Air-channeled wind turbine for low-wind environments

Abstract

An inventive wind turbine configuration including a means for increasing wind speed through the body of the turbine and means for directing the fluid air into a discrete portion of the turbine generator is provided. Such a device allows for the capture of wind from any environment, low speed or otherwise, in order to subsequently efficiently increase the overall wind speed thereof for further introduction within the turbine portion. The overall device thus includes a properly configured air intake component portion with a conical component to direct the captured wind directly to a portion of the turbine as well as suitable means to reduce back pressures of the introduced fluid stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind turbine device for increasing ambient wind speed comprising:
 an air intake for channeling wind into the turbine device having an intake inlet, an intake outlet and a first curved interior surface of the intake for increasing wind speed as wind travels through the turbine device, the intake substantially symmetrical about its axis and exhibiting a maximum diameter at the intake inlet and a minimum diameter at the intake outlet;   an exhaust portion adjacent to the intake and axially aligned therewith for dissipation of the wind exiting the wind turbine device, the exhaust having an exhaust inlet, an exhaust outlet and a second curved interior surface of the exhaust portion for relieving back pressure in the throat, the exhaust substantially symmetrical about its axis and exhibiting a minimum diameter at the exhaust inlet and a maximum diameter at the exhaust outlet;   a substantially cylindrical throat connecting the intake and the exhaust portion and axially aligned therewith such that wind entering the device at the air intake inlet experiences an increase in wind speed between the intake inlet and the throat;   a turbine, freely rotatable about its axis positioned within and axially aligned with the throat such that wind traveling through the device contacts the turbine creating turbine axial rotation thereby converting wind energy to mechanical energy; and   an electrical generator mechanically connected to the turbine such that rotation of the turbine drives the electrical generator thereby converting mechanical energy to electrical energy;   wherein said turbine and said electrical generator are axially aligned and housed within said throat, and wherein the entirety of said turbine is located nearer said air intake than said electrical generator.   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a central hub of the turbine axially aligned with the throat and freely rotatable about its axis; 
 a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub; and 
 a cone attached to the hub extending into the intake for directing wind traveling through the wind turbine device to a specific location on the blades thereby increasing the torque applied to the blades. 
 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine device of  claim 2  wherein:
 the cone has a base diameter which is substantially equal to a turbine hub diameter. 
 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the throat has a constant diameter; 
 a ratio of the intake inlet diameter to the throat diameter ranges from between about 2.5 to 1 to about 4 to 1; 
 a ratio of the intake inlet diameter to the exhaust outlet diameter is about 1.4 to 1; and 
 a ratio of the exhaust outlet diameter to the throat diameter is about 2.3 to 1. 
 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the device has a linear distance between the intake inlet and exhaust outlet X; and 
 the first interior curved surface of the intake exhibits a hyperbolic curve design whereby the hyperbolic curve is defined by the equation [0.43(1−exp(−0.07−2.58*(X))]. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the device has a linear distance between the intake inlet and exhaust outlet X; and 
 the second interior curved surface of the exhaust exhibits a parabolic curve design whereby the parabolic curve is defined by the quadratic equation [1.075*X 2 −0.115X+0.257]. 
 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inverted cone positioned centrally within the exhaust adjacent the exhaust inlet and axially aligned with the exhaust for evenly distributing the wind exiting the throat. 
 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine device of  claim 5  wherein:
 the device has a linear distance between the intake inlet and exhaust outlet X; and 
 the second interior curved surface of the exhaust exhibits a parabolic curve design whereby the parabolic curve is defined by the quadratic equation [1.075*X 2 −0.115X+0.257].