Examples of a device for generating electrical power are provided, including a rotor element, a stator element and an electrical generator. The rotor element includes a rotor axis, and the rotor element configured for turning about said rotor axis responsive to an airflow being applied thereto. The stator element is configured for directing the airflow from an outside of the device towards said rotor element. The electrical generator is coupled to the rotor element and is configured for being driven by rotation of the rotor element about the rotor axis to thereby generate electrical power. The device is configured for being affixed with respect to a surface such that the device projects above the surface by an external maximum vertical dimension. The rotor axis is nominally orthogonal to the surface, at least in operation of the device. The external maximum vertical dimension is less than 1 meter.

Provided is a wind power installation for converting the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy of rotation of a rotor for subsequent conversion of the mechanical energy of rotation into the electrical energy. A wind power installation includes a support frame, a shaft disposed on the support frame, and a blade system mounted on the shaft. The shaft is configured to rotate about a vertical axis and is functionally connected to an electric generator. The support frame is configured to be mounted between at least three radially arranged structures. The wind power installation can include additional blade systems disposed one above another on the shaft. Mounting the support frame between three radially arranged structures results in greater rigidity and robustness of the wind power installation, thus enabling the use of blade systems having a larger blade area and the arrangement of several blade systems on the shaft.

Provided is a wind power installation for converting the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy of rotation of a rotor for subsequent conversion of the mechanical energy of rotation into the electrical energy. A wind power installation includes a support frame, a shaft disposed on the support frame, and a blade system mounted on the shaft. The shaft is configured to rotate about a vertical axis and is functionally connected to an electric generator. The support frame is configured to be mounted between at least three radially arranged structures. The wind power installation can include additional blade systems disposed one above another on the shaft. Mounting the support frame between three radially arranged structures results in greater rigidity and robustness of the wind power installation, thus enabling the use of blade systems having a larger blade area and the arrangement of several blade systems on the shaft.

A fluid-driven power generation unit, may include two sets of airfoils disposed on opposite sides of the power generation unit with their leading edges facing a windward end of the power generation unit; a body element having a curved front face and a back disposed, wherein at least a portion of the elongate body element is disposed between the first and second set of airfoils; and a power generation unit disposed in alignment with the body element, the power generation unit including at least a housing, and a turbine and an electrical generation unit actuated by the turbine disposed within the housing. As a fluid flows across the airfoils, the lifting force of the airfoils causes a reduced pressure within the power generation unit, drawing air past the turbine, through the body element and out the back of the body element, thereby extracting power from this secondary fluid flow stream.

A fluid-driven power generation unit, may include two sets of airfoils disposed on opposite sides of the power generation unit with their leading edges facing a windward end of the power generation unit; a body element having a curved front face and a back disposed, wherein at least a portion of the elongate body element is disposed between the first and second set of airfoils; and a power generation unit disposed in alignment with the body element, the power generation unit including at least a housing, and a turbine and an electrical generation unit actuated by the turbine disposed within the housing. As a fluid flows across the airfoils, the lifting force of the airfoils causes a reduced pressure within the power generation unit, drawing air past the turbine, through the body element and out the back of the body element, thereby extracting power from this secondary fluid flow stream.

A multistage wind turbine or network of wind turbines with improved and optimized wind-directing, wind-shaping, and wind-power conversion features indicates that the shapes of these features directly affect the ability of the multistage wind turbine to use the power of moving air, such as wind, to spin a rotor and create torque on a rotor shaft to generate electricity. The wind-power-conversion mechanical efficiency described significantly improves upon previous designs by conversion of wind energy into electrical power at a superior price-to-performance ratio compared with existing alternative energy technologies.

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.

The present invention is an energy storage system comprising a mechanical bellows having an outer flexible material casing with one or more functional elements that operate as actuators for expanding and contracting the outer flexible material casing to store or deliver energy.

The apparatus comprises: a cylinder having an opening presenting perpendicular to a flow of air in use such that, in use, air flows through the cylinder; and means for generating power based upon the flow of air through the cylinder.

The electrical power generation system using renewable energy is particularly adapted to provide electrical power to an independent or remotely situated electrical device such as a street light, emergency call box, or illuminated road sign. The system includes a pivotally mounted venturi with vanes assuring that the venturi is oriented into the prevailing wind. A vertical axis wind turbine is installed in the venturi throat, and drives a shaft extending through the column upon which the venturi is installed to a generator at the base of the column. The venturi and vanes may include photovoltaic cells thereon for further electrical power. The venturi may be heated from a geothermal source, and may include a variable diameter internal wall to adjust the cross-sectional area of the throat of the venturi. The use of functionally graded materials and other phase change materials may also improve the performance of the device.