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US 4,482,290 AGranted
Diffuser for augmenting a wind turbine
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsKenneth M. Foreman, Barry L. Gilbert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A diffuser for augmenting a wind turbine having means for energizing the boundary layer at several locations along the diffuser walls is improved by the addition of a short collar extending radially outward from the outlet of the diffuser.
Claims4
In a diffuser augmented wind turbine, the diffuser comprising:
- a cylindrical section for positioning the wind turbine therein;
- a first divergent duct section positioned downstream and outside of said cylindrical section and in spaced-relationship with said cylindrical section whereby a circumferential opening is formed in the space therebetween;
- a second divergent duct section positioned downstream and outside of said first section and in spaced-relationship with said first section whereby a circumferential opening is formed in the space therebetween;
- means for connecting said cylindrical section to said first section;
- means for connecting said first section to said second section;
- a short collar connected to the outlet of said second section, positioned at least perpendicular to the diffuser axis and extending radially outward into the external flow;
- wherein the radial length of said collar is from 2% to 5% of the length of the radius of the outlet of said second section;
- wherein the axial length of the diffuser is equal to the length of the radius of the diffuser inlet;
- and wherein the ratio of the area of the outlet of said second section to the area of the inlet of said cylindrical section is from 2 to 4.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.