Aerovortex mill 2

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of Wind Turbines for power generation. It seeks to provide those areas with low winds, a pioneering way to harness efficiently the energy of the wind. In order to achieve this, it makes use of a pressure differential device given the name: VIASAD/JETIASAD. The VIASAD/JETIASAD device compresses and accelerates the Wind or Underwater current inflow (Primary Flow) and generates high-speed jet streams and vortices. The combined result of the generated high-speed jet streams and vortices is the creation of a suction flow (Secondary Flow) which can be used in the following two ways: (1) Drive the secondary air flow through a fan or impeller and (2) Laminar Flow Control (LFC/HLFC) and/or Suppress Adverse Pressure Gradients on the blades of existing wind turbines.

1 . VIASAD: Vortex Induced Air Speed Amplification Device. VIASAD is a pressure differential mechanism or device which makes use of the wind or underwater currents and generates a system or pattern of air/water vortices, of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION. The generated air/water vortices induce a suction effect. It consists of the following parts: 
 (1) Contraction or Converging nozzle.    The purpose of this part is to accelerate the incoming air flow from the wind by contracting or compressing it. The intake of the contraction is facing the wind. The ratio of the Intake to the Exhaust Area (Ain/Aout) is optimized to achieve maximum acceleration of air inflow. The contracting walls can take various shapes and they are not limited to only one shape ( FIG. 13D /E). The goal here is to minimize friction losses and keep boundary layer as thin as possible.    The contraction of the nozzle walls can take different forms:    It might be 1-D along the direction of the incoming flow, either on the vertical plane or on the horizontal plane. It might also be 2-D and thus the contraction takes place on both the horizontal and vertical planes. Or the contraction can be multi-D like for example the case of a venturi tube where the contraction takes place on multiple planes along the direction of the wind. The Converging nozzles facing the wind can be set to operate either Horizontally or Vertically.    (2) Vortex Generators.    The purpose of this part is to generate a system or pattern of air vortices of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION. The geometrical shape of the vortex generators can take ANY FORM to maximize its performance for their intended purpose.    ALL different types of vortex generators can be used. Some of the options are the following:    Fences or walls or grooves or extrusions or lifting bodies placed at different angles of attack to the air flow. They can be located inside the converging nozzle, but they can also extend outside from both the inlet and outlet of the nozzle.    (3) Vortex Lateral Expansion Chamber/Area.    The purpose of this part is to allow the lateral expansion of the generated vortices in a controllable way. It is basically a closed area which gives space to the generated vortices to expand laterally as they propagate towards the exhaust nozzle of the VIASAD device.    (4) Vortex Lateral Contraction Mechanism—Low Pressure Region    The purpose of this part is to accelerate the vortical flow by laterally contracting the generated vortices (On a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation). It can be either of variable geometry or fixed geometry. It can take many different forms. Two options are the following: Moving flaps or converging nozzles.    (5) Air Suction Tube/Channel.    The purpose of this part is to efficiently guide the air inflow induced by suction into the low pressure region of the VIASAD device. This region is where the generated vortices along with the high-speed jet stream are compressed and thus inducing the suction effect. The Air Suction Tube communicates with the low pressure region via a system of holes and/or vanes. Location: These vanes sit on the walls of the Vortex Lateral Contraction Mechanism or the walls of the low pressure region. This region is between the converging nozzle and the diffusion nozzle.    (6) Diffusion or Exhaust Nozzle.    The purpose of this part is to allow for the gradual expansion of the accelerated flow (jet stream and vortices) and hence minimize pressure losses for the generated suction.    The operation of the VIASAD device is characterized by two types of flows:    (1) Primary Flow. It can be either Air/Wind Flow or water/Underwater Current Flow.    (2) Secondary Flow. It is the Air Flow induced by suction generated in the Primary Flow.    Primary Flow    The Primary Flow consists of the following multiple stages:    Stage 1: Use of a contraction or a converging nozzle in order to accelerate the incoming wind/water flow.    Stage 2: Produce a pattern of high-speed vortices by the use of vortex generators. The air/water flow accelerated in stage 1 is guided past vortex generators.    Stage 3: Allow the generated vortices to expand laterally.    Stage 4: Generate suction by restricting the flow path of the generated high-speed vortices.    Stage 5: Diffusion or expansion of the accelerated air/water flow and the generated vortices through a diverging nozzle.    Secondary Flow    It can only exist in tandem with the Primary Flow. It is the result of suction produced by the Primary Flow.    It constitutes the useful energy output of the VIASAD device which can be used in the following ways: 
 (1) Directly drive an Air Turbine. The Air Turbine is basically a Fan or an Impeller, preferably enclosed in a casing in order to efficiently harness the energy content of the Secondary Air Flow. A single VIASAD device can be used to drive the flow in multiple air turbines or just a single air turbine. (FIGS.  4 A/B/C,  5 A/B/C/D/E,  6 ,  7 ,  8 )  
 (2) Enhance the performance of Wind Turbines/Wind Mills.  
   This is achieved by using the Secondary Flow to suppress or smooth the Adverse Pressure Gradients or drive Active/Laminar Flow Control or Hybrid Laminar Flow Control on the low-pressure surface of the airfoil blades or the lift-generating wing devices used by Wind Turbines. Basically, slow-moving air is sucked in through holes and inlets along or close to the trailing edge of the wing. A single VIASAD device can be used to support simultaneously multiple wind turbines or it can be fitted to a single wind turbine. ( FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13 ,  14 A/B,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 )    
     
     
         2 . An Air Turbine with a fan or an impeller or a rotor of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION (Axial or Centrifugal) which is enclosed in a casing and it is primarily driven by Air Flow Suction induced by the use of the mechanism claimed in  claim 1:   VIASAD: Vortex Induced Air Speed Amplification Device.    The Air Turbine/Mill consists of the following parts: 
 (1) VIASAD Device. 
 The purpose of this part is to generate a suction effect which drives the air through a casing or housing enclosing the wind mill fan.  
 
 (2) Fan Casing or Housing. 
 This part encloses or covers the fan of the wind mill/turbine. The purpose of this part is to efficiently guide the incoming air flow through the blades of the wind mill/turbine fan and ultimately release the air through discharge tubes into the Air Suction Tubes of the VIASAD device.  
 
 (3) Rotor or Fan or Impeller. 
 This part can be of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION with ANY number of blades which will best serve its intended purpose by maximizing its output performance. Its output performance is measured as the ratio of the output power delivered through a shaft to the input power content of the incoming airflow (Primary Flow).  
 Two options for the type of the fan used are the following: Axial or Centrifugal.  
 
 (4) Rotor Shaft. 
 This part is used to deliver the output power developed by the wind mill rotor to an outside power consuming device or a generator.  
 
 (5) Rotor Air Flow Exhaust Tubes (FIGS.  4 B/C,  5 B/C/D/E). 
 They are used for guiding the air outflow from the rotor casing into the Air Suction Tubes of the VIASAD device.  
 
 (6) Rotor Casing Exhaust Outlets (FIGS.  4 B/C,  5 B/C/D/E). 
 They constitute air flow communication gateways between the rotor casing and the exhaust tubes.  
 
 (7) Wind Mill Yaw Control Mechanism. 
 A mechanism used for directing the intakes of the converging nozzles of the VIASAD device as well as the intake of the rotor casing towards the wind.  
 
 (8) Wind Mill Tower. 
 This a structure that supports the whole wind mill at a certain height above the ground at the site where it is installed.  
 
   The functionality of the proposed wind turbine, unlike any existing conventional technology, is based on the following main principles:    Principle 1: Accelerate the incoming wind/water flow (Primary Flow).    Principle 2: Generate high-speed air/water vortices.    Principle 3: Give rise to a suction effect as a result of the generated pattern of high-speed air/waterjet streams along with high-speed air/water vortices.    Principle 4: Make use of the low pressure suction effect to induce or drive an artificially generated high-speed air flow (Secondary Flow) through the blades of the wind mill rotor or fan. The air flow through the rotor blades has a lot higher concentration of power per unit volume than the wind.    In summary, this claim states that the wind mill/turbine is using the VIASAD device to compress the energy content of the incoming wind or underwater current (Primary Flow), in order to induce by suction an air flow (Secondary Flow) with highly concentrated energy content which is ultimately used to efficiently drive the wind mill/turbine rotor.    
     
     
         3 . VIASAD—APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of a VIASAD device claimed in  claim 1 , a system of air suction pipes/ducts or channels and a suction porous area on the surface of the wings or wind turbine rotor blades. The suction generated by the VIASAD device is used for Laminar Flow Control (LFC) or Hybrid LFC (HLFC) and/or to suppress adverse pressure gradients of the flow close to the surface of wings or rotor blades or other lifting surfaces used by Wind/Air/Underwater Turbines. The slow-moving air in the boundary layer close to the surface of the wings/blades is sucked through different types of porous openings that lead to air pipes or ducts which are eventually connected to the low-pressure region of the VIASAD device.    These porous openings can have any type of shape and configuration and they can be arranged in any type of pattern that will serve their purpose best. They can also be placed at any chord length from the leading edge of the blade/wing or of a wind turbine. This claim is characterized by higher lift coefficients, enhanced lift over a wider range of angles of attack, delayed stall and reduced drag coefficients of the wings/blades. Generally, higher Lift to Drag ratio (L/D) is achieved. This is a direct consequence of the suction of slow-moving air which suppresses the adverse pressure gradients close to the low pressure surface of the wings/blades.    
     
     
         4 . VIASAD—Variant 1 Wind Turbine Blade APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the VIASAD device claimed in  claim 1  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 3 . It is characterized by a system of holes arranged on the surface of a Wind Turbine blade. A VIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of holes. The holes can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they can be arranged in ANY type of PATTERN along the span and on the low pressure surface of each blade. The width of this pattern of holes along the chord of each turbine blade, can be as large as required in order to maximize its performance. The suction air flow-rate can vary by adjusting the number of holes that are open at any time or by restricting the air flow through the suction channels or otherwise.    
     
     
         5 . VIASAD—Variant 2 Wind Turbine Blade APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the VIASAD device claimed in  claim 1  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 3 . It is characterized by a single inlet or a system of multiple inlets serially arranged along the span of each Wind Turbine blade. A VIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through these inlets. The inlets can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they are placed along the span on the low pressure surface of the blade, and at any chord length needed from the leading edge. The inlets can be of variable geometry: the cross-sectional area exposed to the incoming flow is variable. Also the inlets can be arranged in ANY type of pattern which will maximize the performance of the device.    
     
     
         6 . VIASAD—Variant 3 Oscillating Wing APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the VIASAD device claimed in  claim 1  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 3 . It is characterized by a system of holes arranged along the span of an oscillating wing on both its top and bottom surfaces. The position of the holes is at any chord length required from the leading edge of the oscillating wing. The holes on each surface (bottom/top) open intermittently to allow the suction of slow-moving air based on the direction of movement of the oscillating wing: 
 (1) Oscillating wing moving Up: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the top surface of the wing. Holes on the top surface open up and those on the bottom surface are closed.  
 (2) Oscillating wing moving Down: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the bottom surface of the wing. Holes on the bottom surface open up and those on the top surface are closed.  
   A VIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of holes. The holes can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they can be arranged in ANY type of PATTERN along the span of the oscillating wing. The width of this pattern of holes as measured along the chord of the wing, can have ANY value that maximizes its performance. The suction air flow-rate can vary by adjusting the number of holes that are open at any time or by restricting the air flow through the suction channels.    
     
     
         7 . VIASAD—Variant 4 Oscillating Wing APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the VIASAD device claimed in  claim 1  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 3 . It is characterized by a single inlet or a system of multiple inlets serially arranged along the span of an oscillating wing on both its top and bottom surfaces. The inlets on each surface (bottom/top) open intermittently to allow the suction of slow-moving air based on the direction of movement of the oscillating wing: 
 (1) Oscillating wing moving Up: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the top surface of the wing. Inlets on the top surface open up and those on the bottom surface are closed.  
 (2) Oscillating wing moving Down: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the bottom surface of the wing. Inlets on the bottom surface open up and those on the top surface are closed.  
   A VIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of inlets. The inlets can be of variable geometry: the cross-sectional area exposed to the incoming flow is variable. Also the inlets can be arranged in ANY type of pattern which will maximize the performance of the device.    
     
     
         8 . JETIASAD: Jet stream Induced Air Speed Amplification Device. 
 JETIASAD is a pressure differential mechanism or device which makes use of the wind or underwater currents and generates a single high-speed air/water jet stream or a pattern of multiple high speed air/water jet streams, of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION. The generated high-speed air/water jet streams induce a suction effect.    JETIASAD is very similar to VIASAD in that it accelerates incoming wind/water flow, but it is a lot simpler with no vortex generators.    It consists of the following parts: 
 (1) Contraction or Converging Nozzle. 
 The purpose of this part is to accelerate the incoming air flow from the wind by contracting or compressing it. The intake of the contraction is facing the wind. The intake can take many forms or shapes with different combinations of Intake to Exhaust Area ratios, different wall shapes and set to operate in different modes (e.g. Horizontally or Vertically).  
 
 (2) Low Pressure Region. 
 The purpose of this part is to maintain high-speed air flow before the final discharge of the compressed wind through the diffusion nozzle. The compressed high-speed air creates a low pressure region which gives rise to a suction effect, ultimately driving the air inflow through the Air Suction Tube.  
 
 (3) Air Suction Tube/Channel. 
 The purpose of this part is to efficiently guide the air inflow induced by suction into the low pressure region of the JETIASAD device. This region is where the high-speed jet streams of compressed incoming wind flow are generated and thus inducing the suction effect. The Air Suction Tube communicates with the low pressure region via a system of holes and/or vanes.  
 Location: These vanes sit on the walls of the low pressure region. This region is between the converging nozzle and the diffusion nozzle.  
 
 (4) Diffusion or Exhaust Nozzle. 
 The purpose of this part is to allow for the gradual expansion of the accelerated jet stream and hence minimize pressure losses for the generated suction.  
 
   The operation of the JETIASAD device is characterized by two types of flows: 
 1. Primary Flow. It can be either Air/Wind Flow or water/Underwater Current Flow.  
 2. Secondary Flow. It is the Air Flow induced by suction generated in the Primary Flow.  
   Primary Flow    The Primary Flow consists of the following multiple stages:    Stage 1: Use of a contraction or a converging nozzle in order to accelerate the incoming wind flow.    Stage 2: Maintain a low pressure region by restricting the flow path of the generated high-speed jet-streams and thus give rise to a suction effect.    Stage 3: Diffusion or expansion of the accelerated air flow through a diverging nozzle.    Secondary Flow    It can only exist in tandem with the Primary Flow. It is the result of suction produced by the Primary Flow. It constitutes the useful energy output of the JETIASAD device which can be used in the following ways: 
 (1) Directly drive a Wind Turbine. The Wind Turbine can be either a Fan or an Impeller, preferably enclosed in a casing in order to efficiently harness the energy content of the Secondary Air Flow. A single JETIASAD device can be used to drive the flow in multiple air turbines or just a single air turbine. (FIGS.  4 A/B/C,  5 A/B/C/D/E,  6 ,  7 ,  8 )  
 (2) Enhance the performance of Wind Turbines/Wind Mills. 
 This is achieved by using the Secondary Flow to suppress or smooth the Adverse Pressure Gradients close to the trailing edge of the airfoil blades or the lift-generating wing devices used by Wind Turbines. Basically, slow-moving air is sucked in through holes and inlets along or close to the trailing edge of the wing. A single JETIASAD device can be used to support simultaneously multiple wind turbines or it can be fitted to a single wind turbine. ( FIGS. 11, 12 ,  13 ,  14 A/B,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ).  
 
   
     
     
         9 . An Air Turbine with a fan or an impeller or a rotor of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION (Axial or Centrifugal) which is enclosed in a casing and it is primarily driven by Air Flow Suction induced by the use of the following mechanism: 
 JETIASAD: Jet stream Induced Air Speed Amplification Device.    JETIASAD is claimed in  claim 8 .    The Air Turbine consists of the following main parts: 
 (1) JETIASAD Device. 
 The purpose of this part is to generate a suction effect which drives the air through a casing or housing enclosing the air turbine fan.  
 
 (2) Fan Casing or Housing. 
 This part encloses or covers the fan of the air turbine. The purpose of this part is to efficiently guide the incoming air flow through the blades of the turbine fan and ultimately release the air through discharge tubes into the Air Suction Tubes of the JETIASAD device.  
 
 (3) Rotor or Fan or Impeller. 
 This part can be of ANY TYPE or CONFIGURATION with ANY number of blades which will best serve its intended purpose by maximizing its output performance. Its output performance is measured as the ratio of the output power delivered through a shaft to the input power content of the incoming airflow (Primary Flow). Two options for the type of the fan used are the following: Axial or Centrifugal.  
 
 (4) Rotor Shaft. 
 This part is used to deliver the output power developed by the turbine rotor to an outside power-consuming device or a generator.  
 
 (5) Rotor Air Flow Exhaust Tubes (FIGS.  4 B/C,  5 B/C/D/E). 
 They are used for guiding the air outflow from the rotor casing into the Air Suction Tubes of the JETIASAD device.  
 
 (6) Rotor Casing Exhaust Outlets (FIGS.  4 B/C,  5 B/C/D/E). 
 They constitute air flow communication gateways between the rotor casing and the exhaust tubes.  
 
   The functionality of the proposed air turbine, unlike any existing conventional technology, is based on the following main principles:    Principle 1: Accelerate the incoming wind/water flow (Primary Flow).    Principle 2: Generate high-speed air/water jet streams.    Principle 3: Give rise to a suction effect as a result of the generated pattern of high-speed air/water jet streams.    Principle 4: Make use of the low pressure suction effect to induce or drive an artificially generated high-speed air flow (Secondary Flow) through the blades of the air turbine rotor or fan. The air flow through the rotor blades has a lot higher concentration of power per unit volume than the wind.    In summary, this claim states that the wind/air turbine is using the JETIASAD device to compress the energy content of the incoming wind/underwater current (Primary Flow), in order to induce by suction an air flow (Secondary Flow) with highly concentrated energy content which is ultimately used to efficiently drive the wind mill rotor.    
     
     
         10 . JETIASAD—APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of a JETIASAD device claimed in  claim 8  and a system of air pipes/ducts along with inlets and outlets. The suction generated by the JETIASAD device is used for Laminar Flow Control (LFC) or Hybrid LFC (HLFC) and/or to suppress adverse pressure gradients of the flow close to the surface of wings or rotor blades or other lifting surfaces used by Wind/Air/Underwater Turbines. The slow-moving air in the boundary layer close to the surface of the wings/blades is sucked through different types of porous openings that lead to air pipes or ducts which are eventually connected to the low-pressure region of the JETIASAD device. These openings can have any type of shape and configuration and they can be arranged in any type of pattern that will serve their purpose best. They can also be placed at any chord length from the leading edge of the blade/wing or lift-generating surface of a wind turbine. This claim is characterized by higher lift coefficients, enhanced lift over a wider range of angles of attack, delayed stall and reduced drag coefficients of the wings/blades. Generally, higher Lift to Drag ratio (L/D) is achieved. This is a direct consequence of the suction of slow-moving air which suppresses the adverse pressure gradients close to the surface of the wings/blades.    
     
     
         11 . JETIASAD—Variant 1 Wind Turbine APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the JETIASAD device claimed in  claim 8  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 10 . It is characterized by a system of holes arranged on the surface of each Wind Turbine blade. A JETIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of holes. The holes can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they can be arranged in ANY type of PATTERN along the span and on the low pressure surface of each blade. The width of this pattern of holes along the chord of each turbine blade, can be as large as required in order to maximize its performance. The suction air flow-rate can vary by adjusting the number of holes that are open at any time or by restricting the air flow through the suction channels or otherwise.    
     
     
         12 . JETIASAD—Variant 2 Wind Turbine APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the JETIASAD device claimed in  claim 8  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 10 . It is characterized by a single inlet or a system of multiple inlets serially arranged along the span of each Wind Turbine blade. A JETIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through these inlets. The inlets can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they are placed along the span on the low pressure surface of the blade, and at any chord length needed from the leading edge. The inlets can be of variable geometry: the cross-sectional area exposed to the incoming flow is variable. Also the inlets can be arranged in ANY type of pattern which will maximize the performance of the device.    
     
     
         13 . JETIASAD—Variant 3 Oscillating Wing APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the JETIASAD device claimed in  claim 8  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 10 . It is characterized by a system of holes arranged along the span of an oscillating wing on both its top and bottom surfaces. The position of the holes is at any chord length required from the leading edge of the oscillating wing. The holes on each surface (bottom/top) open intermittently to allow the suction of slow-moving air based on the direction of movement of the oscillating wing: 
 (1) Oscillating wing moving Up: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the top surface of the wing. Holes on the top surface open up and those on the bottom surface are closed.  
 (2) Oscillating wing moving Down: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the bottom surface of the wing. Holes on the bottom surface open up and those on the top surface are closed.  
   A JETIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of holes. The holes can have ANY type of SHAPE, and they can be arranged in ANY type of PATTERN along the span of the oscillating wing. The width of this pattern of holes as measured along the chord of the wing, can have ANY value that maximizes its performance. The suction air flow-rate can vary by adjusting the number of holes that are open at any time or by restricting the air flow through the suction channels or otherwise.    
     
     
         14 . JETIASAD—Variant 4 Oscillating Wing APG suppressor: Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor. 
 It consists of the JETIASAD device claimed in  claim 8  and a variant of the Adverse Pressure Gradient suppressor claimed in  claim 10 . It is characterized by a single inlet or a system of multiple inlets serially arranged along the span of an oscillating wing on both its top and bottom surfaces. The position of the inlets is at any chord length required from the leading edge of the oscillating wing. The inlets on each surface (bottom/top) open intermittently to allow the suction of slow-moving air based on the direction of movement of the oscillating wing: 
 (1) Oscillating wing moving Up: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the top surface of the wing. Inlets on the top surface open up and those on the bottom surface are closed.  
 (2) Oscillating wing moving Down: Compression and hence pressure drop occurs on the bottom surface of the wing. Inlets on the bottom surface open up and those on the top surface are closed.  
   A JETIASAD device is used to suck slow-moving air through this system of inlets. The inlets can be of variable geometry: the cross-sectional area exposed to the incoming flow is variable. Also the inlets can be arranged in ANY type of pattern which will maximize the performance of the device.