GB2447510A - Wind turbine venturi inlet - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine comprises an inlet which uses the venturi effect. The turbine rotor and an associated alternator may be enclosed and connected to the inlet. The inlet may take the form of a truncated cone, or may alternatively have a deltoid form (figures 4-6). The wind turbine may also be mountable on a flat or pitched roof (figures 14-18).

Description

Integrated Advanced Wind Turbines These inventive developments relate

to enhancing the performance of mast mounted wind turbines bought by householders, and some new designs for dynamic roof integrated wind turbines for multi-storey buildings, plus turbine innovations for pitched roofs.

The present design of small mast mounted wind turbines, whilst generating electricity to some level, would achieve a higher out-put if the wind force were increased through the turbine.

This objective is achieved in this application of this invention by enclosing the rotor blade and alternator of mast mounted small turbines, in either a coned or deltoid airframe, causing a venturi effect at the airscrew, beyond which are wind exhaust ports to relieve drag through the venturi alternator tube, and facilitate rapid air flows.

This part of the compound invention will now be solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cut away view of a coned venturi wind turbine.

Figure 2 shows a front end view of a coned venturi wind turbine.

Figure 3 shows an isometric projection of a coned enclosed wind turbine utilising the venturi properties.

In figure 1, an airscrew diameter 1 is given adjacent to cone diameter 2 given as ratios to calculate wind force, in this case the wind speed is multiplied to a factor of 4; at 3 is shown the air exhaust slots beyond the airscrew, and at 4 is shown the line -ar struts supporting the venturi tube connecting to the cone. at shows the alternator unit spaced and linked to 3 struts with the mast supporting the alternator and welded to the bottom strut.

In figure 2, a cone 6 is shown converging into the venturi tube with three spacing support struts shown beyond the airscrew.

In figure 3, a directing fin is shown at 7, and at 8 a suspensi -on cable to support the cone to the fin, and at 9 the venturi tube showing the air exhaust slots and the base support for the fin to the venturi tube Figure 4 shows a side view of a deltoid venturi wind turbine.

Figure 5 shows a front end view of a deltoid venturi wind turbine.

Figure 6 shows an isometric view of a deltoid venturi wind turb-ine.

Infigure 4, an aerofoil banding is shown at 1 In figure 6, the aerofoil banding is shown at 3 enclosing 3.2 ti -mes the area of the airscrew, thus the wind is factored to 3.2 in this example; two suspending wires are shown at 2 supporting the air intake to the fin, the delta form is further braced at 4 with an I beam; otherwise it is similar in construction as the 2.

coned wind turbine Figure 7 shows a plan view of a G section venturi module that can be fitted at parapet level and banding a rectangular buildin -g on all sides to collect and accelerate wind energy; it is hooded at the top to collect wind rising vertically as it spills around the elevations, it is a flat triangular shape to induce flow to the inner trunking.

Figure 8 shows an elevation view of the module with holes shown in the lower apron to secure to the building, plus inner holes in the triangle panels to weep away wind/rain mixtures entering the trunking.

Figure 9 shows the bulkhead detail, two plates rivetted together and connecting the modular venturi channel sequence, in a side View; with a cut out profile to balance wind force at the upper speeds Figure 10 shows an isometric projection of the venturi module, with aerofoil props supporting the projecting canopy, from up wind thrusts, and showing drilled out holes at the ends to fit the bulkheads Figure 11 shows a medium sized wind turbine for flat roof fitting connected to a perforated flat coned hood, to allow exhaust air escapement beyond the airscrew; this element connects to a distributor receiving accelerated air from modular venturi flat triangular channels positioned round the building or enclosing in an island format in hexagonal or octagonal arrays. This figure is a cut away view to show inner detail.

Figure 12 shows a plan view of a hexagonal distributor top,with one way flap valves to counter negative pressures, and banding ring to support gasket and turbine above, plus view of fast air inlet ports.

Figure 13 shows an elevation view of the distributor unit, with an up directing air panel, and three air inlet ports shown.

Figure 14 shows an end on view of a triangular venturi fitted to a pitched roof at ridge level, with sloping sides.

Figure 15 shows a side view of a triangular venturi at ridge level, with drop straps to secure to rafters, and dense rubber foam berincis to counter drumming noises, plus weep holes to remove rain/wind mixes, and trunking band intruding into inner space of venturi to prevent rain entering trunking two pieces at 1 are rafter fixings,two pieces at 4 are the sound screening foam, iunher 3 is the trunking connection into the inner space to avoid wet intrusion, number 2 is the weep hole set, number 5 is the hooded entrance to the venturi triangle Figure 16 shows a skewed plan view of the triangular venturi showing the wind deflecting sloping sides and projecting entr -ance hood 3.

Figure 17 shows the elevation of two triangular wind venturi ctchments fitted at ridge level on a terraced roof, for wind collection from opposite directions.

Figure 18 shows a two chambered, rhomboid shaped, articulating wind collecting venturi inducing form, fitted at the ridge/hip jlainction on a pitched roof. The articulating edge at the hip is to allow for variation of the hip /ridge angle, this fitting at either end of a hipped roof covers wind flows.from four points.

The broken lines in figure 16 show the inner extent of the art -iculating piece, the diagonal division of the chambers, and 2 wind ports to the inner roof space fitted turbine, which would be an enclosed unit, allowing ducted exhaust air out through a soffit or other least difficult exit.

Figure 19 shows in elevation the 3 components of a circular oct -agonal distributor, in contrast to figure 13 which is a hexag -onal triangular segmented form of distributor; the top piece of figure 19 is the supporting ring for the above generating unit -not shown -beneath the ring is upward directing wind jet insert, below is the distributor showing 3 inlet ports.

Figure 20 shows in elevation one aspect of the octagonal island with 3 modular channels to catch wind flow, showing ribbed bulk -heads feeding the wind to the inner trunking, and an inner flap valve with a vectored limit, allowing high pressure wind to move around the octagon into less stressed modules.

Figure 21 shows on plan the trapezoidal shape of the flared C section modular venturi inducing forms, with the flat triangle inner shape at the trunking; the flared C section bulkhead is shown in detail in figure 25. This figure shows the compactness of an island generator on plan.

Figure 22 shows in elevation a tubular frame to support at flat roof level an octagonal wind turbine, brackets are shown that support the encircling modular channelled inducing venturis, upon which are placed shims, to perfectly level the modules, which are composites of plywood and dense foam rubber, to limit any noise transfer into a building; where the tubular frame con -verges at the apex,,a plate, secured by U bolts, ties the frame together and is a support, suspending the heavy medium sized generator underneath; the framing is secured into the roof via 8 reinforced semi-circular straps for the octagonal design, into the roof slab using rawl bolts.

Figure 23 shows on plan the 4 tubular tapering loop forms tied in at the apex via 8 U bolts through a top plate, through which an eye bolt is secured to support the generator unit, brackets supporting the octagon are shown with central holes to secure * .. the composite shims, 8 base semi-circular straps are shown and - 16 securing bolt holes.

Figure 24 shows a section through figure 25 at a-a, showing a 2 plate bulkhead, with a vectoring valve limiter to force high wind around the island generator, that can can be seen on the 4.

section as 2 rectangular tabs, other details evident are stiffen -ing creases at the bulkhead angles and pop rivet fixings near the angles.

Figure 25 shows a side view of the 2 piece bulkhead principally, with the inner bulkhead and its valve vectoring hatch, and the ou -ter bulkhead, foreshortened re copying, in a fantail style of ribbed corrugations to conduct wind flows into the trapezoidal -. module, and outlining the-flared Csection of the windacceler -ating channels Figure 26 shows an isometric view of the 2 part bulkhead vector -ed valve, exploded to show design elements which are self evident; a wire hinged flap sitting on a washer bearing of hard plastic, a vectoring segment located on 2 tabs on either bulkheads, the vertical limits of the vectoring piece will be rubber faced to quieten any clatter; to refer back to figure 25 the outer bulkheads are 2 piece with a forward vertical trim at their outermost edge.

Figure 27 shows the elevation of an octagonal island wind genera -tor on a flat roof that is spacially occupied by other services Figure 28 shows a plan view of the wind generator without the tubular frame fitted, on a flat roof, sharing space with other likely features.

Figure 29 shows the elevation of a more powerful system of wind turbine generators, where the wind is collected from all sides of the building via hooded modular G section channels, inducing the venturi effect, see figures 7, 8. 9, 10; of fast wind into a net -work of trunking terminating at distributors, moving the fast air through 90 degrees into the turbine blades.

Figure 30 shows the roof plan of a building occupied by 2 hexag -onal generators, and the pipe network from the parapet mounted hooded modular C section channels, the generators are not shown here fitted, only the hexagonal distributors connected to the pipe network, with 6 inlet ports, flap valves shown schematica-lly.

Figure 31 shows a side view of a support bracket for the island turbine systems, hexagonal or octagonal, where the bracket may be raised to the optimum height and secured via U bolts tighten -ed around the tubular framing, the bracket being a piece of folded plate.

Figure 32 shows an exploded isometric view of the bracket parts where Dexion angle is fitted to the top U bolt, as a spanning support for the folded plate bracket, and is tapered at the bot * --tom to' secure directly to* the lower U bolt.

Figure 33 shows a schematic view of a flap valve, one way, at 1 shows rubber damping pads to counter noise, at 2 shows rubber stops to limit the flap to 85 degrees opening angle to ensure gravity closure; and at 3 shows nylon hinging to ensure silence. 5.

Claims (6)

1. Claims 1. A wind generated turbine systew for mast mounted wind turbine

   -s, tubular framed island wind turbines fixed to flat roofs, para -pet level wind turbines fixed at flat roofs; and pitched roof wind turbinesi all"exploiting the wind speed acceleratingprOpe -rties of the venturi effect.
2. 2. A wind turbine generator mast niounted according to claim 1, where the airscrew and alternator are enclosed in an airframe that has a coned trunkated form to the airscrew causing the airflow to accelerate towards the rotor, and beyond dissipate through vents behind the airscrew to relieve air friction in the venturi tube enclosing the generator unit.
3. 3. A wind turbine mast mounted generator according to claim 1, where the airscrew and alternator are enclosed in an airframe that has a deltoid formed opening diminishing to the diameter of the airscrew thereby accelerating the wind force towards the rotor beyond which are vents in the venturi tube to relieve the drag effect before the wind meets the generator, centred by struts in the venturi tube which covers the unit
4. 4. An island wind turbine system, supported on a tubular frame, according to claim 1, where flared C section channels are set in hexagonal or octagonal layouts. trapezoidal in plan form to cause venturi effects to wind force to energise a centrally positioned vertically mounted wind turbine, through duct work feeding a distributor fitted with one way flap valves, this system is for flat roof application where other services have occupied space; in this system at the bulkheads linking the 6 or 8 segments there is an inner vectored flap valve at the bulk -head to balance wind surges and sequence wind distribution around the modular channeling venturis
5. 5. A parapet level wind turbine system according to claim 1, for flat roof application, where C section channels are fixed at parapet level to band the elevations of a building, and collect wind across the building, and wind rising up via the hooded design, the G section channels then pass the wind into a venturi inlet, and the kinetic wind force is piped to central distributors supporting vertically mounted medium sized wind turbines, flap valves at the distributor are fitted to counter negative wind pressures, the bulkheads for the G modular ventur -is are cut out at the inner of the plates to balance wind thrusts alonq the linear layout, the modules are bolted to the structure via the apron part of the Gsection into a wall plate
6. 6. A pitched roof wind turbine according to claim 1, is fitted at ridge level, hooded at its opening, triangular in shape, and may be secured to rafters via straps, the unit resting On dense rubber foam to quieten rain patter, the venturi effect 6.

   is achieved at the lower end of the triangular chamber, feeding into trunkwork to power an inner roof space fully enclosed wind turbine. At terraced roofs these turbine technologies may be fitted at ridge level facing opposite directions to cover two directions; at hipped roofs a rhomboid form of two chambered hooded wind collecting ducts may be fitted at the ridge/hip junction of the roof to cover wind force from two directions with an articulating hood at the hip side to cover angle varia --nce-in the roof construction, this systemforthe hipped -roof can cover wind flows from four directions if fitted at either end of the roof; the inner roof space turbine, fully enclosed must duct the air exhaust outside the roof space.