# US 9,438,087 B2 · Energy reclamation from air-moving systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,087 B2 - Document ID: US9438087B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/605,818 - Filed: 2015-01-26 - Published: 2015-06-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-01 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Michael Phillip Czamara; Brock Robert Gardner; Osvaldo P. Morales - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438087B2 ## CPC - H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines} - F03D 1/04: having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels (F03D9/35 takes precedence) - F03D 9/00: Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations (hybrid wind-photovoltaic energy systems for the generation of electric power H02S10/12) - F03D 9/10: Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy - F03D 9/35: within towers, e.g. using chimney effects - H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) - H05K 7/20745: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device} - F05B 2220/602: with energy recovery turbines - F05B 2260/24: for draft enhancement in chimneys, using solar or other heat sources - Y02E 10/46: Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects - Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - 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 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A data center includes a computing room, computing devices in the computing room, an air handling system, and a turbine system. Air moved by the air handling system flows across heat producing components in the computing devices in the computing room. A rotor of the turbine system rotates in response to at least a portion of the air moved by the air handling system. The turbine system generates electricity from rotation of the rotor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A data center, comprising: a computing room; a plurality of computing devices in the computing room; an air handling system configured to move air, wherein at least a portion of the air moved by the air handling system flows across heat producing components in at least some of the computing devices in the computing room; and a turbine system coupled to the air handling system, wherein the turbine system comprises a rotor configured to rotate in response to at least a portion of the air moved by the air handling system; wherein the turbine system is configured to: change an orientation of the rotor relative to an air stream moving across the rotor; and generate electricity from rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The data center of claim 1, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to reposition the turbine system such that the rotor rotates in a natural wind. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The data center of claim 1, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to adjust the orientation of the turbine system about a pitch axis or a yaw axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The data center of claim 1, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to adjust between an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via the air handling system and an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via a natural wind. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The data center of claim 1, further comprising: a control system configured to operate the turbine system; and one or more energy storage devices, wherein at least one of the energy storage devices is configured to: store energy generated by the turbine system; and supply electrical power to the one or more components in the data center using the stored energy; wherein the control system is configured to supply electrical power from the energy storage devices based on one or more conditions in the data center. ### Claim 6 A system, comprising: one or more rooms; an air handling system configured to move air through at least one of the one or more rooms; and a turbine system coupled to the air handling system, wherein the turbine system comprises a rotor, wherein the rotor of the turbine system is configured to rotate in response to at least a portion of the air moved by the air handling system; wherein the turbine system is configured to: change an orientation of the rotor relative to an air stream moving across the rotor; and generate electricity from rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to reposition the turbine system such that the rotor rotates in a natural wind. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to adjust the orientation of the turbine system about a pitch axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to adjust the orientation of the turbine system about a yaw axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising a ball mount; wherein the turbine system is coupled to the air handling system at least in part by the ball mount; wherein the ball mount is configured to allow adjustment of the turbine system about three or more axes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the rotor of the turbine system is located in an exhaust air flow from the air handling system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor, the turbine system is configured to adjust the orientation of the turbine system between an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via the air handling system and an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via a natural wind. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the turbine system is configured to be manually adjusted to change the orientation of the rotor relative to the air stream moving across the rotor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising one or more energy storage devices, wherein at least one of the energy storage device s is configured to: store energy generated by the turbine system; and supply electrical power using the stored energy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a control system, wherein the control system is configured to operate the turbine system to generate electricity or supply electrical power in response to one or more conditions of the room or the air handling system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the control system is further configured to adjust the orientation of the turbine system between an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via the air handling system and an orientation aligned with a direction of air flowing via a natural wind, in response to the one or more conditions of the room or the air handling system, or in response to one or more conditions of the natural wind. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: moving air through an enclosed space to control conditions of the air in the enclosed space; moving at least a portion of the air through a rotor of a turbine system such that the rotor of the turbine system rotates; generating electrical power from rotation of the rotor; and changing orientation of the rotor relative to an airflow to promote rotation of the rotor and to continue generating electrical power from rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting the turbine system between an orientation aligned with the air of the air stream and an orientation aligned with a direction of additional air flowing via a natural wind. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising storing at least a portion of the electrical energy generated from the turbine system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising supplying electrical power from the stored electrical energy to a cooling system for the enclosed space.