WIND BOOSTER

SURPRESSEUR EOLIEN

English Abstract

The present invention is a method and apparatus to increase air speed through
a turbine
such as in a wind power generator. The method comprises creating a low
pressure area behind
(or, downstream) of the turbine so as to cause the wind entering the turbine
to be accelerated
thereby adding torque for the turbine to turn the generator. The apparatus
comprises a
generally conic shaped, open-ended hood that extends behind the turbine to act
as an airfoil
and so cause an increase in air speed along its lengthening outer surface,
which, in turn,
lowers the pressure in the interior of the hood. Wind will thus be 'drawn'
into the resulting
partial vacuum thereby raising wind speed. Also disclosed is a mobile use
where a turbine
generator is shrouded to the the rear of a vehicle with an opening to enable
fir flow to enter
the shroud and drive the turbine as the air seeks the naturally-occurring low
pressure area to
the rear of the vehicle and shrouded turbine.

Claims

CLAIMS
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
defined as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Description

CA 02605835 2007-10-03
SPECIFICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A vacuum assisted turbine to improve the performance of wind generators, may
also be
used to capture some of the normally waster aerodynamic energy behind a moving
vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wind powered electricity generation occurs when a moving mass of air strikes
the
aerodynamic shape of the turbine blades creating a rotational torque which
turns an electrical
generator. More torque (and electricity) comes from higher wind speed by a
cubic factor, that
is, a doubling of wind speed yields an eight-fold increase in turbine torque.
By creating a
partial vacuum behind the turbine, such performance increase can achieved very
cheaply.
Such a partial vacuum can be created by using a aerodynamic hood behind the
turbine which
may be conveniently funnel- or conically shaped, to operate as an airfoil
(i.e., a propellor or
fan blade or an aircraft wing or a ship's sail) whereby the increase in speed
of the wind
flowing along the longer outer surface creates a lower pressure on its inner
surface. In the
instant invention the wind speed is increased about the hood's exterior due to
the increasing
diameter of the conical flow path on the exterior of the hood and this lowers
pressure inside.
Wind will thus be accelerated through the turbine to fill the low pressure
behind. The instant
invention which might be considered a`vacuum turbine', may also be used behind
a moving
vehicle, i.e., in the slipstream so as to provide additional electrical power
for the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To accelerate the wind for a wind powered generator, one needs only to lower
pressure on
the downwind side of the turbine as compared to the inlet side. By adding an
dynamic hood
sealed to the rear of the turbine and preferably with a diameter increasing
rearwards from the
turbine, the desired lower pressure is easily and cheaply achieved. The hood
may be as
1

CA 02605835 2007-10-03
simple as a flat, washer-like ring surrounding the turbine blades or a
developed shape like a
rocket's nozzle that optimizes the creation of the low pressure. The hood may
`sealed' to the
rear the turbine via a separate ring or hoop in order to prevent unwanted blow-
by of air into
the low pressure in the funnel. In other words, ideally, the turbine tips
should rotate within a
circular housing onto the rear of which, the hood is sealedly attached. The
use of a tower,
building or other structure to act as the hood of the instant invention is
also contemplated.
Multiple smaller turbines may be combined in such a structure. For example an
unused
building can have the windward (facing the wind) side with turbines in window
openings to
inner rooms and the leeward side (sheltered from the wind) open and connected
via said
rooms to the turbines whereby the low pressure is on the entire leeward side
to accelerate
wind flow through the turbines on the windward side through the rooms and out
the leeward
side.
In a moving vehicle there is a naturally occurring low pressure wake behind
the vehicle
which the instant invention exploits to generate electricity which may be used
to charge
batteries, operate electrical equipment (blowers, radios, wipers, etc.) and
engine pumps (oil,
water, supercharger). In this application the turbine is shrouded to the
vehicle with the one
side of the turbine exposed to the vacuum or wake. An opening in the shroud
allows air
flowing about the vehicle (sides, top and/or under) to enter the shroud and
thus be drawn
through the turbine by and into the low pressure vacuum or wake. In hybrid
vehicles this will
enable a longer range as the batteries can be charged using waste energy, In
regular vehicles
the fuel economy and the performance will benefit from the reduced generating
needs which
are being at least partially supplied by the turbine capturing waste energy
from the air flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2

CA 02605835 2007-10-03
Figure 1 shows a frontal view upwind of the wind powered machine with the hood
of the
instant invention surrounding the turbine and tapering to a larger diameter
down
wind;
Figure 2 is a side view of the same embodiment showing the funnel-shaped hood;
Figure 3 shows the hood having a complex shape for higher performance;
Figure 4 shows the simplest embodiment that of a flat washer-shaper ring;
Figure 5 shows a steep, short hood;
Figure 6 shows an adjustable hood that can be automatically adjusted according
to wind
conditions.
Figure 7 shows a front (windward) side of a tower version of the hood with
multiple
turbines;
Figure 8 shows a top view of the same embodiment;
Figure 9 shows a vehicle with rear mounted turbine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the Figures, hood D has a windward side I and a leeward side 2. A portion
of ambient
wind A is forced to flow E outwardly along the expanding diameter (longer
distance) of hood
D and therefore to increase its speed. And a portion of wind A enters turbine
C at ambient
speed. Hood interior 3 is thereby subjected to low pressure from this flow-
speed (E minus A)
differential in accordance with Bernoulli's famous principle: "an increase in
velocity occurs
simultaneously with decrease in pressure".
In Figs 1-6 the hood D is shown in different configurations. In Figs 7 and 8,
the hood D is
in the form of a curved supporting structure or tower wherein are located the
turbines. Base 4
may provide a means to allow the hood D to rotate to correct or adjust for
wind direction.
3

CA 02605835 2007-10-03
In Fig 6 the hood D is shown to be adjustable in length and angle although it
may be
adjusted as to angle and also curvature as shown in Fig 3 where it takes the
shape of a rocket
nozzle. In Fig 5 the hood D is a simple torus shaped disc like a common metal
washer used
with nuts and bolts.
For maximum performance, the shape of hood D must take into account likely
wind
conditions and the diameter of the turbine and its height off the ground. The
hood D may
comprise an open frame-like structure covered with a surfacing material such
as plastic or
concrete. Different multiple turbine configurations are contemplated such as
in a linear
arrangement in a wall-type hood with a curved top edge.
In Fig 9 moving vehicle E (dotted outline) has a (low pressure) wake F behind.
Shroud D'
and turbine C are attached to the rear of the vehicle E. Air flow A (top,
sides and under)
naturally moves along the outer surfaces of the vehicle to thereby create wake
F aft of the
vehicle. Shroud surface 11 has opening 10 to allow air A to enter and pass
through turbine C
and exit at B to enter wake F. Opening 10 may be holes, slits, NACA ducts
(National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics also known as submerged ducts), scoops,
peripheral
gaps, or there may be an entire section of shroud 11 missing, such as the
entire lower surface.
However it is done, enough air has to be able to enter shroud D' to turn the
turbine yet
continue to create adequate wake F aft of the turbine, and, there should be no
increase in air
resistance to the vehicle. In this instant invention, turbine C therefore,
uses normally wasted
aerodynamic energy to drive an electrical alternator or generator (not shown)
which then
connects into the vehicles wiring harness or to other devices requiring
electric energy or to
batteries of an electric power supply.
The vehicle exhaust may also add to the volume of fluid passing through the
turbine C to
provide more electrical output although at low speeds or idle, with a internal
combustion
engine, heat may be a problem.
4

Representative Drawing