CA2605835A1 - Wind booster - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus to increase air speed through a turbine such as in a wind power generator. The method comprises creating a low pressure area behind (or, downstream) of the turbine so as to cause the wind entering the turbine to be accelerated thereby adding torque for the turbine to turn the generator. The apparatus comprises a generally conic shaped, open-ended hood that extends behind the turbine to act as an airfoil and so cause an increase in air speed along its lengthening outer surface, which, in turn, lowers the pressure in the interior of the hood. Wind will thus be 'drawn' into the resulting partial vacuum thereby raising wind speed. Also disclosed is a mobile use where a turbine generator is shrouded to the the rear of a vehicle with an opening to enable fir flow to enter the shroud and drive the turbine as the air seeks the naturally-occurring low pressure area to the rear of the vehicle and shrouded turbine.

Description

SPECIFICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A vacuum assisted turbine to improve the performance of wind generators, may also be used to capture some of the normally waster aerodynamic energy behind a moving vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wind powered electricity generation occurs when a moving mass of air strikes the aerodynamic shape of the turbine blades creating a rotational torque which turns an electrical generator. More torque (and electricity) comes from higher wind speed by a cubic factor, that is, a doubling of wind speed yields an eight-fold increase in turbine torque.
By creating a partial vacuum behind the turbine, such performance increase can achieved very cheaply.
Such a partial vacuum can be created by using a aerodynamic hood behind the turbine which may be conveniently funnel- or conically shaped, to operate as an airfoil (i.e., a propellor or fan blade or an aircraft wing or a ship's sail) whereby the increase in speed of the wind flowing along the longer outer surface creates a lower pressure on its inner surface. In the instant invention the wind speed is increased about the hood's exterior due to the increasing diameter of the conical flow path on the exterior of the hood and this lowers pressure inside.
Wind will thus be accelerated through the turbine to fill the low pressure behind. The instant invention which might be considered a`vacuum turbine', may also be used behind a moving vehicle, i.e., in the slipstream so as to provide additional electrical power for the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To accelerate the wind for a wind powered generator, one needs only to lower pressure on the downwind side of the turbine as compared to the inlet side. By adding an dynamic hood sealed to the rear of the turbine and preferably with a diameter increasing rearwards from the turbine, the desired lower pressure is easily and cheaply achieved. The hood may be as simple as a flat, washer-like ring surrounding the turbine blades or a developed shape like a rocket's nozzle that optimizes the creation of the low pressure. The hood may `sealed' to the rear the turbine via a separate ring or hoop in order to prevent unwanted blow-by of air into the low pressure in the funnel. In other words, ideally, the turbine tips should rotate within a circular housing onto the rear of which, the hood is sealedly attached. The use of a tower, building or other structure to act as the hood of the instant invention is also contemplated.
Multiple smaller turbines may be combined in such a structure. For example an unused building can have the windward (facing the wind) side with turbines in window openings to inner rooms and the leeward side (sheltered from the wind) open and connected via said rooms to the turbines whereby the low pressure is on the entire leeward side to accelerate wind flow through the turbines on the windward side through the rooms and out the leeward side.

In a moving vehicle there is a naturally occurring low pressure wake behind the vehicle which the instant invention exploits to generate electricity which may be used to charge batteries, operate electrical equipment (blowers, radios, wipers, etc.) and engine pumps (oil, water, supercharger). In this application the turbine is shrouded to the vehicle with the one side of the turbine exposed to the vacuum or wake. An opening in the shroud allows air flowing about the vehicle (sides, top and/or under) to enter the shroud and thus be drawn through the turbine by and into the low pressure vacuum or wake. In hybrid vehicles this will enable a longer range as the batteries can be charged using waste energy, In regular vehicles the fuel economy and the performance will benefit from the reduced generating needs which are being at least partially supplied by the turbine capturing waste energy from the air flow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a frontal view upwind of the wind powered machine with the hood of the instant invention surrounding the turbine and tapering to a larger diameter down wind;

Figure 2 is a side view of the same embodiment showing the funnel-shaped hood;
Figure 3 shows the hood having a complex shape for higher performance;

Figure 4 shows the simplest embodiment that of a flat washer-shaper ring;
Figure 5 shows a steep, short hood;

Figure 6 shows an adjustable hood that can be automatically adjusted according to wind conditions.

Figure 7 shows a front (windward) side of a tower version of the hood with multiple turbines;

Figure 8 shows a top view of the same embodiment;
Figure 9 shows a vehicle with rear mounted turbine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the Figures, hood D has a windward side I and a leeward side 2. A portion of ambient wind A is forced to flow E outwardly along the expanding diameter (longer distance) of hood D and therefore to increase its speed. And a portion of wind A enters turbine C at ambient speed. Hood interior 3 is thereby subjected to low pressure from this flow-speed (E minus A) differential in accordance with Bernoulli's famous principle: "an increase in velocity occurs simultaneously with decrease in pressure".

In Figs 1-6 the hood D is shown in different configurations. In Figs 7 and 8, the hood D is in the form of a curved supporting structure or tower wherein are located the turbines. Base 4 may provide a means to allow the hood D to rotate to correct or adjust for wind direction.

In Fig 6 the hood D is shown to be adjustable in length and angle although it may be adjusted as to angle and also curvature as shown in Fig 3 where it takes the shape of a rocket nozzle. In Fig 5 the hood D is a simple torus shaped disc like a common metal washer used with nuts and bolts.

For maximum performance, the shape of hood D must take into account likely wind conditions and the diameter of the turbine and its height off the ground. The hood D may comprise an open frame-like structure covered with a surfacing material such as plastic or concrete. Different multiple turbine configurations are contemplated such as in a linear arrangement in a wall-type hood with a curved top edge.

In Fig 9 moving vehicle E (dotted outline) has a (low pressure) wake F behind.
Shroud D' and turbine C are attached to the rear of the vehicle E. Air flow A (top, sides and under) naturally moves along the outer surfaces of the vehicle to thereby create wake F aft of the vehicle. Shroud surface 11 has opening 10 to allow air A to enter and pass through turbine C
and exit at B to enter wake F. Opening 10 may be holes, slits, NACA ducts (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics also known as submerged ducts), scoops, peripheral gaps, or there may be an entire section of shroud 11 missing, such as the entire lower surface.
However it is done, enough air has to be able to enter shroud D' to turn the turbine yet continue to create adequate wake F aft of the turbine, and, there should be no increase in air resistance to the vehicle. In this instant invention, turbine C therefore, uses normally wasted aerodynamic energy to drive an electrical alternator or generator (not shown) which then connects into the vehicles wiring harness or to other devices requiring electric energy or to batteries of an electric power supply.

The vehicle exhaust may also add to the volume of fluid passing through the turbine C to provide more electrical output although at low speeds or idle, with a internal combustion engine, heat may be a problem.

Claims (5)

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