Horizontal ducted wind turbine

The horizontal ducted wind turbine includes a power generator assembly adapted to be rotatably mounted to an elongate pole. At least one wind funnel assembly extends from one side of the power generator assembly. The wind funnel assembly includes an elongate funnel with a relatively large inlet at one end and a relatively small outlet at the opposite end in communication with a housing of the power generator assembly. A turbine is rotatably mounted inside the housing and a pair of generators is disposed on opposite ends of the turbine. The funnel passively compresses incoming wind to maximize wind velocity acting on the turbine to rotate the same causing the generator to produce energy. The wind funnel assembly can be provided with wings that facilitate stabilized positioning and self-orienting in response to changes in wind direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to alternative energy systems, and particularly to a horizontal ducted wind turbine with features for maximizing power generation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently, alternative energy has become a major focus worldwide. The conventional energy systems that use sources such as fossil fuel, coal, and nuclear power produce much, if not most, of the energy consumed on a daily basis. However, the conventional systems also produce wastes that can be harmful to the environment if active steps have not been taken to regulate or check handling and disposal of the same. Moreover, the world does not contain an infinite supply of fuels such as fossil fuel and coal. At the rate of current consumption, this diminishing supply may not be able to meet future demands. As for nuclear power, much expense must be expended to construct the fuel rods, and when spent, the disposal thereof requires careful handling and disposal in special sites built to contain the radiation from residual radioactive materials that can last for centuries.

Due to the above concerns, many steps have been taken to find viable alternative energy systems. Some solutions to date include solar power, hydroelectric power, geothermal power, and wind power. All of these systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. One example of a common alternative energy solution includes solar energy. Solar energy converts heat from the sun into useable energy, such as electricity, via solar panels. Some areas of the world, such as the Middle East, typically have ideal locations and conditions for maximal sun exposure. However, the solar panels typically used in solar power energy systems can be relatively expensive for relatively low efficient energy conversion, though improvements in efficiency are continuously being made. Moreover, the costs for space and maintenance of such solar panels can be relatively expensive, diminishing the potential profits that can be gained thereby.

Similarly, wind power systems are also a relatively common solution for alternative energy. A typical wind power system utilizes a modern windmill-type design, which includes a propeller rotatably mounted to a single power generator pod. The power generator is usually mounted on top of an elongate pole and rotatable thereon. For maximal power generation, these types of wind power systems usually require locales where wind activity is prevalent with enough space for installation of a plurality of such power generator pods and the poles thereof. While sufficient, a single generator necessarily limits the amount of power that can be generated from the wind blowing past the propellers. Moreover, the propellers must also be designed to be aerodynamically efficient so that minimal wind force rotates the same. Such considerations and designs ultimately increase costs, and due to the nature of these types of systems, relatively large tracts of land typically would be required to produce energy for consumption by a given population.

Another type of wind power system typically includes a box-like structure that forms an interior tunnel or funnel directing incoming wind towards a rotatable fan connected to a generator. Such systems tend to be bulky and not aerodynamic, which decreases efficient utilization of the incoming wind.

Thus, a horizontal ducted wind turbine addressing the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The horizontal ducted wind turbine includes a power generator assembly rotatably mounted to an elongate pole. At least one wind funnel assembly extends from one side of the power generator assembly. The wind funnel assembly includes an elongate funnel with a relatively large inlet at one end and a relatively small outlet at the opposite end in communication with a housing of the power generator assembly. A turbine is rotatably mounted inside the housing and a pair of generators is disposed on opposite ends of the turbine. The funnel passively compresses incoming wind to maximize wind velocity acting on the turbine to rotate the same causing the generator to produce energy. The wind funnel assembly can be provided with wings that facilitate stabilized positioning and self-orienting in response to changes in wind direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The horizontal ducted wind turbine, a first embodiment of which is designated by the reference number10, provides efficient generation of power with maximal conversion of wind power. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the horizontal ducted wind turbine10includes a wind funnel assembly20detachably mounted to a power generator assembly40. The wind funnel assembly20passively compresses incoming wind as the wind passes through so that the exit velocity of the wind is relatively high prior to entering the power generator assembly40. The relatively high velocity of the exiting wind turns a turbine50in the power generator assembly40in order to convert the same into useable energy such as electricity. The synergy between compressed wind flow and the effect thereof on the power generator assembly40maximizes use of the potential energy contained in the incoming wind at any given entering velocity, which can result in a more efficient wind power generation system.

Referring back toFIGS. 1-3, the wind funnel assembly20includes an elongate funnel or conduit22coupled to a housing42on the power generator assembly40. As described herein and as indicated from the figures, the housing42can include a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and a generally hollow interior, for example. The funnel22is curvilinear and desirably shaped as a hollow, substantially arcuate segment of an annular frustocone. This shape provides a relatively narrow cross sectional profile that is more aerodynamic than a box-like structure. Moreover, the shape can prevent much of the abrupt, undesirable yaw that can occur during instances of sudden shear winds which can disrupt inflow of wind through the funnel22. Though relatively narrow, the shape permits maximal capture of incoming wind W. As such, the funnel22presents a relatively large and wide inlet or inlet opening23at one end tapering down towards a relatively small and narrow outlet or outlet opening24at the opposite end. This construction forces the wind W entering through the inlet23at a given velocity to passively and progressively compress as the wind W flows towards the outlet24. Thus, the exit velocity of the wind W at the outlet24is substantially higher than the entering given velocity, which assists in maximizing the wind force that can be applied to the power generator assembly40. It is to be understood that the funnel22can be constructed with different low or narrow profile shapes that perform in a similar manner without departing from the scope of the invention.

In order to maximize capture of incoming wind W, the wind funnel assembly20includes an upper scoop26and a lower scoop28. The upper scoop26is a panel desirably shaped as a curved duck bill that extends outwardly at a first divergent angle from the curved top of the inlet23. The upper scoop26provides an obstruction that directs incoming wind W towards the inlet23. The lower scoop28is a panel desirably shaped as a notched, curvilinear duck bill in contrast with the upper scoop26and also extends outwardly at a second divergent angle from the curved lower portion of the inlet23, the first divergent angle being substantially the same or different from the second divergent angle. The lower scoop28, however, functions similarly in that the lower scoop28directs incoming wind W towards the inlet23. The upper and lower scoops26,28enhance the performance of the wind funnel assembly20by assisting in capturing as much of the incoming wind W as possible to be directed towards the power generator assembly40during operation.

Wind conditions and direction do not tend to remain constant during operation. In order to compensate for changes in wind direction so as to orient and face the inlet23towards the incoming wind W, the horizontal ducted wind turbine10provides various features to facilitate automatic or self-reorientation. In an embodiment, the power generator assembly40is desirably mounted to a pole or bar12in a freely rotatable manner. This permits the mounted wind funnel assembly20to rotate thereon towards the wind W in reaction to cross winds or other types of changes in wind direction. The reaction is facilitated by a pair of wings or air foils30extending from the sides of funnel22. In an embodiment, each wing30is desirably shaped as a curvilinear, substantially partial cone constructed in a swept wing configuration extending from the inlet23towards the outlet24. The curvilinear, substantially partial cone shape includes a substantially triangular planar section32extending from one of the sides of the funnel22and a substantially partial cone section34contiguous with the substantially triangular planar section32. The wings30can reduce drag and assist in stabilizing the wind funnel assembly20within a wind stream. Moreover, each wing30includes a conical wing tip36provided at a juncture between the inlet23and the corresponding wing30. Each conical wing tip36can be constructed as a hollow cone, a hollow cone with a closed tip, a solid cone, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, each conical wing tip36is desirably disposed at a non-parallel angle with respect to the imaginary longitudinal line or axis A of the elongate funnel22. In other words, each conical wing tip36extends at a divergent angle with respect to the imaginary longitudinal axis A. The conical wing tips36present an obstruction that can be acted on by the wind W during directional changes thereof to create a turbulent zone directing the wind back towards the substantially partial cone section34to thereby assist in steering the funnel22towards facing the wind W at the new direction. Additionally, the substantially partial cone section34provides a relatively large, outer-facing surface area that also assists in steering the funnel22whenever the changing wind flows across, rather than along, the substantially partial cone section34.

It is contemplated that the funnel assembly20can be provided with wings30of various sizes and shapes apart from those already described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the wings30can be provided with more straight line, angular sections instead of the curvilinear configuration shown in the drawings, so long as they can perform similar stabilizing and steering functions. Moreover, the wing tips36can be attached to the corresponding substantially partial cone section34so that each wing tip36can freely move thereon, e.g., a swivel connection. Such a connection can permit each wing tip36to move within a limited conical field in response to changes in wind direction as a further enhancement to initiating reorientation of the funnel assembly20.

As best shown inFIGS. 2-4, the power is generated by the power generator assembly40. The power generator assembly40includes the housing42and a mounting boss44extending outwardly from the front of the housing42. The housing42houses a turbine50therein. The mounting boss44is desirably the same shape as that of the outlet24on the funnel22so as to provide a substantially tight fit for mounting the funnel22thereon. Though not shown, the funnel22can be fixed to the mounting boss44by any conventional means such as fasteners, welds, adhesive bonding, latches, interference-fit connections, snap-fit connectors, and the like. The mounting boss44includes an opening45communicating with the generally hollow interior of the housing42thereby exposing the turbine50to forces from the incoming wind W.

The turbine50is rotatably mounted inside the housing42. The turbine50includes an elongate, substantially cylindrical shaft52and a plurality of fins, fans, or blades54radiating from the surface of the shaft52. Each opposite end of the shaft52is connected to a respective generator60. When assembled, the generators60extend from opposing sides of the housing42. In use, the force of the wind W entering the housing42through the opening45acts against the blades54to rotate the turbine50. Due to their connection to the shaft52, the generators60convert the rotation of the turbine50into energy, such as electricity. Though not shown, the power generator assembly40includes wires and the like to facilitate energy transmission as is known to those skilled in the art. Unlike most conventional wind turbines, the pair of generators60can facilitate increased power production from the same turbine compared to systems with a single generator of similar, given capacity.

After the wind W flows over the blades54, the wind W is allowed to escape through vents46formed at the back of the housing42. The vents46are desirably disposed on at least the lower half section of the back of the housing42in order to direct the escaping wind W towards the ground. By this construction, the upper half section of the back of the housing42forms a deflector screen inside the housing42that forces the wind W to flow in a relatively wide arc around turbine50, which ensures rotation of turbine50occurs consistently and efficiently because wind forces act at an optimum attack angle on the blades54for longer duration. Moreover, the deflector screen function creates high and low pressure zones to direct wind flow in the desired direction. It is contemplated that the vents46can be formed so that they align with the opening45. However, this can result in insufficient pressure differential zones inside the housing42that can affect rotation of the turbine50unless the turbine50is positioned such that only a portion of the turbine50is exposed to the wind flow. Furthermore, the lower position of the vents46can assist in maintaining the fulcrum about the pole12to assist in easing repositioning of the funnel22during changing wind directions.

Another embodiment of a horizontal ducted wind turbine100is shown inFIGS. 5A,5B,6and7. In this embodiment, the horizontal ducted wind turbine100includes a pair of wind funnel assemblies120a,120bin a substantially balanced, mirrored alignment with each other and connected to a power generator assembly140disposed between the pair of wind funnel assemblies120a,120b. The horizontal ducted wind turbine100is also capable of self-adjustment to changes in wind direction except without the need of the previously described wings30. It is to be understood that the horizontal ducted wind turbine100includes many features similar to the previously described horizontal ducted wind turbine10.

As shown, the horizontal ducted wind turbine100includes a power generator assembly140and a pair of wind funnel assemblies120a,120bextending from opposite sides of a housing142via respective mounting bosses144a,144b. Similar to the housing42, as described herein and as indicated from the figures, the housing142can include a front, a back, opposing sides, a bottom and a generally hollow interior, for example. The wind funnel assemblies120a,120bare aligned with each other to substantially balance the overall construction with the respective inlets123a,123bfacing in opposite directions.

The wind funnel assemblies120a,120bare substantially identical to each other. As such, a first wind funnel assembly120aincludes an elongate funnel122a, an upper scoop126a, and a lower scoop128a. Similarly, a second wind funnel assembly120bincludes an elongate funnel122b, an upper scoop126b, and a lower scoop128b. The shape of the wind funnel assemblies120a,120bis substantially the same as that of the previously described wind funnel assembly20.

The aligned disposition of the first and second wind funnel assemblies120a,120bcan facilitate minimal readjustments to changing wind conditions and takes advantage of situations where wind blows from opposite sides. For example, if the first wind funnel assembly120ais facing the incoming wind W, but the wind W suddenly changes direction to blow from the opposite direction, then the second wind funnel assembly120bwill already be facing in the correct direction to utilize the wind without requiring substantial reorientation. Thus, any downtime for power generation due to reorientation can be minimized.

The power generator assembly140is substantially similar to the previously described power generator assembly40. In that regard, the power generator assembly140includes the housing142, openings145a,145bon opposite sides of the housing142in communication with respective funnels122a,122b, a turbine150, a pair of generators160, and vents146. The openings145a,145bare desirably of similar shape to the outlets124a,124bwhich, in turn, can be similar to the outlet24inFIG. 3, for example, on the respective funnels122a,122b. Unlike the embodiment of the horizontal ducted wind turbine10, the housing142is mounted to a yoke114, and the yoke114is pivotally coupled on top of a pole112. Additionally, the vents146are formed on the bottom of the housing142. The yoked mounting of the housing142suspends the housing142above the top of the pole112and provides substantially unobstructed space for exhausting the wind flowing through the housing142.

In this embodiment, the horizontal ducted wind turbine100is constructed so that one of the two funnels122a,122bfacilitates power generation depending on the flow direction of incoming wind W. As best seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, the power generator assembly140includes a deflector156pivotally coupled to the shaft152of the turbine150. The deflector156can be provided as a substantially U-shaped plate that, when assembled, extends substantially the whole length of the shaft152and straddles the blades154with space for a gap between the blades154and the deflector156. The deflector156is desirably freely pivotable about the shaft152, and the deflector156is sized to pivot within a limited arc inside the housing142.

In use, when wind W flows through the funnel122a, the incoming wind W pushes against the deflector156(if the deflector156is positioned adjacent the opening145a) to forcibly pivot the deflector156towards the opposite side of the housing142until the deflector156abuts against an interior wall of the housing142. At this point, the deflector156substantially covers the opposite opening145bwhile simultaneously deflecting the incoming wind W towards the blades154to rotate the turbine150in one direction. As the wind W continues to flow around the turbine150within a relatively large arc to facilitate the rotation, the wind W escapes through the vents146towards the ground. If the wind direction changes such that the wind flow is from the opposite direction, similar operation occurs but in reverse. Thus, the wind W now flows through the funnel122bforcing the deflector156to pivot towards the funnel122aand the opposite opening145a. Again the deflector156abuts against an interior wall of the housing142but opposite from the initial position to simultaneously substantially cover the opening145aand deflect the incoming wind W towards the blades154to rotate the turbine150in, now, the opposite direction. As the wind W continues to flow around the turbine150within a relatively large arc to facilitate the rotation, the wind W escapes through the vents146towards the ground. Some bleeding of wind W towards the corresponding opposite opening145a,145bcan occur during the above operation. However, the bleeding is typically negligible.

The horizontal ducted wind turbine100is therefore capable of substantially continuous operation during times of extreme changes in wind direction with relatively minimal disruption. Any disruption of operation due to wind direction changes between the extremes, i.e. opposite directions, is substantially compensated by a combined action of the non-active wind funnel assembly120aor120band any residual wind flowing through the active wind funnel assembly120aor120bcreating a relative high pressure zone inside the housing142. The non-active wind funnel assembly120aor120bessentially functions similar to a rudder while the active wind funnel assembly120aor120bcan act as having an effective greater mass due to the residual wind flowing therethrough and the pressure being exerted therein.

It is to be understood that the embodiments of the horizontal ducted wind turbine10,100can include variants in various aspects. For example, the horizontal ducted wind turbine10,100can be constructed from a variety of materials such as wood, plastic, metals, composites, combinations thereof, and the like. The materials being used should be durable so as to withstand the rigors of windy environments. Though the embodiments of the horizontal ducted wind turbines10and100have been described with self-adjusting features to passively reorient towards the incoming wind direction, the horizontal ducted wind turbines10and100can be provided with a mechanism that can automatically facilitate reorientation in an active manner. For example, such a mechanism can include components such as a wind direction sensor, a servo motor, and a processor that can process the data from the sensor and send commands to the servomotor to selectively adjust positioning of the horizontal ducted wind turbine.