COMBINED OMNIDIRECTIONAL FLOW TURBINE SYSTEM

Abstract

A combined omnidirectional flow turbine system includes rotors that are disposed in a vertical position and enclosed in a motionless structure that receives air flows from any external direction which are manipulated by an airfoil to cause the rotors to rotate. The rotors can be connected to a transformation element, which transforms mechanical energy generated by the rotation of the rotors into electrical energy. The motionless structure is a hollow body and it is formed by a support structure and cover, being said interior space adapted to store electronic components, which can be directly supplied by the energy, produced.

Claims

1. Combined omnidirectional flow turbine comprising: one or more rotors placed in a vertical position, each of the one or more rotors including blades; a motionless structure comprising a single aerodynamic element with the shape of an inverted radial wing surrounding laterally the one or more rotors therein and including an inner sidewall which is continuously curved and bulges inwardly extending in a direction toward the one or more rotors from bottom intake flow to top exhaust flow; an energy transformation element connected to the one or more rotors to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy; said combined omnidirectional flow turbine characterized by the motionless structure being a hollow body comprising: a support structure and a cover, said cover being mounted to the support structure through a fixation mechanism, wherein the interior space of the motionless structure is adapted to store at least one electronic component; and an electronic supply adaptation circuit, connected to the energy transformation element, configured to actuate said at least one electronic component.

2. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein each of the sidewalls of the motionless structure includes one or more airfoil components.

3. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the blades of the one or more rotors comprise composite materials, magnesium alloys or injected polymers.

4. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the turbine employs secondary flows from HVAC systems.

5. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the energy transformation element is disposed in a center area of the turbine.

6. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the energy transformation element is an electric generator.

7. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the top cover's outer surface of the motionless structure is covered with photovoltaic cells.

8. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the fixation mechanism between the support structure and the cover of the motionless structure is screw type.

9. The turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting mast connected to the support structure.

10. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the motionless structure comprises a metallic material, a composite material, a concrete or textile material.

11. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the motionless structure surface is of a radiofrequency-wave-transparent material.

12. The turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a Peltier device.

13. The turbine according to claim 1, comprising lighting systems mounted in the lower part of the motionless structure.

14. Luminaire comprising the turbine as described in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0056] For an easier understanding of the invention we attach hereto the figures that represent preferred embodiments of the invention but do not intend to serve as a constraint to the object of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in isometric view of the device of the inventionOption of a structure with a single aerodynamic element with the shape of an inverted wing. In this figure the following elements are comprised:

1motionless structure;
2central rotor;
3rotor blade;
6brim.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation in isometric view of the device of the inventionOption of a structure with two aerodynamic elements in shape of an inverted wing. In this figure the following elements are comprised:

1motionless structure;
2central rotor;
3rotor blade;
6brim
9aerodynamic multi-elements.

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a side view of the device with two multi-elements. In this figure the following elements are comprised:

1motionless structure;
2central rotor;
4element for the transformation of the mechanical energy namely an electric generator;
5lower flow;
6brim;
7mounting mast;
9aerodynamic multi-element;
12support structure.

[0060] FIG. 3a is a view of a modified embodiment which is only different from FIG. 3 in that photovoltaic cells (6a, 9a) cover the outer surface of the structure (6, 9).

[0061] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side view of the flow through the device. In this figure the following elements are comprised:

1motionless structure;
5lower flow;
6brim;
10vorticity
11upper flow.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a side view of a preferred embodiment of a 3 meter device, where: [0063] the angle of the 1st wing can vary between 5415, the dimensions between 0.7 m0.5 m; [0064] the angle of the 2nd wing can vary between 215, the dimensions between 0.7 m0.5 m; [0065] the dimension of the rotor varies between 0.55 m0.2 m; [0066] the dimension of the deflector between 0.15 m+(0.3 m; 0.15 m).

[0067] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a side view of possible arrangements of the aerodynamic multi-elements of the inverted wing with, namely, 1, 2, 3 elements that may, on the other hand, see their angle vary.

[0068] FIG. 7 illustrates the inside space of the motionless structure, comprising the following elements:

12support structure;
13cover;
14photovoltaic cells;
15battery;

16LED;

[0069] 17fixation mechanism.

EXAMPLE OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0070] Referring to the figures, it will be now described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0071] The device of the invention consists of a motionless inverted wing structure (1), with a large area of exposure to the flow. This motionless structure (1) can also be divided in at least two or more aerodynamic elements, i.e., multi-elements (9) in order to improve its performance. The aerodynamic elements can also have slots and slats to ensure enhanced flow attachment and prevent stall in the wing.

[0072] The present device operates with two combined flows as indicated in FIG. 4, the lower flow (5) and the upper flow (11).

[0073] In the upper flow (11), the fluid becomes attached to the surfaces of the aerodynamic profile (1; 9) and is directed upwards to the tip of the blades (3) of the central rotor (2), regardless of the angle of incidence of the wind in the structure. The air is accelerated by the shape of inverted wing as it approaches the central rotor (2).

[0074] The rotor (2) is located in the center of the diffuser that is supported by a support structure (12) and fixed to the ground by a mounting mast (7).

[0075] The combined flow is caused by the combination of the upper and lower flow. At the top of the structure there is an aerodynamic brim deflector (6) that generates vorticity (10) that, on the other hand, generates a low pressure zone over the central rotor (2), which enhances the speed of the exhaust flow (11).

[0076] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device of the invention can make use of aerodynamic elements to improve the performance and minimize the losses resulting from directing the flow to the central turbine (2; 3) being possible to use vortex generators in the surface of the structure (1; 9) and/or texture surfaces to maximize fluid attachment, as well as additional aerodynamic profiles in the central mounting pole.

[0077] The central rotor (2) can use blades (3) of variable pitch. With this use, the system automatically optimizes the produced power for a determined wind speed and rotation of the central rotor (2).

[0078] As it is evident, the central rotor (2) used in the device according to the invention may assume different aerodynamic profiles as well as the number of blades (3) can vary in order to obtain better results for a specific usage, namely 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 blades as well as a twin rotor.

[0079] The structure (1) may be made with aerodynamic profiles of different shapes. The shape and the angles of attack in relation to the approaching flow are, thus, variable. In the same way the same invention can be conceived so that the air intake can, alternatively, direct the flow in a descending direction. The structure (1) is hollow body, and is formed by a support structure (12) and a cover (13), being the cover (13) mounted in the support structure (12) through a fixation mechanism (17), for example of a screw type. The detachment between support structure (12) and cover (13) allows the use of the interior space of the motionless structure (1) as a storage medium for, but not exclusively to, electronic components, such as batteries (15) or communication devices. These components will be supplied directly from the energy produced by the turbine by means of an electronic supply adaptation circuit, also installed inside the diffuser, connected to energy transforming element. In one embodiment, the energy transforming element is an electrical generator.

[0080] The structure (1) can be fabricated in a solid version in a metal such as steel, aluminum or fiberglass composite. Due to the fact that telecommunication devices can be stored inside the structure (1), in one embodiment, it can be fabricated in a radiofrequency-wave-transparent material.

[0081] The structure (1) can be made also with reinforced building materials such as concrete that can be used for larger scales or in environments such as water. The structure can be also manufactured with flexible materials like a sail, or a wing where the shape is made from sections and covered by a resistant film. This method has the advantage of presenting a very low weight and can be more economically viable for some scales of the product.

[0082] In an embodiment of the invention, the combined omnidirectional flow turbine system comprises lighting systems, such as LEDs (16).

[0083] In an embodiment of the invention, the motionless structure of the omnidirectional flow turbine system is coveredin the top surface of the cover (13)with photovoltaic cells (14).

[0084] In one specific embodiment, the omnidirectional flow turbine system is embedded with lightning systems resulting on an interior and/or exterior luminaire. In such case, the lighting systems can be embedded on the inverted radial wing, being fed from the energy produced by the turbine and additional power sources, such as from the photovoltaic cells (14) mounted on the cover's (13) top surface of the motionless structure (1).

[0085] In an embodiment of the invention, the combined omnidirectional flow turbine system comprises at least two rotors with contra rotation. In this application, it is considered that contra rotation is the fact that the rotors move in opposite directions.

[0086] In an embodiment of the invention, the combined omnidirectional flow turbine system comprises a Peltier devicethermoelectric generatorto explore the thermal difference between its components in order to generate additional power. In one embodiment, the Peltier device can be connected to the hot surface of the photovoltaic cells (14) and/or LED lighting (16) and to a cold surface of the outer surface of the motionless structure (1).

[0087] The above described preferred embodiments are obviously combinable among themselves. The following claims additionally define preferred embodiments of the present invention.