Wind turbine for installation in buildings

Description of equivalent WO 2014059043 A1

0001WIND TURBINE FOR INSTALLATION IN BUILDINGS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0002[0001 ] This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application serial number 61/71 1 ,687 filed on October 9, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein for ah purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0004[0002] This invention relates to devices that utilize energy from wind to create electrical power.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006[0003] In general a building, preferably a skyscraper, is situated with a face toward the prevailing winds of the area. Within the building is a system for capturing the prevailing winds and converting the prevailing winds into energy for use by the building or for local energy needs. The system is capable of being retrofitted into existing build ias because the elements of the svstern are scalable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0008[0004] For a more compiete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof,, reference is now made to the following descriptions take in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

0009[0005] Figure I is a schematic of the functional elements and process of an embodiment of the invention;

0010[0006] Figure 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention as installed i a building;

0011[0007] Figure 3 is a street view of two buildings, each with a separate embodiment of the invention installed:

0012[0008] Figure 4 is a frontal elevation view of an embodiment of the invention installed in a building; [0009] Figure 5 is a frontal elevation view of an embodiment of the invention installed in. a building: ΟΟΟίΟ] Figure 6 is a side sectional view of a. wind turbine apparatus that may be used in an embodiment of the Invention;

0013[0001 1] Figure 7 is a side elevation view of a wind turbine apparatus that may be used in an embodiment of the in vention;

0014[00012] Figure 8 is a composite of different views of a capturing funnel that may be used in an embodiment of the invention;

0015[00013] Figure 9 is a composite view of different shapes of a capturing funnel that may be used in an embodiment of the invention:

0016[00014] Figure 10 is a composite view of a wind capture device that may be used in an embodiment of the invention;

0017[00015] Figure 1 1 is a composite view of wind speed reducing apparatus that may be used in an embodiment of the invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIO

0019[0010] in general a high-rise buildin 10, preferably a skyscraper, is situated with a face 12 toward the prevailing winds 14 of the area. Within the building 1 i a system 16 for capturing the prevailing winds 14 and converting the prevailing winds 14 into energy for use by the building 1 or for local energy needs. The system 1 is capable of being retrofitted into existing buildings 1.0 because the elements 18 of the system 16 are scalable. Building 10 may be an office building, a residential building, or some mix of both and other uses. Building 10 is not a simple support structure for the power system 16, but is instead powered by the system 16.

0020[001 1] As shown in Figure 1 the system 14 within, the budding 10 will generally comprise a wind-capturing funnel 20 to direct the prevailing winds 14 toward a wind turbine 22 that is connected to a direct current generator 24. The direct current is used for producing hydrogen through electrolysis . As shown in Figure .1 the electricity from the generator 24 is used in an electrolysis unit 26 process to create hydrogen gas 28 that is easy to store in a compressed state and may he then used for heat or to generate electricity on demand. ] Figure 1 further shows thai .multiple funnels 20 may be aligned with multiple corresponding turbines 22 and generators 24, Using multiple sets allows for several advantages, such as using smaller equipment that is easier to fit into a standard building 1.0 floor and that will, be more reactive to relatively lower wind 1.4 velocities. The multiple generators 24 are shown connected to single electrolysis unit 26 so that even if the turbines are barely spinning their combined capacity may still generate hydrogen 28. ft is. possible thai multiple electrolysis units 26 may be employed to better fit a particular building 10. The hydrogen 28 is then compressed by a compressor 30 and stored in a storage unit 32 that may be located on the same floor of the building .10 or may be in a more secure location as needed, ] Figure 2 is a plan view of an embodimen of the invention as installed in a building .10, in this embodiment four funnels .20 are attached to four turbines 22 and four generators 24. The four generators are connected to a single electrolysis unit 26. All of these elements 18 of the .system. 1.6 are loca ted on a single floor of a building 1.0 with the funnels 20 positioned on the face 12 that faces the prevailing winds 14. ] Figure 3 is a street view of two buildings 10. One building has a single row of funnels 20 visible on its face 12 while the second building has two rows of funnels 20 visible on its face 12. A primary advantage of having a scalable system 16 is that additional wind-capture funnels 20 and accompanying elements 18 ma be added as needed. Upon assembly, the elements 18 may be attached to a rotating platform (not shown) or directly to the structural foundation. A rotating platform may allow for the funnels to move within the buildina to better align with winds .14 that are at an anale to the face 12 of building 10. Figure 4 is a frontal elevation view of an embodiment of the .invention installed in a building 10. From this view the funnel 20 is clearly seen with the generator 24 sticking out from behind.. This view show a building 10 that has high ceilings where the funnel 20 is installed and the funnel 20 is sized accordingly. Additional funnels 20 may be added alongside the funnel 20 shown, Figure 5 is a frontal elevation view of an embodiment of the invention installed in a building 10. This view shows an installation of two rows of funnels 20 and their accompanying elements 18 as described above. The building 10 has standard height ceilings and the funnels 10 are sized accordingly.

0021J [0017] Figure 6 is a side sectional view of a wind turbine apparatus that may be used in. an embodiment of the invention. T his system 16 comprises of a funnel 20 a generator 22 and a reducer 42 ail positioned within a building 10. Figure 7 is a side elevation view of a wind turbine appara tus that may be used in an embodiment of the invention having the same basic elements as Figure 6.

0022[0018] Wind enters the system 16 through a wind-capturing_, funnel 20. The wind- capturing tunnel. 20 comprises a large tunnel, like shape preferably shaped following which has a wider opening on the intake side and a narrower ripening on an output side. The relationship between the intake side and the output side of a fluid and the curvature of the wind capturing funnel 20 permit air to flo w with the least possible resistance and at the highest speed, possible. The funnel like shape ma be adjusted to achieve the optimum wind capture and wind exit speed based on environmental conditions, weather, most prevalent wind speeds and size restrictions, thus the funnel may be shorter, wider, narrower, longer or in any shape, as shown, in Figure 9.

0023[0019] In some embodiments, the wind capturing tunnel 20 may be a single unit or be composed of several pieces for ease of transportation and installation on existing or new high-rise buildings 10 or skyscrapers. The wind capturing funnel 20 intake side may also have thin wires arranged across so as to prevent birds from damaging the apparatus. As wind, gusts can be unpredictable, the wind capturing funnel may have, on an outer surface, small windows with flaps that open and close as a function of the wind speed, thus allowing the air flow at the output, side to be more stable as shown in Figure 8. The intake side may also be partially closed with gates to reduce wind intake whe speeds exceed the maximum preferred velocity as it would be in the case of hurricanes, tornados, or other inclement weather. The wind-capturing funnel may be constructed of a variety of materials from thick fiberglass to metals such as aluminum, steel or copper using known methods depending on. site of installations taking into consideration environmental conditions such as salt .in the air prevailing in coastal locations. After the wind leaves the funnel 20 side it enters the turbine 22.

0024[0020] in one embodiment the turbine 22 is comprised of a windfiow cavity 34, a series of cups 36 and a converter wheel 38, as more clearly shown in Figure 10. As the wind enters through the wind-capturing funnel 20 it enters a windfiow cavity 34, The windfiow cavity 34 directs the wind into contact, with a series of cups 36 attached to a converter wheel 38 that rotates along its horizontal axis perpendicular to the air flow. This converter wheel 38 is similar to a Pelton wheel used to produce kinetic energy from water flow. As the wind contacts a cup 36, the cup 36 moves along the direction of the spinning converter wheel 3 and fully covers the wind flow cavity 34. Once the cup 36 rotates sufficiently, the wind continues out of the windtlo cavity 34. As each cup 36 moves, another cup 36 takes the place of the first cup thus causing the converter wheel. 38 to spin rapidly converting the wind power into mechanical energy. The converter wheel 38 rotates enclosed in an air-tight cavity 34, which forces the wind to flow out at the point of least resistance. Each cup may also have electromagnets on the tips, such that the electromagnets are slanted towards the direction of rotation of the converter wheel and parallel to electromagnets of the same current and slant placed along the central portion of the converter wheel cavity and directly across each other. The electromagnets of the wheel cups and those on the converter wheel cavity do not touch: rather they repel each other further accelerating the rotation of the converter wheel. 002Ί ] The converter wheel 38 is supported by a drive rod 40. The drive rod 40 extends further than the wind flow cavity 34 itself and it is used to drive direct current generators 22 connected to the drive rod 40 either directly, or through gears or pulleys. The drive rod 40 drives at least on direct current generator that may be one that improves rotation by the use of supplemental magnets and decrease friction substantially producing higher levels of electricity with the least torque. These types of direct current generators are preferred and their operation is well known in the art.

0025[0022] As wind 14 direction is unpredictable, a rotating platform (not shown) may be connected directly to the building 10. ^'The rotating platform will permit the wind capturing funnel to rotate and face the maximum wind current. The rotation of the rotating platform will be driven by the power created by the generator. The alignment of rotating platform may be determined by a weather vane that follows wind direction as is located on top of the building.

0026[0023 j A reducer 42, as shown in more detail in Figure 1 1 , may be installed where the wind 14 exits the windilow cavity 34. The purpose of reducer 42 is to gradually reduce air speed and dampen any sound, such as whistling, that may be produced. The reducer 42 may be composed by a series of funnel like elements attached to a central support member. The spacing between the windflow cavity exit funnel-like elements may vary according to the wind at the windflow cavity exit. Each fin.vnei-like element will deflect concentrated wind dispersing it, thus reducing the wind speed,

0027[0024] The electrical generators 24 are driven by the turbines 22. The electrical generators are configured to produce a direct current that are used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis in the electrolysis unit 26. An advantage of the electrolysis process is that it is very scalable by its nature and will produce usable amounts of hydrogen at lower wind speeds over time, where as charging batteries may require a higher minimum wind speed. Alternators may also be used to generate alternating current for end use.

0028[0025] t should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.