Modified Savonius rotor
AssigneeCircle Wind Corp.
InventorArt Whitworth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel modification of a Savonius rotor used as a wind turbine provides an exhaust channel in each vane. The vane of the modified Savonius rotor is formed into an “S” shape. The air that enters a given end of the vane exits that end through the new exhaust channel into the freestream. A plurality of modified Savonius rotors are stacked one on top of the other for self-starting and greater power output. The outer surfaces of the entire assembly may be coated with photo voltaic cell material for additional energy production. In one embodiment of the invention, a cone shaped solar collector is placed on top of the entire modified Savonius rotor assembly.
Claims20
A Savonius rotor wind turbine comprising:
- (a) a rotational axis upon which a Savonius rotor is rotatably disposed;
- (b) a least one vane having at least one concave and at least one convex side, said concave side, in cross-section along a plane perpendicular to said rotational axis, consisting of a line which is continuously curved;
- and
- (c) at least one exhaust channel through each at least one vane, each of said at least one exhaust channel providing a flow path permitting air to pass through the Savonius rotor vane from the concave side to the convex side of each at least one vane of the Savonius rotor.
A method of configuring a Savonius rotor comprising at least one vane, each Savonius rotor vane having at least one concave and at least one convex side, the method comprising:
- (a) disposing the Savonius rotor on a rotational axis;
- (b) shaping said concave side in cross-section along a plane perpendicular to said rotational axis, such that the concave said consists of a line which is continuously curved;
- and
- (c) providing at least one exhaust channel to permit air to pass through the Savonius rotor vane from the concave side to the convex side.
A Savonius rotor wind turbine comprising:
- (a) a rotational axis upon which a Savonius rotor is rotatably disposed;
- (b) a vane having a concave and a convex side, said concave side, in cross-section along a plane perpendicular to said rotational axis, consisting of a line which is continuously curved;
- and
- (c) at least one exhaust channel through said vane, each of said at least one exhaust channels providing a flow path permitting air to pass through the Savonius rotor vane from the concave side to the convex side of said vane of the Savonius rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.