Intake assemblies for wind-energy conversion systems and methods

Abstract

An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system has a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. For some embodiments, the object may be another nozzle. There may be vanes in one or both nozzles in further embodiments. The object may be configured to move in yet other embodiments.

1 . An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system, comprising: a substantially vertical converging nozzle; an object extending into the nozzle; and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. 
     
     
         2 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intake assembly is configured to allow wind to enter the flow passage from substantially any direction. 
     
     
         3 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the intake assembly is located at a top of a substantially vertical support column of the wind-energy conversion system and a turbine of the wind-energy conversion system that is fluidly coupled to the intake assembly by a duct is located adjacent to a base of the support column. 
     
     
         4 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flow passage is a first flow passage, and further comprising: a plurality of vanes between the object and the nozzle; and a plurality of second flow passages, wherein each second flow passage is between adjacent vanes; wherein the plurality of second flow passages open into the first flow passage. 
     
     
         5 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially vertical converging nozzle is a substantially vertical converging first nozzle and the object is a substantially vertical converging second nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: one or more actuators coupled to at least one of the object and the nozzle; and a controller coupled to the one or more actuators coupled to the at least one of the object and the nozzle; wherein the controller is configured to send signals to the one or more actuators coupled to the at least one of the object and the nozzle based on a wind speed. 
     
     
         7 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure that covers an inlet to the flow passage, the enclosure having a plurality of shutters, wherein each shutter is configured to open in response to receiving wind against that shutter. 
     
     
         8 . The intake assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the object is configured to move within the intake assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A wind-energy conversion system, comprising: an intake assembly located at a top of the wind-energy conversion system, the intake assembly comprising: a substantially vertical first converging nozzle; and a substantially vertical second converging nozzle substantially coaxial with first nozzle; wherein an inlet of first nozzle is at a vertical level above an inlet of the second nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The wind-energy conversion system of  claim 9 , further comprising a first scoop movably coupled to the first nozzle and/or a second scoop between and movably coupled to the first and second nozzles. 
     
     
         11 . The wind-energy conversion system of  claim 9 , further comprising a converging flow passage between the first nozzle and the second nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The wind-energy conversion system of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of vanes extending into an interior of at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle, wherein a converging flow passage is between each of adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes extending into the at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The wind-energy conversion system of  claim 12 , further comprising: one or more actuators coupled to at least one of the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the plurality of vanes extending into the at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle; and a controller electrically coupled to the one or more actuators coupled to the at least one of the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the plurality of vanes extending into the at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle; wherein the controller is configured to send signals to the one or more actuators coupled to the at least one of the first nozzle, the second nozzle, and the plurality of vanes extending into the at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle based on a wind speed. 
     
     
         14 . A method of delivering wind to a turbine, comprising: accelerating the wind in a flow passage between a substantially vertical converging nozzle and an object that extends into the nozzle; and directing the accelerated wind onto blades of the turbine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein accelerating the wind in the flow passage further comprises turning the wind toward a vertical downward direction as the wind accelerates. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adjusting a size and/or shape of the flow passage based on a wind speed and/or a wind direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein accelerating the wind in the flow passage between the vertical converging nozzle and the object comprises moving the object in response to receiving the wind against the object, wherein moving the object changes the size and/or shape of the flow passage. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising after accelerating the wind in the flow passage and before directing the accelerated wind onto the blades of the turbine, further accelerating the wind in a portion of the nozzle that extends substantially vertically below the object. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substantially vertical converging nozzle is a substantially vertical converging first nozzle and the object is a substantially vertical converging second nozzle, and further comprising accelerating the wind through the second nozzle while accelerating the wind in the flow passage between the first nozzle and the second nozzle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising, before directing the accelerated wind onto the blades of the turbine: merging the accelerated wind from the flow passage between the first nozzle and the second nozzle with the accelerated wind from the second nozzle in a portion of the first nozzle that extends substantially vertically below the second nozzle to produce a substantially single wind-flow in the portion of the first nozzle that extends substantially vertically below the second nozzle; and accelerating the substantially the single wind-flow thus produced in the portion of the first nozzle that extends substantially vertically below the second nozzle.