GB2485764A - An Electrical Generating Device - Google Patents

Abstract

An electricity generating device that is attachable to a building, car, boat, glider or caravan incorporates a cowling or rotor member 2 rotatable relative to a base and driving a shaft 1 and electrical generating means e.g. an alternator attached in a housing 8 at an end of the shaft opposed to the cowling member. The alternator lies within the cowl. The device is mounted to the exterior of e.g. the building and cooperates with a movement of air, which in use, rotates the cowling member and the shaft to drive said electrical generating means, whereby only the cowling is visible. The device may be chimney mounted and with a heat proof alternator casing 4 suspended relative to the cowling by rods 7. The generator may comprise neodymium magnets 4 mounted on multiple metallic e.g. steel plates 3 interleaved with resin embedded copper coils 9. Output is via a cable 11. The devices may be bolted or strapped base end to base end and mounted on a wire between two fixed points or between the ground and a balloon. The wire may be the output cable.

Description

AnEkctriçgjjnerat.in Device lntroductton The invention relates to an &ectricai generating device (EGD and in particular to a generating device which is powered by a wind turbine.

groundofth;elnvgfijjQn There are Over 24.mifli.On homes in the UK (source 2001 census), a vast majority of which of these homes use electricity as a primary power source. The national grid does not declare how many homes are connected to it.. but ft is believed that the vast majority of the 24 million homes rely on the national grid for most, if not all, of their electricity demand.

The average domestic electricity bill in the UK in 2007 was just under £400, with an annual usage of 3330kWh (source; Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)). Each kWh released 430g of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the UK government has pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, by 2010 (1990 carbon emissions are used as a baseline). However, by 2007 the reduction of carbon dioxide has been claimed to be 83% (NB 12.8% if oversees programmes are included) (Source: The Guardian). Furthermore, it has transcribed its Kyoto agreement targets into a "Climate Change. Bili, which has targets of a 60% reduction by 2050 and an interim 26-32% by 2020 (Source: Climate Change Bill), The UK government has a wide-ranging program of activities to help achieve these targets, such as recyciing, media advertising (i.e. an act on C02 campaign), winter fuel subsidies (means tested) and homeowner grants. New home building regulationswill require Low or Zero Carbon (LZC) homes and to achieve this, generating devices w.ill need to be incorporated. LZC energy presently being installed in buildings, e.g.. small scale and Micro-CHIP units, photovoltaic panels and building mounted wind generators Main electricity generating/saving devices based upon natural phenomena (wind, solar, water) will vary in performance due to the variation in the source itself (i.e. cloudy dayeffects solar, "still" day.

affects wind etc). Existing domestic electricity supplies are as follows: * National Grid (i.e. doing nothing at all to reduce the carbon emission from a domestic residence). Annual usage of,300 kwh, each kWh releasing: 43Ograms of carbon dioxide. It is becoming a statutory requirement for homebuilders and grants other incentives to be.

available for homeowners.

* Solar photovoltaics use energy from the sum to create electricity. They require only daylight., not direct sunlight, to generate electricity. These devices need a south facing roof or wall.

These devices typically reduce carbon. dioxide emiss.ions by 1.2 tonnes per year. No planning permission is usually needed and grants are availablefor.patt.of the costs.

* Wind turbines; the UK generates 40% of Europe's total wind energy. However, only 03% of the UK's demand comes from wind energy. Wind turbines usually require planning permission and are commonly opposed due to the visual effect on the landscape.

0 SrnaI hydro generators convertthe potential energy Of water into electildty: obviously dependent upon the availability of flowing water. These are very efficient systems but require high capital outlay.

Solar thermal hot water uses solar poWer to directly heat water.

4 GroUnd source heat pumps e.ract heat from the ground (from a bore hole), pumped through a loopingpipe into the home Usually used fOr underfinor heating. These can supply a home with all of its heating.

a Air source heat pumps extract heat from the ar down to as low as ISE. For every unit of electricity neededto power the pump, 3-4 units of heat are generated for the home. These «=ysterns Can suppl:y.afl domestic heating neec1s a 9} energy utilises formed organic matter i e wood which is considered a carbon neutral source sincethe wood removed carbon dioxide during its growth. Fuelneeds its own stbtage : aridcan be in the form of a stand-alone room: heaterto heat art average:horne Wood supply can be expen«=iveandislimited-thereEis insufflcientquantityto supply alibuta fraction of the twenty four million homes within the UK. Furthermore, consuming Blo energyalso does liberate rarbon dioxide.

Priorartknownto the applicant 682331129A (PEM:BREYI The solution proposed by (PEMBREY) is tEhatthEe wInd turbine should be placed substantially: in: a horizontal position in a vertical or near vertical tube the air at the lower end or the tube will be warmer than theair*at the top.of thetube. therefore, warm airrises, which create,s a draft through tne tube that turns the rotor blades of the wind turbine This document discloses that the wind turbines could vary in size and designs, according to the vertical tubes in whichthey have been installed The document discloses that when more than one wind turbine is used they are placed one above the other in a tandem conf iguration.. The hot air which rises through the tube turns the lower turbine blades and each turbine above benefits from the increasing wind speed produced by the rotating blades on the turbines below as well as:the hot air. The wind speed and the power output of the turbines wil.l gradually increase as the height of the tube and number of turbines increases. (PEMBREY) discloses that control of the wind speed may be achieved by varying the diameter of the tube and varying the size of the wind turbine at different heights (PEMBREY) also discloses that turbines stored within the vertical: tube are more efficient than turbines.mounted externally, which also need to be of a more robust design. (PEMBREY) furthermore discloses tha.t the turbine with many non4wisted blades with an outside rim wilt work well in light winds. (PEMBREY) also recommends that in low speeds operation couid.be increased by the use of a Venturi system This is an aerofoil shaped shroud around the windmill portion of the turbine that theoretically doubles the air velocity and halves the density..

the disadvantage ofthe Internal wind turbine disclosed'. within the PEMBREY) document' is that the rotatable blades of the turbines are located and held within a vertical tube such as a chimney The chimney provides updrafts of warm spoke and air, which rotate the blades of theone or more turbines incorporated within a chimney passage, such as a flue. These turbines can be very difficult to fitand whichare certürily not.portabie and therefore cannbt be appUed to other beations outside the chimney passage.

cJjjNERcysumjsMIrED The proposed solution is disclosed as a vertical axis wind turbine mounted on an upper portion of a chim.neystack. The rotor blades of the turbine are located outside of the chimney and the mechanical energy produced by the rotating bladesis transferred to a generator means by a short drive shaft. AlsO, if an alternatoris usedthe drive shaft is.usedto drive the.Afternati:ng Current (AC).

field Mndmgs or rotor which rotates the generator armature windings or statoi Alternatively the wind turbine and generator may be integrated, and the rotor blades are coupled directly to a rotating; current inducing set of permanent magnets or rotor for rotation about a stationary, currently generatingstator. (SRI ENERGY SOLUTIONS LIMITED) also, disclose a wind turbine mountabe at or near an upper exterior of the chimney or by forming an integral cornoonent of an upper exterior of the chimney.. The wind turbin.e has a rotor hub cOUpled to.a collar rotatable about the upper exterior portion of the. chimney; and at least two wind engaging rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotatable rotor hub, wherein each of at least two wind engaging blades are nioveable upon application.of an air movement about the chimney selected from at least one of the following (i) An. updraft about an interior of the chimney along its flue; (ii) An updraft about an exterior of the chimney; and (iii). A prevailing wind The disadvantage of this is that the wind and updraft turbine disclose a large blade wind turbine mounted on a chimney This has the problem of being viably less aesthetic' which may not be acceptable to the consumer or consumers and is likely to require planning permission when mounted ona building structure, 246O338M,CALLlSTER This is a chimney turbine in:tended.for retrofitting to a roof with.an alternator inside the building to which the. roof:belongs:and' attached at an opposite shaft end to a rotor. Claim I states that it is a wind turbine to replace an existing chimney at roof level.

Whilst figure 3 resembles one of the cowling designs that can be used with the Electrical Generating Device, the text suggests that the shape of the spinner is only intended to capture as much. wind as possible. As such; the figure 3 iflustrates one such shape of rotor, just as easily could be included other blade designt Or ones marketed aeolu.s power, which is mentioned in the text.

The disadvantage of (MCALUSTER) is that the alternato i.s kept external to the rotor and. the turbine islimited to chimneys only1 where significant retrofitting (external turbine connected to an alternator in the loft' area) is needed.. Further differences arise wherebythe (MCALLISTER) device' is not weatherproof and instead relies upon solid top and electrical generating means kept within the roof catity. [ 4

A box-shaped chimney-Uke sup�ort structure is arranged on a stoped roof surface as a building or generator having a windmill supported by support stçucture. A roof part is supported by column parts erected in the four corners ofthe support structure. A fence like body is supported by these columns parts A ventilating louver is formed on an eaves side surface inthe support structure. The ventilatingiouvercommunicates an inside spaceofthe support structure withthe outdOors. The inside space of the support structure coniniunicates with an attic space.

Essentially thisdocument discloses a root and chimney mounted wind turbine with a generator within tP roofor chimney staekand afixed cow! surrounding the rotor.

(A I) A! WA) has the same disadvantage as other roOf mounted wind turbines in that there is sgnificant fitting required to place the rotor externally and the electncai genoratrng means internally within a building Furthermore, the device appears to be restricted to a roof or more specifically a chimney.

Ui9972ASOSA A turbine ventilator is a combination device for ventilating a building structure, whilst it simultaneously generates useful current and it consists prim arily of a rooftop mounted housing, for confining rising warm air and directing it to a pair of base members, which support rotating spherical members driven by the rising warm air. It further includEs a shaft on each spherical member, which is coupled to secondary shafts with pufleysand belts for driving a generatbr (A SOSA) is limited, like other rooftop devices, to requiring somewhere for the elEctricitj generating means to be located separable to the turbine blades In this case it is within the flue of a chimney This is disadvantageous since a generatorcontained within:a flue will have severe implications upon the ebil:ty of noxious combustion gases to escape as is a chimneys usual function Further disadvantages include seemingly significant retrofitting required at height (thechimney is usually the highest point on the house afterall) and its limited positioning to a chimney.

A roof wind turbine generator including a wind turbine unit (100) and a generating device (200), is disclosed. The wind turbine unit (100) is driven by the wind and a shaft (120) of the wind turbine unit rotates the rotor (210) in the generating device. Thus the rotor (210) circles the statOr (220) with a coil to generate current andsupply:power The generatingdevice being connected to an electricIty storage unit. (300): e.g.a battery, to store the &éctricity generated by the generatingdevice.

The main disadvantage. of (TENG) is its need tobe housed within a significant mounting frame or building, its. electricitygenerating means again being external tothe blades. Furthermore, it is tik.eiy tnat the protruding rotating shaft (120+ with electricity generating means (200) at the lower end will Jose efficency from the location of the electricity generating means (being at the bottom of a shaft will induce "drag" upon the blades).

The examp}es ako illustrate a that the blades have a 11weatherprooffl solid top,. this is not necessary and results in loss of efficiency whereby there is a smaller area of blade to be rotated by a given movement of air.

62487 IA KU MPH REVS A wind turbine 1 is' shaped to resemble a chimney pot, spins on a vertical axis and is connected ton electricity generator or alternator and mounted on a base unit (fig2) that has attachment means to attach the base unit to.a surface. The turbine II can comprise curved blades arranged around'a vertical cylinder 2 with. a downward sloping cone 3 at the botom. The base unit (fig2) can have ventilation holes 6 and fly screens? to ventilate' the flue. The turbine can be mounted' on a chimney flue/stack (fig7) on a domestic residence.

The disadvantage with (A HUMP'HREYS)is that it seemingly does not solve the problem of where the electricity generating means S should be located. It seems to be Iitnited to a chimney/ flue and the attempts to permit combustion gases to escapeare unlikely to succeed given' the relatively small mesh areas in base (figures 22 or 4), Ifa base in figure 6 was used, there is still the problem of a solid base to the turbine itself (figure 1, 11 or 13) for gases to circumnavigate before they are released.

us2OO8/QQ7Q7fON A ring generator with a rotor internal diameter equal to the turbine outer diameter and having the turbine mounted on the inside of the rotor.

(A EDELSON) cleverly attempts to solve the problem of where to locate the electrical generating means by locating it in the diameter of the rotor blades. However, this design is limited to being effective if located to a movement of air in I direction.

Onefurther problem of the hostile environments that (A EDELSONE) is designed for is that the very high temperatures will affect a significant deterioration of the device due to the high temperatures and corrosive gases likely to be encountered Within a chimney or flue, which is the preferred location according to the text, the temperature and exposure to burned hydrocarbon emissionswiil be significantly higher than for those devices propose.d to be mounted on a chimney. Given the likely increase in servicing or cleaning needed, together with its inaccessibility (it is likelyto be built into a flue or chimney) these significantly limit the performance of thisdesign.

WsiMZ497iAWTSA1 The'invention relates to a generator 1Jin pattiular fot use in wind t:utbines ot waterpoweted wh eels with low speeds.

(AWI3 ISA) offers a generator design which presumably offers!mproved performance compared to other generators' at low speeds. However, (AWBISA) does' not teach us any of the main problems *that'exi'st with wind turbines for a domestic dwelling.

21952S346AMElNS' Permanent magnet synchronous electrical machine'-assembled from axially stacked discs with permanenet magnet rotor and 2 stator discs wound with multi-strand annular winding.

Similarly to AWBTSA). above, (A MEINS) offers a generator design, which, presumably offers improved performance compared to other generators at low speeds and does not teach us any of the main problems that exist with wind turbines for a domestic dwelling.

3&22209b0703 33 RImNHOUn.jn4 20 1586 ( M l'FSU BA! are both examples of wind turbine generators using particularly strong permanent magnets. Whilst the use of an example of these neodymium magnets -is. known and being used today, neither teaches us to overcome any of the main problems that exist with wind turbines for a domestic dwelling.

The inventuDn seeks to overcome, many of the problems associated with energy devices.

Furthermore, it attempts to avoid planning permission, be weather proof, be portable, be located on any surfaces (as long as the cowling is exposed to a movement of airand as' long as the device can be fixed. to the surface), be used in wholly new environments compared to traditional turbines or to be fitted to new or old properties, stationary, suspended or moving objects.

Summary of the Invention

In a first broad independent aspect the invention provides an electricity generating device that is attachable to a building comprising a cowling member rotatably attached at one. end of a shaft and electrical generating meansalsoattached to the shaft but housed within the said cowling member; wherein said cowling member protrudes from the exterior of said building and cooperates with a movement of aft, which in use1 rotates said cowling member and said shaft to drive said electrical generating means, whereby only said cowling is visible from said building.

the electricity generating device provides a solution to energy creation which can be applied to buildings, such as homes and residential properties. The device is easy to install on a new or existing building structure and will contribute to the home! residential property's total electrical energy requirements. The device is hidden from view and will therefore not require any additional space when it is.installed in a portion of the building structure. The concealment of the electricity generating device contributes to the aesthetic look of the building and also would nOt contravene any local planning legislation in regards to the building. The device generates electricity in a home! residential property in a manner in which the device cannot be heard or seen; therefore as it generates electricity, it lowers the electricity bill(s) for the homeJ residential property.

The cowling member is held in a position to facilitate the engagement of the cowling member with a movement of air. The cowling member has fixings to fit it to the external surface of a property such as a wall, chimney orflat or sloped roof.. By retaining the electrical generating means within the confines.of the cowling, and the cowling itself being fitted to.an external wall, the fitting of the device is simpler than any other domestic wind turbine currently known. Similarly, the device can be easily removed for serVicing or relocation, It may he desirable to locate the cowling according to the movement of air and the cowling member may simply be moved and rCattached at a different location. The portability and versatility of the device is a big advantage over existing wind turbine, devices.

The fixing of the cowling mayvary accordflng to the surface uponwhich it is p1aced If it is located upon a protruding tube or pipe (i.e. chimney stack), then a strap or bolt fixing may be used.

Alternatively if the device is fixed to a flat waft. then screw fixings froni the base of the cowling may beused Preferablythe said electrical generating means is an alternator. This provides a me. .ans of generating eectrkal energy in the form of an alternating current (AC). This form of electrical energy is utilised by the home/residential property, therefore no conversion is required to CQflWrt other forms of electrical energy into AC.

Preférab1y,.said eIectrical.generatingmeans fwther comprisesa magnetThis pro4des amagnetic fieid which1is exposed to a coil, for generating electrical energy More preferably. said magnet is disposed on: metalUc plate member. This configuration provides a means of suppoting a magnet, which is rotated b' the shaft connected to the cowling The metalhc plate rotates the magnet about the coil.

Preferably said electrical generating means further comprises a coil contained in a resin material.

This provides a means of generating electrical energy when it is exposed to the magnetic flux from a

magnetic field.

Preferably, said electrical generating means further comprises a second metallicplate arid a second magnet; whereby second magnet is disposed' on said second metallic plate member. This configuration: enables the device to generate. an in:creaise amount of electrical energy due to augmentation of the magnetic field and associated magnetic flux) by incorporating an additional plate: which is supporting an additional magnet.

Preferably said coil is disposed between said magnet and said metallic plate member and said second: magnet and said second metalli plate member. This configuration provides a means of exposing both sides of the coilto two magneticfields. The exposure of the coilto resultant magnetic flux from the two magnetic fields generates more electrical energy More preferably, said magnet and second magnet are Neodymium magnets, this provides powerful magnets which would work at low wind speeds, therefore preventing loss of efficiency.

Preferably, said electrical generating means is positioned within the cowling and lqcated outside the building. As such, the said electrical generating means is preferably contained within a moulded weatherproof material. It is more preferable that the mouldable material is heatproof so that the device can be fitted to working chimneys if required. However; due to the high temperatures likely to be encountered, it is more preferable to avoid direct contact with such heat and exhaust gases andlocate the device on the outside of the chimney, On:a dummy chimney pot'oron a pot from a chimney that is nOlOnger used. This configuration provides heat protection to the electrical generating means and therefore assisting its operation in generating electrical energy in the hot environment of:a working chimney.

The electricity generating device as described is so versatile it can be moved frequently, according to the wind direction, to be located on a different part of a building wherein the cooperation with a movement of air is further optimised as wind direction changes.

In a second broad independent aspect the invefltion provides*a method ofretrospectWely fitting said electricity generating device to a building in accordance with any of the preceding claims wherein only one said cowling member is visible fro.m said building.

in a third broad independent aspect the invention provides a method of retrospectively fitting an electricity generating device to a uuilchng wherein said device comprises a rotatable cowling comprising the steps of; Attaching said generating device to said building * Positioning said generating device so that only said cowling is visible from budding ano Positioning said generating::device: so they said cowling cooperates with a movement of air, In a fourth broad independent claim, an electricity generating as described can be attached to another suspended from a balloon wherein the balloon is moored by the electrical cable running f1 om the alternator to a battery or to mains The height of the electrical generating devices can be adjLsted by the longth or electrical cable used anci by the dimension and filling of the aalloon Inert gases are preferable to keep the balloon in. the sky even during cold conditions.. Further mooring of the balloon may be required to keep it stationary during winding conditions, See figure 3. It may be instead possible tO use an electricity generating device in isolation suspended by a balloon, fixed to an inert plate.

ma fifth broad independent, claim, an electricity generating as described can be attached to another, and both suspended from a wire which is fixed between two raised locations at least one location is raised above ground level The cable can optionally comprise the electricity carrying cable Further devlces can be paired and suspended from the: same wire as in. figure 4, Figure 1 shows a schernatic.view of an alternative embodiment of the electricity generating device incorporating an array of magnets located on a steel plate Figure 2 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the electridty generating device incorporating two arrays of magnets located on two steel plates.

Figure 3 shows two electricity generating devices attached to one an. .other and suspended y: balloon.

Figure 4 showsa series of pairs of electricity generating devices suspended frbn a wire which is fked between two raised locations at least one location is raised:above ground level.

F g rc -ic an elecrical generating de'ce (EGO; TI-c EGO has a cowhng memoer 2 which is cot gred n a suosantialI? hem soherical shape The cowling member 2 s si own to be supported a" otatsole shaft I Atacned to rctataSe shaft s a steel dsk 3 on which are fixed the neodymium magnets 4. Coils 5 are fixed in thermoset resin and attached to stator 6. The stator is supported on the base of the cowling 12 by fixed supporting shafts 7. The electrical generating means are held within casing 8, casingS being supported on fixed supports 9. Leading from the coils is the electricity output which travels to a battery or to the grid by wire 11.

Figure 2 is similar tcfigure I except optionallythe electrical generating means can have a second rotatable steel disk 3 with fixed magnets 4. This design may be employed on certain sizes of cowls where a second magnetic plate increases the magnetic flux induced upon the coils.

Figure 3 shows an electricity generating device (300) asdescribed attached to another electricity generating device (300)by bolt or screw fixings (302) both suspended from a balloon (301) wherein the balloon is moored bythe electrical cable (303), running from the alternator to a battery (302) or to mains, or by other moaringmeans.

Agure 4 shows a series of paired electricity generating devices comprising cowling member (300) with alternator contained therein to be attached to another (300), both suspended from a wire which is fixed between two raised locations (305), at least one location is raised abovegroundlevel.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the electrical generating device in figure 1 or figure 2 is fitted to a vertical or horizontal surface of a moving object or structure, such as a car? boat, glider or caravan etc and the, cowIig is rotated by the movement of the object in relation to thewind.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the electrical generating device is fitted to a vertical or horizontal surface: ofa stationary o'bject such as a car, boat,.1ideror caravan etc where the cowling is driven by the wind only.

in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the electrical generating device incorporates a more substantial design wherein it may be installed and incorporated within the building structure of a: commercial property.

In: an alternative embodiment ofthe invention other types of chimney cowling may be utilised with the invention such as: A wind driven terminal cowl, obtainable from Chimney Cowl Products (UK) * A revolving anti downdraft chimney cowl; and A mad spinner. Rotorvents or Aspi.romatic revolving cowl from Hotline Chimneys Calms

Claims (8)

1. An electrkity generating device that is attachab'e to a building comprising a cowling member rotata.bly attached at one end of a shaft and electrical generating means also attached to the shaft but housed within the said cowling member; wherein sáid cowlin.g member protrUdes from the exterior ofsaid buildingand coopentes with a movement of air, which in use, rotatessaid cowling mernberandsaid shaft to drive said electrical generating means, whereby only said cowling is visibj from.. said building.

2 An electncty generatng device as in claim I where caid cowhng member and cable are visible f;tm said building.

3 An elecincity generating means according to any of the receding claims further comprising an attachment means for facmrating the ttachment of said cowhng member to said building whereby said cowling member maintains said' generating means in a predetermined position..

4. An electricity generating means according to claim 6 wherein: said attachment means is a strap.

5. An electricity generating device according to claim 3 wherein said attachment means is a bolt.

An electricity generating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said electrical generating means is an alternator.

7. An electricity generating device according to any of the. preceding claims wherein said electrical generating means further comprises a magnet.

8. An electricity generating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said rnagnet is.disposed on a metallic:Pte member..

9 An electricity generating device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said electrical generating means further comprises a coil contain.ed:in a resin material 10. An electri'city generatingdevice. according to any of the preceding cli. ims wherein said.electrical generating further comprises a second metallic plate and a second magnet; whereby second magnet is disposed on said second. metallic plate member.11. An electricity generating device according t.o any of the. preceding claims wherein said.coil is disposed between said magnet and said metallic piate member and second magnet and said second metallic plate member.12. An electricity generating device according to claims 7,8, 10, 11 wherein said magnet and second magnet are Neodymium magnets.13 An electricity generating device according to any preceeding claim wnerein the alternator is housed in a heatproof or weatherproof material.14, A method of retrospectively fitting saidelectricity generating device to.a. building in according to any of the preceding claims wherein only said cowling member is visible from said building.15. A method of retrospectively fittingan electricity generating device to a building wherein. said.device comprises a rotatable cowling; compri«=ingthe steps Of Attaching said generatlngdevice to said building e Positioning said generating device so that only said cowling is visiblefrom building and * Positioning said generating device so they said cowling cooperates with a movement of air.16. An electricity generating device as in claim I that is attachable to a building and is easily moveable such that the cowling member can be moved to a different location to more preferably cooperate with the movement of air.as wind direction changes 17. An: electricity generating device as in claim I that is.attachable to another stationary. surface which is not a building.2& An. electricity generating device as. in claim I that is attachable to a rnoveahie object such as boat car caravan, van lorry ktte, glider plane helicopter or hovercraft 19 ln a further independent claim, an electricity generating device as described can be attached to another electricity generating device by bolt or screw fixings both suspended from a balloon wherein the balloon is moored by the electrical cable' running from the alternator to a battery orto mains.20. in. a further independent claim, an.eiectricity generating device comprisingcowling member with alternator contained therein to be attached to another, and both suspended from a wire which is fixed between two raised locations, at least one location is raised above ground level.21. An electricity generating device substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated in any appropriate:combination of the accompanying text and/or figures A method of retrospectivelyfitting an electricity generating device.to a building substantially as he'reinbefore described and/or illustrated in. any appropriate, combination of the accompanying text and/er figures.