GB2273531A

GB2273531A - Environment compatible wind motor.

Info

Publication number: GB2273531A
Application number: GB9303937A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Kirkley Hourie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-12-16
Filing date: 1993-02-26
Publication date: 1994-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-26
Also published as: GB2273531B; GB9303937D0

Abstract

A wind motor comprises a turbine 11, a duct 1, 2 and a means 7 for regulating the force of the wind. All the moving parts are inside the duct and are protected from danger to and from the environment. The wind in the duct is regulated by changing the form of the duct or by valves, (Fig. 2). The valves can be adjusted so that the wind through the turbine remains constant while the velocity of the wind outside varies. A duct with at least three ends can accommodate a wind from any direction without the need to move the duct (Fig. 2). An auxiliary engine 8 is used on calm days for powering the turbine 11. Baffles are provided in the arrangement of Fig. 2 for attenuating the noise from the turbine. <IMAGE>

Description

ENVIRONMENT COMPATIBLE WIND MOTOR This invention relate to a wind motor which is compatible with its environment. It is safe and does not spoil the landscape.

Windmills have been going round for a long time! A traditional windmill had moving parts, typically sails or flaps which were exposed to the wind. The wind caused the exposed parts to move. The motion was transmitted to a shaft, thereby providing useful mechanical energy.

The disadvantages of the early windmills were as follows:1. The moving parts were dangerous to persons, animals and birds.

2. The moving parts were considered by some people to be unsightly and detrimental to the landscape.

3. All the parts of the windmills had to be sufficiently robust to withstand the strongest wind likely to be encountered.

4. Their mechanical efficiency was low.

5. They were noisy.

According to the present invention, all the parts moved by the wind are enclosed in a duct. The moving parts are not readily visible and they are protected from accidental contact or collision with persons, animals1 birds or wind borne articles.

They are also protected from the attention of malicious or curious persons. The duct is so formed and contoured as to utilise the maximum available energy from the wind in relation to the size of the site at low wind speeds. At higher wind speeds, the force of the wind in the duct is controlled and regulated.

Outside, the wind may be howling. Let it howll Inside the duct everything is under control and working efficiently. Optimum mechanical efficiency is attained by matching the speed of the wind reaching the turbine to the speed of rotation of the moving parts. (We know that the wind speed varies inversely according to the area of a cross section of a duct.) In addition to the economic advantage of the increase in efficiency, less energy will be dissipated in the form of noise. If desired, further reduction in the noise can be attained by the use of baffles or "silencers" in the duct. Both the inlet and outlet ends of the duct are streamlined so that the energy dissipated in the duct at low wind speeds is as low as practicable. Therefore, the ends of the duct will have the form of bells or exponential horns.

A specific embodiment of th invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan of a small mobile unit, Figure 2 shows a plan view of a large static installation.

In both cases, the turbine is rotated by the movement of the air in the duct. The cross section of the duct can take the form of a tube or a channel or a combination of both. The ends of the duct will be referred to as "funnels". The stationary parts, i.e. the duct and the regulating devices have to be sufficiently robust to withstand the maximum wind force which is likely to be encountered. The turbine has only to be sufficiently durable to withstand its full load working stresses.

The turbine may be a simple single stage type or alternatively may consist of several stages.

Referring to Fig. 1, the wind enters the duct by the inlet funnel 1, passes through the turbine 11 and leaves the duct by the exhaust funnel 2. The turbine drives an electric generator 10. The auxiliary engine 8 drives the generator on calm days.

Why not? A yacht can have an outboard motor The clutch 9 can be disengaged either manually or automatically when the engine is not needed. The duct can be constructed from any material which is impervious to air. The regulating handles 7 modify the form of the duct by means of screws and a hinge 6 and flexible parts o the duct 3. Only two funnels are needed because the unit can be turned on its wheels 5 to align the funnels with the wind direction. The unit is fitted with a towing bracket 4 to enable it to be moved to its required position. For test purposes a towing vehicle can generate a suitable wind. Then the wind speed can be read from the towing vehicle's speedometer.

But not down the Mi The large installation in Fig 2 ? S shown with four funnels 1, 2, 3 and 4. The installation is permansntly static and may incorporate some fixed natural or structural features in its construction. For example, the duct may be a tunnel in a hill or a mountain. The funnels may be extended by means of channels using the ground as a base and buildings or cultivated plants or trees to form the sides of the channels.

Grilles 6 are fitted to the funnels to exclude extraneous objects and bodies. The grilles are coloured to blend with the landscape. The valves A, B, C, D, E,-F, G and H can be adjusted to allow for changes in the wind velocity. A wind from any direction can be accommodated. When the wind is from the north east, as shown in Fig 2, the valves A, C, E and G are open and the valves B, D, F and H are closed. If the force of the wind approaches the safe working force for the turbogenerator 5, damage can be prevented by partly closing the "open" valves or by partly opening the "closed" valves. All the valves can be closed to stop the turbine for maintenance purposes. The adjustment of the valves can be made automatic by means of linkages connected to a ceitrugai governor cn the turbine's shaft and the use of "one way" valves or a computer or data processor with its input connected to a transducer which monitors the wind velocity. The amplified output from the computer is connected to power operated valves.

Baffles 7 are fitted to attenuate the noise produced by the turbine.

Claims

1. A wind motor to utilise with optimum efficiency the energy in the wind in the atmosphere comprising a turbine device, a purposefully formed duct or a system of duct-s and a means for regulating the wind reaching the turbine device, wherein all the essential parts moved by the wind are contained within the duct and protected from detrimental effects to and from the environment.

2. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the form of the duct varies along the length of the duct.

3. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the form of the duct can be changed by means of flexible or hinged parts.

4. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein undesirable noise is attenuated by means of baffles or "silencers".

5. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the wind in the duct is regulated by a valve or valves.

6. A wind motor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the operation of the valves is done automatically.

7. An environment compatible wind motor substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings figures 1 and 2.

7. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 with the addition of an auxiliary engine.

8. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the duct is permanently static and is provided with two or more ends, each end being divided into two or more sections and each section capable of being fully or partly open or closed to either end.

9. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the duct is protected by coloured grilles.

10. An environment compatible wind motor substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings figures 1 and 2.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A wind motor to utilise with optimum efficiency the energy in the wind in the atmosphere comprising a turbine device, a purposefully formed duct or a system of ducts, a means for regulating the wind reaching the turbine device and a means for attenuating undesirable noise wherein all the essential parts moved by the wind are contained within the duct and protected from danger and detrimental effects to and from persons, animals and the environment.

2. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the entire ducting system is permanently static and provided with two or more ends, each end being divided into two or more sections and each section capable of being fully or partly open to either end.

3. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 with the addition of an auxiliary engine.

4. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein all or part cf the duct is constructed by forming a tunnel in the earth.

5. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the duct is protected by grilles.

6. A wind motor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the base is mounted on wheels.