Vertical Propeller Fluid Energy Capture with Coordinated Dynamic-Orientation Blades

A method for capturing wind energy, comprising:

• disposing a vertical propeller windmill within a wind stream, the wind stream having a wind direction;
• wherein the vertical propeller windmill comprises:
• a coupling module configured to couple to a drive shaft so as to impart rotational energy from the coupling module to the drive shaft;
• the drive shaft being configured to rotate about a main axis, the main axis being substantially vertical;
• a first blade coupled to the coupling module, the first blade configured to rotate about a first blade axis, the first blade axis being substantially horizontal;
• the first blade further configured to progress through a first continuous, repeating sequence of first blade orientations, the first continuous, repeating sequence of first blade orientations including a first substantially vertical orientation and a first substantially horizontal orientation;
• the first substantially vertical orientation presenting a maximal cross-section to the wind stream;
• the first substantially horizontal orientation presenting a minimal cross-section to the wind stream;
• the first blade further configured to revolve around the coupling module in response to the wind stream, based on the first blade orientation, so as to impart rotational energy to the coupling module;
• and
• the coupling module further configured to align the first continuous, repeating sequence of blade orientations so that the first substantially vertical orientation occurs at a predetermined angle to the wind direction;
• and
• capturing the rotational energy of the drive shaft.

A system for generating electrical energy, comprising:

• a first drive shaft segment configured to rotate about a main axis in response to applied torque, generating rotational energy;
• a first vertical propeller module coupled to the first drive shaft, the first vertical propeller module configured to apply torque to the first drive shaft segment;
• the first vertical propeller module comprising:
• a coupling module configured to couple to the first drive shaft segment so as to apply torque to the first drive shaft segment;
• a first blade coupled to the coupling module, the first blade configured to rotate about a first blade axis, the first blade axis being substantially horizontal;
• the first blade further configured to progress through a first continuous, repeating sequence of first blade orientations, the first continuous, repeating sequence of first blade orientations including a first substantially vertical orientation and a first substantially horizontal orientation;
• the first substantially vertical orientation presenting a maximal cross-section to a wind stream, the wind stream having a wind direction;
• the first substantially horizontal orientation presenting a minimal cross-section to the wind stream;
• the first blade further configured to revolve around the coupling module in response to the wind stream, based on the first blade orientation, so as to impart rotational energy to the coupling module;
• and
• the coupling module further configured to align the first continuous, repeating sequence of blade orientations so that the first substantially vertical orientation occurs at a predetermined angle to the wind direction;
• and
• a generator coupled to the first drive shaft segment;
• and
• the generator configured to convert rotational energy of the first drive shaft segment into electrical energy.