WO2011061558A1

WO2011061558A1 - Omnidirectional wind turbine for power generation

Info

Publication number: WO2011061558A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/055125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vimal Perera
Original assignee: Vimal Perera
Priority date: 2009-11-18
Filing date: 2009-11-18
Publication date: 2011-05-26

Abstract

The objective is for a vertical wind turbine which due to the inducer and nozzle ring can operate in winds which vary in direction and speed. The large cross sectional area of the inducer makes it possible to make the turbine smaller due to the inducer and nozzle ring increasing the wind speed by many times. Having the nozzle ring top and bottom parallel to each other it is possible to fit flaps which can govern the speed of the turbine for a varying load. The turbine design whilst giving the best torque to the output shaft due to the leading edge profile, the vanes and the profile of the exit section of the vanes, it also prevents the wind affecting the vanes of the leeward side by changing the direction of the wind. This same principle can be used for the turbine to be used in water to generate power from waves at sea and from ocean/river currents. Heating of the funnel to increase the up draught and fitting a nozzle at the top of the funnel further increases the efficiency when used to generate energy from wind.

Description

OMNIDIRECTIONAL WIND TURBINE FOR POWER GENERATION

DESCRIPTION

This Invention relates to obtain renewable energy from wind and thermal energy from the sun, having only the wind flaps that regulate the air inlet and the turbine as moving parts. In order to make the wind turbine more cost effective and easier to manufacture, the moving parts are kept as small as possible by having a large but stationary inducer and nozzle ring before the rotor.

Airflow blowing from any direction first enters the inducer Fig. 2 (1). Fig.2 is a front elevation and plan view of the wind turbine with the top of the inducer, nozzle ring and turbine taken off. As the cross sectional area of the inlet of the inducer is larger than the exit area air at higher speeds exits the inducer and enters the nozzle ring Fig.2 (2) the radial vanes Fig.2 (3) fitted in the inducer further assist in directing the air flow and making optimal use of the inlet cross sectional area.

The nozzle ring is fitted with flaps Fig.2 (4) to regulate the mass of air to the turbine Fig.2 (5) to govern the speed of the turbine or shut it down. Due to the cross sectional area difference of the inlet and outlet in the nozzle ring there is a further increase in the wind velocity before entering the turbine. Furthermore the vanes of the nozzle ring are so arranged so as to give the optimal attack angle fig.2 (6) for the wind to enter the turbine vane aerodynamically designed leading edge Fig.2 (7) and Fig.4. The turbine Fig.3 is so designed that the wind entering the turbine in a horizontal direction exits in a vertical direction, it is fitted with vanes in a radial direction to prevent the air affecting the vanes on the leeward side of the turbine and also changes the direction of the wind from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction. The vanes at the exit of the turbine are curved inwards Fig.3 (1) so as to give additional torque to the turbine whilst reducing the vertical load on the bearings. The main torque for the turbine (which is transmitted through the drive shaft Fig2. 11) is obtained from the leading aerodynamically designed section and the radial vanes. The air exiting the turbine enters the funnel Fig.2 (10) which is heated by a coil Fig 2 (7) wrapped round it containing thermal oil and the oil is heated by solar energy from the sun being absorbed by the coil round the funnel as well as coils fitted on the top of the stationary inducer and the nozzle ring Fig 2 (8). Due to the air entering the funnel being heated and the funnel length, the up draught is increased reducing the back pressure on the air exiting the turbine. This adds to the efficiency of the turbine.

The top of the funnel is fitted with a wind deflector Fig 2. (9) that assists the wind exiting the funnel. The whole structure is mounted on a retractable tower Fig.1 (1) to facilitate maintenance.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is

1. The inducer which together with the nozzle ring allows the wind from any direction to enter the wind turbine at the optimal angle and at enhanced speeds. The wind turbine with the leading edge of aerodynamic profile and the radial vanes giving maximum torque and subsequently changing the direction from horizontal to vertical direction then adding more torque to the rotor due to profile of the exit section of the vane also reducing the load on the shaft bearing of the power output shaft.

2. The above can also be used for water to generate power from ocean waves and currents.

3. Increasing the efficiency of the turbine by heating the exit funnel and creating a up draught, which reduces the back pressure on the air leaving the turbine.