A system and method for improving efficiency of vertical axis wind turbines for all wind directions, comprising an inlet convergent section, a wind turbine section adjacent to exit of convergent section and an outlet divergent section. The system provides an air passage through the inlet section, the wind turbine and the outlet section, and allows for variation of the inlet and outlet depending on wind direction, in order to maximize efficiency harnessed within a time interval in accordance to wind direction and wind speed.

The wind turbine includes a rotor 6 and a stator 1 mounted coaxially therewith and provided with lower 2 and upper 3 bases interconnected by vertical guide vanes 4 of the stator, oriented outward. A confuser 22 with blades 23 is mounted on the lower base 2, and a diffuser 9 is mounted above the stator 1. A lower disc 10 of the diffuser is rigidly attached to an upper part 11 of the diffuser that serves as the upper base 3 of the stator. Lower 19 and upper 16 half-axles of rotation of the rotor are installed in upper 21 and lower 17 supports, respectively. A rotor body 7 is made in the form of a hollow truncated cone tapering upward having a curvilinear surface. Rotor blades 8 have a curvilinear surface, preferably of hyperbolic shape, and are installed on an outer surface of the rotor body 7. Upper 13 and lower 14 impellers with curvilinear blades 15 and 20 are mounted inside the rotor body. A rotor fan 25 is additionally installed inside a cavity 24 of the lower disc 10 of the diffuser 9. The blades of the fan are wrapped around the upper part of the outer surface of the rotor body 7. Spacing of the blades of the upper impeller 13 is chosen to be greater than a blade spacing of the fan 25.

Wind turbine according to the invention has at least one movable guide consisting of two rectangular wings (14) and (15) set in one plane and fixed with one edge to mounted shaft (11) set parallel to the axis of the turbine (2) and in such way that the edge of the first wing (14) is tangential, with small space, to the edge of the bar (10) which is an extension of the guide vane (4) of the body (3) and is set in the same plane as guide vane (4), where the edge of the first wing (14) rests on resilient members (16) fixed to the bar (10), and spread of the second wing (15) is smaller than the spread of the first wing (14) and the shaft (11) is connected to drive mechanism (13) equipped with positional switch, where the drive mechanism (13) is connected to control system.

A vertical axis wind turbine system having a vertical mast with one or more turbine units supported thereon. The turbine units are of modular construction for assembly around the foot of the mast; are vertically moveable along the height of the mast by a winch system; and are selectively interlocking with the mast to fix the turbine units in parked positions. The turbine system and each turbine unit includes a network of portals and interior rooms for the passage of personnel through the system, including each turbine unit. The electrical generators, and other sub-components, in the turbine units are of modular construction that permits the selective removal and replacement of component segments, including the transport of component segments through the portals and interior rooms of the turbine system while the turbine units remain supported on the mast. The electrical generators are also selectively convertible between AC generators and DC generators.

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 high efficiency induced-flow wind power system engages and converts both potential (to-pull) and kinetic (to-push) wind energies to effective airflow power, delivering induced (accelerated) airflow power in a controlled flow field to a turbine/rotor, impelling a 360-degree torque on the turbine/rotor and, as a result, extracting (converting) more than 80% of the combined effective wind power to mechanical power. The induced push-pull effect results in higher efficiency wind-to-mechanical power extraction (conversion). The induced-flow wind power system can be coupled with (i) an electrical generator, inverter/converter for generating AC and DC power, (ii) pressurized vessel for effective energy storage (iii) a pressurized structure, such as an air supported structure, to ensure its structural integrity. The Induced-Flow Wind System embodiment comprises: a passive-flow nozzle, an active-flow nozzles and a turbine encased in housing interposed within the flow field of the active-flow nozzle and coupled with an electrical generator or a compressor.

Wind turbine systems with wind directors are disclosed. The wind director is configured to simultaneously reduce drag force applied to a returning blade and increase force applied to an advancing blade. In some embodiments, the wind director includes an inlet having an inlet width configured to receive wind at a proximal end, and an outlet having an outlet width on a distal end opposite the proximal end. The wind director is configured to position near a wind turbine such that wind exiting the outlet is applied to an advancing blade of the wind turbine. Furthermore, the wind director provides a barrier to a returning blade opposite the first blade, thereby reducing drag force applied thereto. The wind director may further comprise a secondary duct which has an angled outlet and is configured to apply an additional force to the returning blade.

An apparatus for electricity generation is provided. The apparatus includes an air handling unit which absorbs air from an atmosphere and regulates a velocity of flow of the air. The apparatus also includes a hollow chamber which includes a first end and a second end, and provides a passage for the air. Further, the apparatus includes at least two conduits which includes an inlet end and an outlet end respectively, and receives the air from the hollow chamber. The apparatus also includes an electric power generation unit which includes a rotor which rotates at a pre-defined rotation speed, an electricity generator which generates a pre-defined amount of electricity and multiple outlets which releases the air. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a power management unit, wherein an electric power supply from the electric power generation unit is fed back to power the air handling unit.

Disclosed are vertical axis turbines comprising: a turbine shaft; a plurality of helicoidal blades mounted on the turbine shaft, each blade comprising a front face and a rear face; and a plurality of venturis, each venturi comprising a channel extending through each of the plurality of blades from the front face thereof to the rear face thereof.

A coupling system for coupling a curved object to a central shaft, the curved object includes an inner surface facing the central shaft and an outer surface. The system includes a coupling member for coupling the curved object to the central shaft; at least one pocket integrally formed on a curved surface of the curved object and defined as a depression with respect to at least one of the inner and outer surfaces. The pocket includes: a flat portion having an aperture for holding the coupling member; and a flange portion which merges continuously from the flat portion to the curved object and is shaped such that the flat portion is disposed perpendicularly to the coupling member; a fastening member for fastening the coupling member to the flat portion. The thickness of the flat portion and flange portion is the thickness of the curved object.