A vertical axis turbine includes a rotatable hub assembly that is configured to be connected to an energy sink and rotatable about an axis of rotation. At least two blades are mounted on the hub assembly, each blade including a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blades being oriented so that the respective leading edges face in a common rotational direction. Each blade further includes a straight section that is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and two helical sections, the straight section being interposed between the helical sections, and the helical sections extending at least partially around the axis of rotation.

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.

Architecture that harnesses energy from natural atmospheric wind and water currents and self-generated wind and water currents from moving vehicles and natural fluid flow found in nature for moving or stationary applications. The power generation system harnesses energy from natural atmospheric sources utilizing pneumatic and/or hydraulic turbines with compound nozzles, meteorological sensors, computer controlled harmonic resonance valves, a control system, and other components.

A wind concentrator turbine generator has an inlet cavity to concentrate a wind flow to a nozzle aperture. One or more turbine fans are oriented within a turbine cavity such that the concentrated find flow is directed at the turbine fans. A generator is coupled to each of the one or more turbine fans. The generator is scalable from discrete power generation requirements to utility scale power generation. Larger scale generators may be connected to deliver electrical power to regional electrical power grids.

A wind turbine assembly comprising a generally cylindrical wind turbine rotor that is supported by a rotor support and operable to rotate about a rotational axis, the rotor comprising a plurality of aerofoil blades with each aerofoil blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction surface, a pressure surface, and an aerofoil chord having a chord length between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the aerofoil blades being in a generally cylindrical arrangement around the rotational axis with the leading edges at a larger radial separation from the rotational axis than the trailing edges, and the chords being angled relative to radii through the rotational axis such that the suction surfaces and pressure surfaces respectively face generally outwardly and inwardly from and to the rotational axis, wherein the minimum separation (S) between the leading edge of a first aerofoil and the suction surface of an adjacent aerofoil is less than the chord length (L.sub.C), and wherein the location of the maximum thickness of each aerofoil blade (L.sub.Tmax) along the chord (L.sub.C)) is less than 20% of the chord length (L) from the leading edge.

A wind turbine system to provide electrical power in areas not connected to the electrical power grid. The wind turbine system includes a frame and a rotatable shaft supported by the frame. A ring and idler gear assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. An upper rotor assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. The upper rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in a first direction. A lower rotor assembly is coupled to the ring and idler gear assembly. The lower rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a second direction which is opposite of the first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in the first direction via the ring and idler gear assembly.

A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with improved and optimized wind-directing, wind-shaping, and wind-power conversion features is disclosed. The shapes of these features directly affect the ability of the VAWT 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 of the invention is significantly improved over previous efforts, to the point that the invention can convert wind energy into electrical power at a price-to-performance ratio that competes with or surpasses existing alternative energy technologies.

The present invention is a wind direction system. The system includes at least one lower airfoil having a leading edge, front surface, middle surface, rear surface, and trailing edge, and at least one wind turbine mounted above the at least one lower airfoil. The lower airfoil is mounted to a building surface. The front surface of the lower airfoil is angled into an airflow relative to the middle surface. The lower airfoil causes wind airflow traveling over a building to be drawn to an upper surface of the building and be directed towards the wind turbine, resulting greater utilization of the wind and increased power generation through the turbine.

Provided herein is a system and method for heat exchange of a vehicle. The system comprises an enclosure disposed on the vehicle. The enclosure comprises a vent at a base of the enclosure. The enclosure houses one or more sensors. The enclosure comprises a fan disposed at a base of the enclosure. The heat exchange system comprises an deflector disposed on the vehicle outside the enclosure and configured to direct an airflow into the vent of the enclosure. The heat exchange system comprises a motor configured to: generate electricity from the airflow and selectively supply electricity to operate the fan. The heat exchange system comprises a controller configured to adjust the deflector and regulate an amount of electricity supplied from the motor to the fan.

Disclosed is a vertical axis wind turbine air concentration tower with reduced radar cross section. The air concentration tower has a polygonal outer perimeter, a pivot located at each vertex of the polygonal outer perimeter, and an inwardly-positioned rudder blade operatively connected at each pivot. Each inwardly positioned rudder blade has a first wind-neutral position, and is pivotable through a plurality of angles that adjust based on an incoming wind direction, such that the incoming wind is channeled to the vertical axis wind turbine, which is located approximately at a center area of the polygonal outer perimeter. A radar absorbent material is applied to the vertical axis wind turbine air concentration tower to reduce the radar cross section. The air concentration tower is designed to provide higher wind speed to the vertical axis wind turbine than the surrounding ambient air.