GB2444334A

GB2444334A - Shrouded wind turbine

Info

Publication number: GB2444334A
Application number: GB0624194A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Christopher Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-02
Filing date: 2006-12-02
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Also published as: GB0624194D0

Abstract

A transverse flow roller wind turbine comprises a bladed rotor 1 and a shroud 6; the blades 5 being exposed to the wind for at least part of their rotation, and being covered by the shroud 6 for at least part of their rotation. The turbine rotor 1 may have a horizontal axis with the blades 5 being exposed to the wind above the shroud 6. The turbine rotor 1 may be located along the apex of a pitched roof which forms the shroud 6. Alternatively the turbine rotor 1 may have a vertical axis and may be combined with a civil feature such as a lighting tower (figure 3). The rotor blades 5 may define a full, partial or double helical shape, and/or they may comprise a number of individual blade portions (22, figure 5). A sail (15, figures 3, 6) may be provided to align the turbine rotor with the direction of the wind.

Description

Shrouded Roller Turbine This roller turbine invention relates to wind

turbines, it is particularly suitable for roof mounted electricity generation.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with the accompanying drawing in which:-Figure 1 shows in perspective isometric the roller turbine I in-situ on a roof 7.

Figure 2 shows a schematic axial section featuring multiple blade 5 elements.

Figure 3 shows in perspective the roller turbine I mounted on a vertical axis 14, by example to form part of a motorway lighting tower.

Figure 4 shows in plan a roller turbine 1 with helical blades 10.

Figure 5 shows in plan a roller turbine I featuring rotating independent multiple side sail 22 blade elements arranged helically 10 or the rolng axis 26.

Figure 6 shows in perspective a rotary wishbone 19 directional control.

Figure 7 shows in perspective a housing structure employing a roller axle 2.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show sectional side elevations through the rolling axis 26, where the building structure employs a roller turbine I as a structural contributor.

In figure 1 there is a multi bladed roller turbine I free rotating on an axle 2 which might sit in or form part of a roof 7, the roller turbine I is axially aligned near or at the apex, such a roller turbine 1 comprises an approximately tubular hub 3 surrounding the axle 2, where the hub 3 has a series of approximately axially aligned curved sheet type blades 5 attached and emanating radially outward from the hub 3, whereby the roller turbine's I topmost blades 5 are externally exposed above a wind shroud 6, this means any wind 4 from the front or rear of the roof 7 or from included angles thereabouts generates a turning force upon the exposed upper blade 5 portion and drives the roller turbine I around the axle 2, as the blade 5 is moved out of direct exposure to the wind 4 the next blade 2lis brought around to be itself driven by the wind.

Alternatively the hub 3 can be mounted on axle tips at each end or feature end point axles which mount into externally anchored bearings, this arrangement allows the central part of the roller turbine I to be hub-less whereby blades 5, vanes 11 et al are joined directly to one another to create a virtual hub 8.

Each blade 5 itself is significantly curved 9 and featured to afford maximum exposure to various wind 4 directions and to maintain a steady and continual -area of blade 5 exposure and input force, this is achieved by several blade 5 features, including a gentle helical 10 shape blade 5 profile transcribed where the blade 5 attaches to the hub 3 or virtual hub 8 and continuing upward within the blade 5 section in order to maintain continually even blade 5 area exposure during rotation. The helical form might involve half, full or multiple helix curvature transcription.

Figure i shows side vane ii protrusions distributed across the front and back of the blade 5 whereby their curved faces project both approximately perpendicularly from the blade 5 face and radially outward from the rolling axis 26 so that each side vane 11 is able to catch angled winds and transmit force to the blade 5 to which it is mounted.

Figure 2 shows that lips 12 finishing each blade 5 and or vane 11 with an extension curved outward ending approximately perpendicularly from the edges to which they are attached, thereby helping to hook passing wind 4 even when the blade 5 or vane 11 has past its most favourable angle against the wind 4.

This roller turbine I and its roof 7 preferred placement is an application of practical philosophy over theoretical engineering efficiency. The turbine I will rarely face directly into the wind 4 and also has a low efficiency wind conversion characteristic. This is however all compensated by the ease of siting and location typically at the apex of house roofing 7 combined with huge blade 5 area exposure. The apex of an angled roof 7 also generates wind 4 gradient multiplication 29 and the axle 2 can be used to contribute to the roof 7 structure, as seen in figure 7, Size, helical 10 blades 5, vanes 11, blade lips 12 means even oblique angled gentle winds 4 still generate significant power. During storms the blade's 5 inherent stalling limits rotation and power output. Most of the cost of a conventional turbine is due to the siting, which is avoided when integrated to house construction. During extreme weather the unit can be braked manually or automatically against movement. The roller is similar in principle to a water wheel in that it uses a power source to drive one side of a roller.

Figure 5 shows an alternative roller turbine I where each blade 5 is represented by a collection of smaller independent side sail 22 blade elements curved or flat which themselves rotate independently or in unison, each upon an their own independent axis 25 emanating approximately radially from the main roller axis 26 allowing swinging or locking in position according to external or automatic control, this enables the side sails 22 to apply optimum roller turning force even during a wind 4 direction oblique to the rolling axis 26 through strategic side sail 22 rotated positioning. The helically aligned collection of side sails 22 resembles the spinal protrusions seen on a stegosaurus.

Figure 6 shows an alternative mounting strategy for the roller turbine 1 is on a rotating wishbone 17. Using these mountings higher power can be extracted in use because the roller turbine 1 is always held facing into the wind 4 by either use of mechanical control or a simple mainsail 15 alignment feature.

The wishbone assembly 29 seen in figure 5 features a; wishbone 17, mainsail 15, shroud 6 and bearing fixation 16, whereby the mainsail 15 naturally holds the wishbone assembly 29 perpendicular to wind 4 direction 4 and the wishbone 17 ends feature either axles or axle holder bearings 16 to allow free rotation of the roller turbine I and where the main central portion 19 of the wishbone 17 is attached to a bearing table 18 permitting rotation on a vertical axis to achieve wind alignment. The wishbone 17 is shown integrated with the wind shroud 6.

The roller turbine 1 itself is typically attached to a gearbox which feeds a generator to create electricity for battery charging, hydrogen extraction, heating or such like, alternatively the roHer turbine may be used to drive pumps or machinery.

In figures; 7,8 and 9 housing and building structures are shown taking advantage of a roof 7 based roller turbine I to improve their structure accordingly by employing a continual axle tube 20 linking roof external or internal walls 23, or using the roller turbine I as a support member during extreme side loads by employing thrust bearings 27 at the axle ends 28.

Figure 2 shows a preferential sectional blade curvature zone 13 to bias wind hooking to one wind direction which can be employed in regions with prevailing winds or on vertical axis 14 installations such as the one in figure 3 when combined with motorway lighting.

A further alternative of roller tip construction is where hinged strips abut the leading edge of the blade, held normally positioned approximately perpendicular to the blade to which they are mounted but can pivot approximately ninety degrees to finish approximately aligned thereby increasing the exposed area of the blade or vane to which they are attached, this occurs during the time of wind exposure where the extra wind force flips them into position, as soon as the wind force is not applied they retract due to an adjustable force typically from an adjustable spring or such like, this keeps blade area high during wind exposure, but rotation diameter small at other times, especially useful on slow moving roller turbines.

Claims

Claims 1. A roller turbine compnsing approximately axially aligned

multiple blades attached and emanating radially outward from the rolling axis, whereby the rolleras topmost blades are externally exposed above a wind shroud, this means any wind from the front or rear or from thereabouts generates a turning force upon the exposed upper blade portion and drives the roller turbine around, as the blade is moved out of direct exposure to the wind the next blade is brought around to be wind driven.
2. A roller turbine according to claim one in which each blade edge is significantly curved in a gently helical shape, part helix or multiple helix, beginning straight or almost straight where the blade attaches to the area of; the roller axis, adjacent blade or hub, and continuing in a continually increasing helix, part or multiple helix radially outward within the blade section in order to maintain even blade area exposure to the wind during rotation.
3. A ro!ler turbine according to claim one where each blade is represented by collection of smaller independent stegosaurus spine type pattern side sail blade elements curved or fiat which themselves rotate upon their own axis emanating approximately radially from the roller axis allowing swinging or locking in position according to external or automatic control, this enables the blade elements to generate optimum roller turning force even dunng a wind direction oblique to the rolling axis through the strategic rotated and fixed positioning of the side sails.
4. A roller turbine according to claim one which features a sectional radial curve bias along each blade thereby more effectively hooking the wind from one side of a static mounting scenario where prevailing winds occur from one direction, or assisting hooking all the time on a wishbone or vertical axis mounting. S.,

S

4. A roller turbine according to claim one where lips finish each blade and or vane with an extension curved outward finishing approximately perpendicularly from the edges to which they are attached thereby helping to hook passing wind even when the blade or vane has past its most favourable angle against the wind.

5. A roller turbine according to claim one where side vanes are distributed across the front and back of the blade whereby their curved faces project a short distance both approximately perpendicularly from the blade 5 face and approximately radially outward from the rolling axis so that each side vane is able to catch oblique winds and transmit force to the blade to which it is mounted, the vanes may even merge to an adjacent blade or vane on a neighbouring blade in order to stabilise the structure.

Claims (Continued) 6. A roller turbine according to claim one where hinged strips abut the leading edge of the blade or vane, held normally positioned approximately perpendicular to the blade or vane to which they are mounted but can pivot approximately ninety degrees to finish approximately aligned thereby increasing the exposed area of the blade or vane to which they are attached, this occurs during the time of wind exposure where the extra wind force flips them into position, as soon as the wind force is not applied they retract due to an externally adjustable force typically from an adjustable spring or such like, this keeps blade area high during wind exposure, but rotation diameter small at other times.

7. A roller turbine according to claim one which is mounted on a rotating wishbone which enables the roller to be held facing into the wind by either use of mechanical control or a mainsail alignment feature, the wishbone ends feature either axles or axle holder bearings to allow free rotation of the roller turbine with the central main portion of the wishbone attached to a bearing table permitting the assembly rotation on a vertical axis to achieve wind alignment in order to maximise roller turbine output.

8. A roller turbine according to claim one typically attached to a gearbox which feeds a generator to create electricity for battery charging, hydrogen extraction, heating or such like, or alternatively the roller turbine may be used to drive pumps or machinery.

9. A roller turbine according to claim one where the adjacent building structures include the roller turbine or it's axle to improve their own structure accordingly by employing a continual axle tube linking roof external or internal walls, or using the roller turbine itself as a support member for side loads and other loadings.

Claims (Continued) 10. A roller turbine according to claim one which is horizontally mounted across the apex of an angled roof, where the position attains increased efficiency by virtue of wind gradient multiplication from the roofing angle.

11. A roller turbine according to claim one which is mounted vertically so that the gearbox and output shaft can be conveniently located on the ground and the wind shroud rotates according to mechanical or mainsail control to allow the roller turbine to always face the available wind.

12. A roller turbine according to claim one which is mounted vertically and combined with an existing or planned civil feature such as; signage, lighting towers, building supports, bridge supports, and where the wind shroud rotates according to mechanical or mainsail control to allow the roller turbine to always face the available wind.

13. A roller turbine according to claim one which features a sectional radial curve bias along each blade thereby more effectively hooking the wind from one side of a static mounting scenario where prevailing winds occur from one direction, or assisting hooking all the time on a wishbone or vertical axis mounting.

AMLNL)MLN I I U I H LLAIM I-IAV LN I-ILW AS WLLUWS Claims 1. A roller turbine comprising approximately axially aligned multiple blades attached and emanathg radially outward from the rolling axis, whereby the rolIers topmost blades are externally exposed above a wind shroud, this means any wind from the front or rear or from thereabouts generates a turning force upon. the exposed upper blade portion and drives the roller turbine around, as the blade is moved out of direct exposure to the wind the next blade is brought around to be wind driven and where each blade edge is significantly curved in a gently helical shape, part helix or multiple helix, beginning straight or almost straight where the blade attaches to the area of; the roller axis, adcent blade or hub, and confinuing in a contirually increasing helix, part or multiple helix radially outward within the blade section In order to maintain even blade area exposure to the wind dunng rotation.

2. A roller turbine according to claim one where lips finish each blade and or vane with an extension curved outward finishing approxImately perpendicularly from the edges to which they are attached thereby helping to hook passing wind even when the blade or vane has past Its most favourable angle against the wind.

3. A roller turbine according to claim one where side vanes are diefributed across the front and back of the blade whereby their curved faces project a short distance both approximately perpendicularly from the blade 5 face and approximately radially outward from the rolling axis so that each side vane Is able to catch oblique winds and transmit force to the blade to which it is mounted, the vanes may even merge to en adjacent blade or vane on a neighbouring blade in order to stabilise the structure. * I.