blade for a wind turbine has a rotor blade root defining a reference plane for attachment to a hub. Adjacent to the rotor blade root is a profile region extending to the rotor blade tip. In the profile region, the rotor blade has a blade profile defining a chord. The chord angle between the reference plane and the chord increases over the entire profile region, from the rotor blade root towards the rotor blade tip.

A rotor blade for a wind turbine has a rotor blade root defining a reference plane for attachment to a hub. Adjacent to the rotor blade root is a profile region extending to the rotor blade tip. In the profile region, the rotor blade has a blade profile defining a chord. The chord angle between the reference plane and the chord increases over the entire profile region, from the rotor blade root towards the rotor blade tip.

A modular wind turbine system and a method of use thereof are provided. The system comprises: a mounting frame; a fixed toroidal support structure attached to the mounting frame, the toroidal support structure having a concave portion and a convex portion; a wind turbine located proximal to the concave portion of the toroidal support structure, wherein the wind turbine travels about at least a portion of the concave portion of the toroidal support structure; and a first baffle, wherein the first baffle extends about the portion of the concave portion of the toroidal support structure about which the first turbine travels, wherein the baffle surrounds a portion of the wind turbine opposite the fixed toroidal support structure, and wherein the baffle includes at least one component selectively variably adjustable so as to vary the force, direction, or disruption of flow of fluid thereby, relative to the wind turbine.

A modular wind turbine system and a method of use thereof are provided. The system comprises: a mounting frame; a fixed toroidal support structure attached to the mounting frame, the toroidal support structure having a concave portion and a convex portion; a wind turbine located proximal to the concave portion of the toroidal support structure, wherein the wind turbine travels about at least a portion of the concave portion of the toroidal support structure; and a first baffle, wherein the first baffle extends about the portion of the concave portion of the toroidal support structure about which the first turbine travels, wherein the baffle surrounds a portion of the wind turbine opposite the fixed toroidal support structure, and wherein the baffle includes at least one component selectively variably adjustable so as to vary the force, direction, or disruption of flow of fluid thereby, relative to the wind turbine.

An airflow guiding device for the sound- and pressure-optimized supply of an airflow to an inlet nozzle of a fan, in particular a radial fan, wherein the inlet nozzle has a nozzle input opening with an incident flow angle, the airflow guiding device having: a frame device which extends along a longitudinal axis in an axial direction with a height between an inlet opening, through which the airflow flows into the frame device in an operating state, and an outlet opening, through which the airflow flows out of the frame device in the operating state, wherein the inlet opening has an inlet cross section with a minimum inlet cross-sectional width, and the outlet opening has an outlet cross section with a minimum outlet cross-sectional width which corresponds to the minimum inlet cross-sectional width or which is smaller than the minimum inlet cross-sectional width, and the frame device comprises a flow duct which connects the inlet opening and the outlet opening in terms of flow, wherein the outlet opening is configured to be connected in terms of flow to the inlet nozzle of the fan in the operating state, characterized in that the height of the frame device according to the following formula h≥(D−d)/(2.Math.tan(β)) corresponds to a ratio of a difference of the minimum inlet cross-sectional width and a diameter of the inlet nozzle and double the value of the tangent of the incident flow angle or is greater than the ratio, and a grid element, which is arranged on the inlet opening.

An airflow guiding device for the sound- and pressure-optimized supply of an airflow to an inlet nozzle of a fan, in particular a radial fan, wherein the inlet nozzle has a nozzle input opening with an incident flow angle, the airflow guiding device having: a frame device which extends along a longitudinal axis in an axial direction with a height between an inlet opening, through which the airflow flows into the frame device in an operating state, and an outlet opening, through which the airflow flows out of the frame device in the operating state, wherein the inlet opening has an inlet cross section with a minimum inlet cross-sectional width, and the outlet opening has an outlet cross section with a minimum outlet cross-sectional width which corresponds to the minimum inlet cross-sectional width or which is smaller than the minimum inlet cross-sectional width, and the frame device comprises a flow duct which connects the inlet opening and the outlet opening in terms of flow, wherein the outlet opening is configured to be connected in terms of flow to the inlet nozzle of the fan in the operating state, characterized in that the height of the frame device according to the following formula h≥(D−d)/(2.Math.tan(β)) corresponds to a ratio of a difference of the minimum inlet cross-sectional width and a diameter of the inlet nozzle and double the value of the tangent of the incident flow angle or is greater than the ratio, and a grid element, which is arranged on the inlet opening.

A wind-powered generator includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a throat that are coaxial about an axis of symmetry of the housing. A nacelle includes a first rotor mounted on a first end of the nacelle and positioned at least partially within the inlet, the first rotor outputting a first power output, and a second rotor mounted on a second end of the nacelle, the second rotor being positioned at least partially within the outlet and having a diameter less than the first rotor. The second rotor outputting a second power output. The first and second power outputs are combined to provide a combined power output, and a nacelle ratio between outer diameters of the nacelle at the inlet and at the outlet is between about 1.60-1.70, and a housing ratio between inner diameters of the housing at the inlet and at the outlet is about 1.85-1.97.

A wind-powered generator includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a throat that are coaxial about an axis of symmetry of the housing. A nacelle includes a first rotor mounted on a first end of the nacelle and positioned at least partially within the inlet, the first rotor outputting a first power output, and a second rotor mounted on a second end of the nacelle, the second rotor being positioned at least partially within the outlet and having a diameter less than the first rotor. The second rotor outputting a second power output. The first and second power outputs are combined to provide a combined power output, and a nacelle ratio between outer diameters of the nacelle at the inlet and at the outlet is between about 1.60-1.70, and a housing ratio between inner diameters of the housing at the inlet and at the outlet is about 1.85-1.97.

A fluid power-extraction machine is immersed in an ambient flow of a fluid, captures (and extracts energy from) a portion of the fluid, and discharges it back into the ambient flow. The machine includes a housing bounding a fluid intake inlet and including an ambient flow deflector, a downstream body arranged rearwardly from the deflector and forming a discharge outlet between the deflector and the downstream body, and a power extraction device in a fluid flow channel communicating from the fluid intake inlet to the discharge outlet. The deflector outwardly deflects and accelerates a portion of the ambient flow adjacent to the discharge outlet. A mixing surface of the downstream body extends outwardly and rearwardly from the discharge outlet, mixing the accelerated flow, the discharged flow and the ambient flow together along the mixing surface. A backflow preventer of the downstream body prevents wake backflow from impeding discharge of spent flow at the discharge outlet.