Wind turbine with channels and roof air exhaust
09593666 ยท 2017-03-14
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F03D80/70
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D1/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2240/133
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02B10/30
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F03D1/0608
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D9/25
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D13/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F03D15/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F03B15/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D9/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D1/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
This wind turbine is enclosed in a housing structure with a bell shaped opening and a stack effect created on the roof. One side of the housing, facing the wind, opens up to receive air. The air that enters the housing is divided into multiple chambers. The chambers and turning vanes guide the air directly to the blades and help in minimizing air turbulence. The blades are angled to receive the maximum amount of the air. The air rotates the blades turning the rotor, converting mechanical rotation into electrical power. There is a horizontal rotor attached to vertical shaft which is used to generate electrical energy. The stack effect on the roof creates a negative air flow aiding in turning the rotor.
Claims
1. A wind powered turbine assembly comprising: an enclosure that defines an interior space wherein the enclosure defines openings through which air can flow into the enclosure and wherein the interior space defines two adjacent vertical columns; a rotor having a plurality of fan blades positioned within the enclosure, wherein the rotor is mounted so as to have an axis of rotation that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the airflow; a plurality of channels formed in the enclosure so as to direct air from the openings to the rotor wherein the channels are formed into a first and second group such that a first group is directed towards a first column and the second group are adjusted toward the second column; and wherein the enclosure defines an exhaust stack from which air can be extracted from the enclosure after inducing the rotor to rotate.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has multiple stories and the channels extend along each of the multiple stories.
3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the channels are curved and wherein turning vanes are included in the channels to facilitate flow of air.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the exhaust stack has an opening that is sized to be approximately the same size as the rotor.
5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a flange extends about the exterior surface of the exhaust stack opening to shelter the rotor from external air flow and to create a negative pressure to draw air out of the interior space of the enclosure.
6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising screens that inhibit the entry of animals into the interior space.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is cylindrical.
8. A wind powered turbine assembly comprising: an enclosure that define an interior space and at least one side wall wherein an opening is formed in at least one side wall and wherein the interior space defines two adjacent vertical columns; an air scope assembly mounted to the at least one side wall wherein the air scope assembly has a surface area greater than the at least one opening and gathers wind to deliver to the at least one opening; a rotor assembly positioned within the enclosure wherein the rotor assembly includes a rotor that rotates in response to air being delivered to the rotor in a direction that has a component that is parallel to at least one the side wall; a plurality of channels that extend from the at least one opening to the rotor so as to deliver air to the rotor at a plurality of locations about the rotor wherein the channels are formed into a first and second group such that a first group is directed towards a first column and the second group are adjusted toward the second column.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the enclosure comprises a cylindrical enclosure at the axis of the rotor is parallel to the axis of the cylindrical enclosure.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein an exhaust opening is formed adjacent the upper end of the enclosure and wherein the rotor is recessed below the exhaust opening so that the exhaust opening induces a stack effect on the air that is flowing through the rotor.
11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of channels comprises two rows of channels that deliver air to a plurality of sectors of the rotor.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein there are two rows of three channels.
13. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of channels extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor and then parallel to the axis of rotation.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein vanes are formed in the plurality of channels.
15. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the rotor assembly includes a transmission and a generator that are connected to the rotor so that rotation of the rotor induces the generator to produce electricity.
16. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the rotor comprises a ring shaped rotor having plates that extend radially outward from the axis of rotation.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the rotor includes a hub assembly and an outer blade wall wherein the blades extend from hub assembly to the blade wall.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the rotor is 12 feet in diameter and has a height of 18 inches and the blades extend radially approximately 4 feet and are set at an angle and twist with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor.
19. The assembly of claim 8, wherein screen are formed over the at least one opening that permit air to enter into the enclosure but inhibit birds or animals from entering the enclosure and contacting the rotor.
20. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising at least one air accelerator that reduces the volume of space the air is flowing in to the rotors and thereby increases the air pressure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(6) Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. As shown in
(7) In one implementation, the air scoop assembly 106 has an air scoop 112 that is comprised of four slanted walls that direct wind into the smaller dimensioned opening 108. In one non-limiting example, the air scoop 112 has exterior dimensions of approximately 12 to 15 feet high by 12 to 15 feet wide and has interior panels 114 that are angled at an angle of approximately 30 to 45 degrees. The interior panels 114 border the opening 108 which has dimensions of approximately 12 feet wide by 8 feet high. It will be appreciated that various modifications to the dimensions described herein can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
(8) In one implementation there are a total of 6 different channels 110 each having cross sectional dimensions of 4 feet by 4 feet that are arranged into two rows of three channels 110. In this implementation, the top channels direct the air to the side of the rotor assembly 102 that is positioned proximate the opening 108 and the bottom row of channels directs the air to the side of the rotor assembly 102 that is located distal from the opening 108. Lines 114 in
(9) The housing 104 includes a cylindrical section 116 that is sized so as to receive the rotor assembly 102. In one embodiment, the cylindrical section 116 of the housing 104 is sized so as to receive a rotor 120 of the rotor assembly 102 that is approximately 12 feet in diameter, however, the housing can be sized upwards and downwards to accommodate different sizes of rotors depending upon the implementation. The cylindrical section 116 of the housing 104 is, in one implementation, approximately 11 feet tall.
(10) The housing 104 also includes the entry section 118 that is generally rectangular and provides a space through which the channels 110 can be routed from the opening 108 into an interior space 122 of the cylindrical portion 116 of the housing 104. The channels 110 may also include vanes 124 that direct the air flow inward around corners and the like so that less energy of the air flow is lost due to the air travelling through the channels 110.
(11) As is shown in
(12)
(13)
(14) In one specific implementation, the hub assembly 131 has a diameter of 4.5 feet and the outer vane wall 140 has a diameter of 12 feet and the hub assembly 131 and outer vane wall 140 are 18 inches wide. Further, in this specific implementation, there are 20 blades 138 that extend from the top surface of the outer vane wall 140 to the bottom edge of the outer vane wall 140 at an angle and are spaced apart. It will, however, be apparent that various changes to the dimensions and configurations can be made by those skilled in the art.
(15)
(16) As discussed above, the rotor 102 receives air via the channels 110. The channels 110 are arranged within the housing 104 so that each radial portion of the rotor 120 is simultaneously receiving air from the channels 110.
(17) As shown and as discussed above, the three upper channels 110a, 110b, 110c are formed and have vanes 124 that are curved so as to direct the air flowing into those channels into the three 60 degree front segments 152 of the rotor 120. The three bottom channels 110d, 110e, 110f are formed and have vanes 124 that are curved so as to direct the air flowing into those channels into three 60 degree rear segments 154 of the rotor 120. In this way, the air that flows in through the opening 108 as a result of wind impacting upon the wind scoop opening assembly 106 is more evenly distributed about the rotor 120 so that substantially all surfaces of the rotor are simultaneously contributing to the conversion of wind energy into rotational energy of the rotor assembly 102. The channels 110 are square at the opening 108, however, at the exhaust, the openings are preferably sized and shaped to match the rounded contour of the section of the rotor 120 to which the channels 110 are exhausting air.
(18)
(19)
EXEMPLARY IMPLEMENTATIONS
(20) The Applicant has performed calculations of the performance of the disclosed embodiments to determine the potential power generation for this embodiment. These calculations are summarized below. It should be appreciated that, while these calculations demonstrate the efficacy of this design, the specific dimensions and embodiments disclosed herein should not be limiting on the scope of the patent that is being sought.
(21) The following wind turbine configuration is for 12 feet diameter20 blades, and with up to 40 mph wind calculations.
(22) 12 ft Diameter and 20 Blade Configuration.
(23) Blade width: Inner (approx.)=20.1735 Outer (approx.)=29.0527
(24) Force from 2 mph Wind:
(25)
(26) Note the relationship between them is 1.2/2=0.6, not quite .
(27)
(28) Force from 12 mph Wind:
(29)
(30) Note the relationship between them is 1.2/2=0.6, not quite .
(31)
(32) Force from 25 mph Wind:
(33)
(34) Note the relationship between them is 1.2/2=0.6, not quite .
(35)
(36) Force from 28 mph Wind:
(37)
(38) Note the relationship between them is 1.2/2=0.6, not quite .
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(40) Force from 40 mph Wind:
(41)
(42) Note the relationship between them is 1.2/2=0.6, not quite .
(43)
(44) Using the above-force calculations applied to the rotor assembly 102 described above and using the below formulas yields the following power generation:
(45) Power Calculation Formulas:
(46)
(47) TABLE-US-00001 Wind Speed Turbine No. Torque Torque Power Power (mph) Diameter Blades (in-lb) (ft-lb) RPM (hp) (watts) 2 12 20 79.453 6.621 6.928 0.009 6.513 12 12 20 2866.676 238.890 41.615 1.893 1411.496 25 12 20 12443.39 1036.949 86.701 17.118 12764.803 28 12 20 15678.75 1306.563 97.310 24.208 18051.787 40 12 20 31357.48 2613.123 112.378 55.913 41694.01721
A. Summary Comparison
(48) TABLE-US-00002 Wind Speed Turbine No. Torque Torque Power Power (mph) Diameter Blades (in-lb) (ft-lb) RPM (hp) (watts) 2 12 20 79.453 6.621 6.928 0.009 6.513 12 12 20 2866.676 238.890 41.615 1.893 1411.496 25 12 20 12443.39 1036.949 86.701 17.118 12764.803 28 12 20 15678.75 1306.563 97.310 24.208 18051.787 40 12 20 31357.48 2613.123 112.378 55.913 41694.01721
B. Efficiency Considerations
(49) Total efficiency loss is 11% (from +20%-15%-16% calculated below). This takes into account chamber improvements, otherwise it would be a 31% efficiency loss.
(50) i. Chamber Wind is collected and enters the chamber at the upper and lower inlets. The upper inlet feeds the forward-most turbines while the lower inlet feeds the aft-most turbines. The chamber is 360 adjustable to face the wind from any direction. The wind exits the chamber vertically onto the turbine blades.
(51) The above calculations demonstrate that there is a significant improvement in efficiency in the generation of power using the enclosed wind turbine with the stack effect and the air pressurization features of the wind scoop. Although the foregoing has shown, illustrated and described various embodiments and uses of the present invention, it will be apparent from the foregoing description that various changes, modifications and alterations to the systems described herein, and the uses thereof may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Hence, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the foregoing discussion but should be defined by the appended claims and all reasonable interpretations of scope thereof.