Jet spoiler arrangement for wind turbine
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsJack D. Cyrus, Emil G. Kadlec, Paul C. Klimas
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Abstract
An air jet spoiler arrangement is provided for a Darrieus-type vertical axis wind-powered turbine. Air is drawn into hollow turbine blades through air inlets at the ends thereof and is ejected in the form of air jets through small holes or openings provided along the lengths of the blades. The air jets create flow separation at the surfaces of the turbine blades, thereby inducing stall conditions and reducing the output power. A feedback control unit senses the power output of the turbine and controls the amount of air drawn into the air inlets accordingly.
Claims13
A vertical-axis wind turbine comprising a rotor assembly and a load powered from said rotor assembly through a drive unit, said rotor assembly comprising:
- at least one hollow rotor blade having opposed blade surfaces mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, said blade having an air inlet opening at one end located near the axis and a plurality of air outlet aperture means for causing flow separation along a substantial portion of each blade surface between the leading edge and trailing edge of the blade, said outlet aperture means being further from the axis than said inlet opening;
- whereby air drawn into the inlet opening will flow out of said apertures and interfere with the air flow across the blade, thereby reducing power produced by the turbine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.