Vertical axis turbine

Turbine systems and apparatuses and methods for operating a turbine. The turbine has a shaft coupled to a generator and a segment and the segment has an asymmetric shaped wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of apparatuses for converting energy from flowing fluid into electricity or another power type. Moreover, it pertains specifically to an apparatus for converting wind or water energy into electricity or another form of mechanical energy.

Accordingly, the present invention provides solutions to the shortcomings of prior fluid driven turbine systems, apparatuses, and methods. Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, therefore, that those and other details, features, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine includes one or more segments, a shaft, and a generator.

An embodiment of a segment for a fluid driven turbine includes four walls. The first wall is to be coupled to a shaft of a turbine, the second wall is asymmetric to the first wall and the shaft, the third wall is joined to the first and second walls, and the fourth wall is joined to the first and second walls opposite the third wall. The first, second, third and fourth walls of that segment form an inlet at a first end of the segment and an outlet is formed in at least one of the first, second, third and fourth walls.

An embodiment of the fluid driven turbine includes a shaft, a segment attached to the shaft and a generator coupled to the shaft. The segment is further comprised of a first wall coupled to the shaft, a second wall asymmetric to the first wall and the shaft, a third wall joined to the first and second walls, and a fourth wall joined to the first and second walls opposite the third wall, the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall form an inlet at a first end of the segment an outlet is formed in at least one of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall at a second end of the segment.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine provide a vertical-axis wind and water flow energy conversion system having a simple construction.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine provide a vertical-axis wind and water energy conversion system that is more universally functional than previous wind and water flow energy conversion systems and may be deployable in various locations and environments, including rooftops, hillsides, flatlands, along the sides of highways, along riverbanks, mine shafts, oceans and rivers.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine may be fabricated in such a variety of ways that they can be not aesthetically disruptive in many settings.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine provide a vertical-axis wind, steam, and water flow energy conversion system that is more versatile in operation than previous wind energy conversion systems.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine provide for efficient servicing because individual generators may be serviced or replaced while the system is operating.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to be highly scalable in size and power output capacity. Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester turbine are further believed to be capable of manufacture in many sizes and shapes, may be fabricated from various materials and may be fabricated in various levels of sophistication.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to be able to create electricity in very low wind velocity environments, including the 1-4 mph wind velocity range frequently found in mine shafts.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to be capable of functioning efficiently in turbulent airflow environments.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to be capable of generating electricity from the airflow created by passing vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks on streets and highways and railroad cars on railway systems.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to have a minimal environmental footprint.

Embodiments of the Aeolun Harvester fluid driven turbine are believed to be operable at slow rotational speed, thereby reducing noise, stress, and danger to humans and wildlife.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to embodiments of the fluid driven turbine, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Details, features, and advantages of the fluid driven turbine will become further apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments thereof. It is to be understood that the Figures and descriptions included herein illustrate and describe elements that are of particular relevance to the fluid driven turbine, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements found in typical turbines and turbine control systems.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods of operation of the fluid driven turbine are described herein. Aspects of those embodiments may also be included in processor based apparatuses, multi-processor based systems, and articles of manufacture that contain instructions which, when executed by a processor cause the processor to control operation of the fluid driven turbine. Any reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “a certain embodiment,” or any other reference to an embodiment is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment and may be utilized in other embodiments as well. Moreover, the appearances of such terms in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. References to “or” are furthermore intended as inclusive so “or” may indicate one or another of the ored terms or more than one ored term.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid driven turbine100. The fluid driven turbine100may include one or more segments102and the turbine100illustrated includes three such segments112,115, and118. The fluid driven turbine100may further include, a shaft104, a hub106, one or more generators108, and a base110. The first segment112includes an inlet or mouth113and an outlet or discharge114, the second segment115includes an inlet or mouth116and an outlet or discharge117, and the third segment118includes an inlet or mouth119and an outlet or discharge120. The segments102may be fixedly attached to the shaft104such that when the segments102encounter a moving fluid, the segments102rotate the shaft104. The shaft104is fixedly attached to the hub106in this embodiment and the hub106provides a surface area of sufficient size to distribute the rotational force of the shaft104to a plurality of generators108. The rotating shaft104and hub106may drive the one or more generators108, thereby creating power, such as electrical power. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1, the shaft104drives the generators108through the hub106, which is fixedly attached to the shaft104. It should be noted that while the hub106is used in this embodiment to transfer the rotational force of the shaft104to drive the generators108, any alternate apparatus or method desired could be used to couple the shaft104to the generators108.

The segments102may encounter and be driven by a variety of fluids including, for example, air moving as wind, or water moving as a tide or flowing otherwise. For example, in an embodiment, the fluid driven turbine100is situated such that naturally occurring wind or water flow impels the segments102, causing the shaft104to rotate and, through the hub106in this embodiment, power the generators108.

In an embodiment of the fluid driven turbine100, the shaft104is oriented vertically. In a wind driven application, such a wind driven turbine device may be referred to as a vertical axis windmill.

FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a segment200that may be used as the segment102illustrated inFIG. 1. The segment200of that embodiment has an asymmetrical shape. The segment200has a first or shaft wall202that may be connected to a turbine shaft104as shown inFIG. 1, a second or distal wall204, a third or top wall206that may face horizontally in a horizontal shaft application (not shown), and a fourth or bottom wall208that may face horizontally opposite the top wall206in a horizontal shaft application. A mouth or inlet210is formed at an inlet end214of the segment200and a discharge or outlet212is formed at an outlet end216opposite the mouth210of the segment200.

The shaft wall202may have a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical shaped portion217for connection to the shaft104. In an embodiment, segments200are fit around the shaft104via modified sleeve bearings located at the top and bottom of each segment200. The shaft wall202may alternately or in addition have flat or curved218sections218as desired.

The distal wall204is asymmetric in relation to the shaft104and the shaft wall202of the segment200. The distal wall204is curved such that it is farthest from the shaft wall202at the inlet end214of the segment200and closest to the shaft wall202near the outlet end216of the segment200. As may be seen inFIG. 2, the distal wall204may be connected directly to the shaft wall202at the outlet end216.

Thus, the distance between the shaft wall202and the distal wall204is greatest at the inlet end214where the fluid enters the segment200and the distance between the shaft wall202and the distal wall204is less at the outlet end216. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2, the distance between the shaft wall202and the distal wall204widens in one or more sections between the inlet end214and the outlet end216. In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown inFIGS. 3-5, the distance between the shaft wall302and the distal wall304reduces continuously from the inlet end314to the outlet end316.

The top wall206and bottom wall208attach to each of the shaft wall202and the distal wall204to form a channel219through which fluid driving the segment200flows and may otherwise be arranged as desired. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2, the top wall206and bottom wall208are arranged parallel to one another. Such an arrangement causes the cross-sectional area of the segment200to be greatest at the inlet end214and smallest at the outlet end216where the distal wall204approaches the shaft wall202. In an embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the channel219continuously reduces from the inlet end214to the outlet end216. That continuous reduction may be at the same or a differing rate.

All or a portion of the distal wall204may be formed in the shape of a logarithmic spiral. In one embodiment, the logarithmic spiral extends in a first portion220from the mouth210of the segment200for a distance toward the outlet end216. Fluid flowing into the mouth210of the segment200may apply a drag force to the first portion220of the segment200where the distal wall204is in the shape of a logarithmic spiral lying beyond the mouth210.

In an embodiment, a second portion222of the distal wall204is flattened toward the shaft wall202. That formation may create a lift force to the segment200in the second portion222when fluid flow is applied to that second portion222.

In an embodiment, a third portion224of the distal wall204includes the discharge212. As fluid moves from the mouth through the segment200, the fluid may become pressurized due to the reduced area at the outlet end216of the segment200and that pressurized fluid exits the segment200through the discharge212. Moreover, the discharge212through which the fluid exits may be smaller than the mouth210through which the fluid entered. Thus, a jet force may be applied by the fluid in the third portion224of the segment200as the fluid exits through the discharge212.

It may therefore be seen that a fluid, such as water or air, flowing through the segment200may apply one or more forces on the segment200. For example, in an embodiment of the segment200a fluid entering the mouth210of the segment200may apply a drag force on the portion220of the segment200nearest the mouth210, the same fluid may further impart a lift force on the portion222of the segment200as it passes through the segment200away from the mouth210, and the same fluid may also impart a jet force on the portion224of the segment200as it leaves the segment200at the discharge212.

In an embodiment, a logarithmic spiral was extruded to create a segment102of the fluid driven turbine100, such that air flowing through and around the segment102would produce drag from the inlet extending into a first portion of the segment102, lift in a second portion of the segment102extending from the first portion of the segment102, and jet force at the outlet due to the outlet being smaller than the inlet. Air flowing through the segment102of that embodiment is forced to accelerate due to the progressively smaller cross-section of the segment102from the inlet to the outlet, creating the jet force at the outlet. Accordingly, each of those three forces contributes to the rotation of each segment102so formed.

The segment200may be formed of any desired material, such as, for example, a weather resistant metal. Where the segment200is intended to be impelled by wind, the segment200may be formed of a somewhat rigid, durable material. Where the segment200is intended to be impelled by water, the segment200may be formed of an even more rigid, durable material. Embodiments of wind turbines may, for example, be constructed of carbon-fiber Kevlar weave, various plastics, and high grade aluminum.

Referring again toFIG. 1, any desired number of segments102may be employed in embodiments of the fluid driven turbine100. Those segments102may furthermore be set symmetrically around the shaft104to create a fairly steady turbine speed in a constant speed wind or other fluid flow.

For example, embodiments of turbines may be created with segments102in various multiples of three up to twelve segments102attached to the shaft104such that the shaft104rotates when a fluid flows into the segments102. When three segments112,115, and118are employed, they may be set at 120° angles from one another such that the inlets113,116, and119of the segments112,115, and118are offset by 120° from one another.

When multiple sets of three segments102are used, each set of three segments102may be set at 120° angles from one another. When one or more sets of six segments102are used, each set of six segments may be set at 60° angles from one another. Thus, in any embodiment in which two or more segments102are used in a set, the segments102of that set may be attached to the shaft104such that an angle between any one segment102and any other two segments102of the set facing in most nearly the same direction are equal (i.e., segments102are set at 60° angles or 120° angles from one another). When multiple sets of segments are used, the segments102of each set may be set at equal angles, one from another, and angles from set to set may be repeated or offset as desired.

Thus, for example, where a first segment112has a first mouth113, a second segment115has a second mouth116and a third segment118has a third mouth119, the first segment112, the second segment115, and the third segment118may be attached to the shaft104such that an angle between the first mouth113and the second mouth116is equal to an angle between the first mouth113and the third mouth119. Moreover, an angle between the second mouth116and the third mouth119may also be equal to the angles between the first mouth113and the second mouth116such that the segments112,115, and118are symmetrical around the shaft104.

An embodiment of the fluid powered turbine100may be created for wind operation. The fluid powered turbine100embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1includes three vertically stacked, repeating segments112,115, and118set at 120° each from the other in an equilateral arrangement. Each section112,115, and118is comprised of an asymmetrical, thin-walled, hollow body with a large air intake opening113,116, and119and a smaller air outlet opening114,117, and120and the effect of air flowing through those segments112,115, and118is the compression and acceleration of airflow through the segments112,115, and118, creating a jet of compressed, accelerated air exiting the smaller air outlet opening114,117, and120. The outlet may be strategically placed to impart rotational propulsion to each section112,115, and118around the off-center axis of the shaft104. The behavior of this fluid powered turbine100results at least in part from the shape and design of the sections112,115, and118, is independent of scale, and may be constructed of a variety of light and strong materials. Accordingly, the fluid powered turbine100is believed to be highly scalable in size and power output capacity.

That embodiment of the fluid powered turbine100also includes a drive train arrangement, consisting of a large, circular hub106which is driven by the rotation of the segments112,115, and118attached to the shaft104. The hub106contacts and drives multiple diametrically opposed pairs of electric generators108, equally spaced along its circumference. In that embodiment, each pair of generators108can be engaged in an “on” position or disengaged in an “off” position. When a pair of generators108is engaged, that pair of generators108creates energy from the rotation of the turbine shaft104and when a pair of generators108is disengaged, that pair of generators108does not create energy from the rotation of the turbine shaft104. That arrangement may provide benefits including aiding operation of the fluid powered turbine100by engaging only as many generators108as the fluid flow powering the fluid powered turbine100is sufficient to operate and maintaining the speed of rotation of the fluid powered turbine100in a desirable range. Thus, for example, in conditions of light wind where low torque is being applied to a wind driven fluid powered turbine100, the number of generators108being driven by the fluid powered turbine100may be just two, and as wind velocity increases and fluid powered turbine100rotation increases, additional pairs of generators108may be moved to the “on” position, increasing the amount of electricity generated by the fluid powered turbine100. In addition, by engaging additional pairs of generators108as the wind velocity increases, and as the electricity generated increases, the system may be effectively “loaded” and, as a consequence, braked. That natural braking mechanism prevents the fluid powered turbine100from spinning excessively fast under higher wind velocities.

Generators108may be engaged and disengaged using various systems and methods. For example, a mechanical centrifugal governor (not shown) may be used to engage one or more additional generators108at a predetermined speed as the speed of the fluid powered turbine100increases. Similarly, the one or more additional generators may be disengaged when the speed of the fluid powered turbine100decreases below the same or a different predetermined speed. Alternately, an embedded microcontroller based system (not shown) may read wind velocity or acceleration of the fluid powered turbine100and move one or more generators108online and offline in response to increases and decreases in wind velocity or acceleration. It should be recognized that any number of generators108may be used with the turbine100and any number of generators108may be engaged or disengaged at a time.

In another embodiment, a vertical-axis wind energy conversion system is provided that is a hollow bodied fluid powered turbine100design that includes three sections102, each oriented 120° away from the other. The sections102are attached to a vertically placed central drive shaft104, which descends to a circular hub106, around the circumference of which are multiple pairs of diametrically opposed electrical generators108. Those generators108can be moved in and out of contact with the drive hub106in response to wind velocity and rotational speed of the fluid powered turbine100. The on/off control of these paired generators108may be accomplished by electronic, pneumatic or mechanical means. The dual effects of the on/off switching of generator108pairs may be to simultaneously maximize the electrical output of the system while providing a braking mechanism to restrain the rotational speed of the fluid powered turbine100. In those conditions where it is deemed desirable, the concentrating funnel650described herein may be implemented to improve the efficiency of the system.

FIGS. 3-5illustrates another embodiment of a segment300for a fluid driven turbine100.FIG. 3shows a front perspective view of the segment300, which includes a first or shaft wall302that may be connected to a turbine shaft104as shown inFIG. 1, a second or distal wall304, a third wall306, and a fourth wall308opposite the third wall. A mouth or inlet310is formed at an inlet end314of the segment300and a discharge or outlet312is formed at an outlet end316opposite the mouth310of the segment300.

FIG. 4illustrates a wall view of the segment ofFIG. 3. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 3-5, the distal wall304continuously approaches the shaft wall302as they approach the outlet end316. Thus the distance between the distal wall304and the shaft wall302becomes continuously less. Additionally, the third wall306and the fourth wall308are parallel such that the area of the segment300continuously reduces from the mouth310to the outlet end316of the segment300.

FIG. 5illustrates a back perspective view of the segment300. It may be noted that the distal wall304of the segment illustrated inFIGS. 3-5is asymmetric in relation to the shaft104and the shaft wall302of the segment300. It may also be seen that, in this embodiment, the outlet312is formed in the distal wall304of the segment300near where the distal wall304meets the shaft wall302.

Embodiments of the fluid driven turbine100are thought to have wide functionality, from generating electricity on a conventional electrical grid, to providing electricity to a single home or building, to providing an active recharging system for a hybrid-electric or electric automobile while the vehicle is in motion or parked.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate a segment402of an embodiment of a vertical-axis wind energy conversion system. Three turbine segments402may be attached to a shaft404in that embodiment. Each segment402has a hollow body430that forms a narrowing tunnel432and has a large opening434to receive air flow at its inlet end410and a smaller opening436at the opposite, outlet end412through which airflow is discharged. Air received in a segment402is compressed against the rear wall438inside the large opening434of the hollow body430and flows through the narrowing tunnel432, being further compressed and accelerated as it travels through the segment402. As a result, pressure from the compressed air generates a force creating torsion on that section402of the turbine400, causing the section402of the turbine400to rotate. Additionally, compressed accelerated air flows out of the turbine section402through a discharge436tangentially to the circumference of rotation, creating a propulsive force and causing the section402to rotate as well.

FIGS. 8,9, and10show top, front, and rear views of a section402described in the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 11shows an outline drawing of the three sections402stacked together, each rotated by 120°.

FIG. 12shows a solid top view, side view, and perspective view of the three sections stacked together, each rotated by 120°.

FIG. 13shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a fluid driven turbine500.

FIG. 14shows an outline of the turbine500ofFIG. 13in its cylinder of rotation. The cylinder of rotation is the cylindrical shaped area swept out by the motion of the rotating turbine (i.e. when it rotates, the outer edge of the turbine sweeps out a circle which, stretched upwards in three dimensions forms a cylinder). The cylinder of rotation may alternately be referred to as the “swept area” of the turbine.

FIG. 15illustrates rotational vectors of motion of the turbine and the turbulent kinetic energy distribution of the turbine500ofFIG. 13in action.

FIG. 16illustrates velocity vectors of motion of the turbine500ofFIG. 13and the rotational kinetic energy distribution of the turbine500ofFIG. 13in action.

FIGS. 17 and 18illustrate a turbine600used in conjunction with a concentrator funnel650.FIG. 17illustrates an embodiment of a turbine600in a concentrating funnel650. In certain embodiments for certain environments, the turbine600may be contained in a concentrating funnel650, which collects, concentrates, and accelerates the flow of air onto the turbine600. That may in turn increase the electricity output of the turbine600under low velocity wind conditions.

FIG. 18shows a close-up detail of an embodiment of a turbine600in a concentrating funnel650. Where deployment conditions permit, i.e. there is sufficient space, and wind flow is highly variable, or consistently low, a concentrator funnel650may be used to enclose the turbine600. This concentrator funnel650may be constructed on a rotating plate (not shown) or “lazy-Susan,” allowing it to be oriented into the wind to maximize the flow of the wind onto the turbine600. In conditions of higher airflow and lesser wind variability, the concentrator funnel650may not be employed.

FIG. 19shows the energy distribution of the turbine600in the concentrating funnel650.

FIG. 20shows velocity vectors indicating energy distribution of the turbine600in the concentrating funnel650.

FIG. 21provides a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembled vertical axis wind energy conversion system700showing a drive hub702, generators704, segments706, and a base708.

FIG. 22illustrates a top view of the embodiment of the assembled vertical axis wind energy conversion system700illustrated inFIG. 21.

FIG. 23is another perspective view of the embodiment of the assembled vertical axis wind energy conversion system700ofFIGS. 21 and 22.

FIG. 24shows a top view of the vertical axis wind energy conversion system700with the segments706removed. InFIG. 24, certain of the generators704are depicted in a disengaged or off-line position750and other generators704are depicted in an engaged or on-line position752.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.