Patent ID: 8564148

Claim:
An air flow energy recovery system for recovering energy from air flowing out of a unit having at least one exhaust face with at least one exhaust location wherein a fan fixed in proximity to the unit circulates air from the unit comprising: (a) an electrically powered air blower having a propeller mounted on a motor, whereby the air blower produces an air flow, the air flow being blown in a selected direction; (b) a grill attachable to one exhaust location, the air flow having at least one outlet location constrained by the grill, the grill containing at least one oblong squirrel cage having rotable blades, a shaft supported at each end by bearings, wherein the air flow from within the housing is expelled out of the housing as directed air flow directed through the grill covering at least one exhaust location; and at least one squirrel cage circulatable independent to any other when air flow is directed in the vicinity of the squirrel cage fan structures, the squirrel cage fan structures each being exterior to the housing and inside the grill, each squirrel cage fan structure being spaced a selected distance from the housing to allow the squirrel cage fan to rotate freely, each such squirrel cage fan structure having: a rotatable shaft; a plurality of vanes attached to said rotatable shaft, wherein the air flow acts on at least one of said vanes, rotating said rotatable shaft; and an electrical generator connected to said rotatable shaft.