Abstract:
A turbine assembly includes a split venturi shroud with two halves in hinged engagement about a vertical hinge axis that bisects the venturi shroud, a split clam jacket with two halves each attached to one of the two halves of the venturi shroud, and a rotor ring including an outer rim and a plurality of propeller blades within the outer rim. The rotor ring and venturi shroud are a rotor and a stator, respectively, of the turbine assembly. The venturi shroud is mountable on a support structure by transitioning from a folded state to an unfolded state. The clam jacket is open when the venturi shroud is folded and closed when the venturi shroud is unfolded, at least a portion of the support structure is surrounded by the clam jacket when in the unfolded state. The rotor ring can be mounted on the venturi shroud.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     A hydro/aero-electric turbine, and in particular, an improved hydro/aero turbine with a split venturi effect shroud and an annular ring generator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is currently a global concern surrounding both the depletion and the increasing cost of oil. Another concern has been 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. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,964,978 discloses a wind turbine having a blade ring that uses magnetic levitation. Specifically, this reference describes a wind turbine with a ring-encased propeller with a magnetic levitating bearing and generator in one unit. However, the “blade ring” has a simple round cross section. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,722,326, 6,664,880, and 6,758,146 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0204948 describe the Inductrack system. The Inductrack system uses a type of Halbach arrangement and induces electricity and magnetic fields as components of the system pass over each other. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,124 discloses the Winflex system, which uses an inflatable ring. Specifically, the Winflex Inflatable Light Flexible Wind Turbine is a wind turbine propeller encased in a flexible, inflatable ring with light-weight propeller blades. However, the Winflex system has a central shaft and a conventional generator, gearbox, and 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. 
     The Windtronics “Blade Tip Power System,” now sold under Honeywell, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,341. The wind turbine has a permanent magnet generator around a perimeter in an annular shroud encasing a propeller that has no shaft or gearbox. 
     The “Wind Lens Turbine” of Dr. Yuji Ohya (see http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/08/07/wind-lens-turbine/ and http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/3/4/634/pdf) and the “Vortec 7” and “Jet Accelerated Wind Turbine” of Sterling (see www.All-Natural-Energy.com) attempt an aerodynamically improved ring with an open propeller fitted into the opening. However, these designs are not split in two sections, nor are they attached to a central split jacket column. In addition, the ring is not a generator on these systems, nor is it suspended in a maglev bearing. Conventional propellers that fit inside the opening are used. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,700,216 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. 
     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. 
     SUMMARY 
     A turbine assembly according to an embodiment includes a split venturi shroud having two halves in hinged engagement about a vertical hinge axis that bisects the venturi shroud, a split clam jacket having two halves each attached to one of the two halves of the venturi shroud, and a rotor ring comprising an outer rim and a plurality of propeller blades within the outer rim. The venturi shroud is a stator of the turbine assembly and is mountable on a support structure by being transitioned from a folded state to an unfolded state. The clam jacket is open when the venturi shroud is in the folded state and closed when the venturi shroud is in the unfolded state. At least a portion of the support structure may be surrounded by the clam jacket when in the unfolded state. The rotor ring is a rotor of the turbine assembly, and can be mounted on the venturi shroud. 
     A method mounting a turbine assembly on a support structure according to an embodiment includes supplying a split venturi shroud that is folded at a hinge connecting two halves of the venturi shroud, where the venturi shroud includes a stator ring and a split clam jacket having two halves that are each attached to a mating face of one of the two halves of the venturi shroud. The clam jacket is open when the venturi shroud is folded. The method also includes positioning the venturi shroud such that the clam jacket is substantially parallel and proximal to the support structure, unfolding the venturi shroud such that the claim jacket closes around the support structure, and mounting a rotor ring on the venturi shroud. The rotor ring has a rotor portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objectives and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description, drawings, and examples. 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional side view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional plan view of a rotor ring according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows plan view of a venturi ring folded at a vertical hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a plan view of a turbine assembly with a rotor ring and a venturi ring assembled on a structure, and illustrates the fluid flow through and around the assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of a turbine assembly including a frame on rollers according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of a turbine assembly including a frame on rollers according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a split claim jacket closed around a central support, and having elevator and rotation motors according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional plan view of a split claim jacket closed around a support with internal rollers and hinges according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional plan view of a partially opened split claim jacket around a support with internal rollers and hinges according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows an exploded, isometric view of a turbine assembly in which a rotor is separated from the venturi ring, exposing a portion of a stator of the assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  shows a portion of a stator and a rotor in section according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  shows an isometric, rear view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, where a venturi ring and split clam jacket are open around a central support. 
         FIG. 15  shows an isometric, front view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, where a venturi ring and split clam jacket are closed around a central support, and a rotor ring is shown exploded from the venturi ring. 
         FIG. 16  shows an isometric view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, with side and rear support structures mounted on rollers. 
         FIG. 17  shows an isometric view of a turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, with an upper support ring, slim central column, and surrounding tension cables. 
         FIG. 18  shows an array of turbine assemblies according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the turbine assemblies are mounted on tension cables of a bridge. 
       In all the drawings the different parts are designated with the same letter, indicated as follows: 
       A=PROPELLER 
       B=TENSION RING 
       C=STATOR/VENTURI SHROUD 
       D=SPLIT VENTURI RING SHROUD 
       E=ROTOR WITH DOUBLE HALBACH ARRAYS 
       F=LATERAL SUPPORTS 
       F=RINGED FLANGE ON STATOR 
       G=SPLIT CLAM JACKET 
       H=CENTRAL STRUCTURAL COLUMN OR CABLE 
       I=TUBULAR TOWER WITH ROLLERS 
       J=FOUNDATION 
       K=MOTORIZED ROLLERS 
       L=FOUNDATION AND ROTATION AXIS 
       M=REAR AND SIDE TUBULAR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TOWERS 
       N=UPPER TENSION RING 
       O=CLAM ROTATION AND ELEVATION BOX 
       P=INNER ROTATION ROLLERS 
       Q=INNER ELEVATION ROLLERS 
       R=ROTATION MOTOR 
       S=ELEVATION MOTOR 
       T=CLAM JACKET HINGES 
       U=TENSION CABLE 
       V=PERMANENT MAGNETS HALBACH 
       W=RING CHANNEL IN ROTOR 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides a hydro/aero-electric turbine system  100  comprising a surrounding shroud  102  which, because of its form, accelerates the fluid 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. 
     The turbine  100  has a propeller  108  encased in a hydro/aero-dynamically improved “venturi ring”  102  that accelerates the fluid through it and boosts power generation by a major factor. The “venturi ring” shroud  102  is split in two halves  102   a  and  102   b  and is attached to a central split column jacket  106  which can be set over a column or other vertical structure  112  (see  FIGS. 3-5 ) and which can rotate to face the fluid flow (see, for example,  FIGS. 2 and 8 ). The venturi shroud  102  can be folded for easier transport and deployment. 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. The propeller  108  is encased in the rotor ring  104  and has no shaft, no hub and no nacelle, providing greater safety and a lighter structure. The rotatable propeller blades  108  are spanned under tension from the rim of the rotor ring  104  to a central tension ring  110  and then through the opposing blade  108  to the opposing side of the rotor ring  104 . The tips of the propeller blades  104  are attached to evenly distributed sections of the rotor near the propeller tips or all around the perimeter with permanent magnets  142  on the underside that travel over the venturi shroud&#39;s circular rail on the rim embedded with coils  140  on the stator portion. 
     The preferred embodiment has a “stator” portion  139  of the maglev bearing generator embedded around the front rim of the venturi shroud  102 , and the “rotor” portion  141  carries the permanent magnets  142  around the back face of the ring  104  encasing the propeller  108 , which is suspended over the magnetic field induced by the rotor&#39;s magnets  142  as they move over the coils  140  on the “stator.” The venturi shroud  102  provides a structural backing support for the rotor and a structural support for the whole system by means of the central split “clam” jacket  106  which carries the loads to the central column or tubular structure  112  to the ground  124 . Conversely, there could be additional structures or towers  120  with rollers  122  supporting the sides and back of the venturi shroud  102  when necessary. 
     The propeller  108  is encased in a half torus shaped shroud ring  104  located about the rim of the turbine  100 , which also contains the rotor portion  141  of a ring generator and magnetic bearing. This combination of features provides a lighter turbine and a shaftless 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  104 . 
     The present invention therefore provides a hydro/aero-electric turbine  100  comprising a stator  139  and a rotor  141  which rotates over the stator  139 . The rotor magnets  142  and the stator coils  140  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  142  mounted to the rotor in substantially annular “Halbach arrays” and stator coils  140  mounted to the stator in opposing alignment to the rotor magnets  142  such as to generate an axial and radial reactive forces about the circumference of the rotor, the stator coils  140  being radially offset with respect to the rotor magnets  142  in at least one location on the stator so as to generate a radial reactive force. 
     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. 
     The permanent magnets  142  are disposed about a rim of the rotor which levitates over the stator coils  140  on the flanged ring  138  disposed about a rim of the stator, which are embedded about the rim of the stationary portion of the “venturi ring.” 
     The stator coils  140  are arranged in an opposed substantially annular array defining an annular flange  138  axially perpendicular to the stator and in which the coils  140  are arranged on both, the inside and the outside surfaces of the flange  138 . 
     The rotor magnets  142  are arranged in a pair of opposed substantially annular arrays defining an annular channel  146  axially perpendicular to the stator face which slips over the flange  138  on the stator, where the coils  140  are disposed. 
     The stator comprises a flange  138  extending axially outward from the rim of the venturi shroud  102 , comprising the annular surface where the coils  140  are arranged on each face of the flange  138 , like a giant cookie cutter, which provide the magnetic supporting field in multiple axes when the rotor&#39;s magnets  142  move over the coils  140 . The coils  140  may be set on the rim of the stator and on the flange  138 , so the magnetic field induces an electrical current and a magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field of the permanent magnets  142  and create a levitating body. The ring generator becomes a magnetic levitating bearing and a generator in one unit simultaneously. 
     The rotor comprises the front part of the “venturi ring” and contains a shaftless propeller encased in a fluid-dynamically improved ring. 
     The hydro/aero electric turbine contains mechanical thrust bearings that 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. The mechanical thrust bearings may be arranged and/or dimensioned to prevent contact between the stator coils and rotor magnets. The magnetic bearing is at least partially contained or embedded within the “stator” and the “rotor”. 
     The annular venturi shroud  102  may contain the stator portion  139  of the system and is also a rigid structural support. The venturi shroud  102  is split vertically in two halves  102   a  and  102   b  and attached to each side of a hinged split tubular jacket column  106 . The split “clam” jacket  106  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  126  and  128  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  112 . The turbine is attached to each half of the jacket  106  on the ground, it is then positioned over the vertical column and raised to operational height when ready. 
     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. 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 is 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 
     The turbine uses 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. 
     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. 
     The venturi ring shroud  102  is a rigid structure split in two halves  102   a  and  102   b  which are attached to each side of a hinged split tubular jacket column  106 . This enables the system to be transported in a folded manner and to be set and closed over a tubular column or tensed cable  112 . 
     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. 
     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. 
     Permanent magnets  142  are placed in two configurations of “Halbach arrays”  144  on the “rotor,” which move over and under the “stator,” which contains a configuration of copper coils  140  around the perimeter of the venturi shroud  102 . 
     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. 
     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. In other words, 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 is provided. 
     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. 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. 
     The system can be mounted on vertical cables as in suspension bridges (see  FIG. 18 , for example), on tubular columns or space frame structures as described in the following descriptions. 
     The basic system consisting of the split “clam” hinged jacket column  106  that supports the rigid venturi ring shroud  102  with the stator portion  139  with coils  140  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. The split venturi ring turbine system 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. The rotor&#39;s permanent magnets  142  ride over both faces of the protruding ring&#39;s coils, inducing electricity and magnetic fields as they pass over them, the double Halbach arrays  144 , 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. 
     The turbine system can be attached to cables hanging from overhead structures such as in suspension bridges as in  FIG. 18 . 
     The turbine system can be of grand scale, with tubular towers  120 ,  120 ′ supporting either side and back of the venturi shroud  102  with motorized rollers  122  on the floor, to carry the structural loads and help rotate the system into the stream. See, for example,  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  16 . 
     The turbine system can be of grand scale, set on a specially designed floating platform with tubular towers, similar to above but on a floating platform. 
     The systems can also be positioned in specially designed air foil blimps and lofted into the air, where wind velocities are greater and constant. 
     The systems can also be positioned under the water, where efficiency is greater. 
     The turbine system has the annular shroud around the propeller with a specially designed venturi effect accelerator, it is split in half vertically, and can fold open to attach to an existing vertical structure. The whole turbine can be assembled on the ground, set on the column and raised to operational height when ready. The rim of the “venturi ring” may have the magnetic bearing and ring generator embedded. 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. The “split jacket column” gives the system a better supporting structure and better constructability. 
     The turbine system 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. 
     The turbine system 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. 
     The turbine system 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 it&#39;s ready, may be folded for ease of transportation and is a structural support. The turbine system 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. The variable input ring generator/maglev bearing of the turbine system operates more efficiently using double Halbach magnet arrays for levitation and generation.