Vertical axis wind turbines and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeRegents of the University of Minnesota
InventorsRichard James, Huan Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) and methods of installing. In some embodiments, the VAWT includes a stage and a deflector. The stage includes two turbine sub-units, each with a rotor. The rotors are arranged to rotate (in response to incident wind) in opposite directions, with the rotor blades intermeshing during rotation. The deflector diverts the incident wind from interfacing with a parasitic side of the blades as they rotate. In some embodiments, the rotor blades are origami-based, each being created at an installation site from a flat sheet imparted with origami-type features.
Claims20
A vertical axis wind turbine comprising:
- at least one stage including first and second turbine sub-units, wherein each of the turbine sub-units includes a rotor having a plurality of blades connected to a hub;
- a deflector;
- and
- a support assembly maintaining the stage and the deflector such that:
- each of the hubs are rotatable about a corresponding axis of rotation and the blades of the first turbine sub-unit intermesh with the blades of the second turbine sub-unit, and
- the deflector transfers momentum of incident wind to the blades of the first and second turbine sub-units.
A method of assembling a vertical axis wind turbine, the method comprising:
- assembling a stage including first and second turbine sub-units, each of the turbine sub-units including a rotor having a plurality of blades connected to a hub;
- connecting the stage to a support assembly such that the blades of the first turbine sub-unit intermesh with the blades of the second turbine sub-unit with rotation of the rotors;
- and
- mounting a deflector to the support assembly such that the deflector is arranged to transfer momentum of incident wind to the blades of the first and second turbine sub-units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.