Flow optimiser
AssigneeRevoluter Limited
InventorsDaniel Nutt, Eric Bannister
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A roof 201 has an apex 200. A wind turbine 202 is positioned above the apex 200. Air flows through the gap 204 between the apex 200 and the turbine 202. A flow optimizer 203 diverts a section of airflow close to the apex 200 into the region 205, downstream of the apex. This section of diverted airflow is turned away from the local airflow direction towards the surface of the roof 201, downstream of the apex. This reduces the boundary layer separation and turbulence downstream of the apex 200, which reduces energy loss associated with sub-optimal static pressure recovery downstream of the apex 200, and thus increases the discharge coefficient of the system.
Claims18
A Flow Optimiser, comprising one or more separate curved sections wherein the one or more curved sections are configured to be positioned in a gap between an apex of a roof and a wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be positioned substantially parallel to the apex of the roof such that, in use, the flow optimiser is positioned in an airflow, and the one or more curved sections are shaped so as to divert airflow accelerated by the apex of the roof into the direction of the roof surface downstream of the apex to increase the mass flow rate in the gap between the apex and the wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be collocated with the wind turbine positioned substantially above the Flow Optimiser.
A method of controlling the position and angle of a Flow Optimiser comprising one or more separate curved sections, wherein the one or more curved sections are configured to be positioned in a gap between an apex of a roof and a wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be positioned substantially parallel to the apex of the roof such that, in use, the flow optimiser is positioned in an airflow, and the one or more curved sections are shaped so as to divert airflow accelerated by the apex of the roof into the direction of the roof surface downstream of the apex to increase the mass flow rate in the gap between the apex and the wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be collocated with the wind turbine positioned substantially above the Flow Optimiser, the method comprising the steps of:
- adjusting the position and angle of one or more of the curved sections of the Flow Optimiser;
- determining the electrical output of the collocated wind turbine;
- and
- repeating the above steps in order to achieve required electrical power output from an electrical generator.
A method of controlling a Flow Optimiser comprising one or more separate curved sections, wherein the one or more curved sections are configured to be positioned in a gap between an apex of a roof and a wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be positioned substantially parallel to the apex of the roof such that, in use, the flow optimiser is positioned in an airflow, and the one or more curved sections are shaped so as to divert airflow accelerated by the apex of the roof into the direction of the roof surface downstream of the apex to increase the mass flow rate in the gap between the apex and the wind turbine, and wherein the Flow Optimiser is arranged to be collocated with the wind turbine positioned substantially above the Flow Optimiser, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving an input from one or more of a plurality of sensors;
- comparing the received input to a predetermined value;
- and
- using the results from the comparison step to determine the required adjustment to the position and angle of each curved section of the Flow Optimiser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.