# US 8,786,123 B2 · Turbine assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,123 B2 - Document ID: US8786123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/138,667 - Filed: 2010-03-18 - Published: 2012-01-12 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-20 - Assignees: Revoluter Limited - Applicants: Eric Bannister - Inventors: Eric Bannister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786123B2 ## CPC - F03D 3/002: {the axis being horizontal} - F03D 3/0481: {and only with concentrating action, i.e. only increasing the airflow speed into the rotor, e.g. divergent outlets (F03D3/049 takes precedence)} - F03D 9/007: {the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy} - F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) - F03D 9/34: on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures - H02S 10/12: Hybrid wind-PV energy systems - F05B 2240/213: of the Savonius type - F05B 2240/911: already existing for a prior purpose - Y02B 10/30: Wind power - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02E 10/74: Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A turbine assembly comprising, a rotor having a plurality of blades, and a shroud at least partially enclosing the rotor and adapted to expose a portion of the rotor. At least two shroud portions extend axially along the rotor and around the rotor to at least partially enclose the rotor. At least two shroud portions are rotationally adjustable. In use, the shroud defines a variable inlet and a variable outlet. The inlet area and outlet area are variable independently of each other. Adjustment of the area of the inlet area does not result in the same magnitude of adjustment in area of the outlet area. Adjustment of the position of the inlet area does not result in the same magnitude of adjustment of the position of the outlet area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transverse flow wind turbine assembly comprising, a rotor having a plurality of blades, and a shroud comprising at least three shroud portions, said shroud portions extending axially along the rotor and around the rotor to at least partially enclose the rotor, and said shroud portions being rotationally adjustable in order to expose a portion of the rotor to the wind, and wherein the shroud, in use, defines a variable inlet and a variable outlet, and wherein, in use, the inlet area and outlet area are variable independently of each other in area and in angular position around the circumference of the turbine, and wherein adjustment of the area of the inlet area does not result in the same magnitude of adjustment in area of the outlet area, and wherein adjustment of the position of the inlet area does not result in the same magnitude of adjustment of the position of the outlet area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1 wherein one or more of said shroud portions are spaced apart transversely from the axis of rotation of the rotor by a distance that is different to the distance by which the one or more other shroud portions are spaced apart transversely from the axis of rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the distance by which one or more of said shroud portions are spaced apart, transversely from the axis of rotation of the shroud portion, varies with the angular position of the respective shroud portion relative to the axis of rotation of the shroud portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the distance by which one or more of said shroud portions are spaced apart, transversely from the axis of rotation of the shroud portion, varies with the angular position around the respective shroud portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of one or more of said shroud portions and the axis of rotation of the rotor are coaxial. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of one or more of said shroud portions are offset from the axis of rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of one or more of said shroud portions varies relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor as the one or more shroud portions rotate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said shroud portions includes an inlet guide extending axially along the shroud portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said shroud portions includes an exhaust guide the exhaust guide extending axially along the shroud portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said shroud portions comprises a flow reversal device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said shroud portions includes a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A transverse flow wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor for measuring vibration of the turbine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of operating a transverse flow wind turbine assembly according to claim 1, the rotor being connected to an electrical generator; the method comprising the steps of: adjusting the rotational position of the shroud portions; determining the electrical power output from the electrical generator; and repeating the above steps in order to achieve required electrical power output from the electrical generator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method of operating a transverse flow wind turbine assembly in accordance with claim 13, the turbine assembly further comprising a plurality of sensors, each sensor being adapted to sense a variable, the method comprising the additional initial steps of: receiving an input from one or more of the plurality of sensors; comparing the input to a predetermined value; and using the results from the comparison step to determine the required adjustment to the position of the shroud. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method of operating a transverse flow wind turbine assembly in accordance with claim 14, wherein the variable is selected from the group comprising wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, vibration and pressure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A roof for a building comprising a transverse flow wind turbine assembly according to claim 1, the roof comprising an apex, the turbine assembly being positioned substantially parallel to the apex of the roof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A series of transverse flow wind turbines modules installed in series along the apex of a roof in accordance with claim 16, wherein the rotors of alternate turbine modules are contra-rotating, a generator coupled centrally between alternate modules, the rotor of one module driving the stator of the generator and the rotor of the adjacent module driving the rotor of the generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A plurality of transverse flow wind turbine assemblies according to claim 1, wherein each turbine assembly drives an electrical generator the electrical outputs from each respective electrical generator being connected to a local electrical power distribution network, the electrical power generated by the turbine assemblies being supplied to local consumers in response to their electrical power requirements, in preference to the supply of electrical power from a remote generating site. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A plurality of transverse flow wind turbine assemblies according to claim 18, wherein the electrical outputs from other devices using renewable energy, such as photovoltaic cells, may be connected to the local electrical power distribution network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A plurality of transverse flow wind turbine assemblies according to claim 18 wherein each of the turbine assemblies is mounted on a structure.