HIGH EFFICIENCY TURBINE SYSTEM

• US 20110091311A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Uehara, Yasuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 1/04 traversed by the working-fluid substantially axially
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/122 Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing by creating turbulence F05B2260/222
• 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: F05B 2250/182 crenellated, notched
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/127 Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing by creating turbulence F05D2260/2212
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/182 crenellated, notched

Abstract

The present invention is a high efficiency turbine system which can increase a pressure differential between an upstream location and a downstream location. The turbine system includes a propeller attached to a shaft, which can both be located in a shroud. The shroud includes a projection, such as a brim, which protrudes inward and/or outward from the shroud. The projection includes brim units arranged asymmetrically and/or in repeating patterns to generate various vortex and swirl patterns. The brim units can have a different size, shape, width, and/or height than an adjacent brim unit. The brim units can be arranged in a non-parallel manner and can be rotatable. Furthermore, the brim units can form brim groups which can be arranged asymmetrically and/or in repeating patterns to generate various swirl patterns. The turbine system can also be used in a renewable energy system, which can be used to power electronic devices.

Claims

1. A turbine system comprising:

a shroud;

a propeller located inside the shroud; and

an asymmetrical projection located on the shroud.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical projection includes a plurality of asymmetrical brim units.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the asymmetrical brim units is arranged in a non-parallel manner to an adjacent asymmetrical brim unit.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the asymmetrical brim units has a different shape, height, width, or length than an adjacent asymmetrical brim unit.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the asymmetrical brim units protrude from the shroud in an asymmetrical and repeating manner.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein each of the asymmetrical brim units is rotatable.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical projection includes a plurality of asymmetrical brim groups arranged in a repetition pattern, wherein each of the plurality of asymmetrical brim groups includes a first asymmetrical brim unit and a second asymmetrical brim unit adjacent the first asymmetrical brim unit.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical projection protrudes in an outward direction from the shroud.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical projection protrudes in an inward direction from the shroud.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the asymmetrical projection protrudes in an outward and an inward direction from the shroud.

11. A turbine system comprising:

a shroud;

a propeller located inside the shroud; and

a plurality of asymmetrical brim groups located on the shroud, each of the plurality of asymmetrical brim groups including a first asymmetrical brim unit and a second asymmetrical brim unit adjacent the first asymmetrical brim unit.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of asymmetrical brim groups are formed in repeating pattern.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit are rotatable.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit are arranged in a non-parallel manner.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit have different shapes.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit have different heights.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit have different widths or lengths.

18. A renewable energy system comprising:

a shroud;

a propeller located inside the shroud; and

a plurality of asymmetrical brim groups located on the shroud and formed in a repeating pattern, each of the plurality of asymmetrical brim groups including a first asymmetrical brim unit and a second asymmetrical brim unit adjacent the first asymmetrical brim unit.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit are rotatable.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first asymmetrical brim unit and the second asymmetrical brim unit and arranged in a non-parallel manner and have different shapes, have different heights, have different widths, or have different lengths.