GB2331129A

GB2331129A - Internal wind turbine

Info

Publication number: GB2331129A
Application number: GB9723261A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Seymour Pembrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-04
Filing date: 1997-11-04
Publication date: 1999-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-04
Also published as: GB2331129B; GB9723261D0

Abstract

A wind turbine system comprises one or more wind turbines located with their rotors horizontal in a vertical tube, e.g. a chimney. The turbines turn a metal coil between the poles of a magnet to produce electricity. A plurality of turbines may be placed one above the other in the tube. The system may be portable, domestic or in large buildings e.g. skyscrapers.

Description

INTERNAL WIND TURBINE This invention relates to an internal wind turbine.

External wind turbines are well known and proven providers of electrical energy.

Rotor blades are turned by the wind. This spins a metal coil between the poles of a magnet. As the coil cuts through the magnetic field, an electrical current is induced in it. An alternating or direct current can be produced depending on the set-up of the brushes. A direct current generator is usual, as any excess power can then be stored in batteries. The amount of power produced is dependent on the size of the rotor blades, the efficiency of the mechanical parts and the wind speed.

Small wind turbines can be used to charge batteries on boats, caravans and motor homes. if there is adequate windtheyocarLpro. vide power for lightingand low consumption appliances in remote buildings or supplement other power sources.

External wind turbines can be an eye sore and planning permission would be refused in many areas. Their output is unreliable because at times there is insufficient wind.

They are subjected to extreme weather conditions and because of their high position maintenance can be difficult. The distance from where the power is required causes some power to be lost through the cable resistance.

The present invention proposes that the wind turbine should be placed horizontally or near horizontally in a vertical or near vertical tube. The air at the lower end of the tube would be warmer than at the top. Warm air rises creating a draught through the tube, which turns the rotor blades of the wind turbine.

The tube could vary greatly in size or numbers.

The wind turbines could vary in size or dew Where more than one wind turbine is used they are placed one above the other. Hot air turns the lower turbine blades but each turbine above benefits from the increasing wind speed produced by the rotating blades of the ones below as well as hot air. The wind speed and power output of the turbines will gradually increase as the height of the tube and the number of turbine increases. It may be an advantage to vary the diameter of the same tube and vary the size of the wind turbine aLdifferentheights.

Experiments will need to be done to find the ideal horizontal wind turbine. It should be more efficient than the external version as it does not need to be so robust. Lighter materials can be used and the length of cable, which carries and looses some power, should be much less. I would suspect that the windmill part of the turbine should have many non-twisted blades with an outside rim as this is known to work well in light winds. Low windspeeds could be increased by the use of a venturi system. This is an airfoil shaped shroud around the windmill that theoretically doubles the air velocity and halves the density. It may be possible for the magnet poles to be placed in the tube or chimney and for the blades of the windmill to act as the co generating electricity, making the system more efficient Figure 1. Illustrates a small diameter portable version with a single small wind turbine, which could be used to provide power for a heater either directly or via a battery. Other low power appliances could be substituted. Once the heater has produced enough rising hot air to turn the rotor blades electricity is generated to power the heater and the system becomes self-perpetuating.

This version could be portable and used to heat wigwam type tents or used in an ordinary house with an extendable tube, which would fit inside the existing chimney.

Figure 2. Illustrates a medium sized tube, which could be placed in a house like a chimney or an original chimney could be adapted. A number of wind turbines could be placed in the chimney one above the other. The turbine would provide power for an electrical heater either directly or via a battery. The heat would rise up the tube increasing the speed of the rotor blades and power produced. The battery could be used to power the heater at first and provide enougkdraught to turn the rotor blades before switching to power provided by the turbine. If heating was not required the power generated could be stored in one or severalbatteries and used for lighting or low voltage DC appliances or changed to AC using an Inverter.

Another possibility would be for alternating current to be generated and fed into the national grid. The householder would be repaid or credited for their contribution. This eliminates the need for batteries, whl'ch loose approximately 30% ofthe power passing through them and require maintenance.

Figure 3. Illustrates a large tube or tubes, which cOrun through a skyscraper or other large building. Kitchens, boiler rooms and under ground car parks are examples of good starting points for the tubes because of the heat generated in these areas. A turbine could be inserted into the tube at each floor of thebuilding. They could be removed easily for maintenance or if not required. It is likely that AC electricity would be generated and used directly or fed into the national grid. One of the many windmills could perhaps be DC so that a store of batteries could be kept fully charged and used in the event of power fail.

Claims

CLAIMS INTERVAL WIND TURBINE I. A Wind turbine or turbines of various designs placed horizontally or near horizontally in a vertical or near vertical tube or tubes to create electricity.
2. When more than one wind turbine is used they are placed one abQvtthe other, and complement each other so that more wind speed and energy are produced by the combined system than if the same number of wind turbines Were in individual systems
3. The basis of one system is that hot air rises in a vertical tube turning the blades of a wind turbine, which can then create power for an electdc heater producing more hot air.

A self-perpetuating heater is made possible.
4. On a larger scale hot air can be ducted from warm areas of a large building to a large tube with a number of large wind turbines placed one above the other. This would provide ventilation as well as producing electric power in a cheap and environmentally friendly way.

4. This new arrangement of environmentally friendly technology is more practical and efficient than the existing external vertical wind turbines and I believe has great potential in reducing the individuals and nations electricity costs. There is also great potential for providing cheap electricity in poorer countries.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. AI1 Internal wind turbine comprising a vertical tube in which a wind turbine is placed horizontally. Hot air rising from the base of the tube turns the blades of the wind turbine. Electricity produced may power an electric fire at the base of the tube. This fire would provide heat for the house and waste heat rising up the tube would increase the rotation of the wind turbine blades and the electricity produced.

2. A system as in claim 1. where any excess electricity produced could be stored in a battery. The battery could provide backup to power the fire when the system first starts or provide power to other appliances if the fire was not required.

3 K A system as in claim 1 ~ having a number of wind turbines placed one above the other in the tube to increase the amount of electricity produced.