CROSSFLOW WIND TURBINE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A wind turbine comprising:
- a cylindrical impeller having a plurality of blades located about a radius of the cylindrical impeller, the blades having a span that is less than or equal to 20 percent of the radius;
an inlet duct that channels an inlet airflow to the impeller; and
an outlet duct that channels an outlet airflow away from the impeller substantially perpendicular to the inlet airflow in a plane that is perpendicular to a central axis of the impeller; and
wherein the inlet duct, the outlet duct and the impeller induce a recirculation zone in a center portion of the impeller that is located within the blades of the impeller.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a wind turbine that includes a cylindrical impeller having a plurality of blades located about a radius of the cylindrical impeller, the blades having a span that is less than or equal to 20 percent of the radius. The wind turbine further includes an inlet duct that channels an airflow to the impeller and an outlet duct that channels the airflow away from the impeller substantially perpendicular to the inlet airflow in a plane that is perpendicular to a central axis of the impeller. Moreover, the inlet duct, the outlet duct and the impeller induce a recirculation zone in a center portion of the impeller that is located within the blades of the impeller.
26 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A wind turbine comprising:
-
a cylindrical impeller having a plurality of blades located about a radius of the cylindrical impeller, the blades having a span that is less than or equal to 20 percent of the radius; an inlet duct that channels an inlet airflow to the impeller; and an outlet duct that channels an outlet airflow away from the impeller substantially perpendicular to the inlet airflow in a plane that is perpendicular to a central axis of the impeller; and wherein the inlet duct, the outlet duct and the impeller induce a recirculation zone in a center portion of the impeller that is located within the blades of the impeller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A wind turbine comprising:
-
an impeller having a plurality of blades located about a radius, wherein the blades are thin, curved and narrowly spaced such that turbulent flow is reduced across the blades, wherein the blades have a thin span such that they do not approach a central axis of the impeller; an outer housing configured to be integrated on an edge of a building or structure such that a central axis of the impeller is parallel with the edge of the building or structure; an inlet duct that channels an inlet airflow to the impeller; and an outlet duct that channels an outlet airflow away from the impeller an angle between 45 degrees and 135 degrees to the inlet airflow in a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the impeller.
-
-
24. A crossflow wind turbine comprising:
-
a cylindrical impeller having a plurality of blades located about a radius of the impeller, the blades having a span that is less than or equal to 20 percent of the radius, wherein the blades are spaced at a distance that is less than 1.5 times the span of the blades; an inlet duct that channels an inlet airflow in a first direction to the impeller; an outlet duct that channels an outlet airflow in a second direction away from the impeller, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the inlet airflow in a plane that is perpendicular to a central axis of the impeller; and a foul prevention means configured to prevent fouling of the impeller.
-
Specification