A hybrid solar/wind turbine apparatus, which includes a blade and shelf assembly configured to provide wind impulsion and wind capture. The blade and shelf assembly are located between an upper and a lower platform assembly. The blade assembly is helically disposed about an axis, for generating torque. A transmission shaft is in communication with the blade assembly and configured to receive the generated torque. One or more photovoltaic cells are in communication with the blade assembly for photovoltaic energy generation, either alone or in combination, with the torque. A means to integrate and combine the photovoltaic energy generating photovoltaic cells into the wind capturing blade assembly.

A wind turbine device may include four wings. A first wing may include a first leading edge and a first trailing edge, and a second wing may include a second leading edge a second trailing edge. The first and second leading edges may be positioned on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, the first and second trailing edges may be positioned on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, and the first and second leading edges may be positioned relatively further to the axis of rotation than the first and second trailing edges. A third wing may include a third leading edge and a third trailing edge, and a fourth wing may include a fourth leading edge and a fourth trailing edge. The third and fourth trailing edges may be each positioned proximate to the axis of rotation and positioned on opposite sides of the axis of rotation.

A means of reducing fluid density in front of Savonius blades by installing magnus rotors to accelerate onrushing fluid away from the blade itself. Several magnus rotors are mounted on either external side of the centerline of each blade, so as the Savonius rotor is revolved by the surrounding fluid and the magnus rotors are revolved on either side of the centerline in opposite directions, then fluid pressure is reduced and the Savonius rotor's speed is increased. Also, if the magnus rotor is formed from a sheathed flexible shaft and attached to an underlying contoured surface of a vehicle, such as a racing car or a helical Savonius rotor, fluid resistance to the forward motion of the vehicle is reduced.

A dismountable wind power plant with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the wind direction is disclosed. The sail structure may form a Savonius type turbine when the power plant is in tensioned state, having two semicylindrical sails (5) facing opposite directions. Sails (5) are tensioned between transverse bars (6, 7), wherein the transverse bars (6, 7) provide the shape to the sails (5). The wind power plant is tensioned with a cable (8) between two fixed support points (3, 4). In one example the bottom portion of the power plant is connected to lower fixed support point (4) and the cable (8) to upper fixed support point (3). The cable (8) is tightened, causing the soft sail (5) to stiffen into its functional form. A generator (2) receives the rotational energy from the turbine (5, and provides electric power to power outlet. The application also concerns a method for mounting the wind power plant.

A power harvesting device comprising at least one rotor mounted rotatably on a corresponding fixture on a base structure is disclosed. The device is at least partially submerged in a moving fluid and arranged to convert tangential components of fluid dynamic forces of the moving fluid into a first torque component onto the rotor through rotor vanes. In addition, rotor blades are arranged on or between the first rotor vanes to deflect axially moving fluid into a tangential direction to create a second torque component onto the rotor in the same direction as said first torque component. A system comprising a plurality of power harvesting devices with common power transfer means is also disclosed.

A system includes a wind turbine with a vertical axis of rotation; and an electric generator that is configured to generate electrical power from rotational energy of the wind turbine. The wind turbine is adapted to be mounted along of a vertical corner of a building.

A means of reducing fluid density in front of Savonius blades by installing magnus rotors to accelerate onrushing fluid away from the blade itself. Several magnus rotors are mounted on either external side of the centerline of each blade, so as the Savonius rotor is revolved by the surrounding fluid and the magnus rotors are revolved on either side of the centerline in opposite directions, then fluid pressure is reduced and the Savonius rotor's speed is increased. Also, if the magnus rotor is formed from a sheathed flexible shaft and attached to an underlying contoured surface of a vehicle, such as a racing car or a helical Savonius rotor, fluid resistance to the forward motion of the vehicle is reduced.

A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes a shaft rotatable about an axis, a plurality of hubs fixedly attached to the shaft, and a plurality of vanes. The vanes are releasably engaged with each of the plurality of hubs. The vanes disengage from the hubs once the shaft rotates about the axis at a cut-out speed of the wind turbine. In another embodiment, the vanes are releasably engaged with the shaft.

A vertical axis wind turbine with improved safety, production efficiency and greater functional wind speed range. A vertical axis wind turbine comprises turbine blades having geometric characteristics of a yin yang symbol when viewed from the top down. The turbine blades are configured to form a scoop portion for catching wind. The surface area of the scoop portion may be dynamically configured to accommodate power production in higher wind speed ranges by dynamically furling the blades to reduce the surface area of the scoop portion as RPM begins to exceed a safe limit. First and second permanent magnet rotor arrays are dynamically positioned above and below an array of stator coils to maximize power generation.

A fluid turbine has semi-spherical, hollow blades arrayed about a vertical axis. The turbine's blade shape reduces drag on a convex side and increases drag on a concave side. Part of the center of the array of rotor blades is open, allowing flow through the center of the array. The spherical form enhances fluid flow through the center of the array and results in rotational force on a downwind blade, and directs fresh air into bypass flow. A combination of holes and a deflector surface generates vortices as updraft flow passes through holes, creating a pressure differential between the area surrounding the holes and the upper portions of the blade. Fluid passing from relatively higher pressure to relatively lower pressure passes the deflector surface, forming vortices that result in rotational force on the blades of the fluid turbine.