Wind-funneling for gas turbines
First Claim
1. A wind funnel and gas combustion turbine system comprising:
- a wind funnel comprising an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area and an outlet opening having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening, wherein the wind funnel is inwardly tapered between the inlet opening and the outlet opening;
a gas combustion turbine in flow communication with the wind funnel, wherein the wind funnel is structured and arranged to receive air from a wind source through the inlet opening, to discharge compressed air from the outlet opening for delivery to the gas combustion turbine, and to be oriented in a direction based upon a prevailing wind direction of the wind source;
a support member adjacent the inlet opening of the wind funnel structured and arranged to support the wind funnel when it is rotated around a vertical axis;
wherein the support member comprises at least one wheel engageable with an arcuate track contacting ground below the wind funnel;
wherein the gas combustion turbine is stationary; and
wherein the wind funnel is rotatable around the vertical axis to adjust for the prevailing wind direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wind-funneling systems for gas turbines are disclosed. Air travels through a wind funnel where it is compressed, and then flows into a gas turbine that is fueled by a hydrocarbon fuel source such as natural gas. The wind funnels have a controlled volume with an opening facing the wind that concentrates air power and energy and directs the force into a constricted outlet that feeds into the gas turbine. Compressed air from the wind funnel may enter the front compressor section of the gas turbine at relatively high density and force. As a result, the gas turbine does not have to use as much energy to pull the air in, which creates fuel savings. The compressed air from the wind funnel then flows to the combustion section of the gas turbine where oxygen from the wind-compressed air is used to combust the hydrocarbon fuel supplied to the gas turbine. The wind funnel is thus used to generate compressed air that may increase efficiency in the front compressor section of the gas turbine, and serves as an oxygen source in the combustion section of the gas turbine.
78 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A wind funnel and gas combustion turbine system comprising:
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a wind funnel comprising an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area and an outlet opening having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening, wherein the wind funnel is inwardly tapered between the inlet opening and the outlet opening; a gas combustion turbine in flow communication with the wind funnel, wherein the wind funnel is structured and arranged to receive air from a wind source through the inlet opening, to discharge compressed air from the outlet opening for delivery to the gas combustion turbine, and to be oriented in a direction based upon a prevailing wind direction of the wind source; a support member adjacent the inlet opening of the wind funnel structured and arranged to support the wind funnel when it is rotated around a vertical axis; wherein the support member comprises at least one wheel engageable with an arcuate track contacting ground below the wind funnel; wherein the gas combustion turbine is stationary; and wherein the wind funnel is rotatable around the vertical axis to adjust for the prevailing wind direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wind funnel for connection to a compression section of a gas combustion turbine, the wind funnel comprising:
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an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area; an outlet opening structured and arranged for flow communication with the compression section of the gas combustion turbine having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening; and a sidewall tapered inwardly from the inlet opening toward the outlet opening, wherein the wind funnel is structured and arranged to receive air from a wind source through the inlet opening, to discharge compressed air from the outlet opening, and to be oriented in different directions based upon a prevailing wind direction of the wind source; a support member adjacent the inlet opening of the wind funnel structured and arranged to support the wind funnel when it is rotated around a vertical axis; wherein the support member comprises at least one wheel engageable with an arcuate track contacting ground below the wind funnel; wherein the gas combustion turbine is stationary; and wherein the wind funnel is rotatable around the vertical axis to adjust for the prevailing wind direction.
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23. A method of operating a wind funnel and gas combustion turbine system comprising:
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feeding compressed air from a wind funnel to a gas combustion turbine; and combusting fuel in the gas combustion turbine in the presence of oxygen supplied from the compressed air, wherein the wind funnel comprises; an inlet opening having a cross-sectional area; an outlet opening having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the inlet opening; a sidewall tapered inwardly from the inlet opening toward the outlet opening, and wherein an orientation of the wind funnel is adjustable based upon wind direction; and a support member adjacent the inlet opening of the wind funnel structured and arranged to support the wind funnel when it is rotated around a vertical axis; wherein the support member comprises at least one wheel engageable with an arcuate track contacting ground below the wind funnel; wherein the gas combustion turbine is stationary; and wherein the wind funnel is rotatable around the vertical axis to adjust for the wind direction. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification