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US 7,215,037 B2Granted
Protective wind energy conversion chamber
OwnerSaverio Scalziinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protective wind energy conversion chamber provides a protected multiple turbine mechanism axially aligned to convert kinetic energy of a moving fluid (e.g., wind) into rotational mechanical power by the reaction of the moving fluid with the turbine. The conversion chamber may either be configured as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) or horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT). The conversion chamber repositions an intake windward to collect and concentrate the wind prior to converting the wind into energy via the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism. The remaining wind is released via a leeward-facing exhaust. Completely enclosed by the protective wind energy conversion chamber, the axially aligned multi-turbine mechanism avoids interference by birds and other outside objects.
Claims37
A method for converting wind energy from an ambient wind current, the method comprising:
- rotating a housing for positioning a protectively covered intake windward, the intake being substantially normal to a flow of the ambient wind current to receive the wind;
- collecting the wind into a channel having multiple conduits, the channel dividing the collected wind into the multiple conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet;
- concentrating the collected wind in each of the multiple conduits;
- converting the concentrated wind into energy via multiple turbines, each turbine partially intruding into a respective one of the multiple conduits and havingblades positioned substantially normal to the flow of the concentrated wind, each turbine having an axis being stationary relative to said housing;
- and
- directing the concentrated wind to a protectively covered exhaust to release the concentrated wind in a substantially leeward direction.
3 more elements
A wind energy conversion chamber comprising:
- a wind chamber or housing rotating with an intake interface for receiving a gust of wind, a cavity formed within said wind chamber to allow passage of the received wind therethrough, and an exhaust interface for releasing the wind in a substantially leeward direction;
- a converter having at least one turbine, the converter being partially shielded from the wind and being operatively coupled to interface with said cavity, said at least one turbine having a plurality of blades and being mounted within said wind chamber to position at least a portion of said plurality of blades within a plenum created in said cavity, a blade chord of said at least one turbine being substantially normal to the received wind from said intake interface, at least one turbine having an axis being stationary relative to said housing;
- and
- protective screens covering the intake interface and the exhaust interface configured to allow gusts of wind to pass through while preventing foreign objects from entering the converter to impede the rotation of the turbine.
1 more element
A system for generating power using wind, the system comprising:
- at least one turbine oriented substantially perpendicular to a rotatable shaft and parallel to each other, each turbine having a plurality of balanced blades;
- a divisible intake channel for collecting the wind, said divisible intake channel having at least one input and at least one output;
- at least one concentrating channel coupled to said at least one output for concentrating the wind individually onto said at least one turbine;
- an exhaust for releasing the wind;
- at least one security covering to prevent animals from interfering with operation and rotation of said at least one turbine and to allow passage of wind through said at least one security covering, said at least one security covering protecting said at least one input of said divisible intake channel;
- and
- a wind shield to divert a first portion of the wind into the divisible intake channel and a second portion of the wind around the system to prevent negative interference with the rotation of the at least one wind turbine.
4 more elements
A method for converting fluid energy from an ambient fluid current, the method comprising:
- rotating a housing for positioning a protectively covered intake windward, the intake being substantially normal to a flow of the ambient fluid current to receive the fluid;
- collecting the fluid into a channel having multiple conduits, the channel dividing the collected fluid into the multiple conduits, each conduit having an inlet and an outlet;
- concentrating the collected fluid in each of the multiple conduits;
- converting the concentrated fluid into energy via multiple turbines, each turbine partially intruding into a respective one of the multiple conduits and having blades positioned substantially normal to the flow of the concentrated fluid, each turbine having an axis being stationary relative to said housing;
- and
- directing the concentrated fluid to a protectively covered exhaust to release the concentrated fluid in a substantially leeward direction.
3 more elements
A fluid energy conversion chamber comprising:
- a fluid chamber or housing rotating an intake interface for receiving a flow of fluid, a cavity formed within said fluid chamber to allow passage of the received fluid therethrough, and an exhaust interface for releasing the fluid in a substantially leeward direction;
- a converter having at least one turbine, the converter being partially shielded from the fluid and being operatively coupled to interface with said cavity, said at least one turbine having a plurality of blades and being mounted within said fluid chamber to position at least a portion of said plurality of blades within a plenum created in said cavity, a blade chord of said at least one turbine being substantially normal to the received fluid from said intake interface, at least one turbine having an axis being stationary relative to said housing;
- and
- protective screens covering the intake interface and the exhaust interface configured to allow flows of fluid to pass through while preventing foreign objects from entering the converter to impede the rotation of the turbine.
1 more element
A system for generating power using fluid, the system comprising:
- at least one turbine oriented substantially perpendicular to a rotatable shaft and parallel to each other, each turbine having a plurality of balanced blades;
- a divisible intake channel for collecting the fluid, said divisible intake channel having at least one input and at least one output;
- at least one concentrating channel coupled to said at least one output for concentrating the fluid individually onto said at least one turbine;
- an exhaust for releasing the fluid;
- at least one security covering to prevent animals from interfering with operation and rotation of said at least one turbine and to allow passage of fluid through said at least one security covering, said at least one security covering protecting said at least one input of said divisible intake channel;
- and a fluid shield to divert a first portion of the fluid into the divisible intake channel and a second portion of the fluid around the system to prevent negative interference with the rotation of the at least one fluid turbine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.