SHROUDED WIND TURBINE WITH RIM GENERATOR AND HALBACH ARRAY

• US 20100314885A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Thomas J. III, Presz, Walter M. JR., Werle, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/828,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100314885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/04 having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels F03D9/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/13 to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind turbine comprises a turbine shroud and optionally an ejector shroud. The wind turbine encloses a permanent magnet ring generator. A static ring of phase windings is located in the turbine shroud, and wind airflow causes a rotor having permanent magnets thereon to rotate, creating an electric current in the static ring. The permanent magnets are arranged to form a Halbach cylinder with the magnetic field being exterior to the rotor.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising:

a turbine shroud enclosing an impeller;

wherein the turbine shroud includes a static ring that has at least one phase winding;

wherein the impeller comprises a rotor, the rotor having a central ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rotor blades extending between the central ring and the outer ring, and a plurality of permanent magnets on the outer ring;

wherein the static ring and the outer ring are aligned with each other; and

wherein the plurality of permanents magnets are arranged on the outer ring to form a Halbach cylinder that produces a magnetic field exterior to the rotor.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the turbine shroud further comprises a ring of mixing lobes formed on a trailing edge.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein a trailing edge of the turbine shroud has a circular crenellated shape.

4. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnets comprise a rare earth element.

5. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the permanent magnets are Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnets.

6. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the static ring has three phase windings connected in series.

7. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are located along a rear end of the outer ring.

8. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising an ejector shroud, an inlet end of the ejector shroud surrounding an outlet end of the turbine shroud.

9. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a stator defining an inlet end of the wind turbine, the stator comprising a plurality of stator vanes.

10. A wind turbine comprising:

a turbine shroud enclosing an impeller;

wherein the turbine shroud includes a static ring that has at least one phase winding;

wherein the impeller comprises a stator and a rotor, the stator being upstream of the rotor and the rotor having a central ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rotor blades extending between the central ring and the outer ring, and a plurality of permanent magnets on the outer ring;

wherein the static ring and the outer ring are aligned with each other; and

wherein the plurality of permanents magnets are arranged on the outer ring to form a Halbach cylinder that produces a magnetic field exterior to the rotor; and

an ejector shroud, an inlet end of the ejector shroud surrounding an outlet end of the turbine shroud.

11. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the turbine shroud further comprises a ring of mixing lobes formed on a trailing edge, and wherein the ejector shroud has an airfoil shape.

12. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein a trailing edge of the turbine shroud has a circular crenellated shape.

13. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the permanent magnets comprise a rare earth element.

14. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the permanent magnets are Nd₂Fe₁₄B magnets.

15. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the static ring has three phase windings connected in series.

16. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are located along a rear end of the outer ring.

17. A wind turbine comprising:

a turbine shroud enclosing an impeller;

wherein the turbine shroud encloses a static ring that has at least one phase winding and has a ring of mixing lobes formed on a trailing edge;

wherein the impeller comprises a stator and a rotor, the stator being upstream of the rotor and the rotor having a central ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rotor blades extending between the central ring and the outer ring, and a plurality of permanent magnets on the outer ring;

wherein the static ring and the outer ring are aligned with each other; and

wherein the plurality of permanents magnets are arranged on the outer ring to form a Halbach cylinder that produces a magnetic field exterior to the rotor; and

an ejector shroud having an airfoil shape, an inlet end of the ejector shroud surrounding an outlet end of the turbine shroud.