Abstract:
The present invention is concerned with an improved hydro/aero turbine with a split venturi effect shroud that accelerates the fluid stream through it and boosts the power output, providing a location for energy transfer around its perimeter either by mechanical or electrical means or may have a magnetic ring generator/bearing and other distinctive features that simplify manufacture, assembly, transport, installation and service with the latest technology in direct drive permanent magnet generator.

Description:
REFERENCES 
     U.S. Patent Documents 
       [0001]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 4,547,124 
                 October 1985 
                 Kliatzkin 
               
               
                   
                 5,844,341 
                 December 1998 
                 Mahawilli 
               
               
                   
                 4,720,640 
                 January 1998 
                 Anderson 
               
               
                   
                 6,700,216 B1 
                 March 2004 
                 Vann 
               
               
                   
                 7,432,610 B2 
                 October 2008 
                 Wobben 
               
               
                   
                 2011/0031760 A1 
                 October 2010 
                 Lugg 
               
               
                   
                 7,927,065 
                 April 2011 
                 Moehring 
               
               
                   
                 7,964,978 B1 
                 June 2011 
                 Weissmann 
               
               
                   
                 7,976,269 
                 July 2011 
                 Presz 
               
               
                   
                 8,089,175 
                 January 2012 
                 Stiesdal 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Foreign Patent Documents 
       [0002]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 WO 2010 131052 
                 November 2010 
                 Bailey 
               
               
                   
                 WO 2011 090729 
                 July 2011 
                 Marin 
               
               
                   
                 EP 2,250,346 
                 November 2011 
                 Farb 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Other Publications 
       [0003]    Shrouded Wind Turbine: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/3/4/634/pdf 
         [0004]    Sterling Jet Accelerator Wind Turbine. www.All Natural Energy.com 
         [0005]    Shrouded Wind Turbine: http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/3/4/634/pdf 
         [0006]    Lens Wind Turbine: 
         [0007]    http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/08/07/wind-lens-turbine/Inductrack 
         [0008]    Passive Magnetic Levitation: http://www.askmarcom/Inductrack/2000-1%20Inductrack%20Scientific%20American.pdfMaglev 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    There is currently a global concern surrounding the depletion and increasing cost of oil. Another concern has been is the use of potable water to produce the electricity. Wind power is one of the few options that uses no water resources to produce electricity. 
         [0010]    Current wind turbines need a high wind speed to start rotating, are plagued with maintenance problems, are difficult to deploy and may experience blade fractures because of the continuously growing sizes, which result in costlier manufacturing, transport, installation and operation, so it is an object of this invention to provide a turbine with improved features as a new means of energy supply in a small or a grid scale. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention is concerned with an hydro/aero-electric turbine, and in particular, an improved hydro/aero turbine with a venturi effect shroud that accelerates the fluid stream through it and boosts the power output, having an annular ring generator with a maglev bearing with distinctive features that simplify manufacture, assembly, transport, installation and service with the latest technology in direct drive permanent magnet variable input generator. 
         [0012]    This turbine utilizes a magnetic bearing to provide support against axial and radial thrust on a rotor which has no central shaft, no nacelle and moves a gearless direct drive generator with a propeller with blades spanning between opposing sides to a central tension ring of the rotor ring under tension, with a tension ring in the middle. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0013]    #1.—A propeller encased in a hydro/aero-dynamically improved “venturi ring” that accelerates the fluid through it and boosts power generation by a major factor. 
         [0014]    #2.—The “venturi ring” shroud is split in two halves and is attached to a central split column jacket which can be set over a column or other vertical structure and which can rotate to face the fluid flow. It can be folded open for easier transport and deployment. 
         [0015]    #3.—The ring may be in itself a generator and a maglev bearing around the perimeter, which constitutes the direct drive permanent magnet generator and the magnetic bearing, or a power take off location for other gear or wheeled generators. The ring is also a structural support. 
         [0016]    #4.—The propeller is encased in the rotor ring and has no shaft, no hub and no nacelle, providing greater safety and a lighter structure; the rotatable propeller blades are spanned under tension from the rim of the rotor ring to a central tension ring and then through the opposing blade to the opposing side of the rotor ring; the tips are attached to evenly distributed sections of the rotor near the propeller tips or all around the perimeter with permanent magnets on the underside that travel over the venturi shroud&#39;s circular rail on the rim embedded with coils on the stator portion. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention provides a hydro/aero-electric turbine comprising a surrounding shroud which, because of its form accelerates the flow through it by creating a low pressure zone behind the system, with a narrow throat upstream and a wider, expanding throat downstream, which accelerates the air through the propeller, boosting the power output. 
         [0018]    The preferred embodiment has a “stator” portion of the maglev bearing generator embedded around the front rim of the venturi shroud, and the “rotor” portion carries the permanent magnets around the back face of the ring encasing the propeller, which is suspended over the magnetic field induced by the rotor&#39;s magnets as they move over the coils on the “stator”. 
         [0019]    The venturi shroud provides a structural backing support for the rotor and a structural support for the whole system by means of the central split “clam” jacket which carries the loads to the central column or tubular structure to the ground. Conversely there could be additional structures or towers with rollers supporting the sides and back of the venturi shroud when necessary. 
         [0020]    The propeller is encased in a half torus shaped shroud ring located about the rim of the turbine, which also contains the rotor portion of a ring generator and magnetic bearing. 
         [0021]    This combination of features provides a lighter turbine and a shaft less propeller with blades attached at both ends, which are lighter and safer than conventional blades because they are under tension, similar to sails, and are enclosed in the ring. 
         [0022]    The present invention therefore provides a hydro/aero-electric turbine comprising a stator and a rotor which rotates over the stator; the rotor magnets and the stator coils are arranged in such a way as to generate radial and axial reactive forces in multiple opposing directions in a radial and axial manner, the magnetic bearing comprises rotor magnets mounted to the rotor in substantially annular “Halbach arrays” and stator coils mounted to the stator in opposing alignment to the rotor magnets such as to generate an axial and radial reactive forces about the circumference of the rotor, the stator coils being radially offset with respect to the rotor magnets in at least one location on the stator so as to generate a radial reactive force. 
         [0023]    The permanent magnets are disposed about a rim of the rotor which levitates over the stator coils on the flanged ring which are disposed about a rim of the stator, which are embedded about the rim of the stationary portion of the “venturi ring”. 
         [0024]    The stator coils are arranged in an opposed substantially annular array defining an annular flange axially perpendicular to the stator and in which the coils are arranged on both, the inside and the outside surfaces of said flange. 
         [0025]    The rotor magnets are arranged in a pair of opposed substantially annular arrays defining an annular channel axially perpendicular to the stator face which slips over the flange on the stator, where the coils are disposed. 
         [0026]    The stator comprises a flange extending axially outward from the rim of the venturi shroud, comprising the annular surface where the coils are arranged on each face of the flange, like a giant cookie cutter, which provide the magnetic supporting field in multiple axis when the rotor&#39;s magnets move over the coils. The coils may be set on the rim of the stator and on the flange, so the magnetic field induces an electrical current and a magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field of the permanent magnets and create a levitating body. The ring generator becomes a magnetic levitating bearing and a generator in one unit simultaneously, similar, but not equal to Douglas Weissmann&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,978, the WIND TURBINE HAVING A BLADE RING USING MAGNETIC LEVITATION. 
         [0027]    The rotor comprises the front part of the “venturi ring” and contains a shaftless propeller encased in a fluid-dynamically improved ring. 
         [0028]    The hydro/aero electric turbine contains mechanical thrust bearings which are arranged and/or dimensioned so as to be load bearing only beyond a predefined axial and radial displacement of the rotor relative to the stator to supply mechanical support until a transitional speed is attained to provide magnetic levitation. 
         [0029]    The mechanical thrust bearings may be arranged and/or dimensioned to prevent contact between the stator coils and rotor magnets. 
         [0030]    The magnetic bearing is at least partially contained or embedded within the “stator” and the “rotor”. 
         [0031]    The annular venturi shroud that may contain the stator portion of the system which is also a rigid structural support. The venturi shroud is split vertically in two halves and attached to each side of a hinged split tubular jacket column. 
         [0032]    The split “clam” jacket is a hinged vertically split tubular structure with a split venturi ring shroud attached to each half of the hinged column jacket which may contain sets of motorized rollers attached to the interior surfaces of each half that may be operated to elevate and/or rotate the jacket to face the flow of the currents on hydro or aerodynamic turbines. The “clam” system may be positioned over an existing vertical structure. The turbine is attached to each half of the jacket on the ground, it is then positioned over the vertical column and raised to operational height when ready. 
         [0033]    Conversely the rotor&#39;s disposition of permanent magnets may be distributed in sections of the rotor ring situated at the tip of each blade or around the whole perimeter. 
         [0034]    The use of a propeller without a shaft encased in a ring shaped maglev bearing located about the rim of the turbine provides the possibility of a much larger scale turbine than can be possible with a conventional propeller, because the weight of the turbine structurally independent and supported from the back and sides and the center column; the propeller blades weigh a lot less, the propeller is suspended along the perimeter. The center of mass is lower so the structural loads are better distributed to the ground, making the movable system lighter and easier to maintain. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    The present invention describes a turbine with a propeller encased in a hydro/aero-dynamically improved “venturi ring” that accelerates the fluid through it and boosts power output. The venturi ring is a shroud with a narrow throat upstream and a wider, expanding throat downstream which creates a low pressure zone behind the system that increases circulation of the fluid through the propeller increasing the power output. 
         [0036]    The venturi ring shroud is a rigid structure split in two halves which are attached to each side of a hinged split tubular jacket column. This enables the system to be transported in a folded manner and to be set and closed over a tubular column or tensed cable. 
         [0037]    The split “clam” jacket and venturi ring shroud is a hinged, vertically split tubular structure with a split venturi ring shroud attached to each half of the hinged column jacket which may contain sets of motorized rollers attached to the interior surfaces of each half that can be operated to elevate and/or rotate the jacket to face the flow of the currents on hydro or aerodynamic turbines. The “clam” system is set over an existing vertical tubular structure. The stator/venturi shroud is attached to each half of the split jacket column, it is then positioned over the vertical column, closed over it, locked and raised to operational height when ready. 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, the “maglev ring generator-bearing” embedded around the perimeter of the venturi ring shroud consists of two rings with identical diameters, the stator embedded around the rim of the venturi shroud, which is stationary, relative to the rotor, and attached to the split clam jacket column, and the rotor, which rotates over the stator ring. 
         [0039]    Permanent magnets are placed in two configurations of “Halbach arrays” on the “rotor”, which move over and under the “stator”, which contains a configuration of copper coils around the perimeter of the venturi shroud. 
         [0040]    When the rotor turns, levitation kicks in as it reaches the transition speed of approximately 3 to 5 km/h and it becomes a floating body, that is, the maglev bearing. 
         [0041]    The open coils induce an electric current, the closed coils induce an electric current which in turn generates an electromagnetic field that repels the magnet arrays on the “rotor and at approximately 3 to 5 km/h (transition speed) the rotor levitates, the greater the speed, the greater the field force, thus it is auto-adjustable. 
         [0042]    The combination of open and closed copper coils produce a levitating magnetic field and an electric current simultaneously, but may be adjusted on command, thus the maglev ring generator-bearing with variable input. 
         [0043]    In a preferred embodiment, the rotor encases a specially designed rail cars at each tip of the propeller blades, a section of the rotor&#39;s perimeter, which contain two arrays of permanent magnets in a Halbach configuration, one on the outside face of the stator coils and the other on the inside of the stator coils, in a double Halbach effect. (see Inductrack II) The system works in principle like the Inductrack system described by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,722,326; 6,664,880 and 6,758,146 and U.S. patent Publication 2005/0204948 by Richard Post. 
         [0044]    This double configuration doubles the original Halbach array arrangement and doubles the force of the magnetic field on the coils, which may double the magnetic force or the power output with less rare earth permanent magnet material. The permanent magnets may cover the whole perimeter of the rotor or just sections of the arc where the tips of the blades are attached. The power output will change accordingly. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0045]    The system can be mounted on vertical cables as in suspension bridges, on tubular columns or space frame structures as described in the following descriptions: 
         [0046]    a.—The basic system consisting of the split “clam” hinged jacket column that supports the rigid venturi ring shroud with the stator portion with coils embedded on the rim; and a rotor consisting of an inflatable ring made of a flexible membrane inflated with gas under pressure which would carry rail cars similar to roller coaster cars with groups of Halbach arrays of permanent magnets that would ride over the coils on the stator portion of the system. Similar to the Winflex wind turbine from Dr. Kliatzkin, from Israel, only that the [SVRMGT] has the venturi shroud as a backing and a supporting structure. The coils are set on the surface of the axially protruding ring extending perpendicularly from the stator&#39;s rim. 
         [0047]    The rotor&#39;s permanent magnets ride over both faces of the protruding ring&#39;s coils, inducing electricity and magnetic fields as they pass over them, as described in the Inductrack II system by Richard Post; the double Halbach arrays, one on top of the coil embedded rail and another array under it will double the strength of the magnetic field so it doubles the power output. 
         [0048]    b.—The [SVRMGT] can be attached to cables hanging from overhead structures such as in suspension bridges as in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0049]    c.—The [SVRMGT] can be of grand scale, with tubular towers supporting either side and back of the venturi shroud with motorized rollers on the floor, to carry the structural loads and help rotate the system into the stream.  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  15 . 
         [0050]    d.—The [SVRMGT] can be of grand scale, set on a specially designed floating platform with tubular towers as in “c” above, but on a floating platform. 
         [0051]    e.—The systems can also be positioned in specially designed air foil blimps and lofted into the air, where wind velocities are greater and constant. 
         [0052]    f.—The systems can also be positioned under the water, where efficiency is greater. 
       ON PRIOR ART 
       [0053]    1.—The Windtronics “Blade Tip Power System” by Imad Mahawilli, U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,34, the wind turbines have the same permanent magnet generator around the perimeter in an annular shroud encasing the propeller, which has no shaft or gearbox. Now sold under Honeywell. 
         [0054]    The [SVRMGT] has the annular shroud around the propeller with a specially designed venturi effect accelerator, it is split in half vertically, which can fold open to attach to an existing vertical structure. 
         [0055]    The whole turbine can be assembled on the ground, set on the column and raised to operational height when ready. 
         [0056]    The rim of the “venturi ring” may have the magnetic bearing and ring generator embedded. 
         [0057]    The rotor portion of the system encases the propeller and moves over the magnetic field and rotates frictionless over the “Stator” portion on the “venturi ring” shroud. 
         [0058]    2.—Compared with the “Lens Wind turbine” Dr. Yuji Ohya from Japan; the “VORTEC 7” and the “JET ACCELERATED WIND TURBINE” from STERLING, these inventions have an aerodynamically improved ring with an open propeller which is fitted into the opening; also, they are not split in two sections nor are they attached to a central “Split jacket column”, which gives my system a better supporting structure and better constructability. 
         [0059]    The ring is not a generator on the other systems, nor is it suspended in a maglev bearing, they use conventional propellers that fit inside the opening. 
         [0060]    Shrouded Wind Turbine http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/3/4/634/pdf STERLING JET ACCELERATOR WIND TURBINE www.All Natural Energy.com 
         [0061]    3.—The WINFLEX INFLATABLE LIGHT FLEXIBLE WIND TURBINE, from Dr. Kliatzkin, from Israel is a wind turbine propeller encased in a flexible, inflatable ring with light weight propeller blades, but it has a central shaft and a conventional generator, gearbox and nacelle. 
         [0062]    The WINFLEX inflatable light flexible wind turbine, from Dr. Kliatzkin, www.Winflex.co.il The [SVRMGT] has the split ring generator around the perimeter of the rotor and has the stationary support behind it, it has no shaft, no gearbox and no nacelle; in high winds the Winflex propeller can sustain great damage as it is not supported from behind and the inflatable ring is flexible and very light weight and may be blown away 
         [0063]    4.—Douglas Weissmann, U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,978, “WIND TURBINE HAVING A BLADE RING USING MAGNETIC LEVITATION”, Jun. 21, 2011, describes a wind turbine with a ring encased propeller with magnetic levitation using the same electromagnetic principles as the [SVRMGT] but with the following differences: 
         [0064]    The “blade ring” has a simple round cross section. The [SVRMGT] has an annular “Venturi effect shroud which is set separately over the venture shroud&#39;s rim, and which is split in two_halves which boosts power and attached to a hinged split “clam” column that supports each half and completes the ring, it improves the structure, plus it makes transport, installation, maintenance and installation much easier. 
         [0065]    5.—U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,216 B1 by Charles Vann describes a magnetically levitated windmill supported by an arched bottom and a top section of coils with electromagnetic generators which can be activated progressively to maximize power output. The [SVRMGT] has the split ring generator around the perimeter of the rotor. The central split column allows the whole system to be assembled on the ground and raised when its ready, may be folded for ease of transportation and is a structural support. The [SVRMGT] also has a venturi shroud around the stator&#39;s back for structural support and aerodynamic improvement or fluid circulation. The turbine blades are also able to rotate to adjust to wind forces to operate more efficiently. 
         [0066]    The variable input ring generator/maglev bearing of the [SVRMGT] operates more efficiently using double Halbach magnet arrays for levitation and generation. 
         [0067]    A Halbach Array of magnets is a specific order of permanent magnets set in such a way that the magnetic field of this set of magnets is doubled in one face and cancelled on the other side. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0068]    In all the drawings the different parts are designated with the same letter. 
         [0069]              =PROPELLER; - - -          =TENSION RING; 
         [0070]              =STATOR/VENTURI SHROUD; - - -          =SPLIT VENTURI RING SHROUD; 
         [0071]              =ROTOR WITH DOUBLE HALBACH ARRAYS - - -          =LATERAL SUPPORTS; 
         [0072]              =RINGED FLANGE ON STATOR - - -          =SPLIT CLAM JACKET; 
         [0073]              =CENTRAL STRUCTURAL COLUMN OR CABLE; 
         [0074]              =TUBULAR TOWER WITH ROLLERS; - - -          =FOUNDATION; 
         [0075]              =MOTORIZED ROLLERS; 
         [0076]              =FOUNDATION AND ROTATION AXIS; 
         [0077]              =REAR AND SIDE TUBULAR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TOWERS; 
         [0078]              =UPPER TENSION RING; - - -          =CLAM ROTATION AND ELEVATION BOX; 
         [0079]              =INNER ROTATION ROLLERS; - - -          =INNER ELEVATION ROLLERS; 
         [0080]              =ROTATION MOTOR; - - -          =ELEVATION MOTOR; 
         [0081]              =CLAM JACKET HINGES; - - -          =TENSION CABLE; 
         [0082]              =PERMANENT MAGNETS HALBACH;          =RING CHANNEL IN ROTOR; 
         [0083]      FIG. 1 : FRONT VIEW 
         [0084]      FIG. 2 : SIDE VIEW, SECTION 
         [0085]      FIG. 3 : PLAN VIEW OPEN ROTOR “E”, PROPELLER“A” AND TENSION RING. 
         [0086]    FIG.  4 :. PLAN VIEW OF OPENED VENTURI RING AND STATOR “D”. 
         [0087]      FIG. 5 : PLAN VIEW ASSEMBLED UNIT, WITH FLUID CURRENT ILLUSTRATED. 
         [0088]      FIG. 6 : FRONT VIEW, WITH TUBULAR SPACE FRAME OVER ROLLERS “K” 
         [0089]      FIG. 7 : SIDE VIEW, WITH TUBULAR SPACE FRAME OVER ROLLERS “K” 
         [0090]      FIG. 8 : FRONT VIEW ISOMETRIC, SPLIT CLAM COLUMN CLOSED SYSTEM, WITH ELEVATOR MOTOR “R” AND ROTATION MOTOR “S”. 
         [0091]      FIG. 9 : PLAN VIEW, SPLIT CLAM COLUMN CLOSED SYSTEM OVER COLUMN “H” WITH INTERNAL ROLLERS “P”, WITH HINGES “T”. 
         [0092]      FIG. 10 : FRONT VIEW OF SPLIT CLAM COLUMN, SPLIT VENTURI RING WITH ROTOR RING ENCASING PROPELLER. 
         [0093]      FIG. 11 : PLAN VIEW, SPLIT CLAM OPENED SYSTEM WITH INTERNAL ROLLERS “P”, WITH HINGES “T” IN THE BACK. 
         [0094]      FIG. 12 : EXPLODED ISOMETRIC VIEW, COMPLETE SYSTEM, SECTION, STATOR FLANGE AND ROTOR CHANNEL WITH MAGNETS. 
         [0095]      FIG. 13 : SECTION, ROTOR “E” WITH HALBACH ARRAYS AND COIL FLANGE “f”, SECTION. 
         [0096]      FIG. 14 : BACK VIEW ISOMETRIC, SPLIT CLAM OPENED SYSTEM. 
         [0097]      FIG. 15 : ISOMETRIC VIEW, COMPLETE SYSTEM, EXPLODED. 
         [0098]      FIG. 16 : ISOMETRIC VIEW, SYSTEM WITH SIDE AND BACK SUPPORT STRUCTURES OVER ROLLERS. 
         [0099]      FIG. 17 : ISOMETRIC VIEW, SYSTEM WITH UPPER SUPPORT RING WITH SLIM COLUMN AND SURROUNDING TENSION CABLES. 
         [0100]      FIG. 18 : FRONT VIEW, MULTIPLE STACKED SYSTEMS INSTALLED ON TENSION CABLES OF HANGING BRIDGE.