# US 10,865,776 B2 · Internal mounted cylindrical turbine for electricity generation using exterior flush and scoop intakes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,776 B2 - Document ID: US10865776B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/559,904 - Filed: 2019-09-04 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-18 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Mathew A. Coffman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865776B2 ## CPC - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 9/11: storing electrical energy - F03D 9/34: on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures - F03D 9/45: Building formations - F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors - F05B 2210/403: Radial inlet and axial outlet - F05B 2240/13: to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines - F05B 2240/9112: which is a building - Y02B 10/30: Wind power - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02E 10/74: Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method and system for generating electrical energy from wind are described. In an example, a method includes capturing wind in an intake on an exterior surface of a structure. The method also includes directing, via a duct, the wind from the intake to a centrifugal fan and, while directing the wind from the intake to the centrifugal fan, compressing and accelerating the wind in the duct. The method further includes receiving, in the centrifugal fan, the wind from the duct and rotating, via the received wind, a fan blade assembly in the centrifugal fan. The method still further includes generating electrical energy, via a generator, based on the rotation of the fan blade assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power generation system comprising: a wind turbine in an interior of a building; an intake positioned on one of a plurality of exterior surfaces of the building to direct wind incident on and traversing the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the building to the wind turbine in the interior of the building, wherein the intake is formed as a recessed opening in the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces, wherein the intake has an inwardly sloping surface with respect to the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces that forms the recessed opening and a gap between the inwardly sloping surface and the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces; and an air duct positioned in the interior of the building and coupling the intake to the wind turbine, wherein gap of the intake passes wind into the air duct, wherein the air duct extends substantially parallel to the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces, wherein the air duct includes one or more walls extending between a first end coupled to the intake and a second end coupled to the wind turbine, wherein the one or more walls of the air duct substantially enclose an inner space within the air duct, wherein the air duct compresses and accelerates the wind as the wind flows from the intake to the wind turbine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the air duct includes one or more tapered sections that taper inwardly from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power generation system of claim 2, wherein the air duct tapers continuously along an entire distance of the air duct. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The power generation system of claim 2, wherein the air duct has a linear taper of approximately 20 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the air duct is configured such that a cross-sectional dimension of the air duct is greater at the first end than at the second end so that the air duct acts as a fluid mechanics nozzle to compress and accelerate the wind. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the air duct is a straight run between the intake and the wind turbine without any elbows or turns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the air duct includes one or more elbows or turns between the intake and the wind turbine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, further comprising: exhaust duct coupled to the wind turbine for egress of the wind. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The power generation system of claim 8, further comprising: a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the building and coupled to the exhaust duct. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The power generation system of claim 8, wherein the wind turbine comprises: a housing; and a centrifugal fan with a fan blade assembly in the housing, wherein the housing has an inlet for receiving the wind from the air duct and an outlet for exhausting air to the exhaust duct, and wherein the inlet is substantially perpendicular to the outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The power generation system of claim 10, wherein the centrifugal fan further comprises: a brake system having a first state of operation in which the brake system is disengaged from the fan blade assembly to allow rotation of the fan blade assembly, and a second state of operation in which the brake system is engaged with the fan blade assembly to stop or prevent rotation of the fan blade assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the intake is flush with the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the intake further comprises: a scoop that protrudes from the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces to capture greater amounts of wind. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, further comprising: an intake filter configured to inhibit objects from entering the intake. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the intake is located at a corner of the building. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The power generation system of claim 1, further comprising: multiple intakes on one or more of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the building; and multiple air ducts positioned in the interior of the building and respectively coupling the multiple intakes to the wind turbine. ### Claim 17 A method for generating electrical energy from wind, comprising: capturing wind in an intake positioned on one of a plurality of exterior surfaces of a building, wherein the intake is formed as a recessed opening in the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces, wherein the intake has an inwardly sloping surface with respect to the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces that forms the recessed opening and a gap between the inwardly sloping surface and the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces, wherein capturing the wind in the intakes comprises: receiving the wind into the recessed opening in the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces of the building; and passing the wind from the gap into an air duct; directing, via the air duct positioned in an interior of the building and extending substantially parallel to the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces, the wind from the intake to a centrifugal fan in an interior of the building, wherein the air duct includes one or more walls extending between a first end coupled to the intake and a second end coupled to the centrifugal fan, wherein the one or more walls of the air duct substantially enclose an inner space within the air duct, wherein the air duct compresses and accelerates the wind as the wind flows from the intake to a wind turbine; receiving, in the centrifugal fan, the wind from the air duct; rotating, via the received wind, a fan blade assembly in the centrifugal fan; generating electrical energy, via a generator, based on the rotation of the fan blade assembly; and exhausting the wind from the centrifugal fan in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the wind is received in the centrifugal fan. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein directing, via the air duct positioned in the interior of the building, the wind from the intake to the centrifugal fan in the interior of the building comprises: directing the wind through one or more tapered sections that taper inwardly from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein directing the wind through one or more tapered sections that taper inwardly from the first end to the second end comprises: directing the wind through a continuously tapered section along an entire distance of the air duct. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, capturing wind in the intake comprises: capturing wind in the intake that is flush with the one of the plurality of exterior surfaces.