Patent ID: 7633177

Claim:
A fluid flow energy capture device for power generation comprising: a rotor, said rotor being mounted to rotate around a substantially vertical axis and said rotor having a plurality of substantially vertical vanes and each of said vanes engaged with a vane actuator to adjust a pitch of said vanes; said rotor being disposed to be in driving communication with an electrical generator; a plurality of guide surfaces, said guide surfaces being disposed outside said vanes in relation to said rotor and each of said guide surfaces being engaged with a guide surface actuator to vary their positions; a plurality of deflection panels, said deflection panels being disposed outside said guide surfaces in relation to said rotor and each of said deflection panels being engaged with a deflection panel actuator to vary their positions; said guide surfaces and said deflection panels being further disposed to define inwardly constricting channels through which a fluid flow is directed to said vanes; at least one of said vanes, said guide surfaces or said deflection panels being mounted to vary in angle such that a driving force of the fluid flow onto said rotor may be selectively varied by one of said vanes actuators, said guide surfaces actuators and said deflection panels actuators.