WO2011035415A1

WO2011035415A1 - Wind concentrator for wind turbine

Info

Publication number: WO2011035415A1
Application number: PCT/CA2010/001480
Authority: WO
Inventors: François GAGNON
Original assignee: Wind-Do Inc.
Priority date: 2009-09-24
Filing date: 2010-09-24
Publication date: 2011-03-31

Abstract

A wind concentrator (10) for compressing and guiding wind (12) onto a wind turbine (14) comprising a plurality of blades (52) radially disposed about a rotatable rotor (54). The wind concentrator (10) comprises a first wind deflector (28, 266) for laminarly guiding the wind (12) onto the plurality of blades (52) and for shielding the wind turbine (14) from the wind (12) to prevent the wind (12) from inhibiting the rotation of the wind turbine (14), the first wind deflector (28, 266) comprising a first curved surface. The wind concentrator (10) further comprises a second wind deflector (58) for laminarly guiding the wind onto the plurality of blades, the second wind deflector comprising a second curved surface (58, 272). The first (28, 266) and the second (58, 272) deflectors are positioned to laminarly generate a compression of the wind (12) and to guide the wind (12) onto the blades (52) to impart a rotation of the wind turbine (14).

Description

WIND CONCENTRATOR FOR WIND TURBINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an electricity generating wind turbine. In particular, the present invention relates to a wind concentrator for a wind turbine comprising an input for compressing and guiding wind onto the most efficient parts of a wind turbine and an output for effectively discharging harnessed wind.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Prior art wind turbine systems suffer from several drawbacks which hinders their more prolific development and limits their deployment in urban and rural zones. In particular, many prior, art wind turbines lack the mechanical structure required to optimally harness energy from both low and high velocity winds. For instance, prior art wind turbines generally require a minimum wind velocity of 10 Kilometers-Per-Hour (KPH) to engage rotation of its turbine rotor and still require a greater wind velocity to generate any significant levels of electricity. Additionally, large prior art wind turbines have to brake to reduce their rotational speeds at wind velocities approaching 45 KPH and have to completely halt rotation when wind velocities exceed 90 KPH to avoid structural failures. Moreover, the rotation of the rotor blades of such wind turbines generates sound levels and visual impacts resulting in a nuisance to nearby residents and further endangers air born wildlife. These drawbacks have been a point of contention for wildlife protection groups and organized anti-wind farm groups for the non- development of wind turbines.

[0003] The aforementioned drawbacks further limit the choice of zones available for the deployment and erection of wind turbines, especially in densely populated urban areas. With a required average wind speed of 20 KPH needed for larger prior art wind turbines to attain a level of profitable energy generation, the choice of sites is even further limited. Consequentially, wind turbines are often located far from large urban centers which results in increased energy transmission inefficiencies and increased costs. [0004] While the prior art reveals a plurality of wind turbines which address some of these drawbacks, for instance wind turbines comprising a structure for compressing wind in order to reduce the effective size of the wind turbine, or wind turbines housed within an enclosure for reducing sound levels, such prior art wind turbines do not provide the most efficient solution to the aforementioned drawbacks, particularly as a result of their flawed designs and failures to comprehensively address the laws of fluid dynamics.

[0005] Consequently, there exists a need for a wind turbine that improves upon or resolves these drawbacks, in particular by providing a wind harnessing device which compresses and guides wind onto the most efficient part of the blades of a wind turbine and which effectively discharges harnessed air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In order to address the above and other drawbacks, there is provided a wind concentrator for compressing and guiding wind onto a wind turbine comprising a plurality of blades radially disposed about a rotatable rotor. The wind concentrator comprises a first wind deflector for laminarly guiding the wind onto the plurality of blades and for shielding the wind turbine from the wind to prevent the wind from inhibiting the rotation of the wind turbine, the first wind deflector comprising a first curved surface. The wind concentrator further comprises a second wind deflector for laminarly guiding the wind onto the plurality of blades, the second wind deflector comprising a second curved surface. The first and the second deflectors are positioned to laminarly generate a compression of the wind and to guide the wind onto the blades to impart a rotation of the wind turbine.

[0007] According to a second aspect of the prevent invention, there is further provided a system for converting wind into electricity comprising a plurality of wind turbines for generating a power output. The system comprises a wind deflector comprising a first deflector comprising a variable angle of inclination relative to a velocity of the wind and a second deflector comprising a second variable angle of inclination relative to a direction of the wind, wherein the first and the second deflectors guide and compress the wind onto the wind turbine. A rotatable support structure is further provided for affixing thereto a first plurality of the wind deflectors to form a first group of wind deflectors and a second plurality of the wind deflectors to form a second group of wind deflectors, wherein the first group is positioned in front of the second group. A foundation for supporting the rotatable structure, and a computerized system for monitoring the direction and the velocity of the wind and for monitoring the power of the plurality of wind turbines is also provided, wherein the computerized system controls the first and the second angles of inclination of the first and the second group of wind deflectors and controls a rotation of the rotatable support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] In the appended drawings:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a wind concentrator in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIGs. 2A, 2B, and 2C are cross-sectional side views of the wind concentrator of FIG. 1 illustrating the wind flow passing through wind concentrators of various dimensions;

[001 1] FIGs. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the deflection of wind particles from the surfaces of wind channel guides;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a wind concentrator in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the wind concentrator of FIG. 4 demonstrating the angles of attack of the wind with the blades of the wind turbine;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the wind concentrator of FIG. 4 demonstrating pressure levels at various areas within the wind concentrator;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a wind concentrator in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention comprising a wind turbine with a hollow hub;

[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of aerodynamic gratings;

[0017] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of an urban wind concentrator in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional top view of the urban wind concentrator of FIG. 9 taken along the line 10-10 of the urban wind concentrator of FIG. 9;

[0019] FIG. 1 1 is a cross-sectional front view of the urban wind concentrator of FIG. 9 illustrating the laminated housing structure;

[0020] FIG. 12 is a side view of a plurality of urban wind concentrators of FIG. 9 deployed in an urban environment;

[0021] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a cylindrical urban wind concentrator in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the cylindrical urban wind concentrator taken along the line 14-14 of the cylindrical urban wind concentrator FIG. 13;

[0023] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of rural wind concentrators in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention deployed in cultivation field ditches;

[0024] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional top view of the rural wind concentrator of FIG. 15 illustrating the harnessing of wind flow;

[0025] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional top view of the rural wind concentrator of FIG. 15; [0026] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional side view of a wind deflector in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the wind deflector of FIG. 18 illustrating the angles of inclination of the deflectors;

[0028] FIG. 20 is a front view of the wind deflector of FIG. 18;

[0029] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of the wind deflector of FIG. 18 illustrating the various angles of inclination;

[0030] FIG. 22 is a side view of a network of wind deflectors of FIG. 18 deployed on the roof of a skyscraper;

[0031] FIG. 23 is a top view of a network of wind deflectors of FIG. 18 deployed on the roof of a skyscraper; and

[0032] FIG. 24 is a side view of a wind concentrator with a tapered profile in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, a wind concentrator in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, and generally referred to using the reference numeral 10, will now be described. The wind concentrator 10 is used to compress and guide incidental wind 12 comprising parallel fluid layers in a laminar fashion onto the most efficient parts of a hydraulic wind turbine 14 and also to effectively discharge turbulent wake 16, or harnessed wind, by the wind concentrator 10 such that the maximum theoretical energy as defined by Betz's law is able to be extracted from the incidental wind 12. In particular, the wind concentrator 10 comprises a housing 18 for enclosing the wind turbine 14 and an arrangement of input and output wind guiding channels for compressing and guiding incidental wind 12 onto the most efficient parts of the wind turbine 14 and for discharging turbulent wake 16, as will be described herein below. The housing 18, generally formed in the shape of a cube, comprises an intake port 20 for receiving incidental wind 12 into the interior of the housing 18 and an output port 22 for permitting turbulent wake 16 harnessed by the wind turbine 14 to be effectively discharged. To favor sound isolation and an overall low weight of the wind concentrator 10, the housing 18 is illustratively fabricated of expanded polystyrene, Styrofoam, or of a similar material which is lightweight and which minimizes the propagation of sounds and vibration generated by aerodynamic and mechanical sources of the wind turbine 14. Furthermore, by enclosing the wind turbine 14 within the housing 18, visual impacts associated with the rotational motions of the turbine 14 are also reduced or eliminated. Of note, while the housing 18 has been illustratively described as a cube, other embodiments such as a cylinder, rectangular cuboid, or the like may be employed as the shape of the housing 18.

[0034] Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, and in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wind turbine 14 comprising a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) comprising a plurality of rotor blades 24 attached to a rotor 26 with an axis of rotation parallel to the flow of the wind 12, and an electric generator (not shown) connected thereto. The wind turbine 14 is used to extract energy from the wind 12 that is directed by the input wind guiding channels onto the rotors blades 24. There is further provided a plurality of wind deflecting surfaces 28, or deflectors, forming the input wind guiding channels which act to guide and compress the incident wind 12 captured at intake port 20 to an air intake of the wind turbine 14 and there onto the most efficient parts of the rotor blades 24, in a manner that is to be described herein below. Of note, incidental wind 12 is concentrated in a laminar fashion by the input wind guiding channels to ensure that the wind 12 enters into contact with the rotor blades 24 at an optimal angle of attack, that is at an angle that is substantially normal to the surfaces of the rotor blades 24, to thereby ensure a maximum application of force by the wind 12 onto the blades 24 and thus a maximum transfer of energy from the wind 12 to the turbine 14. Moreover, incidental wind 12 is concentrated in a laminar fashion to ensure a minimum loss of energy resulting from lower velocity non-laminar and turbulent wind impacting the blades 24 at less than optimal incident angles.

[0035] Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the plurality of wind deflecting surfaces 28 defining the wind guiding channels are disposed within the housing 18 and act to guide and compress the incident wind 12 towards the wind turbine 14. The wind deflecting surfaces 28 are generally curved to provide a laminar concentration of incidental wind 12 as will be described herein below. A divider 30 is further provided and is positioned upwind of the wind turbine 14 to act in cooperation with the wind deflecting surfaces 28 to form an upper wind guiding channel 32 and a lower wind guiding channel 34 which further compress and guide the wind 12 towards the wind turbine air intake and onto the most efficient parts of the blades 24 thereafter. In particular, the divider 30 acts to shield the rotor 26 of the wind turbine 14 to ensure that wind 12 is only directed onto specific parts of the rotor blades 24 . The upper wind guiding channel 32 compresses and guides the wind 12 to an upper intake port 36 of the wind turbine 14 and thereon to its most efficient parts of the blades 24 which enter into contact with the wind passing through the upper intake port 36. The lower wind channel 34 further compresses and guides the wind 12 to a lower intake port 38 of the wind turbine 14 and thereon to the most efficient parts of the blades 24 which enter into contact with the wind passing through the lower intake port 38.

[0036] Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the incidental wind 12 is captured at intake port 20 comprising an intake diameter A used in defining the cross- sectional area through which incident wind 12 passes. Incident wind 12 is subsequently guided by the upper and lower deflecting surfaces 28 along a length L until a point at which the wind 12 is split by the divider 30 into the upper wind guiding channel 32 and the lower wind guiding channel 34 which further guide and compress the wind 12 to the upper air intake port 36 and the lower air intake port 38, respectively. The intake ports 36, 38 are defined by a cross- sectional area through which the collected and compressed wind 12 passes that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the intake port 20. In particular, the intake ports 36, 38 define an area given by the difference between the diameter C of the wind turbine blades 24 and the divider 30 diameter B, that is by C² - B² . This area is the area through which the concentrated wind 12 collected by the intake port passes prior to entering into contact with the blades 24.

[0037] Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the tapering of the upper and lower wind guiding channels 32, 34 provide a concentrating effect of the wind 12 that can be described by a concent

Of note, there is no creation of energy in the concentration of wind 12 by the wind guiding channels 32, 34 as the wind 12 captured at the intake port 20 and concentrated into the smaller areas of the upper and lower intake ports 36, 38 results only in the increase of wind pressure and speed at entrances to the upper and lower intake ports 36, 38 which contributes to a more efficient harnessing of energy from the wind 12 by the wind turbine 14.

[0038] Still referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, incident wind 12 at the intake port 20 is guided onto the more efficient parts of the wind turbine 14 in a manner now described. In accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a tri-blade HAWT type wind turbine 14, which is generally known to be inefficient along the area about its central rotor hub 26 and at the tips of its blades 24, used to harness wind 12 as guided by the upper and lower wind channels 32, 34 so as not to direct wind 12 onto these inefficient areas. Accordingly, the diameter C may not represent the complete swept area of the rotor blades 24 through which the concentrated and non-turbulent wind 12 is directed, but rather may represent a smaller swept area defining the more efficient areas of the blades 24. In particular, the wind 12 is directed to a smaller swept area as governed by the geometry of the divider 30 and wind directing surfaces 28, for instance, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment wherein the divider 30 is wider than the rotor 26 of the wind turbine 14. There is further provided a depression 40 to allow space for the tips of the blades 24 to circulate therein while the deflecting surfaces 28 shield the tips from the wind 12. While the upper and lower wind channels 32, 34 ensure that there is no concentrated wind that bypasses the blades 14, the tolerance between the blades and the depression 40 is such to ensure that a maximum of 10% of the concentrated wind is bypassed around the blades 24. In such a case, this bypassed wind may be used to help discharge turbulent wake 16 from the output port 22. Of note, various average site wind speeds will have variable harnessable energy efficiencies based on the design of the wind concentrator 10 as a function of the eccentricity and the geometry of the rotor blades 24 and the dimensions A, B, and C which define the concentration factor of the wind concentrator 10. While these dimensions may be adapted accordingly, it is ideal that the dimensions are chosen so as to maximize energy extraction based on the average incidental wind 12 of a site where a wind concentrator 10 is deployed.

[0039] Now referring FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, in addition to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, various embodiments of the wind concentrator 10 comprising a wind concentration factor optimized in relation with the average observed wind speeds on a site location are illustrated. With concentration factors ranging between 3 and 8, it is possible for the various exemplary wind turbines 10 to generate electricity when in the presence of site wind speeds ranging between 5 and 6 KPH. Similarly, when a wind concentrator 10 is deployed in an area with site wind speeds ranging between 50 to 75 KPH, such higher velocity winds could also be harnessed to their full potentials by deploying a wind concentrator 10 comprising blades 24 of shorter length, providing a smaller swept area, or by reducing the concentration factor by varying the dimensions A, B, and C accordingly such that the turbine 14 is able to resist higher rotational speeds and ultimately avert mechanical failures. The dimension L is also an important factor in the optimization of the wind concentrator 10 for extraction of a maximum amount of energy from the average wind speeds of a specific site. In particular, a wind concentrator 10 with a higher wind concentration factor will require a greater length L in order to promote a laminar wind through-flow. By increasing the length L, the angle of attack of the wind 12 relative to the wind deflecting surfaces 28 and to the surfaces of the divider 30 will be reduced, thereby ensuring that laminar wind flow is maintained. By variation of dimensions A, B, and C, the level of laminar compression and wind flow is altered. FIGs. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate three embodiments of a wind concentrator 10 with equivalent wind concentration factors designed with different lengths L. In particular, an arrangement of a wind concentrator 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2C comprising high angles of attack at which the incident wind 12 strikes the wind deflecting surfaces 28 are neither realistic nor optimal as the impacting wind particles will result in wind flow turbulences even at low velocity wind speeds. An arrangement of a wind turbine 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2B, in contrast, is able to concentrate higher velocity winds 12 in a laminar fashion. Additionally, even a highly profiled wind concentrator 10 as in FIG. 2A will have a limit as to its ability to maintain laminar flow within the wind channels 32, 34 during higher velocity wind conditions. In such a case of higher velocity wind conditions, the wind concentration factor is reduced to return the wind flow to a laminar state. Given such a higher energy yield and a larger range of applications, the overall performance of the wind turbine 14 will thus significantly increase. By way of an illustrative numerical example, there is provided a wind concentrator 10 having the dimensions given by scaled values of A = 10, B = 5, and C = 3 with a concentration factor in accordance with equation [1] of 6.25. It is generally known in the art that energy contained within the wind varies by the cube of its speed and it is estimated that the speed of the concentrated wind will be approximately 1.84 times that of the velocity of the incidental wind 12. However, in reality, energy will be below this value as air pressure and temperature will increase in a significant manner at the intake ports 36, 38 of the wind turbine 14.

[0040] Now referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, there is illustrated the deflection of the incident wind 12 comprising layers of parallel wind flowing particles 42 off of linear wind deflecting surfaces 44 such that wind 12 is concentrated and guided towards an intake 46 of a wind turbine 14. In particular, and with reference to FIG. 3A, there is illustrated incident wind particles 42 which impact the linear wind deflecting surfaces 44 at an angle of attack 48 of approximately 45 degrees. Upon impact, wind particles 42 are deflected by 90 degrees relative to their initial trajectory and thus will have lost 100 percent of their forward trajectory force vector component which is required to impart a force on the wind turbine blades 24 for their rotation upon impact therewith. Moreover, these deflected wind particles will interact with the wind particles in parallel fluid layers such that the tangential vector forces of the wind particles 42 continue to be transmitted forward towards the intake 46 and onto the rotor blades 24 of a wind turbine 14. The net effect of these deflections is the creation of turbulence and wind particles 42 having force trajectory vectors which will not impact the rotor blades 24 at substantially normal angles and which have reduced forward trajectory force vectors. Referring to FIG. 3B there is illustrated the deflection of wind particles 42 off of linear wind deflecting surfaces 44 such that wind 12 is concentrated and guided towards the intake 46. In particular, there is illustrated parallel wind flowing particles 42 which impact the linear wind deflecting surfaces 44 at an angle of attack 48 of approximately 4 degrees which will result in a deflection of wind particles 42 by a maximum of 8 degrees. In this instance, the deflected wind particles maintain their main forward trajectory vector component and the interactions with the wind particles 42 in parallel fluid layers are minimized.

[0041] Now referring to FIG. 4, and in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wind concentrator 10 comprising a housing 18 enclosing a wind turbine 14 that may be a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) variant 50. In particular, the wind turbine 50 comprises a plurality of aerodynamic drag scoops 52 for converting the force of the wind 12 into torque so as to rotate a solid rotating rotor hub 54 connected to an electric generator (not shown) and having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the incidental wind 12. This configuration ensures that one-hundred percent of the concentrated wind is harnessed. As the wind concentrator 10 can be assimilated to a cube and the turbine to a cylinder, the concentration factor will be A/B . In accordance with the scale of the wind concentrator 10 of FIG. 4, the concentration factor is 6. To ensure that the concentrated wind engages the turbine 50 in the most laminar fashion possible, there is further provided a divider 56 comprising upper 58 and lower 60 curved surfaces which cooperate with wind deflecting surfaces 28 to form upper 62 and lower 64 wind guiding channels such that wind 12 captured at the intake port 20 is guided by the upper wind channel guide 62 to engage the scoops 52 at an upper intake port 66 prior to wind 12 which has been guided by the lower wind guiding channels 64 engages scoops 52 at a lower intake port 68.

[0042] Still referring to FIG. 4, the guidance of the wind 12 onto the most efficient part of the scoops 52 is now described. Firstly, as is generally known, the wind 12 is a relatively weak mechanical force, and the application of such a force at a point of a scoop 52 near the wind turbine 50 axis of rotation will not create a significant moment of force about the rotor hub 54. Inversely, the application of a force by the wind 12 upon a point of the scoop 52 at a distance away from the axis of rotation of a hub 54 will result in a high moment of force, but a low rotational speed which is limited by the displacement of a large volume of air by the scoops 52 as they rotate. Secondly, the wind 12 has to be kept directed onto the scoops 52 of the turbine 50 so that wind 12 is not permitted to be deflected away upon contact therewith, as is the case of water or electricity which always takes the path of least resistance. It is generally known that in the case of a non- enclosed wind turbine 14, wind 12 will be deflected from the blades 24 without transferring energy thereto. Thirdly, the wind guiding channels 62, 64 have to be of the same or smaller dimension as the scoops 52 dimension B. Additionally, an intake port 66, 68 which is either too large or too small creates turbulences which affects the efficiency of the transfer of energy from the wind 12 to the scoops 52. Fourthly, the angle of attack of the incidental wind 12 onto the scoops 52 has to be able to directly produce a mechanical effort thereon. Lastly, the discharged wake 16 resulting from the mechanical effort the wind 12 imparted on the scoops 52 has to be discharged rapidly and effectively so as not to hinder the discharged wake 16. Of note, the wind concentrator of FIG. 4 does not represent the embodiment of a wind concentrator 10 comprising the most efficient wind harnessing capabilities and exudes many defaults present in prior art wind turbines, as now described.

[0043] Now referring to FIG. 5, the concentrated wind as compressed and guided by the wind guiding channels 62, 64 arrives at the upper air intake port 66 of the wind turbine 50 such that the wind attacks the upper parts of a first scoop 70 at an angle of attack that does not impart any rotational torque or moment about the wind turbine hub 54. Thereafter, a second scoop 72 is displaced as compressed wind 12 from the inferior part of the upper wind guiding channel 62 enters into contact with the second scoop blade 72 at an angle which produces a moment about the wind turbine hub 54. Of note, the illustrated form of the upper wind guiding channel 62 will guide more wind towards the upper part than the lower part of the upper intake port 66. A similar phenomenon regarding the wind attack angle onto the scoop 73 will occur in the lower wind guiding channel 64, except in this case the wind will be more concentrated towards the bottom portion of the lower wind guiding channel 64. Of note, the wind turbine 50 comprising a central solid hub 54 will operate however in a manner that is below its true potential.

[0044] Referring again to FIG. 4, the configuration of the upper wind guiding channel 62 is such that the return scoop blades 52 of the wind turbine 50 are shielded by a wind deflecting surface 28 that tends downwardly to act as a shield 74 so as to prevent wind 12 from inhibiting the rotation of the scoops 52 on their return path. In particular, the shield 74 prevents concentrated incidental wind 12 from entering into contact with scoops 52 on a return rotational path that would tend to counter the rotation of the turbine 50 in order to maximize the performance of the wind concentrator 10.

[0045] Now referring to FIG. 6, the development of pressure in the wind concentrator 10 of FIG. 4 will be discussed. In particular, there is described a pressure P_l representing the pressure of the wind 12 located at the intake port 20 to the upper wind guiding channel 62 that is slightly superior to the pressure of the incidental wind 12 pressure. As the turbine 50 creates a resistance to the wind flow 12 through its operation, a pressure /^> at the upper intake port 66 will develop that is slightly superior to the pressure P . Furthermore, wind 12 is then trapped within a two adjacent scoop blades 52 which form a cell 76 as guided by the upper wind guiding channel 62 which will cause the development of a pressure I which is equal to or superior to P-, as a function of the speed of rotation of the turbine 50. As the cell 76 comprising a pressure P₃ rotates such that wind from the lower wind guiding channel 64 is able to contact the scoop 73, the wind must first overcome the pressure P₃ prior to entering into contact with the scoop 52. It follows that an increased pressure P₄ that is significantly superior to the pressure P₃ is developed as will an increase in pressure P₅ within the lower wind guiding channel 64. These increases in pressures P-, and P₅ creates resistance to the wind 12 thereby causing an increase in pressure at the input port 20 defined by P_l , which is superior to P_x . Consequentially, a portion of the oncoming incidental wind 12 is deflected to the exterior of the wind concentrator 10, thereby reducing the overall performance.

[0046] Now referring to FIG. 7, and in accordance with an alternative illustrative embodiment of the wind concentrator of FIG. 4, there is provided a HAWT variant 78 comprising a hollow hub 80 such that the wind 12 that has impacted a plurality of straight blades 82 secured to ends 84 (see FIG. 10) of the wind turbine 78 passes through the turbine 78 and is not compressed within a cell 76. In particular, as curved scoops 52 are inefficient due to the pressure developments associated with the cells 76, there is provided a plurality of blades 82 which are linear and offer a uniform angle of attack to the wind 12 such that energy is harnessed more efficiently. Wind 12 that has impacted the straight blades 82 is able to exit the turbine 78 without the completion of a rotation of the turbine 78 as the hollow hub 80 permits the passage of wind 12 there through. For instance, wind in the superior part of the upper wind guiding channel 86 will be discharged at a superior point 88 of the output of the wind turbine 78 while wind in the inferior part of the lower wind guiding channel 90 will be discharged at an inferior point 92 at the output of the wind turbine 78. In order for the wind 12 to efficiently exit and clear the output of the wind turbine 78, the diameter of the hollowed hub 80 should be as large as possible, which implies a reduction in the length of the straight blades 82. This configuration requires that the blade 82 count should be increased to cover the area available for engaging the incidental wind 12. Of note, the various embodiments of wind concentrators 10 as described herein below each have different characteristics such that their blade dimensions, number of scoops 52 and their angles of attack are optimized for particular applications, as determine and optimized from wind tunnel tests.

[0047] Referring again to FIG. 4, the output port 22 is provided to ensure an efficient discharge of the discharged wake 16 and is designed in a manner so the wind concentrator 10 is able to approach the maximum theoretical level of transformable wind energy into electricity based on the Betz's Law. In particular, Betz's Law states that the greater the amount of kinetic energy a wind turbine 50 extracts from the wind, the more the velocity of the wind will be reduced as it exits the wind turbine 14. The energy contained in the wind 12 is proportional to the mass of air (pressure) and the cube of its speed. In a closed system, that is where the wind turbine 14 is enclosed within a housing 18, the mass of incidental wind 12 at the turbine 14 is necessarily equal to the mass of air ejected from its output. In the context where the design objective of a wind concentrator 10 is to harness 50% of the energy from the incidental wind 12, the harnessed wake 16 will have approximately 79% of the velocity of the incidental wind 12. To be able to consider that the wind flow through the wind turbine 14 takes place without resistance, it is necessary that the output port 22 discharges the harnessed wake 16 by having an output port 22 surface area of at least 26% greater than the intake port 20 area. Of note, this minimum output area requirement does not only apply to the output port 22 area but also to the entire output area directly after the turbine 14. In FIG. 4 we note that the wind concentrator 10 does not respect this requirement. In such as case, harnessed wake 16 is forced from the output port 22 by an increase in pressure resulting from the reduced velocity wind 12. Such an increase in pressure will in turn propagate back to the air intake ports 66, 68 where the pressures P-, , P₅ increase. While an increase in pressure /⁵, , P₅ does not prevent the operation of the wind concentrator 10, it will significantly reduce its overall performance.

[0048] Now referring to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. 4, there is further provided a plurality of aerodynamic gratings comprising an input grating 94 for covering the input port 20 and an output grating 96 for covering the output port 22 of the wind concentrator 10. These gratings function to minimize the sound propagation from within the concentrator 10 generated by the wind turbine 50 to the surrounding environment and restrict access of large birds into the core of the wind concentrator 10 all while presenting a minimum amount of cross-sectional resistance to the wind 12. As the incident wind 12 is a relatively low source of energy, each percentage point of harnessed wind gained or lost is an important factor in the viability of the wind concentrator 10. Current prior art gratings comprise flat metal grills which represent 15% of the total surface area of an intake or output of an enclosed wind turbine. The direct loss resulting from resistances and turbulences created by these surfaces reduces the energy of the incidental wind 12 by 5 to 10%. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided input 94 and output 96 gratings comprising an aerodynamic profile which do not create any turbulences at the intake port 20 of a wind concentrator 10 and present a minimum resistance to the wind 12 collected by the intake 20. In particular, there is provided a plurality of flat and thin gratings members 97 comprising pointed tips 98. In general a preferred ratio defined by the ratio between a spacing E between adjacent gratings 97 and the cross-sectional width F of a grating 97 exposed to oncoming winds 12 winds should be greater than or equal to 10, that is E/F = 10 or more, will provide a laminar flow of winds 12 as it passes through the grating members 97 and into the intake port 20 while minimizing a loss of energy in the wind 12. As the wind 12 is generally known to possess a relatively stable vector component with unstable and uncertain lateral cross-winds 98, the present invention is thus able to harness the energy from the cross-winds 98 by providing gratings 97 at the input port 20 comprising a depth G greater than the spacing E between adjacent members 97 to ensure that the cross-wind 98 enters intake port 20 in a laminar fashion by orientating the cross winds 98 in a direction similar to the incident wind 12. In a preferred embodiment, the aspect ratio G/E is a minimum of 3, but preferably 4 or greater.

[0049] Still referring to FIG. 4 there is provide a plurality of output aerodynamic gratings 96 to cover the output port 22 comprising grating members 97 which are sufficiently spaced apart by a distance E so as not to create a hindrance to the discharging of harnessed wake 16 and which would tend to reduce the performance of the wind concentrator 10. The output gratings 96 may be horizontally positioned and oriented at an angle so as to hide the view of the turbine 50 contained within the housing 18 from a viewing position below the wind concentrator 10, for instance, when viewing the output port 22 from the ground when a wind concentrator 10 is provided on a raised structure or the like. Such output aerodynamic gratings 96 further function to deviate sound generated by the wind turbine 14 in an upward direction when provided at an angle thereby minimizing the audible nuisances propagating from the turbine 50 to the surrounding environment. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, while the output gratings 96 may be provided for at an angle of 45 degrees relative to flow of the wind 12, other configurations are possible. For instance, there may be provided gratings 96 of greater depth G orientated at 20 degrees. The gratings 96 further act to allow water or snow to enter the housing 18. While the aerodynamic gratings 94, 96 have been illustratively provided as comprising vertically or horizontally positioned members 97, other configurations such as laterally disposed, criss-crossed, or the like may also be employed.

[0050] Referring again to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 7 the wind guiding channels 62, 64 are dimensioned for a concentration factor of approximately 3, representing a modest concentration factor. Since the surfaces of the wind channels 62, 64 can cause deflections of wind particles 42 which can result in turbulences there within, design considerations to be taken into consideration for a quasi-linear concentration of wind 12 of a reasonable wind velocity requires that all the angles of attack 48 of the wind 12 with the wind guiding channels 62, 64 do not exceed 10 degrees and that no wind deflecting surface 28, 58, 60 results a deviation of wind particles 42 by more than 10 degrees at any point along a wind deflecting surface 28, 58, 60. Accordingly in order to satisfy these design criteria, a channel divider 100 may be provided within wind guiding channels 62, 64 which divides by a factor of 2 the sum of the angles of concentration of a given channel. This divider 100 or median plane is manufactured in the form of a metal panel and is shaped to comprise surface tangents that are substantially parallel to surface tangents of adjacent upper and lower wind deflecting surfaces 28, 58, 60. The channel divider 100 provides improved compression of incidental wind 12 and in a laminar fashion to thereby improve the uniformity of the attack of the wind 12 onto the scoops 52 or straight blades 82 of the turbine 50, 78. While one divider 100 per channel has been illustratively shown, multiple dividers 100 per channel are also possible. Of note, the addition of the dividers 100 further aids in reducing the transmission of sound generated by the turbine 50, 78 which propagates towards intake port 20 and thereafter to ambient.

[0051] Now referring again to FIG. 4, there is further provided deflectors 102 installed on the sides of the housing 18 at the output 22 for creating a slight drop in pressure at the output of the wind concentrator that will help the harnessed wake 16 be discharged from the output port 22. The deflectors 102 are generally shaped in a manner so as to bend or deviate oncoming wind flow flowing around the housing 18 and are illustratively curved. The deflectors 102 can thus be employed to slightly improve the performance of the wind concentrator 10 whose output and input dimensional relationship does not satisfy Betz's Law as described hereinabove. Of note, deflectors 102 of larger size do not multiply the performance of the wind concentrator 10 as the incident wind 12 will contain no more or no less than the energy in the incidental wind 12.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, and according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an urban wind concentrator 200 used for harnessing wind 12 in an urban setting comprising a plurality of stacked wind concentrators 10 comprising a plurality of hub-less wind turbines 78 enclosed within a housing 202 having dimensions of 4m x 4m x 4m. The wind turbines 78 further comprise a stator and a rotor (not shown) enclosed within its body of the wind turbines 78. The urban wind concentrator 200 is able to supply the total energy necessary for a small household, including an electric automobile, or the electricity required to operate two to three apartments; it is very silent and the sound levels it generates are comparable to the levels of the wind 12; it does not generate excessive vibrations, nor pressure surges in the presence of gusts or sudden changes in the direction of the wind 12; it does not require a significant foundation as ideally it will be resting on the roof of an existing house; its visual appearance is not objectionable and has a minimum visual impact in contrast with its surrounding environment; and it will not present any apparent movement of the wind turbines 78 housed within. The plurality of wind concentrators 10 stacked one on top of each other comprise upper and lower wind guiding channels 204, 206 which are tapered to form a compression factor slightly above 2. Such a compression factor allows for an efficient operation of the urban wind concentrator 200 even during higher velocity winds 12. Furthermore, the input and output of the urban wind concentrator 200 comprises an output that is larger in area than its input. A discharge area that is 30 % larger than the input area is preferred to attain increased performance of 50 % over a wide range of wind 12 velocities while the wind is compressed in a laminar fashion through the upper and lower wind guiding channels 204, 206. Additionally, the formation of wind guiding channels 204, 206 is such so as to favor the run-off of water, sand, or snow so as to prevent unnecessary stoppage of wind turbines 78 due to their blockage. While the stator and rotor has been illustratively provided inside the wind turbines 78, they may be provided for in other configurations.

[0053] Still referring to FIG. 9, the urban wind concentrator 200 is illustratively mounted to a frame or support structure 208 connected to a foundation 210 such as a roof or other permanent like structure. The support structure 208 is such so as to divide the load of the urban wind concentrator 200 over a large surface area, for instance over a large surface area of a roof or over the supporting points of the foundation 210, such as the supporting walls of a building. A rotating plate 212 is further provided between the support structure 208 and the housing 202 so as to mechanically position the urban wind concentrator 200 in alignment with an incident wind 12. The movement of the rotating plate 212 is illustratively powered by a geared electrical motor (not shown) and rotates at a slow speed so as not to generate pressure surges nor draw attention to the wind concentrator 200 by its movement. [0054] Still referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, there is further provided aerodynamic gratings 214 at the intake of the urban wind concentrator 200. As discussed hereinabove, these gratings 214 do not create any significant resistance to the incident wind 12 flow and act to prevent access to the interior of the housing 202 of large birds or the like. Additionally, the gratings 214 enable cross-winds to be harnessed in a manner as also discussed hereinabove. There is further provided a horizontal projection 216 which shields the intake port of the urban wind concentrator 200 from snow and ice. Of note, the side walls 218 of the wind channeling guides are not curved so as not to provide a concentration along the horizontal plane thereby ensuring a laminar wind flow therein. There is further provided horizontal output gratings 220 which are sufficiently spaced apart so as not to create resistance to harnessed wake 16 discharged from the plurality of wind turbines 78. These gratings 220 are further angled so as to provide a deflection of the harnessed wake 16 and to hide the turbines 78 from a viewing position at a level of the foundation 210. In particular, in accordance with the present alternative embodiment, there is provided gratings 220 which are angled at 45 degrees to provide for the deflection of sound generated by the wind turbines 78 and for hiding rotational movements of the wind turbines 78. While the angle of the gratings 220 have been illustrated as 45 degrees, other angles are possible, for instance there may be provided an angle of 30 degrees which require gratings 220 comprising greater depth to ensure the turbines 78 remains hidden from the viewing position at a level of the foundation 210. The gratings 220 also permit the run-off of water or snow which has entered within the urban wind concentrator 200.

[0055] Now referring to FIG. 1 1 , in order to absorb all vibrations generated by the wind turbines 78, the housing 202 is comprised of an internal layer 222 and an external layer 224. The internal 222 and external 224 layers are laminated together through the intermediary of a non-metallic layer 226, for instance expanded polystyrene, so that internal layer 222 and the external layer 224 are not coupled together via a metallic link. Should the housing 202 be comprised entirely of metal, vibrations generated from within the housing 202 could have the effect of transforming the external layers 224 into a sound resonating surface. Generally, this laminate structure ensures that sound and vibrations generated from within the housing 202 are isolated from the surrounding environment. There may be additionally provided an additional rubber layer 228 or a like material to further isolate the internal structures from the surrounding environment.

[0056] Now referring to FIG. 12, there is illustrated an urban wind concentrator 200 comprising a cubic housing of 4m x 4m x 4m deployed in an urban setting, and in particular on the roof of two duplexes 230 having 12 m of frontage. The first urban wind concentrator 232 is illustrated in a fontal view and the second urban wind concentrator 234 is illustrated in a side view. Additionally, each side of the wind concentrator 200 can be decorated or used to generate advertising revenue.

[0057] Now referring to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, there is provided in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention, a cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 comprising the aforementioned design principles of the wind concentrator 10. The utility of the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 resides in its configuration which permits it to instantaneously generate electricity from both incidental 238 and lateral gusts of wind 240. While incidental wind 238 comprises a relatively stable forward vector trajectory, it often comprises lateral gusts of wind 240 which causes rapid and unstable movements in self-aligning prior art wind turbines. For instance, lateral winds 240 at an angle offset from the incident wind 238 by up to 20 degrees produces a vector force that is equally as harnessable by the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 as compared to the incidental wind 238. Additionally, lateral winds 240 at an angle offset from the incident wind 238 by up to 30 to 40 degrees produces a vector force that is able to be harnessed by the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 and used to generate a significant amount of energy. In particular, there is provided a cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 comprising a plurality of wind concentrators 10 comprising a plurality of HAWTs 242 disposed in adjacent radial positions over an angular radius 244 given by H. There is further provided a plurality of input gratings 246 at the input of the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236, and a plurality of upwardly angled output gratings 248 at the output of the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236. Of note, the variation in the angle H over which wind concentrators 10 are positioned will favor a higher performance with regards to incidental wind 238 when the angle H is small, while a wider angle H will favor a wider harnessing of lateral winds 240. Furthermore, the wind concentrators 10 comprise housings 250 formed from sound and vibration reducing materials, for instance polystyrene, for enclosing the HAWTs 242 therein. The cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 is designed to respect Betz's Law and while it does not appear to be respected upon first glance as the area exposed to the incident wind 238 is almost identical to the area of the output whereat the harnessed wake 16 is discharged. However, when two of the plurality of wind concentrators 10 are oriented towards the incidental wind 238, only these two wind concentrators 10 will be operating at 100 percent performance levels while adjacent wind concentrators 10 will be operating at 60 and 80 percent performance levels, and even further adjacent wind concentrators 10 will be operating at even lower performance levels, for instance between 30 and 50 percent. Consequentially, the cylindrical urban wind concentrator 236 respects Betz's law as discussed hereinabove.

[0058] Now referring to FIG. 15, there is provided a rural wind concentrator 252 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is designed to be deployed at a distance of 200 meters from residential buildings. In particular, the rural wind concentrator 252 is preferably deployed on cultivated land comprising relatively flat terrains where the vegetation presents little obstacle to the flow of the wind 12. For instance, a series of rural wind turbines may illustratively be erected in cultivation field ditches which are easily accessible and which do not require to sacrifice cultivatable land for their erection. As part of such a deployment, each rural wind concentrator 252 could illustratively harness 15 to 20 square meters of wind at a height of five to ten meters from the ground. A farm exploiting several square kilometers of land could install a hundred of these rural wind concentrator 252 and benefit from an electrical generation in the order of a megawatt. Alternatively, rural roads can be lined with multiple rural wind concentrators 252 at a density of fifty to one hundred concentrators per kilometer depending on the exploitability of the average wind velocity at a site. The rural wind concentrator 252 is an economical embodiment of an urban wind turbine and has to optimally satisfy the following criteria. In particular, it must be able to supply the total energy needs of a farm, including tractors, greenhouses and several farm and residential buildings; it has to be economical with regards to its installation and fabrication since a network with several wind turbines is necessary to satisfy the demand; it has to be relatively silent, however the sound level is less critical since it will not be directly installed on houses; it does not have to have an large foundation and ideally it does not use any cultivated land; and its visual appearance is not critical, however, the impact on the safety of birds is a factor to consider.

[0059] Now referring to FIG. 16, there is provided an illustrative embodiment of the rural wind concentrator 252. In particular, the rural wind concentrator 252 comprises a hollow housing 254 affixed to a pivot point 256 which allows the rural wind concentrator 252 to naturally align itself with the direction of the wind 12 such that wind 12 is captured by a plurality of wind guiding channels 258. The rural wind concentrator 252 may also be aligned in the direction of the wind 12 by a mechanized means which generates a torque about a pivot point 256 that is near or behind the center of mass of the rural wind concentrator 252.

[0060] Now referring to FIG. 17 in addition to FIG. 16, there is provided a rural wind concentrator 252 comprising an output and an underside (not shown) which are open to facilitate the discharge of harnessed wake 16. The concentration factor for the illustrated rural wind concentrator 252 is given by:

(L + K + J)

M

In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the concentration factor of the rural wind concentrator 252 is approximately 7.5. Of note, the blades 260 of a wind turbine 262 enclosed within the housing 254 comprise a width of M and wind guiding channels 258 comprise an equal width. Additionally, the rural wind concentrator 252 is not subjected to the output dimensional requirements as described hereinabove for the effective discharge of harnessed wind 12 as its output is completely open. There may be further provided a rear deflector 264 when the rural wind concentrator 252 is erected to within a 100 and 200 meter distance from a residential building.

[0061 ] Now referring to FIG. 18, there is provided an alternative embodiment of the present invention for wind harnessing applications where sound isolation considerations are less important or inexistent. Accordingly, there is provided a wind deflector 264 that comprises a simple and economical construction. In particular, the wind concentrator 264 comprises a curved wind deflecting panel 266, or deflector, that is variable in its angle of attack with the wind 12 in order to reduce or increase the amount of wind 12 that is collected and guided so that the wind 12 can be efficiently and laminarly concentrated.

[0062] Now referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, there is provided a wind deflector 264 comprising a slightly curved wind deflecting panel 266 which deviates wind 12 such that it may be efficiently and laminarly concentrated onto the blades 268 of a turbine 270. In particular, the wind 12 is only concentrated and guided by the deflecting panel 266 onto the active blades 268 that are on a non-return path in order to impart a rotation of the turbine 270. The blades 268 on a return path are shielded by the deflecting panel 266 so that compressed and guided wind does not impede the rotation of the turbine 270 caused by the wind 12 impacting the blades 268 on their return path. There is further provided a second variable deflector 272 that is also variable in its angle of attack with the wind 12 in order to ensure that the totality of wind 12 that is deviated by the deflecting panel 266 is efficiently harnessed by the turbine 270. A plurality of anti- overflow panels 274 fixed to the deflecting panel 266 and projecting at a substantially perpendicular angle to the surface of the deflecting panel 266 into the wind 12 ensure a rigidity of the deflecting panel 266 and prevent a lateral overflow of wind 12.

[0063] Still referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the wind deflector 264 is supported by a supporting structure 276 by the intermediary of pivots 278 which allows for the variation in the angle of attack of the deflecting panel 266 with the wind 12. By varying the angle of attack of the deflecting panel 266 through a pivoting of the deflecting panel 266 about the pivots 278, the wind 12 is exposed to a lesser or greater cross-section of wind deflector 264 defined by the elevation N which will control the amount of wind directed to and harnessed by the wind turbine 270. The supporting structure 276 may comprise a rigid mast or telescopic like structure. In the latter case, the wind deflector 264 may be lowered to the foundation or earth during high velocity winds when deployed in areas susceptible to hurricanes. Of note, the supporting structure 276 does not favor the installation of a wind deflector 264 at the extremity of a mast. The supporting structure 276 may be itself installed on platforms 280 which are able to rotatably adjust the orientation of the wind deflector 264 to face the direction of the wind 12. These platforms 280, or carousels, allow for a uniform apportionment of the static and dynamic loads of a network of wind deflectors which may illustratively be located on the roof of an immovable comprising a reasonable height. The deflectors 264 and their supporting structures 276 can be fabricated from transparent material, such as Plexiglas which would minimize the visual impact in urban centers or rural settings where they are deployed.

[0064] Still referring to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the pivot points 278 are provided about which the wind deflector 264 is rotated so as to adjust its inclination relative to the direction of the wind 12. Variation of the inclination of the wind deflector 264 about this pivot point 278, which is done in accordance with the velocity of the wind 12, will reduce the cross-sectional area of the deflecting panel 266 that is exposed to the wind 12 and will also serve to adjust the level of wind compression and to limit the structural strains on the supporting structure 276. In particular, the efficiency of the compression will depend on the incidental wind speed. As the wind deflector 264 acts as a concentrator of open wind, rapid turbulence or overflowing in heavy wind may result. Therefore, it is required to optimize the inclination of the deflecting panel 266, and the orientation of the second deflector 272 relative to the deflector panel 266 in real time as a function of the incidental wind 12. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the wind deflector 264, the concentration factor will be a function of its dimensions given by N/P , wherein N is the cross-sectional area of the deflector panel 266 exposed to the wind 12 and P is the distance between the hub of the wind turbine 270 and the second variable deflector 272. In accordance with the scale of the illustration the concentration factor is in the order of 8.5. Such a concentration factor will only be applicable for weak intensity winds.

[0065] Now referring to FIG. 21 , there are illustrated different angles of operation of the wind deflector 264. In particular, according to a first position 274 the wind deflector 264 is illustrated to be in a maximum open position comprising an inclination defined as Q. This first position 274 covers a maximum incidental wind surface. As the energy harnessed from the wind 12 is directly proportional to the cross-sectional area the wind deflector 264 is exposed to, this first position 274 in a fully opened operating position should be maintained over the largest range of wind velocities as possible. If the velocity of the wind 12 increases and the energy produced does not correspondingly increase as a consequence of turbulence or overflow, the wind deflector 264 will progressively vary its angle of incident towards a second position 276 comprising an inclination defined as R or to a third position 278 comprising an inclination defined as S which comprises a reduced cross-sectional area in order to reestablish a more laminar wind flow, which is more useful for the wind turbine 270. Of note, the cross sectional area exposed to the wind 12 by the wind deflector 264 is approximately 50% smaller in position 276 when compared to the open first position 274. In comparison, since the energy contained in the wind 12 varies by the cube of the wind velocity the harnessable wind in second position 276 will have a velocity 2 to 3 times higher than that which is usable in first position 274, and consequently the production of electricity will be tenfold.

[0066] Still referring to FIG. 21 , the four illustrated positions 274 to 280 demonstrates that the wind deflecting panel 266 should have a more pronounced curvature when deployed at a site with average low wind speeds while the wind deflecting panel 266 comprising larger anti-overflow panels 274 which are more efficient when in a maximum open position 274. Inversely, a wind deflector 264 designed for a site with a higher average wind velocities should comprise a wind deflecting panel 266 having less of a curvature to avoid that the breaking point of the wind deflector 264 does not pass under the deflection surface and thereby creating undesirable turbulences. The position 280 illustrates the wind deflector 264 in stop mode wherein the cross-sectional is such that a negligible amount or no wind is guided by the deflecting panel 266 onto the turbine 270.

[0067] Now referring to FIG. 22, there is provided a network of wind deflectors 294 illustratively installed on the roof of an immovable 296, such as a skyscraper or other like structure, without overburdening its mechanical structure, as would the installation of a large prior art wind turbine thereon. In particular, the network of wind deflectors 294 comprises a plurality of wind deflectors 264 positioned in a rectangular or circular layout is exemplified so as to efficiently cover a large surface of roof. There is further provided a network of wind deflectors 294 comprising two distinct groups of wind deflectors 264, comprising a first group of wind deflectors 298 and a second group of wind deflectors 300 secured to a rotatable carrousel like structure 302 which positions the ensemble of wind deflectors 264 simultaneously to face the wind 12. While a detailed account of the structural details of the carrousel 302 is omitted, it is evident that the use of the carousel 302 would permit the distribution the loads of the network of wind deflectors 294 over the totality of the immovable structure 296.

[0068] Still referring to FIG. 22, according to the illustrative arrangement of the present invention, it is reasonable to estimate that an immovable 296 comprising 60 meters of facade can support the installation of a network of wind deflectors 294 covering a surface equivalent to that of a half megawatt prior art wind turbine. When considering that the wind 12 harnessed by the network of wind deflectors 294 is positioned at a higher elevation than when it is installed on the immovable 296 in comparison to its normal ground level installation, and that the system is capable of harnessing low velocity winds 12 as described hereinabove, and that there will be no loss in the transmission of electricity over a distribution network (not shown), it is estimated that such a system will result in an increased energy yield when compared to the energy yield of a prior art wind turbine located on a distant wind farm.

[0069] Now referring to FIG. 23 in addition to FIG. 22, there is provided a network of wind deflectors 294 controlled by a computerized system for the real time optimization of the inclinations and orientations of a plurality of wind deflectors 264 as a function of the velocity of the wind 12. For example, there is provided a computer system for controlling the inclination of a number of wind deflectors 264 forming the network of wind deflectors 294 to increase their cross- sectional areas to the wind 12 to comprise a more opened position and/or to decrease their cross-sectional areas to comprise a more closed position. If the computer system detects a higher electricity generating output from one of the wind deflectors 264 with a certain adjusted inclination and orientation, the computer system will adjust the totality of wind deflectors 264 comprising the network of wind deflectors 294 to match this operating inclination and orientation, and will be done so in an uninterrupted manner. The computer system further controls the movement of the second deflector 272 in a similar manner. This method of optimization has the advantage of being able to adapt the network 294 to both wind speed variations of ascending or descending wind velocities. For example, the first group of wind deflectors 298 faces directly into wind 12. If the wind 12 is weak, the computerized system will position the wind deflectors 264 in the first group of wind deflectors 298 to a maximum opened position, which will leave little available wind for the group 300. In the presence of higher velocity winds, the computer system will cant the deflectors of the first group 298, thereby allow for a usable throughput of wind to the second group of wind deflectors 300. Of note, this operation which is accomplished in tandem and cannot be done unless there is a reasonable distance between the first 298 and the second group 300 of wind deflectors 264.

[0070] Now referring to FIG. 24, and in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a high speed turbine wind concentrator 304. Prior art wind turbines use wind energy in an optimal way when wind speeds attain 45 KPH. However, past this limit, a prior art turbine has to apply its brakes. There exist sites where the wind 12 regularly exceeds such a limit, for example in valley gorges or in the midst of important mountain ranges. As it is generally known that the energy carried by the wind varies by the cube of its speed, significant energy generation gains can be achieved. For example, wind 12 having a 45 KPH velocity contains approximately 1 ,200 watts of kinetic energy per squared meter, while a wind 12 having a 55 KPH velocity contains 2,200 watts per squared meter, and a wind of 65 KPH contains 3,600 watts per squared meter. The high speed turbine wind concentrator 304 comprises a tapered profile having a compression factor of approximately 4. As previously discussed hereinabove, wind 12 having a high velocity will be more difficult to compress and maintain laminar flow. By considering an incidental wind 12 having a velocity ranging between 30 and 75 KPH, the velocity of the wind 12 at the point of the intake to the turbine 14 often exceeds 100 KPH. A configuration consisting of short blades 306 in two to three stages, inspired from jet turbines, will harness the maximum amount of energy from of this concentrated wind.

[0071] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it may be modified, without departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A wind concentrator (10) for compressing and guiding wind (12) onto a wind turbine (14) comprising a plurality of blades (52) radially disposed about a rotatable rotor (54), the wind concentrator (10) comprising: a first wind deflector (28, 266) for laminarly guiding the wind (12) onto said plurality of blades (52) and for shielding said wind turbine (14) from the wind (12) to prevent the wind (12) from inhibiting the rotation of said wind turbine (14), said first wind deflector (28, 266) comprising a first curved surface; and a second wind deflector (58) for laminarly guiding the wind onto said plurality of blades, said second wind deflector comprising a second curved surface (58, 272); wherein said first (28, 266) and said second (58, 272) deflectors are positioned to laminarly generate a compression of the wind (12) and to guide the wind (12) onto said blades (52) to impart a rotation of said wind turbine (14).

The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said first (28, 266) and said second (58, 272) wind deflectors deflect the wind from said curved surfaces at an angle of less than 10 degrees relative to the direction of the wind.

The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said rotatable rotor is hollow (80).

The wind concentrator of claim 3, wherein said blades are straight (82).

The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said wind turbine (14), said first wind deflector (28, 266), and said second wind deflector (58, 272) are enclosed within a housing (18) comprising an input (20) for directing wind into contact with said first (28, 266) and said second (58, 272) wind deflectors and an output (22) for discharging the wind that has been harnessed (16), said input (20) comprising an input area and said output (22) comprising an output area.

6. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said housing (18) is manufactured from a sound and vibration dampening laminate structure.

7. The wind concentrator of claim 5, further comprising at least one wind deflecting panel (100) disposed between said first wind deflector and said second wind deflector, said at least one wind deflecting panel (100) comprising a curvature substantially similar to said curvature of said first (28, 266) and said wind second (58, 272) deflectors.

8. The wind concentrator of claim 7, wherein said at least one wind deflecting panel (100) deflects the wind at an angle of less than 10 degrees relative to the direction of the wind.

9. The wind concentrator of claim 7, wherein said at least one wind deflecting panel (100) divides the angles of concentration by a factor of 2.

10. The wind concentrator of claim 5, further comprising an input grating (94) for reducing noise, said input grating (94) comprising a plurality of members (97) spaced apart by a distance (E) for enclosing said input (20), said plurality of members (97) comprising a width (F) and a height defining an input member area, and a depth (G) defined between a first end (98) and a second end (98).

1 1. The wind concentrator of claim 5, further comprising an output grating (96) for reducing noise, said output grating (96) comprising a plurality of horizontal members (97) spaced apart by a distance (E) for enclosing said output (22) of said housing (18), said plurality of horizontal members (97) comprising a width (F) and a height to define an output member area, and a depth (G) defined between a first end (98) and a second end (98).

12. The wind concentrator of claim 1 1 , wherein said horizontal members (97) are angled in relation to the direction of the wind (12) that has been harnessed for deflecting noise generated by the wind turbine (14).

13. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said housing (18) is a cube comprising a plurality of sides.

14. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said housing (18) is orientated by a mechanized means (212) such that said input area is substantially perpendicular to the wind (12).

15. The wind concentrator of claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein said members (97) are manufactured from or coated with sound absorbing material.

16. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said first (28, 266) and said second (58, 272) wind deflectors are manufactured from a lightweight, sound absorbing, and vibration dampening material.

17. The wind concentrator of claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein said input gratings (94) comprise a depth (G) that is three times the distance (E).

18. The wind concentrator of claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein said first and said second ends (98) are pointed to promote laminar flow as the wind (12) engages the ends.

19. The wind concentrator of claim 10, wherein said input member area is at least 10% of said input area.

20. The wind concentrator of claim 1 1 , wherein said output member area is at least 10% of said output area.

21 wind concentrator of claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein said width (F) substantially smaller than said depth (G).

22. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said housing (18) is manufactured from a lightweight, sound absorbing, and vibration dampening material.

23. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said output area is at least 25 % greater than said input area.

24. The wind concentrator of claims 10 and 1 1 wherein said depth (G) is at least 3 times said distance (E).

25. The wind concentrator of claim 1 , further comprising a variable angle of attack (48) defining an angle between the wind (12) and said first deflector (28, 266) and an variable angle of attack defining an angle between the wind (12) and said second wind deflector (58, 272), wherein said angle of attack (48) of said first deflector (28, 266) is optimized to capture a portion of the wind (12) and said angle of attack of said second wind deflector (58, 272) is optimized to ensure the wind (12) is laminarly guided onto said wind turbine (14).

26. The wind concentrator of claim 25, wherein said first wind deflector (28, 266) and said second wind deflector (58, 272) are movable relative to each other to alter said angles of attacks (48) and said compression according to a real time average wind velocity so as to ensure a laminar compression of the wind (12).

27. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said deflectors (28, 266, 58, 272) are positioned relative to each other to optimize said compression in relation to an average wind velocity so as to ensure a laminar compression of the wind (12).

28. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said deflectors (28, 266, 58, 272) are positioned relative to each other to optimize said compression in relation to a highest wind velocity so as to ensure a laminar compression of the wind (12).

29. The wind concentrator of claim 5, wherein said deflectors (28, 266, 58, 272) are positioned relative to each other to optimize said compression in order to limit the rotational speed of the turbine at high wind velocities.

30. The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said first wind deflector comprises a plurality of anti-overflow panels.

31. The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said first wind deflector (28, 266) and said second wind deflector (58, 272) are constructed from a transparent material.

32. The wind concentrator of claim 31 , wherein said transparent material is

Plexiglas.

33. The wind concentrator of claim 1 , wherein said wind concentrator is affixed to a supporting structure (276, 280).

34. The wind concentrator of claim 33, wherein said supporting structure (280) is rotatable to orient the wind concentrator to face the wind.

35. The wind concentrator of claim 33, wherein said supporting structure (276,

280) is affixed to an object.

36. The wind concentrator of claim 35, wherein said object is an immovable

(296).

37. A system (294) for converting wind into electricity comprising a plurality of wind turbines for generating a power output, the system comprising: a wind deflector (264) comprising a first deflector (266) comprising a variable angle of inclination relative to a velocity of the wind and a second deflector (58, 272) comprising a second variable angle of inclination relative to said velocity of the wind, wherein said first (266) and said second (58, 272) deflectors guide and compress the wind onto the wind turbine (270); a rotatable support structure (302) for affixing thereto a first plurality of said wind deflectors to form a first group of wind deflectors (298) and a second plurality of said wind deflectors to form a second group of wind deflectors (300), wherein said first group (298) is positioned in front of said second group (300); a foundation (296) for supporting said rotatable structure (302); and a computerized system for monitoring the direction and said velocity of the wind and for monitoring the power of said plurality of wind turbines, wherein said computerized system controls said first and said second angles of inclination of said first (298) and said second (300) group of wind deflectors and controls a rotation of said rotatable support structure (302).

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said computerized system rotates said rotatable support structure (302) to align said plurality of wind deflectors (298, 300) in the direction of the wind.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said computerized system adjusts said first and said second angles of inclination to match a first and a second angle inclination of a wind deflector (264) comprising a wind turbine that is generating a maximum power output (12).

40. The system of claim 37, wherein said computer monitoring system adjusts said first and said second angles of inclination to reduce a loading on said foundation (296).

41. The system of claim 37, wherein said foundation is a roof of an immovable (296).