Protective wind energy conversion chamber
First Claim
1. A method for converting wind energy from an ambient wind current, the method comprising:
- positioning a protectively covered intake windward, the intake being substantially normal to a flow of the ambient wind current to receive the wind;
collecting the wind into a channel having multiple conduits, the channel dividing the collected wind into the multiple conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet;
concentrating the collected wind in each of the multiple conduits;
converting the concentrated wind into energy via multiple turbines, each turbine partially intruding into a respective one of the multiple conduits and having blades positioned substantially normal to the flow of the concentrated wind; and
directing the concentrated wind to a protectively covered exhaust to release the concentrated wind in a substantially leeward direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A protective wind energy conversion chamber provides a protected multiple turbine mechanism axially aligned to convert kinetic energy of a moving fluid (e.g., wind) into rotational mechanical power by the reaction of the moving fluid with the turbine. The conversion chamber may either be configured as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) or horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). The conversion chamber repositions an intake windward to collect and concentrate the wind prior to converting the wind into energy via the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism. The remaining wind is released via a leeward-facing exhaust. Completely enclosed by the protective wind energy conversion chamber, the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism avoids interference by birds and other outside objects.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for converting wind energy from an ambient wind current, the method comprising:
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positioning a protectively covered intake windward, the intake being substantially normal to a flow of the ambient wind current to receive the wind;
collecting the wind into a channel having multiple conduits, the channel dividing the collected wind into the multiple conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet;
concentrating the collected wind in each of the multiple conduits;
converting the concentrated wind into energy via multiple turbines, each turbine partially intruding into a respective one of the multiple conduits and having blades positioned substantially normal to the flow of the concentrated wind; and
directing the concentrated wind to a protectively covered exhaust to release the concentrated wind in a substantially leeward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wind energy conversion chamber comprising:
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a wind chamber having a rotatable intake interface for receiving a gust of wind, a cavity formed within said wind chamber to allow passage of the received wind therethrough, and an exhaust interface for releasing the wind in a substantially leeward direction;
a converter having at least one turbine, the converter being partially shielded from the wind and being operatively coupled to interface with said cavity, said at least one turbine having a plurality of blades and being mounted within said wind chamber to position at least a portion of said plurality of blades within a plenum created in said cavity, a blade chord of said at least one turbine being substantially normal to the received wind from said intake interface; and
protective screens covering the intake interface and the exhaust interface configured to allow gusts of wind to pass through while preventing foreign objects from entering the converter to impede the rotation of the turbine. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for generating power using wind, the system comprising:
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at least two turbines oriented substantially perpendicular to a rotatable shaft and parallel to each other, each turbine having a plurality of balanced blades;
a divisible intake channel for collecting the wind, said divisible intake channel having at least one input and two outputs;
at least two concentrating channels coupled to said two outputs for concentrating the wind individually onto said at least two turbines;
an exhaust for releasing the wind;
at least two security coverings to prevent animals from interfering with operation and rotation of said at least two turbines and to allow passage of wind through the coverings, one security covering protecting said at least one input of said divisible intake channel and another security covering said exhaust; and
a wind shield to divert a first portion of the wind into the divisible intake channel and a second portion of the wind around the system to prevent negative interference with the rotation of the at least two wind turbines. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification