EP2430305A2 - Compact wind and water turbine systems - Google Patents

Compact wind and water turbine systems

Info

Publication number
EP2430305A2
EP2430305A2 EP10749140A EP10749140A EP2430305A2 EP 2430305 A2 EP2430305 A2 EP 2430305A2 EP 10749140 A EP10749140 A EP 10749140A EP 10749140 A EP10749140 A EP 10749140A EP 2430305 A2 EP2430305 A2 EP 2430305A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
rotor
axis
stator
stationary
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10749140A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2430305A4 (en
Inventor
Mehboob Lakhani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lakhani Mehboob
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2430305A2 publication Critical patent/EP2430305A2/en
Publication of EP2430305A4 publication Critical patent/EP2430305A4/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D3/00Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F03D3/002Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor  the axis being horizontal
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D9/00Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
    • F03D9/20Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
    • F03D9/25Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03BMACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B17/00Other machines or engines
    • F03B17/06Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
    • F03B17/062Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
    • F03B17/063Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D15/00Transmission of mechanical power
    • F03D15/20Gearless transmission, i.e. direct-drive
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02KDYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K7/00Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
    • H02K7/18Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
    • H02K7/1807Rotary generators
    • H02K7/1823Rotary generators structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/20Hydro energy
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70Wind energy
    • Y02E10/74Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction

Definitions

  • Typical turbine system comprises of rotor blades that traps the wind flow or the water flow energy to do rotational motions, in order to generate electrical power.
  • alternator Power generation for smaller application like air/water surface and air based vehicles uses alternators.
  • An alternator has a rotor, driven by belts to generate electrical power to provide power vehicle and charge battery.
  • the rotor has to be driven by engine or other apparatus.
  • an alternator is not practical for capturing wind or water flow energy. See, for example, U.S. patents 6897575 (2005), 7566980 (2009), 5998903 (1999), 6740995 ((2004), 6455946 (2002), 7629719 (2009), 20060208581 (2007).
  • the present compact wind water turbine is designed to omit the use of rotor, belts and rotor blades. It is designed to substitute for or phase- out previous shaft-mounted rotor blade based turbines. [0011 ] It is also contemplated to integrate or assemble the components of the
  • CWWTSTM into any shape or space. Due to its space saving concept, there is no need for rotor blades, lengthy shaft and a huge standing structure. [0012] Most components are concealed inside the housing equipped with trappers, such as vanes. The housing rotates due to trapping of fluid flow energy and results in producing electrical power by a concealed generator in the housing. In an embodiment the generator and housing are supported by a center shaft that includes an inner-coil. [0013] As a substitute to the rotor blades and shaft, there is now a housing that is rotating.
  • Coil rotation can be set to be stationary or rotational. When outer coil is stationary inner-coil rotates, When inner-coil is stationary, outer-coil rotates. Also both inner and outer coils can be set to rotate same time if desired. Concealing electrical power generating generator into the inner structure of housing saves space. The trappers function is to trap fluid flow energy, for example, from wind or water flow. [0015] The housing has these features;
  • Compact wind and water turbine is designed to produce the power as per requirements. Due to its flexible design capabilities; it can be designed for large, medium, small, compact, mini, and micro turbine. It can be integrated into any shapes, in any positions of the structures.
  • a device can be manufactured in any size. It can generate power from minimum to maximum, per requirements.
  • a CWWTSTM can be beneficially incorporated with any moving object that operates on surfaces; air and space, where the moving objects can take advantage of air or water flow energy. When water and air flow energy is constantly rotates the housing, the flow of electron is generated that generates electric current, which can, for example, supply charging current to the power storage device or electrical devices and other components. This enables vehicles operated by electric, battery or power storage devices and hybrid motorized moving objects, to travel for longer period without having to stop for recharging the battery. Besides providing constant and uninterrupted electric power supply, the concealed generator and compact design is a significant feature of this device.
  • Compact wind and water turbine system can be installed in any place where energy can be extracted from fluid flow energy by generating electrical current, for example, under or on the surface of flowing water, in any water or air conduits, such as, for example, in water lines, sewer lines, rivers, canals, gas- exhaust pipes and stacks, in any windy location, such as wind farms (where it can substitute for massive rotor blades based, costly, complex, and conventional wind turbines), in addition to on moving objects (either through the water or air) as described above.
  • a CWWTSTM Due to its compact design, a CWWTSTM can be integrated into most structures in any position. It can be use for residential applications and reduce the load on the power grid. Installing multiple units can increase the electrical power generating capacity and redundancy.
  • Clustering multiple compact wind and water turbine system units can increase or decrease electrical power generating capacity and redundancy. Also in case of failure, repair, replace, maintenance or upgrade, is easy and simple. An individual unit can be replaced without shutting down the entire system. Having multiple unit has advantage of running system constantly with minimal to none down time.
  • the turbine is long regarded as renewal and clean energy source, however, it has not been successfully applied on the surfaces of land, air and space- based vehicles.
  • Compact wind and water turbine is designed to apply for many applications. Air, surface and space based moving objects will benefit most. Also this technology will help reducing carbon foot print and help reduce harmful gas in our environment.
  • a compact wind and water turbine comprises housing, trappers, concealed electrical power generating generator comprising of coils, magnets, poles, brushes, bearings, and electrical components, and supporting shaft for housing.
  • an electrical generation device comprises: a housing having an interior hollow and configured to rotate about an axis trappers on the housing that are configured to capture energy from a moving fluid stream to rotate the housing about the axis; an electrical generator within the interior hollow and constructed and configured with a rotating rotor element within the interior hollow that rotates around the axis with rotation of the housing.
  • the housing is configured to rotate by the force of the trappers, and includes an interior hollow that is the space enclosed by the housing. Within this space or interior hollow is enclosed the electrical generator, including rotors and stators. In an aspect, essentially all of the moving parts of the electrical generator are enclosed in the hollow, the only components exterior to the hollow being those required for electrical transmission and support of the generator and housing.
  • the stator is mounted on a stationary shaft about which the housing rotates.
  • the rotor is attached to the housing, around the stator.
  • the rotor is attached to the housing by mounting the rotor on the interior wall of the housing in the hollow.
  • the housing and rotor are mounted on a rotating shaft, with the stator disposed within the hollow of the housing.
  • rotor is first rotor, the stator can function as, or be replaced by a second rotor that also rotates.
  • Trappers can be attached to the housing or be incorporated integrally, with the housing.
  • the trappers may be of any suitable form, such as paddles, blades, vanes, and the like.
  • the housing may also be shaped to incorporate a trapper or trappers, by forming or molding a housing surface in a shape that functions as an foil in the fluid (e.g., airfoil, hydrofoil) to provide the force to rotate the housing.
  • the housing and trappers can incorporate any suitable shape that captures the fluid-flow energy, including helical designs, blades, paddles, and the like.
  • the trappers and housing may be designed to function optimally in the environment for which it is intended.
  • the housing/trappers combination may be designed to function in fluid flow from any direction (including up and down) to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in response to the fluid flow.
  • the housing-paddle combination may be designed and oriented to optimally function with fluid flow from that direction, rotating in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
  • the electrical generator can be of any suitable design that can be incorporated within the hollow of the housing, where a magnetic field is created with a power producing component passing through the magnetic field.
  • the magnetic field component of the generator may be provided by, for example, electromagnets (coils) or permanent magnets mounted on either the rotor or stator.
  • the power producing component or coil may be on either the stator or the rotor or both.
  • the electrical generator may optionally be constructed as separate component or module. This allows potential use of commercial generators, alternators, dynamos, and the like, used for example in transportation, wind- power installations, and the like.
  • the housing can be designed to accommodate many such existing designs within the housing hollow. In this design the electrical generator would have its own casing disposed within the housing. When used with a vehicle, the electrical generator can function as an alternator with a charging circuit to charge the battery. This is particularly useful for electrically power vehicles.
  • the construction of the housing can integrate components of the electrical generator, such as for example, the mounting of rotor components directly on the wall of housing within the hollow.
  • the housing can thus function as a casing for the generator.
  • the generator may have a separate casing or separate from the housing.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of an embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of another embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a view showing a housing with trappers.
  • FIGS. 1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5 The illustrated embodiments have a rotating housing 10 with most components concealed or contained in the hollow 11 of the housing 10. Trappers 12 are attached to the housing to capture fluid flow energy and rotate the housing 10 about axis 25. The rotation of the housing activates the electrical generator.
  • Contained is meant that the generator occupies the hollow and is essentially surrounded by the housing.
  • concealed is meant that the generator is in the hollow sealed or protected with no or little exposure to the environment.
  • the generator comprises a casing 13 enclosing a stator 15 and rotor 16.
  • the rotor 16 is mounted on a common rotating shaft 14 with the housing, so that as the housing rotates, the rotor is also rotated.
  • the rotor rotates or spins around the axis 25 near or surrounded by one or more stators.
  • the stators 15 are stationary within the generator casing 13, are are mounted by suitable means (such as hollow or concentric shafts - not shown) in a way that also allows rotation of the housing.
  • the housing 10 the generator casing 13 with attached rotor components 16 are both attached to a shaft, so that as the housing rotates, the generator casing with enclosed rotor also rotates.
  • a stator 15 is mounted on the axis 25 on a fixed or stationary shaft 18 so that the stator is stationary.
  • the rotor rotates in a revolving motion around the stator. (In the illustration the rotating shaft 14 is hollow to allow passage of the stationary shaft 18.)
  • FIG. 3 the housing and generator casing are integrated in a single housing 10 mounted on rotating shaft 14.
  • This embodiment functions the same as that in FIG. 2, with the rotor moving in response to the rotation of the housing by revolving around a stationary stator that is mounted on stationary shaft 18.
  • FIG. 4 The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 can be viewed as similar to FIG. 2, except the stators are not stationary but are also rotated, becoming second rotors 17.
  • the housing, generator casing with first rotors 16 are attached to a first rotating shaft 14a, that surrounds a second rotating shaft 14b, upon which is mounted second rotors.
  • the first rotors 16 rotate along with the housing 10 to revolve around the second rotors 17.
  • the second rotors must turn at a different speed and/or different direction from the first rotors, and do not turn directly with the housing.
  • the second rotors can be rotated by any suitable means, such as, for example, by a trapper system 12 (turbine, or the like) separate from the housing, or by a transmission system 20 that transfers the housing rotation to the second rotors.
  • the trapper system 12 may be any suitable system for capturing energy from the fluid flow, such as turbines, paddles, etc.
  • the transmission 20 may be of any suitable design and may include one or more of gears, pulleys, belts, electrical drives, hydraulic drives, and the like.
  • the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be modified to turn the stator 15 (which becomes a second rotor), by not mounting the generator casing in a stationary fashion.
  • a suitable system such as those disclosed above, can turn the generator casing at a different speed than the housing.
  • the generator also includes components for generation and transmission of electricity (not shown). These may include, for example, coils, magnets, poles, brushes, bearings, electrical components, and supporting structures for the shaft, housing, generator casing.
  • FIG. 5 is a modification of the system of FIG. 1 with a housing 10, rotating shaft 14 with rotor 16, and stationary generator casing 13 with stators 15.
  • the housing 10 is a rounded aerodynamic shape, with the generator casing 13 configured to fit within the housing.
  • the embodiments of FIG. 2, 3, and 4 can be similarly modified.
  • FIG. 6 shows the exterior of an aerodynamic housing 10, with trappers 12, in the form of paddles extending from the housing and extending from one end of the housing to the other. Also shown are trappers 12a mounted on the rotating shaft 14 upon which the housing is mounted.
  • vents or holes 27 in the housing to provide cooling for the electric generator in the hollow. This may be required, particularly for operation in air. In water, the housing a housing may be sealed against water, and cooling vents would probably be unnecessary.
  • the present system can allow easy maintenance, upgrading and installation. It can be designed to integrate within any shape of the structure or shape of a vehicle. Each unit is compact, modular, and independent.
  • the present devices are compact and cost less to manufacture. They are light weight, and can work on or under water, in the air and space. They can be applied to any surface based object, or moving object.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)
  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
  • Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)

Abstract

A fluid driven electrical generation system with most of the electrical generation components in an inner hollow of a housing that is driven to rotate by trapper structures that trap energy from the fluid.

Description

Title
COMPACT WIND AND WATER TURBINE SYSTEMS
Cross Reference to Related Applications
[001 ] Benefit is claimed from United States Provisional Patent Application
60/208,796, filed March 2, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Background
[002] Common ways to produce electrical power from a rotor based apparatus are using turbines and alternators. Typical turbine system comprises of rotor blades that traps the wind flow or the water flow energy to do rotational motions, in order to generate electrical power.
[003] Due to their spanning size they are not practical for moving vehicle. Most turbines rotor blades needs huge space to rotate, as disclosed, for example in, U.S. Patents 4447738 (1984), 6541877 (2003), 6400039 (2002), 4340822 (1982), 2054383 (1936), 5798632 (1998), 4299198 (1981 ), 554138 (1896), 5213470 (1993), 847140 (1907), 6465901 (2002), and 6285090 (2001 ).
[004] Thus these turbines need large space for stationary installations and it is not practical for use with any moving object in motion. Generally, those turbines that produce a high volume of electric current require huge structural space. These cost a significant amount of money and are more complex to operate and install.
[005] Often, due to turbine's huge structure, wind or lightning contributes to its failure and knocks-out the whole turbine on the ground. This can be very serious safety issue.
[006] Many turbine designs inner center-coils and outer coils (stators). In most scenarios the inner center-coil rotates and the outer-coil stays stationary. [007] To rotate inner center-coil it needs shaft with a rotor, with or without rotor blades. Rotor blades themselves occupy a huge space of the structure, and the shaft occupies huge length to rotate center-coil.
[008] A common way to generate electrical power at large scale in this century is through wind turbines.
[009] Power generation for smaller application like air/water surface and air based vehicles uses alternators. An alternator has a rotor, driven by belts to generate electrical power to provide power vehicle and charge battery. The rotor has to be driven by engine or other apparatus. Hence an alternator is not practical for capturing wind or water flow energy. See, for example, U.S. patents 6897575 (2005), 7566980 (2009), 5998903 (1999), 6740995 ((2004), 6455946 (2002), 7629719 (2009), 20060208581 (2007).
SUMMARY
[0010] The present compact wind water turbine (CWWTS™) is designed to omit the use of rotor, belts and rotor blades. It is designed to substitute for or phase- out previous shaft-mounted rotor blade based turbines. [0011 ] It is also contemplated to integrate or assemble the components of the
CWWTS™ into any shape or space. Due to its space saving concept, there is no need for rotor blades, lengthy shaft and a huge standing structure. [0012] Most components are concealed inside the housing equipped with trappers, such as vanes. The housing rotates due to trapping of fluid flow energy and results in producing electrical power by a concealed generator in the housing. In an embodiment the generator and housing are supported by a center shaft that includes an inner-coil. [0013] As a substitute to the rotor blades and shaft, there is now a housing that is rotating.
[0014] Coil rotation can be set to be stationary or rotational. When outer coil is stationary inner-coil rotates, When inner-coil is stationary, outer-coil rotates. Also both inner and outer coils can be set to rotate same time if desired. Concealing electrical power generating generator into the inner structure of housing saves space. The trappers function is to trap fluid flow energy, for example, from wind or water flow. [0015] The housing has these features;
(a) Rotate due to water or wind flow,
(b) Rotate electrical power generating generator concealed inside the housing.
(c) Saving space by omitting shaft and rotor blades,
(d) Conceal the most electric generating components so that they are not exposed to the environment.
[0016] Compact wind and water turbine is designed to produce the power as per requirements. Due to its flexible design capabilities; it can be designed for large, medium, small, compact, mini, and micro turbine. It can be integrated into any shapes, in any positions of the structures. A device can be manufactured in any size. It can generate power from minimum to maximum, per requirements. A CWWTS™ can be beneficially incorporated with any moving object that operates on surfaces; air and space, where the moving objects can take advantage of air or water flow energy. When water and air flow energy is constantly rotates the housing, the flow of electron is generated that generates electric current, which can, for example, supply charging current to the power storage device or electrical devices and other components. This enables vehicles operated by electric, battery or power storage devices and hybrid motorized moving objects, to travel for longer period without having to stop for recharging the battery. Besides providing constant and uninterrupted electric power supply, the concealed generator and compact design is a significant feature of this device.
[0017] For electric and battery operated moving objects, a significant draw back is the limited travel distances and the time consumed for recharging requirements of the batteries. With the CWWTS™, while the object is moving, the compact wind and water turbine is generating electric current from wind or water flow energy. This resolves an issue for maintaining a constant and certain level of power for the battery to provide electrical power to the electric motorized vehicle.
[0018] Compact wind and water turbine system can be installed in any place where energy can be extracted from fluid flow energy by generating electrical current, for example, under or on the surface of flowing water, in any water or air conduits, such as, for example, in water lines, sewer lines, rivers, canals, gas- exhaust pipes and stacks, in any windy location, such as wind farms (where it can substitute for massive rotor blades based, costly, complex, and conventional wind turbines), in addition to on moving objects (either through the water or air) as described above. [0019] Due to its compact design, a CWWTS™ can be integrated into most structures in any position. It can be use for residential applications and reduce the load on the power grid. Installing multiple units can increase the electrical power generating capacity and redundancy. [0020] Clustering multiple compact wind and water turbine system units can increase or decrease electrical power generating capacity and redundancy. Also in case of failure, repair, replace, maintenance or upgrade, is easy and simple. An individual unit can be replaced without shutting down the entire system. Having multiple unit has advantage of running system constantly with minimal to none down time.
Environmental Benefits
[0021 ] The turbine is long regarded as renewal and clean energy source, however, it has not been successfully applied on the surfaces of land, air and space- based vehicles. Compact wind and water turbine is designed to apply for many applications. Air, surface and space based moving objects will benefit most. Also this technology will help reducing carbon foot print and help reduce harmful gas in our environment.
[0022] In accordance with one embodiment a compact wind and water turbine comprises housing, trappers, concealed electrical power generating generator comprising of coils, magnets, poles, brushes, bearings, and electrical components, and supporting shaft for housing.
[0023] In an embodiment, an electrical generation device comprises: a housing having an interior hollow and configured to rotate about an axis trappers on the housing that are configured to capture energy from a moving fluid stream to rotate the housing about the axis; an electrical generator within the interior hollow and constructed and configured with a rotating rotor element within the interior hollow that rotates around the axis with rotation of the housing.
[0024] The housing is configured to rotate by the force of the trappers, and includes an interior hollow that is the space enclosed by the housing. Within this space or interior hollow is enclosed the electrical generator, including rotors and stators. In an aspect, essentially all of the moving parts of the electrical generator are enclosed in the hollow, the only components exterior to the hollow being those required for electrical transmission and support of the generator and housing.
[0025] In an embodiment, the stator is mounted on a stationary shaft about which the housing rotates. The rotor is attached to the housing, around the stator. The rotor is attached to the housing by mounting the rotor on the interior wall of the housing in the hollow. In another embodiment, the housing and rotor are mounted on a rotating shaft, with the stator disposed within the hollow of the housing. In either of the above embodiments, rotor is first rotor, the stator can function as, or be replaced by a second rotor that also rotates.
[0026] Trappers can be attached to the housing or be incorporated integrally, with the housing. The trappers may be of any suitable form, such as paddles, blades, vanes, and the like. The housing may also be shaped to incorporate a trapper or trappers, by forming or molding a housing surface in a shape that functions as an foil in the fluid (e.g., airfoil, hydrofoil) to provide the force to rotate the housing. Accordingly, the housing and trappers can incorporate any suitable shape that captures the fluid-flow energy, including helical designs, blades, paddles, and the like.
[0027] The trappers and housing may be designed to function optimally in the environment for which it is intended. For example, on a stationary installation, the housing/trappers combination may be designed to function in fluid flow from any direction (including up and down) to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in response to the fluid flow. For moving objects, or where to fluid flow is primarily from one direction, the housing-paddle combination may be designed and oriented to optimally function with fluid flow from that direction, rotating in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
[0028] The electrical generator can be of any suitable design that can be incorporated within the hollow of the housing, where a magnetic field is created with a power producing component passing through the magnetic field. The magnetic field component of the generator may be provided by, for example, electromagnets (coils) or permanent magnets mounted on either the rotor or stator. The power producing component or coil may be on either the stator or the rotor or both.
[0029] The electrical generator may optionally be constructed as separate component or module. This allows potential use of commercial generators, alternators, dynamos, and the like, used for example in transportation, wind- power installations, and the like. The housing can be designed to accommodate many such existing designs within the housing hollow. In this design the electrical generator would have its own casing disposed within the housing. When used with a vehicle, the electrical generator can function as an alternator with a charging circuit to charge the battery. This is particularly useful for electrically power vehicles.
[0030] Alternately, the construction of the housing can integrate components of the electrical generator, such as for example, the mounting of rotor components directly on the wall of housing within the hollow. In this embodiment, the housing can thus function as a casing for the generator. Alternately, the generator may have a separate casing or separate from the housing.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0031 ] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section of an embodiment.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of another embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section of yet another embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a view showing a housing with trappers.
Detailed Description
Examples
[0037] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5. The illustrated embodiments have a rotating housing 10 with most components concealed or contained in the hollow 11 of the housing 10. Trappers 12 are attached to the housing to capture fluid flow energy and rotate the housing 10 about axis 25. The rotation of the housing activates the electrical generator. By "contained" is meant that the generator occupies the hollow and is essentially surrounded by the housing. By "concealed" is meant that the generator is in the hollow sealed or protected with no or little exposure to the environment.
[0038] In FIG. 1 the generator comprises a casing 13 enclosing a stator 15 and rotor 16. In this example, the rotor 16 is mounted on a common rotating shaft 14 with the housing, so that as the housing rotates, the rotor is also rotated. The rotor rotates or spins around the axis 25 near or surrounded by one or more stators. The stators 15 are stationary within the generator casing 13, are are mounted by suitable means (such as hollow or concentric shafts - not shown) in a way that also allows rotation of the housing.
[0039] In FIG. 2, the housing 10 the generator casing 13 with attached rotor components 16 (such as coils or magnets) are both attached to a shaft, so that as the housing rotates, the generator casing with enclosed rotor also rotates. A stator 15 is mounted on the axis 25 on a fixed or stationary shaft 18 so that the stator is stationary. The rotor rotates in a revolving motion around the stator. (In the illustration the rotating shaft 14 is hollow to allow passage of the stationary shaft 18.)
[0040] In FIG. 3, the housing and generator casing are integrated in a single housing 10 mounted on rotating shaft 14. This embodiment functions the same as that in FIG. 2, with the rotor moving in response to the rotation of the housing by revolving around a stationary stator that is mounted on stationary shaft 18.
[0041 ] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 can be viewed as similar to FIG. 2, except the stators are not stationary but are also rotated, becoming second rotors 17. The housing, generator casing with first rotors 16 are attached to a first rotating shaft 14a, that surrounds a second rotating shaft 14b, upon which is mounted second rotors. The first rotors 16 rotate along with the housing 10 to revolve around the second rotors 17. The second rotors must turn at a different speed and/or different direction from the first rotors, and do not turn directly with the housing.
[0042] The second rotors can be rotated by any suitable means, such as, for example, by a trapper system 12 (turbine, or the like) separate from the housing, or by a transmission system 20 that transfers the housing rotation to the second rotors. The trapper system 12 may be any suitable system for capturing energy from the fluid flow, such as turbines, paddles, etc. The transmission 20 may be of any suitable design and may include one or more of gears, pulleys, belts, electrical drives, hydraulic drives, and the like. In an alternate embodiment, the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be modified to turn the stator 15 (which becomes a second rotor), by not mounting the generator casing in a stationary fashion. Instead, a suitable system, such as those disclosed above, can turn the generator casing at a different speed than the housing.
[0043] In FIGS. 1 , 2, 3, and 4, the generator also includes components for generation and transmission of electricity (not shown). These may include, for example, coils, magnets, poles, brushes, bearings, electrical components, and supporting structures for the shaft, housing, generator casing.
[0044] Any of the above embodiments can be modified with an aerodynamic or streamlined shape, such to reduce drag losses in the fluid flow. This can be particularly useful in applications with moving objects or vehicles. FIG. 5 is a modification of the system of FIG. 1 with a housing 10, rotating shaft 14 with rotor 16, and stationary generator casing 13 with stators 15. The housing 10 is a rounded aerodynamic shape, with the generator casing 13 configured to fit within the housing. The embodiments of FIG. 2, 3, and 4 can be similarly modified.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows the exterior of an aerodynamic housing 10, with trappers 12, in the form of paddles extending from the housing and extending from one end of the housing to the other. Also shown are trappers 12a mounted on the rotating shaft 14 upon which the housing is mounted.
[0046] Also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown vents or holes 27 in the housing to provide cooling for the electric generator in the hollow. This may be required, particularly for operation in air. In water, the housing a housing may be sealed against water, and cooling vents would probably be unnecessary.
Conclusion, Ramification, and Scope [0047] Most electric and hybrid vehicle cannot commute for long distances and times due to (a) limited battery capacity resulting in running out of juice on the batteries, (b) a long time required to charge batteries.
[0048] Also current turbine system with mostly rotor based designs are not practical to install on the vehicle due to; (a) they do not integrate well within the structure of the vehicle, (b) they may require several turbines to provide enough voltage. For fluid (wind and water) designs for generating electric power, they require large spaces and structures. The present compact wind and water turbine system design is versatile, flexible and compact, so that it can overcome these problems.
[0049] In addition, the present system can allow easy maintenance, upgrading and installation. It can be designed to integrate within any shape of the structure or shape of a vehicle. Each unit is compact, modular, and independent.
[0050] Several units can be installed in an application. Since there are several independent units are installed, if one unit fails, the other unit is still producing power.
[0051 ] The present devices are compact and cost less to manufacture. They are light weight, and can work on or under water, in the air and space. They can be applied to any surface based object, or moving object.
[0052] Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiment. For example the housing can have any other shapes. Thus the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended and their legal equivalents, rather than examples given.
[0053] While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A device for generating electrical power from fluid flow energy comprising: a housing that rotates, said housing having an interior hollow; trappers on the housing that rotate the housing by capturing fluid flow energy, an electrical generator contained in the interior hollow of the housing and configured with rotating rotor within the interior hollow that rotates with rotation of the housing.
2. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the electrical generator is concealed in the hollow.
3. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the trappers include one or more of paddles, blades, and vanes.
4. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the rotating rotor is mounted on a rotating shaft and the housing is attached to the same rotating shaft.
5. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the housing rotates about an axis and a stationary stator is disposed not on the axis and the rotor is mounted on the axis to rotate in a spinning motion adjacent to the stationary stator.
6. The device as in Claim 5 wherein the rotor and the stator are contained within a stationary generator casing with the stator attached to the casing.
7. The device as in Claim 6 wherein the rotor is attached to a rotating shaft and the stator is attached to a stationary shaft, and the rotating and stationary shafts are constructed such that one shaft is hollow with the other shaft passing through its interior.
8. The device as in Claim 5 wherein there are multiple stators surrounding the rotor.
9. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the housing rotates about an axis and an inside stationary stator is mounted on the axis and the rotating rotor is mounted not on the axis to rotate in a revolving motion around the axis and the stationary stator.
10. The device as in Claim 9 wherein the stationary stator and the rotor are contained in a generator housing that rotates with the housing and the rotor is attached to casing.
11. The device as in Claim 9 wherein there are multiple rotors attached to the casing and surrounding the stator.
12. The device as in Claim 9 wherein the rotor is integrated with the housing by mounting the rotor on an interior wall of the housing within the hollow.
13. The device as in Claim 1 wherein the housing rotates about an axis and the rotor is a first rotor, and a second rotator rotates on the axis at a different speed or direction relative to the first rotor.
14. The device as in Claim 13 wherein the first rotator is mounted on the axis with the second rotor mounted not on the axis to rotate in a revolving motion around the first rotor.
15. The device as in Claim 13 wherein the second rotator is mounted on the axis with the first rotor mounted not on the axis to rotate in a revolving motion around the second rotor.
16. The device as in Claim 13 wherein the second rotor is rotated by trappers separate from the housing.
17. The device as in Claim 13 wherein the second rotor is rotated by a transmission system driven by the rotating housing.
18. A device for generating electrical power from fluid flow energy comprising; a rotating housing, trappers on the housing that rotate the housing by capturing fluid flow energy, electrical generator contained within the interior of the housing with a rotating rotor disposed on a shaft that rotates along with the housing within surrounding stationary stators.
19. A device for generating electrical power from fluid flow energy comprising; a rotating housing, trappers on the housing that rotate the housing by capturing fluid flow energy, electrical generator contained within the interior of the housing with a stationary stator disposed on a shaft with mounted rotors that rotate along with rotation of the housing in a revolving motion around the stator.
EP10749140.9A 2009-03-02 2010-02-27 Compact wind and water turbine systems Withdrawn EP2430305A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US20879609P 2009-03-02 2009-03-02
PCT/US2010/025701 WO2010101796A2 (en) 2009-03-02 2010-02-27 Compact wind and water turbine systems

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2430305A2 true EP2430305A2 (en) 2012-03-21
EP2430305A4 EP2430305A4 (en) 2014-05-28

Family

ID=42710171

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10749140.9A Withdrawn EP2430305A4 (en) 2009-03-02 2010-02-27 Compact wind and water turbine systems

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2430305A4 (en)
CN (1) CN102414442A (en)
WO (1) WO2010101796A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2713043A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2014-04-02 WFPK Beheer B.V. Device for generating energy from flowing water
WO2015078504A1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Wfpk Beheer B.V. Device for generating energy from flowing water
CN104295434A (en) * 2014-09-17 2015-01-21 浙江大学 Wave power generating device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3876925A (en) * 1974-01-02 1975-04-08 Christian Stoeckert Wind turbine driven generator to recharge batteries in electric vehicles
US6249058B1 (en) * 1999-12-03 2001-06-19 Monte L. Rea Wind driven generator having counter-rotating armature and rotor
US6857492B1 (en) * 2003-01-09 2005-02-22 Airflow driven electrical generator for a moving vehicle
US20070018462A1 (en) * 2003-06-05 2007-01-25 Intec Power Holdings Limited Generator

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2050525A (en) * 1979-03-13 1981-01-07 Plot Ltd C A Generator
FR2790614A3 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-08 Francois Carre ELECTRIC CURRENT GENERATOR WITH VARIABLE ROTATION SPEED AND CONSTANT VOLTAGE AND (OR) FREQUENCY
JP2002106456A (en) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-10 Hitachi Engineering & Services Co Ltd Hydraulic blade integrated rotary electric machine
DE10152712B4 (en) * 2001-10-19 2015-10-15 Aloys Wobben Generator for a hydroelectric power plant
JP4167471B2 (en) * 2002-11-05 2008-10-15 内外特殊エンジ株式会社 Steam pressure adjustment / power generation equipment
CN101187355B (en) * 2003-06-09 2012-06-13 神钢电机株式会社 Generator and power supply for use therein
JP4142548B2 (en) * 2003-10-09 2008-09-03 ヤンマー株式会社 Wind power generator
EP1917709A1 (en) * 2005-08-24 2008-05-07 Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf Motors, LLC Mp-a and mp-t machines, multipolar machines for alternating and three-phase currents

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3876925A (en) * 1974-01-02 1975-04-08 Christian Stoeckert Wind turbine driven generator to recharge batteries in electric vehicles
US6249058B1 (en) * 1999-12-03 2001-06-19 Monte L. Rea Wind driven generator having counter-rotating armature and rotor
US6857492B1 (en) * 2003-01-09 2005-02-22 Airflow driven electrical generator for a moving vehicle
US20070018462A1 (en) * 2003-06-05 2007-01-25 Intec Power Holdings Limited Generator

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2010101796A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102414442A (en) 2012-04-11
EP2430305A4 (en) 2014-05-28
WO2010101796A3 (en) 2011-01-06
WO2010101796A2 (en) 2010-09-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8536725B2 (en) Compact wind and water turbine systems
US9291153B2 (en) Fluid driven electric power generation system
US8053940B2 (en) Magnetic motor generator having a floating flywheel
US8362635B2 (en) Wind-driven electric power generation system adapted for mounting along the side of vertical, man-made structures such as large buildings
EP2378117A1 (en) Wind turbine
US20160281679A1 (en) Fluid driven electric power generation system
WO2020159688A1 (en) Devices and methods for fluid mass power generation systems
RU2453725C2 (en) Power-generating device
WO2010101796A2 (en) Compact wind and water turbine systems
KR101085471B1 (en) Wind power generator
GB2432890A (en) Fluid driven electricity generator
US8471421B2 (en) Magnetic motor generator having a rolling configuration
RU178822U1 (en) ELECTRICITY POWER MODULE
KR101123540B1 (en) A wind power generator
CN108194251A (en) A kind of conversion equipment of electric energy and tube fluid kinetic energy
JP2009019532A (en) Phase inversion cross-flow type super-small power generator
RU2361111C1 (en) Wind-driven power plant
CN207989220U (en) A kind of conversion equipment of electric energy and tube fluid kinetic energy
CN102748191A (en) Integrated through-flow water turbine generator set
RU2345250C1 (en) Wind electric generator of segment type
SE531533C2 (en) Wind turbine plant with counter-rotating turbine rotors in which a counter-rotating electric generator with double air gaps is integrated
KR101169267B1 (en) Wind Power Device
KR19990074991A (en) Low power wind turbine.
KR20110035494A (en) Wind power generator
WO2014207428A1 (en) Wind turbine generator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20120119

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: LAKHANI, MEHBOOB

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: LAKHANI, MEHBOOB

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20140428

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F03B 13/00 20060101ALI20140422BHEP

Ipc: F03D 3/00 20060101AFI20140422BHEP

Ipc: F03B 13/22 20060101ALI20140422BHEP

Ipc: F03D 9/00 20060101ALI20140422BHEP

Ipc: F03D 11/02 20060101ALI20140422BHEP

Ipc: F03D 11/00 20060101ALI20140422BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20140902