Shrouded wind turbine with scalloped lobes
OwnerWalter M. Presz, JR., Michael J. Werle +3inventors
InventorsWalter M. Presz, JR., Michael J. Werle, Robert Dold, Timothy Hickey, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shrouded wind turbine comprises an impeller and a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller. The shroud includes alternating inward and outward curving elements that form mixing elements on a trailing edge of the turbine shroud. The inward and outward curving elements have exposed lateral surfaces, or in other words do not have sidewalls joining the inward and outward curving elements. This allows for both transverse mixing and radial mixing of air flow through the turbine shroud with air flow passing along the exterior of the turbine shroud.
Claims20
A wind turbine shroud, comprising:
- a forward ring defining a leading edge of the shroud;
- and
- a plurality of mixing elements defining a trailing edge of the turbine shroud;
- wherein the plurality of mixing elements comprises inward curving elements and outward curving elements configured in an alternating pattern;
- and
- wherein the inward curving elements and outward curving elements are not physically connected along the trailing edge.
A wind turbine shroud, comprising:
- a plurality of inward curving elements, each inward curving element having a front end, a mixing end, and two lateral surfaces;
- and
- a plurality of outward curving elements, each outward curving element having a front end, a mixing end, and two lateral surfaces;
- wherein each inward curving element is located between two outward curving elements;
- wherein each outward curving element is located between two inward curving elements;
- wherein the front ends of the inward curving elements and the front ends of the outward curving elements form a forward ring defining a leading edge of the shroud;
- wherein the mixing ends of the inward curving elements and the mixing ends of the outward curving elements form a plurality of mixing elements that define a trailing edge of the shroud;
- and
- wherein the two lateral surfaces of the inward curving elements and the two lateral surfaces of the outward curving elements are exposed along the trailing edge.
A shrouded wind turbine comprising an impeller and a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller, wherein the turbine shroud comprises;
- a forward ring defining a leading edge of the shroud;
- and
- a plurality of mixing elements defining a trailing edge of the turbine shroud;
- wherein the plurality of mixing elements comprises inward curving elements and outward curving elements configured in an alternating pattern;
- and
- wherein two lateral surfaces of the inward curving elements and two lateral surfaces of the outward curving elements are exposed along the trailing edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.