Omnidirectional Wind Driven Intake and Exhaust

Abstract

This application discloses a passive ventilation system, including intake and exhaust, both driven by natural wind invariably regardless of wind direction, without a necessity for electric or other power supply. The intake assembly is an improved wind catcher, with multiple wind collectors arranged around a common chamber, each having an outer end open to ambient air, an inflow valve, and an inner end connecting the common chamber, which connects a conduit allowing fresh air and positive pressure to enter an indoor space being ventilated. The exhaust assembly is an augmented negative pressure generator to induce stale air to exit the space being ventilated through another conduit. The inflow and outflow conduits are configured to form a pipe-in-pipe or shell-and-tubes heat exchanger to mitigate heating or cooling energy loss and draft discomfort. Rainwater proof and condensation draining mechanisms, and optional inflow air filter mounting, are also provided.

Claims

1. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted onto an enclosed object's exterior, comprising an intake assembly and an exhaust assembly: said intake assembly comprising a plurality of tunnels to be arranged around a common chamber, each of said tunnels having an outer end to be open to ambient air, an inflow valve, and an inner end to connect said common chamber, said inflow valve to allow only inward flow through each of said tunnels into said common chamber, at least one first conduit extending from said common chamber to connect a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object; and said exhaust assembly comprising a raised member to be spaced from, and secured over, said intake assembly with a plurality of support members, said raised member having a surface to face an end opening of at least one second conduit, said at least one second conduit to extend through said common chamber to connect said space to be ventilated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one second conduit to extend in parallel with, and to be encircled by, said at least one first conduit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said at least one second conduit having a pleated tubular wall with axial troughs and ridges.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein an air filter to be facilitated to said at least one first conduit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said air filter being a circumferential air filter to encircle said at least one first conduit's exit end(s), and having a disc to face said exit end(s) and deflect axial airflow to disperse radially in passing said air filter.

6. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted onto an enclosed object's exterior, comprising an intake assembly and an exhaust assembly: said intake assembly comprising a plurality of tunnels to be arranged around a common chamber, each of said tunnels having an outer end to be open to ambient air, an inflow valve, and an inner end to connect said common chamber, said inflow valve to allow only inward flow through each of said tunnels into said common chamber, at least one first conduit extending from said common chamber to connect a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object; and said exhaust assembly comprising a hollow body with a base to be attached to said intake assembly and to encircle all end opening(s) of at least one second conduit facilitated to extend from said base through said intake assembly to connect said space to be ventilated, at least one first aperture being facilitated on said hollow body's outer part opposite said base, to be in fluid communication with said all end opening(s) of said at least one second conduit by way of said hollow body; and a raised member to be spaced from said outer part of said hollow body, to be secured over at least one of said hollow body and said intake assembly with a plurality of support members, and to have a surface facing said at least one first aperture on said outer part of said hollow body.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one internal cap to be housed and supported inside said hollow body, positioned between said base of said hollow body and said outer part of said hollow body, and spaced from said at least one first aperture and from said all end opening(s).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one internal cap having at least one edge portion to tilt toward said base and at least one other edge portion to tilt toward said outer part.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of said surface of said raised member and said outer part of said hollow body being convex toward the other.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said raised member being a raised hollow body and secured on said hollow body with said plurality of support members, said surface having at least one second aperture opposite said at least one first aperture, and at least one of said plurality of support members being a tubular member to channel said raised hollow body's internal space to said hollow body's internal space.

11. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted to a side wall's exterior of an enclosed object, comprising an exhaust assembly, said exhaust assembly comprising: a hollow body having a base and an outer part opposite each other, at least one first aperture being facilitated on said outer part in fluid communication with a first internal space in said hollow body, and said base to be in parallel with said side wall's exterior; a raised member to be spaced from, and secured over, said hollow body with a plurality of support members, and having a surface of substantial area to face said at least one first aperture; at least one drain orifice being facilitated only on a lowest portion of said hollow body, therein to drain rainwater having invaded said first internal space; at least one conduit to extend from said base of said hollow body to channel said first internal space with a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said raised member being a raised plate having said surface to face said at least one first aperture.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of support members having an elongate convex cross-section with its long axis perpendicular to a nearest segment of said base's perimeter.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said raised member being a raised hollow body having said surface to face said at least one first aperture, said surface having at least one second aperture, said at least one second aperture being opposite said at least one first aperture on said outer part of said hollow body and in fluid communication with a second internal space in said raised hollow body, at least one of said plurality of support members being a tubular member to allow fluid communication between said second internal space of said raised hollow body and said first internal space of said hollow body, and at least one drain orifice being facilitated only on a lowest portion of said raised hollow body, therein to drain rainwater having invaded said second internal space.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said plurality of support members having an elongate convex cross-section with its long axis perpendicular to a nearest segment of said base's perimeter.

16. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted onto a rooftop of an enclosed object, comprising an exhaust assembly, said exhaust assembly comprising: a hollow body having a base and an upper part opposite each other, at least one first aperture being facilitated on said upper part in fluid communication with a first internal space in said hollow body, and said base to be in parallel with said rooftop; a raised member to be spaced from, and secured over, said hollow body with a plurality of support members, and having a surface of substantial area to face said at least one first aperture; at least one drain orifice being facilitated only on a lowest portion of said hollow body, therein to drain rainwater having invaded said first internal space; at least one conduit to extend from said base of said hollow body to channel said first internal space with a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object; at least one internal cap to be housed and supported in said hollow body, positioned between said base of said hollow body and said upper part of said hollow body, and spaced from said at least one first aperture and from all end opening(s) of said at least one conduit, said at least one internal cap having at least one edge portion to tilt toward said base and at least one other edge portion to tilt toward said upper part.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said raised member being a raised plate having said surface to face said at least one first aperture.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said plurality of support members having an elongate convex cross-section with its long axis perpendicular to a nearest segment of said base's perimeter.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said raised member being a raised hollow body having said surface to face said at least one first aperture, said surface having at least one second aperture, said at least one second aperture being opposite said at least one first aperture on said upper part of said hollow body and in fluid communication with a second internal space in said raised hollow body, at least one of said plurality of support members being a tubular member to allow fluid communication between said second internal space of said raised hollow body and said first internal space of said hollow body.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of support members having an elongate convex cross-section with its long axis perpendicular to a nearest segment of said base's perimeter, whereby to force wind flow that passes through an external space between said outer part and said surface to converge toward said at least one first aperture.

21. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted onto an enclosed object's exterior, comprising an exhaust assembly, said exhaust assembly comprising: a raised elongate member to be spaced from, and secured over, an elongate base member with a plurality of support members, said raised elongate member and said elongate base member extending in a direction to parallel with one another and parallel with an exterior surface of said enclosed object for said system to be mounted onto, said raised elongate member having a surface to face at least one first aperture facilitated on said elongate base member, said at least one first aperture in fluid communication with at least one conduit extending from said elongate base member to connect a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said elongate base member being an elongate hollow body having a base and an outer part, with said outer part to face said surface of said raised elongate member, and said at least one first aperture being facilitated on said outer part of said elongate hollow body and in fluid communication with said space to be ventilated via a first internal space in said elongate hollow body and via said at least one conduit.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein at least one internal cap to be housed and supported inside said elongate hollow body, positioned between said base and said outer part of said elongate hollow body, and spaced from said at least one first aperture and from all end opening(s) of said at least one conduit, said at least one internal cap having at least one edge portion to tilt toward said base and at least one other edge portion to tilt toward said outer part.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said raised elongate member being a raised elongate hollow body having said surface.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said raised elongate hollow body having at least one second aperture to be opposite said at least one first aperture on said outer part of said elongate hollow body, and at least one of said plurality of support members being a tubular member to allow fluid communication between a second internal space in said raised elongate hollow body and said first internal space of said elongate hollow body.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of said plurality of support members having an elongate convex cross-section with its long axis perpendicular to a plane defined by long axes of said raised elongate hollow body and said elongate hollow body, whereby to force wind flow that passes through an external space between said raised elongate hollow body and said elongate hollow body to converge toward said at least one first aperture.

27. A ventilation system to be capable of being mounted onto an enclosed object's exterior, comprising an intake assembly, said intake assembly comprising: a plurality of tunnels to be arranged around an elongate common chamber, said elongate common chamber extending in a direction to parallel with an exterior surface of said enclosed object for said system to be mounted onto, each of said plurality of tunnels having an outer end to be open to ambient air, an inflow valve, and an inner end to connect said elongate common chamber, said inflow valve to allow only inward flow through each of said plurality of tunnels into said elongate common chamber, at least one conduit extending from said elongate common chamber to connect a space to be ventilated within said enclosed object.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of said plurality of tunnels being a straight tunnel with parallel walls extending between said inner end and said outer end.

Description

GENERAL CONCEPTION

[0037] The present disclosure includes integrating a pressure capturing intake assembly of wind collectors and a suction generating exhaust assembly of venturi nozzles into a compact natural ventilation system, which not only simultaneously captures wind pressure at the intake and augments wind suction at the exhaust outlet, under any wind direction, without the necessity of using electric energy to power an air driver, but also enables inflow and outflow to pass by each other in parallel conduits and enables heat exchange between them, conserving energy used in heating or cooling the vented space.

[0038] . Additionally, the present invention provides invariable air inlets and outlets, independent of oncoming wind direction, overcoming a disadvantage of conventional wind catchers, whose inlets and outlets are reversible and dependent on uncertain oncoming wind direction. This invariability is desirable, particularly when intake air filtering is required to mitigate outdoor air pollutant infiltration while for exhaust no air filter is supposed to be used since it adds high resistance to an airflow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIGS. 1a and 1b depict one embodiment of the general concept for a wall-mount system. Abutting wind collectors 201 are disposed between a base plate 101 attached to an exterior surface 1 of a wall 22, and a raised plate 140 supported by a plurality of divider plates 103 that partition the wind collectors 201. At least one pressure-operated inflow valve 104 is disposed within each wind collector 201 between two adjacent divider plates 103, which allows only inward airflow into a common chamber 203, formed between the base plate 101 and raised plate 140, and surrounded by the inflow valves 104. The common chamber 203 is connected via an aperture 106 to a passageway 202 formed with a tubular member 105, and further to a filter holder 108 where a circumferential air filter 107 is mounted. The filter holder 108 has a disc facing the exit end of the passageway 202 to deflect airflow to disperse radially in passing the air filter. One such circumferential air filter 107 is to have pleated filter paper or other medium arranged annularly with axial ridges and troughs.

[0040] At least one of the wind collectors will capture positive wind pressure under any given ambient flow direction, while at the same time the rest will be under negative differential pressures. In FIG. 1a, an up-wash airflow along the wall surface is illustrated merely as an example, where ambient airflow moves into one of the wind collectors 201, forces open the corresponding inflow valve 104 with near-stagnation wind pressure, enters the chamber 203, and continues into the passageway 202 as other inflow valves are closed under negative differential pressures. As indicated with shaded arrows, the inflow continues all the way to and through the air filter 107 before exiting the system into the interior space being vented. The inflow valve 104 can be any type that suits the described functionality, such as one with a plurality of hinged parallel slim flaps (imitating window blinds) or one with dual hinged shutters (imitating a double door), and can be disposed anywhere between the inner and outer ends of a wind collector 201.

[0041] To induce exhaust or outflow, the system involves a raised member 120 supported with a plurality of support members 130 on the raised plate 140. An convex surface 125 of the raised member 120 faces one end 160 of an air passageway 204 formed with a thin-walled tubular member 150 fitted to the center of the raised plate 140. The other end of the tubular member 150 is fitted into the support frame 108 such that the air passageway 204 is in fluid communication with the internal space being vented. The convex surface 125, along with the raised plate 140, constitutes an omnidirectional venturi nozzle 110 that generates desired suction at its narrowest portion near the end 160 of the air passageway 204, independent of ambient flow direction. The generated suction, or so-called negative pressure, would induce outflow from the internal space through the air passageway 204.

[0042] FIG. 1c shows a cross-section at the 1c-1c line, as one example of the cross-sectional shape and layout of the support members 130. FIG. 1d depicts a layout of support members 130d that has an elongate oval cross-section to guide the airflow and force converging toward the aperture 160, further augmenting the suction effect. Other elongate convex shapes, such as a symmetrical airfoil with its blunt nose facing out, are also aerodynamically desirable though slightly more involved to manufacture. Elongated convex cross-sections may be generally adopted for these support members in the spirit of this disclosure.

[0043] The thin-walled tubular conduit 150 is preferably coaxial with the tubular conduit 105, and expected to function as a pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger between the inflow and outflow in the passageways 202 and 204 so as to moderate the temperature difference between them, alleviating occupant discomfort with the outdoor cold or hot air flowing in, and reducing heating or cooling energy loss with the indoor air flowing out.

[0044] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c depict an example of the tubular member 250, for an enhanced heat exchanger that comprises a pleated thin tubular wall with axial troughs and ridges (blow-up cross-sectional view in FIG. 2c), increasing the heat conductive area compared to a simple thin-walled tubular member (150 in FIGS. 1a and 1b). FIG. 2d. shows another heat exchange arrangement, of a shell-and-tubes type. Both types of thin tubular walls, pleated or non-pleated, are preferably made of a high heat conductivity material, and may have roughened surfaces to induce turbulence and heat convection on both sides of the wall respectively.

[0045] In the above figures, cross-sections of many components or parts of the integrated system as shown have circular or square shapes, or other regular polygons, but they can also be some elongate shapes or non-regular polygons, in order to best suit various potential use scenarios. FIG. 2d provides a cross-sectional view of an alternative intake assembly, which is extended in a horizontal direction in this example as shown, while it is similarly feasible to extend vertically instead, or in any other direction parallel to the mounting surface 1. An element reference numeral appended with letter in FIG. 2d echoes the numeral in FIG. 2b for an element having similar functionality but deviated shapes. The expanded intake assembly as shown here has included ten wind collectors 201a just as an example. Further expanded intake assemblies, in either overall dimensions or number of wind collectors or both, are still feasible and allowable as desired or needed according to the spirit of this invention.

[0046] FIG. 2e shows a laterally expanded pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger formed by a shell conduit 106a and a pleated inner conduit 250b, and an alternative shell-and-tubes configuration formed by the shell conduit 106a and multiple inner tubes 250c. They provide increased conductive areas for heat exchange between exhaust and intake, and suit an extended intake assembly (along with an extended exhaust assembly to be illustrated in FIG. 2f next).

[0047] FIG. 2f exemplifies a suction-generating exhaust assembly that is extended in one direction to be parallel to a mounting surface. The raised convex body 120a and the base member 140a form a venturi nozzle between any two adjacent support members 130a, and a semi-venturi nozzle around an outermost support member 130a. The venturi nozzles generate suction that will be communicated to an indoor space and draws out stale air through a number of apertures 160a and 160b on a base 140a. The base 140a need be hollow and function as a transitional conduit between the apertures 160a/160b and the exhaust conduit(s) leading from a heat exchanger. Support members 130a have a convex cross-sectional shape to enhance venturi effects. For the raised body 120a and the base 140a, other elongated plan shapes, such as a rectangle or long ellipse, and different dimensions, are allowable, though they should be coordinated with the plan shape used for an intake assembly if one is to be integrated in the system.

[0048] FIG. 3 introduces an alternative configuration where two integrated and semi-enclosed filter cases 308 and 310 have replaced the filter holder 108 depicted in FIG. 2a. The inner case 308 has an inflow exit opening 302 on the other side across from an outflow inlet 304 of the outer case 310. Such an alternative design increases a spatial separation of the inflow and outflow streams indoor to alleviate air short-circuiting, mitigating premature mixing of fresh air with stale air and extending the reach of an air circulation loop inside the space being vented. The cases 308 and 310 are preferably revolvable around their common axis such that the openings 302 and 304 can be oriented as desired.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment for use on a roof 42. It has a radially down-sloped base plate 401 and support plate 440 to shed rainwater away from the inlet and outlet openings 406 and 460, to protect the interior of the system and the vented space from rainwater infiltration for an upright device. The case 410 can also function as a drip pan to hold water from rain and exhaust condensation to an extent and to be removable for emptying and cleaning.

[0050] FIG. 5 is yet another embodiment for a roof-mounted system, where collared inlet 506 and outlet 560 are used to further protect the interior from rainwater. FIG. 5 also provides an example for the outdoor portion of a system being raised away from a mounting surface 1, whether a roof or wall surface, with at least one support, one of which is the tubular conduit member 105a in this example. Rising up is mainly to receive higher wind velocity beyond a mounting surface's boundary layer, and to achieve higher heat exchange rate with a longer tubular conduit 250. Additional supports 535 between the mounting surface 1 and the now raised base plate 401 can be used around and away from the main support member 105a.

[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment where several components are added, including: a base dome 600 with an exhaust aperture 603 facing an opposing exhaust aperture 623 facilitated on a raised hollow body 620, additional exhaust passageways 610 facilitated via tubular support members 630 to channel the raised hollow body 620's internal space to the base dome 600's, and a rainwater stopper cap 606 supported inside the base dome 600 on a plate 640 with support members 607. The projected area of the rain cap 606 onto the plate 640 needs to encompass the end opening(s) 660 of the exhaust conduit(s) 604 in order to provide full protection against rainwater infiltration. Additionally, a plurality of drain orifices 609 are facilitated along the lower perimeter of the base dome 600 to drain out rainwater shed off from the rain cap 606. Such an embodiment, while admittedly rather complex, furthers three separate objectives: firstly, an enhanced omnidirectional venturi nozzle by adding a base dome 600; secondly, a set-up to be more protective against wind-driven rainwater infiltration for the exhaust conduit 604 by using an internal cap 606 housed inside the dome 600; and the third, increased number of conduits to channel the venturi suction that induces exhaust, by utilizing the raised body 620 and its supports 630 as conduits.

[0052] FIGS. 6a and 6b show two internal rainwater stopper caps 606a and 606b for roof-mount cases, one to fit a round base dome, and another for an elongate base dome (one such elongate base dome 600a is depicted later in FIG. 9). The caps 606a and 606b somewhat resemble a saddle shape, which has a pair of edge portions 682 tilted up and another pair 684 tilted down. Sloping plates as shown in FIG. 6c can also be used, as simpler alternatives. Cap configurations having at least one edge portion 684/684a sloped or tilted down, and at least one other edge portion 682/682a sloped or tilted up, can shed rainwater off smoothly while protecting the opening(s) 660, and will much less hinder an upward exhaust airflow.

[0053] FIG. 7a is a wall-mount system having a base dome 600 attached to the intake assembly and opposite a raised convex body 620, and FIG. 7b shows similar examples with an raised plate 720 (also an allowable alternative for roof-mount systems) or 720a (less recommended for roof-mount out of rainwater reasons). For a wall-mount system, an rain cap inside the dome 600 is unnecessary, and only shall the low drain orifice 609 be used for draining water from rain and exhaust condensation. A drain orifice 709 should also be provided for the convex body 620. Connecting the conduit 604 directly to the exhaust aperture 603 (without the additional exhaust aperture 623 and conduits 600, 610 and 620 in FIG. 7a) is a simpler but less preferred version, and is less preferred also for rain infiltration and heat loss reasons.

[0054] The exhaust assemblies integrated in a ventilation system as shown in the previous drawings can each be reduced to a standalone exhaust vent. In FIGS. 8a and 8b, a wall-mount version and a roof-mount version of a standalone exhaust vent are illustrated respectively. The roof-mount version (FIG. 8b) has an rainwater stopper cap 606 of a saddle shape (as depicted in FIG. 6a), a sloped base plate 640, and multiple drain orifices 609 along the perimeter of the base dome. For the wall-mount version in FIG. 8a, neither an internal cap nor a sloped base plate is necessary for purposes of stopping rainwater infiltration, while only are the drain orifices 609 and 709 needed on the lowest portions of the dome 600 and the raised hollow body 620. The support members 630 can have a round cross-sectional shape, or an elongate shape (as indicated in FIG. 1d). In the case of a circular dome or a circular raised body, a cross-section of symmetrical airfoil shape for the support members, with its blunt nose facing out, is also desirable if not accounting for its slightly higher cost of manufacture.

[0055] FIG. 9 is another embodiment for an elongate standalone exhaust assembly, where venturi nozzles are formed between a raised body 120a and a hollow base dome 600a, along with convex support members 630a, to generate suction to draw stale air from a connected indoor space, via the apertures 603a/603b, hollow base dome 600a, and a conduit 650a extending from the base dome 600a. In roof-mount cases, an internal rain cap, such as the elongate one (606b) depicted in FIG. 6b, can be set up inside the base dome 600a (as is the cap 606 in FIG. 8a). An elongate assembly may be preferred in some cases, for example, on the rooftop or side wall of a large facility. Exhaust pathways can be added by using hollowed support members 630a and raised body 120a as conduits, along with at least one aperture on the convex portion of the raised body 120a facing the base dome 600a. Drain orifices 609a and 609b are for roof-mount cases, 609a and 709a for horizontally wall-mounted cases, and 609b and 709b for vertically wall-mounted cases, facing down in each wall case.

[0056] When a base dome 600a is present, aerodynamically the raised member 120a is preferred to still be a convex body, at least having a convex surface facing the base dome 600a, whether roof-mount or wall mount, although an otherwise configured raised member such as a flat plate is allowable if some other constraints exist. Although many curved surfaces and lines are employed in this and other drawings throughout this specification to illustrate preferred configurations, they can be approximated with multiple plane surfaces or straight lines.

[0057] The intake assemblies depicted earlier for integrated ventilation systems can also each be reduced to a standalone intake system. FIG. 10 is an example of standalone intake assemblies configured in an elongated overall shape, which can be installed on a roof or a wall. At least one of the circumferentially arranged wind collectors 201/201a will catch wind and positive pressure under any given wind direction, which will be fed into the common chamber 203a and the passageway 202a through a corresponding inflow valve 104, and further into a space to be ventilated through an optional air filter 107a.

Installation and Operation

[0058] An integrated system or a standalone assembly of air intake and exhaust components according to this invention is functional anywhere on an exterior surface of an object, such as a building, whether rooftop or wall, a land or sea based vehicle, whether top or side, or other facilities or carriers where there are relative air movements caused by either wind or the movement of the object itself. Locations with frequent high surface airflow velocities are optimal locations for device deployment. Any appropriate conventional or new surface-mounting method can be used to secure the device to a surface without departing from the spirit of this invention. If required or desired in certain circumstances, the device can also be elevated from a mounting surface, and supported and secured by a hollow body, such as a tube or box, or an inflow tubular member itself (105 in FIG. 1 for example), disposed between the base plate 101 and the mounting surface 1, such that the support member also functions as an conduit.

[0059] Such systems or assemblies are passive, wind-operated devices. Once installed properly, they stay operating and functioning as wind blows, and do not require active intervention besides air filter replacement if any being used. The stronger the wind blows, the more effective such a device is.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

It is apparent that the current disclosure provides a device of highly desirable characteristics, whether being an integrated system or a standalone assembly of air intake and/or exhaust, that is aerodynamically advantageous, energy conserving, rainwater-proof and noise-free, and is still among the simplest, most inexpensive to manufacture and convenient to install.

[0060] . Although the description above contains many specifications and illustrations, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of the concept and some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Various changes, modifications, variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the general profiles of many components are herein illustrated using basic shapes such as circles, ellipses, squares, and rectangles, other shapes such as various polygons or their compositions are entirely possible and allowable according to the spirit and concept of this invention. A series of planes can also be used to approximate an arched or curved surface. Edges and corners of device parts exposed to airflow may be rounded or chamfered to improve aerodynamic performance and further ensure its noise-free quality even for ultra high wind conditions. Various surface portions may also be roughened or bear such surface details as corrugation, or ribs of adequate sizes, as opposed to perfectly smooth surfaces, sometimes for the purposes of passive surface flow controls.

[0061] . A device according to this invention can be made of any reasonably durable material with any proper means of fabrication as long as a configuration according to the spirit of this invention is accomplished to support the described working mechanism and to provide the associated functionalities.

[0062] . An on-and-off switch or airflow damper, such as a manually controlled or an adaptive battery-motorized shutter, can also be added to somewhere on the airflow path to regulate the intake or exhaust flow rate as needed. For an intake assembly, this can be integrated with the inflow vales. In many use scenarios, protection screens against invasion by pests, birds and debris are needed, and are preferably to be disposed on the outermost point of air passageways for easy cleanup, for example, on a wind collector's outer end for an intake assembly and on an exhaust outlet for an exhaust assembly, both of which are relatively easier to access. In protection of a roof-mount intake assembly against rainwater infiltration, louvers are an option by being disposed near the outer end of a wind collector, but one needs to be prudent in balancing the pros and cons including, for example, protection against rain versus certain added drag on airflow that is known to be sensitive to numerous louver design parameters. A simple collar and/or a sloped surface around an conduit opening or aperture, along with drain orifices, as exemplified earlier in this application, may still be a better solution for protection against rain infiltration, particularly in regions with just modest wind resources. This better solution introduces very little drag on airflow.

[0063] . The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the above specifications and illustrations given as examples.