Patent Application
20130028722
This disclosure relates to a system and method for improving turbine efficiency using a frame and shroud system.
In recent years, demand for power has increased. However, most power generation methods have been inefficient, costly, and bad for the environment. To combat environmental issues, people have looked to clean forms of energy production, including solar and wind. Today, various methods exist for generating power using wind turbines. Typically, turbines were built using a vertical axis rotor shaft. However, often such system produces much less power because the wind turbines are typically located closer to the ground. Additionally, most proposed airborne wind turbine designs involve various types of reciprocating actions, requiring airfoil surfaces to backtrack against the wind for part of the cycle. Backtracking against the wind leads to inherently lower efficiency.
As such it would be useful to have an improved system and method for improving turbine efficiency using a frame and shroud system.
A system and method for improving turbine efficiency using a frame and shroud system is described herein.
In one embodiment, a shroud system can comprise a frame comprising a base and a substantially vertical support structure, said substantially support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein said bottom portions connect to a base. In another embodiment, the shroud system can also comprise an upper wind shroud connected to said top portion of said support structure, wherein said upper wind shroud is angled between thirty degrees and seventy-five degrees, further wherein a front portion of said wind shroud extends higher than a rear portion of said wind shroud.
Finally, in one embodiment, the shroud system can further comprise a frame comprising a base, and a lower wind shroud connected to said frame, wherein said lower wind shroud is substantially vertical.
Described herein is a system and method for improving turbine efficiency using a frame and shroud system. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
Turbine system 103 receives wind in an intake 305 and a blade return orifice 306. At intake 305, blade 304 can be curved. In a preferred embodiment, blade 304 is curved with edges tending toward intake 305, thereby “cupping” the wind as it enters intake 305. In one implementation wind shroud system 100 and turbine system 103 can be used in conjunction with each other, mounted on a prevailing wind edge 102 of structure 101. A one or more drive gears 307 can be mounted on shaft 301. A chain 308 or other similar device known in the art can connect drive gears to a generator. Thus as blades 304 move, shaft 301 rotates, causing generator to turn.
Lower wind shroud 202b can be connected to frame 201 in front of blade return area 306. In such configuration, lower wind shroud 202b can prevent prevailing winds from blowing against blade 304 as it returns. In one embodiment, lower wind shroud 202b can be placed vertically, as shown in
Upper wind shroud 202a can connect to frame 201 above turbine system 103. Upper wind shroud 202a can be positioned with the face of upper shroud 202a fixed at an angle 309 to the oncoming wind. Such configuration can accelerate and direct the wind to blades 304 in their moment of downswing at intake 305. In one embodiment, angle 309 can be between thirty and seventy-five degrees, such that a front portion of upper wind shroud 202a extends higher than a rear portion of upper wind shroud 202a. In another embodiment, angle 309 can be 45 degrees.
Wind shrouds 202 can be comprised of 6061 T-6 aluminum or any other material suitable in the art. Using 6061 T-6 aluminum can increase longevity and function of shroud system 100. Coastal areas have much wind but are often harsh environments. The 6061 T-6 and 7075 have an appropriate strength-to-weight ratio and are also resistant to corrosion. Additionally, this aluminum retains its shape, strength, and smooth surfaces. Such material can offer efficient, smooth, and noise-free operation over time.
Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational systems are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the system is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”
