VORTEX DYNAMICS TURBINE

• US 20110229321A1
• Filed: 11/23/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aerovortex Mills, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aerovortex Mills, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kilaras, Michael Stavrou
• Application Number:
  US13/132,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20110229321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/121 Blades, their form or construction
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0608 characterised by their aerodynamic shape
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/122 Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/3062 Vortex generators
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/11 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/182 crenellated, notched
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of Air and Hydro Turbines for power generation. It seeks to enhance the energy-capturing potential of air/water turbines, and hence expand the geography where they can be used. It is mainly represented by a device consisting of a vortex generator and a vortex accelerator. This vorticity device operates in a combination of 2 modes: (1) Control airfoil circulation at the blade tips and hence control or alleviate the aerodynamic loading on the turbine blades. (2) Induce suction that can be used to transfer momentum to the flow close to the surface of the blade. Specifically, the generated suction drives secondary fluid flow, which is used to enhance the aerodynamic characteristics of the turbine blades/wings, by doing the following: (1) Suppressing adverse pressure gradients, (2) Suppressing the stall or separation bubble, (3) Laminarize the flow over the blade or wing.

Claims

1. A suction generation device, comprising:

a vortex generator and a vortex accelerator attached together on a surface in an incoming primary flow;

a secondary fluid flow outlet on the surface along the generated vortex path providing, in use, the secondary suction fluid flow.

wherein, in use, fluid flow is created through the secondary fluid flow outlet, due to environmental movement of fluid over the pair of vortex generator and vortex accelerator devices.

2. A suction generation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a moving flap or a lid, hinged on the surface or wall of the secondary fluid flow outlet, which moves by the pressure differential between the primary fluid/vortex flow and the secondary fluid flow, and in so doing providing the means for regulating the secondary fluid flow through the inlet.

3. A suction generation device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wall or converging nozzle, upstream the pair of vortex generator and vortex accelerator devices, which compresses the incoming fluid flow.

4. A suction generation device according to claim 1, wherein the suction-generating vorticity is passively controlled.

5. A suction generation device according to claim 1, wherein the suction-generating vorticity is actively controlled.

7. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the primary fluid flow is provided by wind.

11. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the passive suction device comprises:

a vortex generator and a vortex accelerator attached together on a surface of the blade in the incoming primary flow;

a secondary fluid flow outlet in the surface along the generated vortex path providing, in use, the secondary suction fluid flow, the secondary fluid flow inlet being in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet port of the blades;

a moving flap or a lid, hinged on the surface or wall of the secondary fluid flow outlet, which moves by the pressure differential between the primary fluid/vortex flow and the secondary fluid flow, and in so doing providing the means for regulating the secondary fluid flow through the inlet.

25. A turbine according to claim 4-96, with active suction devices attached to the low pressure surface of the blades.

6. A turbine, comprising:

one or more blades mounted on a hub, the hub being rotatably mounted to rotate together with the blades, a blade having at least one fluid inlet port on the low-pressure surface of the blade; and

a suction device for generating a secondary suction fluid flow from a primary fluid flow, the primary fluid flow being provided by environmental fluid movement;

the at least one fluid inlet port and the suction device being in fluid communication such that, in use, the secondary suction fluid flow is applied to the at least one fluid inlet port of each blade;

wherein, in use, the suction applied to the at least one fluid inlet port modifies the fluid flow over the low pressure surface of the respective blade to improve aerodynamic performance of the blade.

12. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex generator is a vortex chamber with an inlet in the incoming primary flow and an outlet that leads to another chamber with decreasing cross-sectional area along the chamber-flow propagation path, secondary flow is sucked in the vortex chamber through openings, slots, various types of inlets and converging nozzles.

13. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex generator comprises:

a panel or flap with an upper and a lower surface, with slots or openings in different shapes, for generating vortex flow structures as fluid flow strikes the panel and goes through the openings, and

a pivotal connecting means for connecting the panel with the vortex generating slots to a span-wise line on the high pressure surface of a lifting surface, including its trailing edge.

14. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex generator comprises:

a serrated panel or flap with an upper and a lower surface, with a plurality of span-wise, indentions used for generating voracity, and

a pivotal connecting means for connecting the serrated panel to a span-wise line on the high pressure surface of a lifting surface, including its trailing edge.

15. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex generator is a groove that generates vortices along its long edges.

16. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex generator is a triangular surface.

19. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein the vortex accelerator is a triangular surface.

22. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein:

a plurality of the passive suction devices are attached to the high pressure surface of the blades;

a plurality of suction inlet ports exists on the low pressure side or surface of the blades;

a fluid communication passage between the passive suction devices and the suction inlet ports, is provided by the inside walls of the blades;

wherein

converging nozzles are attached on the inside walls of the fluid communication passage with their exhaust cross-sectional area defined by the size of the secondary flow inlet ports to the passive suction devices.

23. A turbine according to claim 6, with active suction devices attached to the high pressure surface of the blades.

24. A turbine according to claim 6 wherein:

a plurality of active suction devices are attached to the low pressure side or surface of the blades;

a plurality of suction inlet ports exists on the high pressure side or surface of the rotating blades;

a fluid communication passage between the passive suction devices and the suction inlet ports, is provided by the inside walls of the blades;

Converging nozzles are attached on the inside walls of the fluid suction passage with their exhaust cross-sectional area defined by the size of the secondary flow inlet ports to the passive suction devices.

26. A turbine according to claim 6, wherein the application of the suction to the fluid inlet port of the blades is controlled to provide a stall or adverse pressure gradient suppression system.

8-10. -10. (canceled)

17-18. -18. (canceled)

20-21. -21. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A method for extracting fluid flow energy and using it to enhance the aerodynamic characteristics of a wing, comprising the steps of:

vortex generation by providing vortex generators on the high-pressure surface of the wing, to intercept the incoming fluid flow;

capturing and accelerating the said generated vortices by means of an active and/or passive control mechanism and converting the vortex flow energy to a low pressure region;

confining the said generated low-pressure inside at least one low-pressure chamber;

providing the necessary fluidic communication between the said low-pressure chamber and a conduit or internal fluidic passage means inside the wing;

sucking flow close to the outer skin surface of said wing through perforated areas;

enhancing the aerodynamic characteristics of said wing by using said generated suction to suppress adverse pressure gradients or boundary layer suction on the outer surface skin of said wings, rotor blades and lifting body surfaces;

apply Laminar Flow Control and/or Hybrid Laminar Flow Control;

suppress the size of the separated flow bubble on the low-pressure surface or downstream the flow around the said wing;

or Control the aerodynamic and/or hydrodynamic loading on the wing or lifting surface.

30-37. -37. (canceled)