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US 4,070,131 AGranted
Tornado-type wind turbine
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorJames T. Yen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Atmospheric wind is admitted tangentially into a vertically extending structure and directed against the interior curved surface of the structure to produce vortex flow. The structure is open ended and spaced from ground or connected to a ram-air subterranean tunnel. The vortex flow and corresponding low pressure core draws ambient and/or ram air into the bottom of the structure to drive a horizontal turbine.
Claims15
Apparatus for generating electric power from atmospheric wind comprising:
- a generally tubular shaped, open ended tower structure, including means for selectively admitting wind into said tower along a substantial vertical length thereof, the interior surface of said tower defining a convolute chamber to cause said admitted wind to flow in a vortex flow regime having a low pressure core;
- means for permitting atmospheric air to be drawn into the bottom of said tower and accelerated by the core;
- turbo machine means located at the lower end of said tower structure and adapted to be driven by the air drawn in through the bottom of the tower.
Apparatus for generating electric power from atmospheric wind comprising:
- an open ended, tower structure including a plurality of generally vertically extending vanes, said vanes forming a substantial portion of the vertical height of said tower structure;
- means for rotatably mounting each of said vanes;
- means for sensing the direction of said atmospheric wind;
- control means operatively coupled to said sensing means for opening the vanes facing in the direction of said wind to admit said wind into said tower, the interior surface of said tower defining a convolute chamber to cause said admitted wind to flow in a vortex flow regime having a low pressure core;
- means for supporting said tower in spaced relationship from ground;
- and turbomachine means including a generator and a turbine blade assembly adapted and arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane and drive said generator, said assembly being located within said tower adjacent the lower end thereof, said assembly being adapted to be driven by air drawn into said low pressure core.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.