Wind turbine system using a vertical axis savonius-type rotor

A Savonius rotor assembly for interacting with a moving fluid, comprising:

• (a) a support framework;
• (b) a rotor having top and bottom ends being mounted on the support framework for rotation about a central, vertically extending axis, the rotor having at least two blades;
• (c) a vertically extending deflector member, having a width and a length, being displaced from the rotor and extending substantially along the height of the rotor;
• (d) fantail means interconnected to the deflector member and extending outward from the support framework for positioning the deflector member on the side of the rotor facing the direction from which the fluid is flowing, a longitudinal edge of the fantail means making an angle with the direction of the fluid flow;
• and
• (e) rotatable mounting means rotatably mounting the deflector member and the fantail means to the support framework for rotation of the deflector member and the fantail means about the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor in a fixed relationship to each other;
• and
• (f) speed control means interconnected to the deflector member for slowing down the rotation of the rotor in a strong fluid flow, the speed control means including:
• (i) rotating means rotatably supporting the deflector plate for rotational motion about a substantially vertical axis;
• and
• (ii) biasing means cooperating with the rotating means and exerting a predetermined force for normally keeping the width of the deflector member at a substantially 90.degree. angle to the direction of fluid flow and for allowing the deflector member in a strong fluid flow to rotate to a less effective position where the width of the deflector member does not make an angle of 90.degree. with the direction of the fluid flow so that some of the fluid flow is deflected away from the rotor, which in turn causes the deflector member and the fantail means to rotate about the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor to a position where even more of the fluid flow is directed away from the rotor.

A Savonius rotor assembly for interacting with a moving fluid, comprising:

• (a) a support framework;
• (b) a rotor having top and bottom ends being mounted on the support framework for rotation about a central, vertically extending axis, the rotor having two blades disposed symmetrically about the central, vertically extending axis, each of the blades having an outer edge and an inner edge with respect to the central, vertically extending axis, the outer edges of the blades lying in a circle defining the diameter of the rotor, the blades having a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the first curved portion beginning at the outer edge and terminating at the second curved portion with the first curved portion defining a surface generally concave with respect to the central, vertically extending axis, the first curved portion having a radius of curvature which becomes progressively less from the outer edge to the second curved portion, the second curved portion coming progressively closer to a plane containing the central, vertically extending axis and the outer edge of the blade as the second curved portion extends from the first curved portion to the inner edge of the blade, the maximum displacement of the blades from the plane being less than one-quarter of the diameter of the rotor;
• (c) a deflector member extending substantially along the height of the rotor;
• (d) fantail means interconnected to the deflector member and extending outward from the support framework for positioning the deflector member on the side of the rotor facing the direction from which the fluid is flowing, a longitudinal edge of the fantail means making an angle with the direction of the fluid flow;
• (e) rotatable mounting means rotatably mounting the deflector member and the fantail means to the support framework for rotation of the deflector member and the fantail means about the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor in a fixed relationship to each other;
• and
• (f) speed control means interconnected to the deflector member for slowing down the rotation of the rotor in a strong fluid flow, the speed control means including:
• (i) rotating means rotatably supporting the deflector plate for rotational motion about a substantially vertical axis;
• and
• (ii) biasing means cooperating with the rotating means and exerting a predetermined force for normally keeping the width of the deflector member at a substantially 90.degree. angle to the direction of fluid flow and for allowing the deflector member in a strong fluid flow to rotate to a less effective position where the length of the deflector member does not make an angle of 90.degree. with the direction of fluid flow so that some of the fluid flow is deflected away from the rotor, which in turn causes the deflector member and the fantail means to rotate about the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor so that even more fluid flow is directed away from the rotor.

A Savonius rotor assembly for interacting with a moving fluid, comprising:

• (a) a support framework;
• (b) a rotor having top and bottom ends being mounted on the support framework for rotation about a central, vertically extending axis, the rotor having two blades disposed symmetrically about the central, vertically extending axis, each of the blades having an outer edge and an inner edge with respect to the central, vertically extending axis, the outer edges of the blades lying in a circle defining the diameter of the rotor, the blades having a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the first curved portion beginning at the outer edge and terminating at the second curved portion with the first curved portion defining a surface generally concave with respect to the central, vertically extending axis, the first curved portion having a radius of curvature which becomes progressively less from the outer edge to the second curved portion, the second curved portion coming progressively closer to a plane containing the central, vertically extending axis and the outer edge of the blade as the second curved portion extends from the first curved portion to the inner edge of the blade, the maximum displacement of the blades from the plane being less than one-quarter of the diameter of the rotor;
• (c) a vertically extending deflector member, having a width and a length, being displaced from the rotor and extending substantially along the height of the rotor, the deflector member positioned to one side of a horizontal line drawn through the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor parallel to the direction of the fluid flow;
• (d) fantail means interconnected to the deflector member and extending outward from the support framework for positioning the deflector member on the side of the rotor facing the direction from which the fluid is flowing, a longitudinal edge of the fantail means making an angle with the direction of the fluid flow;
• (e) rotatable mounting means rotatably mounting the deflector member and the fantail means to the support framework for rotation of the deflector member and the fantail means about the central, vertically extending axis of the rotor in a fixed relationship to each other;
• and
• (f) speed control means interconnected to the deflector member for slowing down the rotation of the rotor in a strong fluid flow.