Active aerodynamics mitigation and power production system for buildings and other structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9951752-B2
Application number	US-201514725055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	May 29, 2014
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

The current invention provides apparatuses and methods for protecting buildings/structures from wind damage and simultaneously harvesting energy from wind. The apparatuses of the current invention comprise horizontal axial wind turbines integrated to the roof-edge of the buildings/structures in an aerodynamically conducive and structurally viable configuration to reduce roof suction. The apparatuses of the current invention can further comprise aerodynamic roof gutter and structural supports/connections to alleviate wind-induced suction (negative pressures) on building roofs generated by separated flows and vortices. The apparatuses of the current invention can also comprise vertical axial wind turbines integrated to the wall-edge of the structures/buildings in an aerodynamically conducive and structurally viable configuration to reduce wind induced wall suction generated by separated flows and vortices.

First claim

We claim:

1. An aerodynamics mitigation system comprising:
at least one turbine, adapted to attach to a structure, comprising,
a shaft having a first end and a second end, where the shaft is maintained parallel with a wind edge of the structure;
a connecting system that rotatable attaches the first end and the second end of the shaft to the structure;
at least one helical blade attached to the shaft by at least one support, such that there is a channel between the helical blade and the shaft, the helical blade being rotatable with the shaft and positioned at or in proximity to the wind edge, to reduce wind-induced suction on the structure by disrupting
wind flow across the wind edge, thereby alleviating the formation of at least one of a separation zone and conical vortice.

2. The system, according to claim 1 , comprising at least two turbines wherein the blades on the at least two turbines are aligned to form a continuous helical blade around the shafts of the at least two turbines.

3. The system, according to claim 1 , further comprising a support frame, wherein the support frame is incorporated into a gutter system on the structure and the connecting system is incorporated with the support frame.

4. The system, according to claim 1 , further comprising an energy generating and storage system operably connected to the shaft.

5. The system, according to claim 4 , wherein the energy generating and storage system utilizes the rotation of the shaft to produce electrical energy.

6. The system, according to claim 4 , wherein the energy generated is stored in one or more batteries.

7. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade is removably attached to the shaft.

8. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein rotation of the turbine alleviates, by aerodynamic mitigation of wind, at least one of a separation zone and conical vortice, thereby reducing wind load on at least one of a horizontal and vertical surface of the structure.

9. The system, according to claim 8 , further comprising a shield that at least partially covers the blade to inhibit contact with the blade.

10. The system, according to claim 9 , wherein the shield comprises a screen apparatus that at least partially surrounds the at least one blade and allows wind to pass therethrough.

11. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein the pitch of the at least one helical blade is approximately 90° , relative to the shaft.

12. The system, according to claim 11 , wherein the pitch of the at least one helical blade creates a 30° gap between the at least one helical blade and at least one other helical blade on the shaft.

13. A method for aerodynamically mitigating wind effects on the surface of a structure by utilizing a blade system comprising:
at least one turbine, wherein each turbine comprises,
a shaft having a first end and a second end,
at least one helical blade attached to the shaft,
a connecting system for attaching the shaft to a structure, such that the at least one turbine is maintained parallel with a wind edge of the structure with the at least one blade at or in proximity to the wind edge and is rotated by wind that is incident on the wind edge of the structure;

wherein the method comprises;
affixing the connecting system to the structure;
attaching the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft of the at least one turbine to the connecting system, so that the shaft is maintained parallel with the wind edge and the at least one blade is at the wind edge of the structure; and
allowing the at least one blade to rotate relative to the connecting system to disrupt the wind across the wind edge and alleviate at least one of a separation zone and conical vortice, whereby wind-induced suction is reduced on vertical or horizontal surfaces of the structure.

14. An aerodynamics mitigation system comprising:
at least one turbine comprising,
a shaft having a first end and a second end, where the shaft is maintained parallel with a wind edge of a structure;
at least one helical blade, with an axis configured around the shaft that is rotated by wind that is incident on the structure;
at least one support that attaches the helical blade to the shalt, such that there is a channel between the blade and the shaft; and
a connecting system comprising at least two brackets adapted to attach the first end and the second end of the shaft to the structure so that the at least one helical blade is at or in proximity to the wind edge, whereby the position and rotation of the at least one helical blade causes a disruption in a wind stream across the wind edge, to alleviate at least one of a separation zone and a conical vortice on a surface of the structure.

Assignees

• Gan Chowdhury Arindam
• Tremante Andres
• The Florida International Univ Board Of Trustees

Inventors

• Gan Chowdhury Arindam
• Tremante Andres

Classifications

• F03D9/25 Primary

  the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title

• F03D3/002

  the axis being horizontal · CPC title

• F03D13/20

  Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors · CPC title

• Y02B10/30

  Wind power · CPC title