Abstract:
A building with an integrated wind-powered electricity generation system includes a plurality of floors, wherein each of the plurality of floors includes usable space. The building further includes a vacuum space between adjacent ones of the plurality of floors and a plurality of vertical axis wind turbines, wherein each of the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines is positioned adjacent the open vacuum space. The building further includes at least one electricity generator operably coupled to the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines. At least one of the vertical axis wind turbines includes a plurality of louvers extending around a portion of the outer circumference of the vertical axis wind turbine.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to buildings and more particularly to a building with an integrated system for generating electricity from wind. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recent reports indicate that buildings consume more than 40 percent of the energy used in the United States. As companies pursue environmental stewardship and reduced energy costs, energy efficiency has become an important aspect of modern architectural design. Although a number of improvements have been made to building materials which can decrease a building&#39;s overall energy requirement, little progress has been made in developing buildings that are capable of on-site energy generation. 
     Several past attempts have been made to incorporate wind-powered electrical generation systems into buildings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,215,039 issued to Zambrano et al. discloses a wind turbine system that exploits an aerodynamically enhanced wind zone of a structure by aligning a plurality of horizontal axis wind turbine generators along a wall. U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,596 issued to Royer discloses an improved building structure that incorporates a tunnel-like opening that is adapted to contain a wind-sensitive generator. U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,309 issued to Tallal, Jr. et al. discloses one or more air intakes that funnel wind into a wind generator mounted internally to the structure. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,093 issued to Graham, Sr. discloses the use of a cylindrical wind turbine at the edge of a building&#39;s rooftop. Despite these previous designs, there continues to be a need for buildings that are capable of generating enough energy through wind to constitute an energy-neutral structure. It is to these and other deficiencies in the prior art that the preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In preferred embodiments, the present invention includes a building with an integrated wind-powered electricity generation system. In one aspect, the building includes a first floor, a first radial turbine assembly, a second radial turbine assembly in superior relation to, and spaced apart from, the first turbine. Each radial turbine assembly is configured to rotate about a vertical axis. In a preferred embodiment, however, the first radial turbine rotates in a first direction (e.g. clockwise) and the second radial turbine rotates in a second, and opposite, direction (counter clockwise). The radial turbine assembly drives a conventional electromagnetic electricity generator. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides a building with an integrated wind-powered electricity generation system in which the building includes a plurality of modules, wherein each of the modules includes a pair of first and second radial turbines. The building further includes a space between adjacent modules, thereby providing fluid communication between said modules, and the plurality of vertical axis radial wind turbines. In yet another aspect, at least one of the modules housing a pair of vertical axis radial wind turbines includes a plurality of independently rotating louvers extending around at least a portion of the outer circumference of each of the vertical axis radial wind turbines. The building further includes an electricity generator operably coupled to the vertical axis radial wind turbines 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a building constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a turbine and generator constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a turbine assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a building constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is front elevational view of a structure  10  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The structure  10  includes a plurality of alternating turbine modules ( 30   a / 30   b ) that are separated by corresponding structural supports  40 . Each structural support  40  has a central aperture sufficient to allow airflow between adjacent alternating turbine modules ( 30   a / 30   b ). In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the structure  10  has a substantially circular cross-section across the height of the structure  10 . The shape of the structure  10  and the centrally apertured structural supports  40  encourage the flow of wind through alternating turbines  30   a / 30   b  and upward through structural supports  40 . It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, however, that the novel aspects of the present invention will find applicability in buildings of almost any size and design. 
     Independent of the shape of the structure  10 , at least one of alternating turbine modules  30   a / 30   b  includes a radial turbine assembly  106  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The number of modules ( 30 ) and corresponding radial turbine assemblies  106  needed for a given building will be dependent on a number of factors, including the size and geometry of the building, environmental considerations and the design of the radial turbine assemblies  106 . It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to a prescribed number of radial turbine assemblies  106 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , each radial turbine assembly  106  includes a plurality of vanes  108  having proximal ( 110 ) and distal ( 112 ) ends. Each radial turbine assembly  106  is configured for rotational movement about a theoretical vertical axis extending through the structure  10 . In this way, each radial turbine assembly  106  is configured as a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), in contrast to buildings that have incorporated wind-powered electricity generation facilities designed primarily as horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). 
     To permit the rotation of each radial turbine assembly  106 , distal end  112  of each vane  108  is supported as it travels over a plurality of rotating support members ( 120 ) disposed on the outer ring  142  of the module  30 . Outer support ring  142 , as well as outer rotating support members  120 , provide bearing surfaces between the first radial turbine ( 106   a ) of one module ( 30   a ) and the adjacent second radial turbine assembly ( 106   b ) of an inferiorly positioned module ( 30   b ) (see  FIG. 3 ). In a particularly preferred embodiment, vanes  108  are largely constructed from lightweight carbon fiber materials, which exhibit favorable strength-to-weight characteristics. In the preferred embodiment, a magnetic bank  115  is connected to, and rotates with each of the vanes  108 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , shown therein is a top diagrammatic depiction of a multiple radial turbine assemblies  106  housed within illustrative module  30   a . In the preferred embodiments, each radial turbine module  30   a / b  includes cross members or other structural components that extend across the diameter thereof. For example, structural supports  160  structural integrity and strength to structure  10 . Radially extending supports  162  provide a pathway for electrical conduit as well as additional structural support. The center of structure  10  also includes an interior-space ( 34 ) extending there through. Radially extending supports  162  extend from interior space  34 . Structural supports  160 , in contrast, surround and are connected to the outer walls of interior space  34 . Interior space  34  permits the use of the interstitial space therein for housing and building resources, such as elevators, plumbing, electrical service and HVAC equipment and conduit. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , each radial turbine assembly  106  is operably coupled to a generator comprising a fixed stator  117 . In a preferred embodiment, stator  117  further comprises an iron core and copper windings. As shown in  FIG. 3 , first module  30   a  is shown in inferior relation to second module  30   b . First module  30   a  comprises first radial turbine assembly  106   a  which further includes a first, clockwise rotating, vane  108   a  having proximal end  110   a  and distal end  112   a . Proximal end  110   a  includes magnetic bank  115   a . shown in inferior relation to stator  117 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , magnetic bank  115   a  includes north-polar neodymium permanent magnets. Distal end  112   a  of vane  108   a  is supported by outer rotating support  120 , whereas proximal end  110   a  is supported by inner rotating support  122 . 
     Similarly, second module  30   b . placed in superior relation to first module  30   a , comprises second radial turbine assembly  106   b  which further includes a second, counter-clockwise rotating, vane  108   b  having proximal end  110   b  and distal end  112   b . Proximal end  110   b  includes magnetic bank  115   b . shown in superior relation to stator  117 . 
     In all wind turbines, the amount of power available is proportional to the cross-sectional area of rotors (magnet bank  115 ). The amount of power available is proportional to the velocity cubed, thus doubling the wind velocity makes increases the resulting power by a factor of eight. As wind velocity increases, however, rotor tip speed also increases, which is the common limiting factor in conventional designs. 
     Both sets of vanes ( 108   a / 108   b ) are designed to draw air inward from the sides and below and then direct it upward to an adjacent radial turbine assembly. For example, the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-3  depict a radial turbine assembly  106  constructed as an independent airfoil that resembles a lift-based vertical axis turbine similar to a Daerrieus wind turbine. In this embodiment, each vane  108  operates by creating lift through a differential pressure exerted across each airfoil vane  108 . 
     In addition to the various vane designs depicted in  FIGS. 2-3 , it will be appreciated that other vane designs will fall within the scope of preferred embodiments. Additionally, it may be desirable to employ a variety of vane designs in a single radial turbine assembly  106 . For example, it may be desirable to provide lift-based and drag-based vanes  108  in a single radial turbine assembly  106 . Furthermore, if the structure  10  includes multiple radial turbine assemblies  106 , each radial turbine assembly  106  may include vanes  108  with designs that are unique to that radial turbine assembly  106 . 
     During operation, wind acting on the vanes  108  causes the radial turbine assembly  106  to rotate. The movement of the magnetic banks ( 115 ), acting as rotors, over the stator  117  converts the mechanical energy from the radial turbine assembly  106  into electricity through well-known principles. Although not separately shown, the generator  116  may include devices for conditioning the generated electricity for use in the structure  10 . It will be understood that converters or conditioners may reside outside the generator. Furthermore, although  FIG. 3  depicts a single stator  117  coupled directly to a pair of alternating rotating radial turbine assemblies  106   a / 106   b . it will be recognized that the present invention is not so limited. It may be desirable in certain applications to connect a single stator  117  to a single radial turbine assembly  106 . Moreover, additional generators (including mechanical units) can be connected to a single or multiple radial turbine assemblies  106  through common shafts or linkages extending between adjacent alternating modules ( 30   a / 30   b ) and radial turbine assemblies  106 . 
     The present invention contemplates the use of a variety of vane designs that can be selected to provide optimal performance based on environmental and other factors. Generally, the vanes  108  of presently preferred embodiments can be classified as either lift-based vanes or drag-based vanes. Exemplars of both classes are described below. The vanes  108  are configured as vertically-oriented paddle-style blades that operate on drag forces. This blade design is typically less efficient than complex blade designs, but the symmetrical vertical form of the vanes  108  permits the rotation of the radial turbine assembly  106  in both directions. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is an elevational view of the structure  10  that includes a plurality of modules ( 30 ,  30   a / 30   b ) housing radial turbine assemblies (not shown) that incorporate louvers  38 .  FIG. 2  provides a top diagrammatic close-up depiction of a single radial turbine assembly  106  that includes a plurality of louvers  38 . Louvers  38  are rotatably mounted on a track that extends around a portion of the outer circumference of the radial turbine assembly  106 . Louvers  38  are configured for motorized rotation around the outer circumference of the radial turbine assembly  106  on the track to selectively cover a series of adjacent vanes  108 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , depicting an elevational view of the windward side of structure  10  that includes a plurality of modules ( 30 ,  30   a / 30   b ) housing radial turbine assemblies (not shown) that incorporate louvers  38 . In this example, modules  30   a  house clockwise rotating radial turbine assemblies whereas modulses  30   b  house counterclockwise rotating radial turbine assemblies. To facilitate rotation, louvers  38   a  on the right-hand side of structure  10  are closed. Similarly, louvers  38   b  on the left-hand side of structure  10  are closed. This arrangement encourages wind to move inside and upward within structure  10 . 
     It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Any materials, which may be cited above, are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     To prevent the radial turbine assembly  106  from stalling, the vanes  108  are covered by louvers  38  on a portion of the windward side of the structure  10 . Covering a portion of the vanes  108  enhances the rotation of the radial turbine assembly  106 . If the radial turbine assembly  106  includes vanes  108  that permit rotation in both directions, louvers  38  can also be used to control the direction of rotation. In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 2-4 , the wind louvers  38  are configured to cover about one-third to one-half of the vanes  108  in each radial turbine assembly  106 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, louvers  38  are configured to cover one-half of the circumference of the radial turbine assembly  106 . The movement of louvers  38  is preferably automatically controlled in response to real-time weather information obtained from sensors located on or near the structure  10 . 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Relative terminology, such as “substantially” or “about,” describe the specified materials, steps, parameters or ranges as well as those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed inventions as whole (as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art). Now that the invention has been described,