Internal mounted cylindrical turbine for electricity generation using exterior flush and scoop intakes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443570-B2
Application number	US-201615047324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2016
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A method and system for generating electrical energy from wind are described. In an example, a method includes capturing wind in an intake on an exterior surface of a structure. The method also includes directing, via a duct, the wind from the intake to a centrifugal fan and, while directing the wind from the intake to the centrifugal fan, compressing and accelerating the wind in the duct. The method further includes receiving, in the centrifugal fan, the wind from the duct and rotating, via the received wind, a fan blade assembly in the centrifugal fan. The method still further includes generating electrical energy, via a generator, based on the rotation of the fan blade assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for generating electrical energy from wind, comprising:
capturing wind in an intake on an exterior surface of a structure;
directing, via a duct, the wind from the intake to a centrifugal fan, wherein the duct tapers inwardly along a length of the duct and in a direction from the intake to the centrifugal fan to compress and accelerate the wind, wherein the duct includes a straight duct run, without turning, between the intake and the centrifugal fan;
while directing the wind from the intake to the centrifugal fan, compressing and accelerating the wind in the duct;
receiving, in the centrifugal fan, the wind from the duct;
rotating, via the received wind, a fan blade assembly in the centrifugal fan;
generating electrical energy, via a generator, based on the rotation of the fan blade assembly; and
exhausting the wind from the centrifugal fan in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the wind is received in the centrifugal fan,
wherein the centrifugal fan is located in an interior space of the structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the wind in the intake comprises receiving the wind into a recessed opening in the exterior surface of the structure, and wherein the intake is flush with the exterior surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the wind in the intake comprises capturing the wind in a scoop protruding from the exterior surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface is a lateral surface of the structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duct tapers continuously along an entire distance of the duct from the intake to the centrifugal fan.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising directing the wind exhausted from the centrifugal fan into a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to assist air flow in the HVAC system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, via an energy storage device, the generated electrical energy.

8. A system for generating electrical energy from a wind load on a structure, comprising:
an intake, on an exterior surface of a structure, configured to capture wind on the exterior surface;
a duct coupled to the intake at a first end of the duct and configured to direct the wind from the first end to a second end of the duct, wherein the duct is configured to compress and accelerate the wind directed from the first end to the second end, wherein the duct tapers inwardly along a length of the duct and in a direction from the first end to the second end to compress and accelerate the wind, wherein the duct includes a straight duct run, without turning, between the intake and the centrifugal fan;
a centrifugal fan coupled to the second end of the duct for receiving the wind from the duct, the centrifugal fan including a fan blade assembly configured to rotate responsive to the wind received from the duct;
an exhaust duct coupled to an outlet of the centrifugal fan and configured to exhaust wind from the centrifugal fan, wherein the second end of the duct is coupled to an inlet of the centrifugal fan, wherein the inlet is perpendicular to the outlet; and
a generator configured to generate electrical energy based on the rotation of the fan blade assembly,
wherein the centrifugal fan is located in an interior space of the structure.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an energy storage device configured to store the electrical energy generated by generator.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the duct tapers continuously along an entire distance of the duct from the intake to the centrifugal fan.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intake is flush with the exterior surface of the structure.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intake further comprises a scoop protruding from the exterior surface.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the fan blade assembly comprises a plurality of fan blades, and each of the plurality of fan blades curves against a direction of rotation of the fan blade assembly.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the outlet is coaxial with an axis of rotation of the fan blade assembly.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the exterior surface is a lateral surface of the structure.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the intake has an elongated shape,
wherein the intake is oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the structure,
wherein the intake is at a corner of the structure, and
wherein the intake is configured to capture the wind, which traverses along the lateral surface toward the corner of the structure.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intake is located at a corner of the structure.

18. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intake comprises a plurality of intakes and the exterior surface comprises a plurality of exterior surfaces such that the wind is captured at a plurality of locations on the structure.

19. The system of claim 8 , wherein the duct consists of the straight duct run, without turning, between the intake and the centrifugal fan.

20. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system coupled to the exhaust duct to receive the wind exhausted from the centrifugal fan and assist air flow in the HVAC system.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Coffman Mathew A

Classifications

• F05B2210/403

  Radial inlet and axial outlet · CPC title

• F03D9/45

  Building formations · CPC title

• F03D9/34

  on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures · CPC title

• F05B2240/13

  to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines · CPC title

• F03D9/11 Primary

  storing electrical energy · CPC title