Controlled, diffused, and augmented wind energy generation apparatus and system
AssigneeAwr Energy, Inc.
InventorEd Marin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and system for increasing power output for wind energy generation through a diffusing mechanism. An apparatus and system for mixing the wake and external flow, thereby permitting increasing mass-flux for wind energy generation. An apparatus to control and energize the boundary layer associated with wind energy generation by the use of an intake, bypass, and diffuser mechanism. A distributed load support provided by a wind energy generation apparatus and system. An apparatus for augmenting a wind energy generation system by achieving an increased energy extraction per unit of primary mass-flow.
Claims20
An diffuser-augmented wind turbine assembly for generating electricity, comprising:
- a low-profile tower system coupled to a wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising:
- a rifled diffuser shroud, said rifled diffuser shroud comprising light weight composites;
- a hub rotatably mounted within said rifled diffuser shroud;
- and
- a plurality of high surface area lifting airfoils coupled radially to said hub, and wherein said airfoils further comprise active control mechanisms;
- and
- a bypass at a front entry plane of said rifled diffuser shroud for increased wind flow across said airfoils at low wind velocities.
A diffuser-augmented wind turbine, comprising:
- a rifled diffuser shroud, said rifled diffuser shroud comprising light weight composites;
- a hub rotatably mounted within said rifled diffuser shroud;
- and
- a plurality of high surface area lifting airfoils coupled radially to said hub, and wherein said airfoils further comprise active control mechanisms.
A method of generating electricity using a diffuser-augmented wind turbine assembly, comprising the steps of:
- forming a rifled diffuser shroud from a light weight composite, rotatably mounting a hub within said rifled diffuser shroud, forming a plurality of high surface area lifting airfoils with active control mechanisms and radially coupling said plurality of high surface area lifting airfoils to said hub to form a wind turbine;
- forming a low-profile tower system and coupling said low-profile tower system to said wind turbine;
- and
- forming a bypass at a front entry plane of said rifled diffuser shroud, whereby electricity is generated at wind flow velocities that would not cause airfoil plane flow in non-bypass assemblies.
The method of generating electricity using said diffuser-augmented wind turbine assembly of claim 15, wherein said method of generating electricity further comprises the step of replacing a power distribution substation with by forming a net metered station with multiple diffuser-augmented wind turbine assemblies linked together.
The method of generating electricity using said diffuser-augmented wind turbine assembly of claim 16, wherein multiple net metered stations are linked together to eliminate a large substation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.