Multi directional augmenter and diffuser
OwnerJonathan C. Rickerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to an augmenter system for the increase of power generation primarily used for utilizing wind energy. The augmenter system includes an augmenter having a plurality of walls, such as flexible walls, connected to each other with supporting horizontal elongated members. The augmenter is used in conjunction with a blade system and an air flow regulation or furling system to achieve optimal power output. The augmenter includes a relatively lightweight, low cost flexible wall structure to enhance an air flow into impact impellers associated with the blade system. In one arrangement, the blade system defines a swept area with a height to diameter ratio of greater than four. In one arrangement, the blade system defines a swept area with a height to diameter ratio of greater than ten.
Claims19
An augmenter system, comprising:
- at least one augmenter element having a frame and a set of walls carried by the frame, the set of walls defining a taper from a wind inlet portion to a wind outlet portion of the at least one augmenter element;
- and
- a blade system disposed in proximity to the wind outlet portion of the at least one augmenter element, the blade system having a frame, at least one blade shaft rotatably coupled to the frame, and set of blades coupled to the at least one blade shaft and adapted to be rotated by the wind, the at least one blade shaft being coupled to a generator by an output shaft.
An augmenter system, comprising:
- a wall to capture, and funnel, wind into a wind power plant;
- the wall comprising a shrink wrap panel system with side wall dump panels and top panel lift systems configured to minimize structural stress, the side wall dump panels and top panel lift systems configured to move between a first position and a second position when a pressure exist between an inside and outside of the augmenter;
- the top panel lift system comprising a bracket that allows the suspension cable to lift above the next panel to vent wind to an outside of the augmenter;
- the wind power plant comprising:
- a frame structure supported on the ground and comprising a plurality of vertical elongated structural members connected by a plurality of horizontal elongated structural members, the tower structure forming a box-like structure with at least two active sides, and
- a plurality of vertical shafts located coextensively with the active sides of the frame structure, each shaft carrying a plurality of blades adapted to be rotated by the wind,
- each shaft is supported by a plurality of the horizontal structural members coupled to the shaft at spaced locations along the shaft, with one support location proximate the top of each shaft, one support location proximate the bottom of each shaft, and at least one support location intermediate the top and bottom support locations;
- at least one electric generator;
- and
- an output shaft configured to connect each shaft to the at least one generator, to generate electricity from the wind energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.