System and Method for Generating Electricity from Aerodynamic Drag

Abstract

A system for harnessing energy created by a region of aerodynamic drag of a moving vehicle. The system comprises at least one traveling surface (such as a roadway or runway) having an intended direction of travel, and at least one turbine assembly having a shaft, a plurality of air-engaging members fixed to the shaft, and an axis of rotation concentrically aligned with the shaft. The turbine assembly is positioned proximal to the at least one traveling surface to intersect the region of aerodynamic drag created by the moving vehicle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for harnessing energy created by a region of aerodynamic drag of a moving vehicle, the system comprising:
 at least one traveling surface having an intended direction of travel; and   at least one turbine assembly having a shaft, a plurality of air-engaging members fixed to the shaft, and an axis of rotation concentrically aligned with the shaft, the at least one turbine assembly positioned proximal to the at least one traveling surface to intersect the region of aerodynamic drag created by the moving vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the traveling surface is a runway having opposing first and second ends and side boundaries extending between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a first turbine assembly having a horizontal axis of rotation, said first turbine assembly positioned proximal to the first end of the runway. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a second turbine assembly having a horizontal axis of rotation, said second turbine positioned proximal to the second end of the runway. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of turbine assemblies positioned proximal to at least one of the lateral boundaries of the runway. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one traveling surface is at least one road surface built on a ground surface. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the at least one turbine assembly comprises at least one lower turbine assembly having a first axis of rotation and at least one upper turbine assembly having a second axis of rotation aligned with said first axis of rotation, wherein the at least one lower turbine is positioned between the ground surface and the at least one upper turbine. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the at least one road surface is two road surfaces separated by a median, and wherein the at least one turbine is positioned in the space above median. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one turbine assembly comprises at least one horizontal axis turbine. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one turbine assembly comprises at least one vertical axis turbine. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a generator mechanically connected to the shaft of said at least one turbine assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the air-engaging members are blades. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the air-engaging members are scoops.