An invention related to the utilization of wind energy and increasing the effects thereof for power generation is described. Amplified wind turbine apparatus is disclosed wherein ambient inlet air is prerotated in a first air rotation chamber having a high pressure profile increasing the turbulence and Reynolds number thereof. A second rotation chamber adjacent and downstream of the turbine has a low pressure core profile whereby flow across the turbine is accelerated and thereafter exits the turbine apparatus through a draft anti-interference device. Interference with ambient winds at the outlet of the turbine apparatus is thus eliminated. Pivotable vanes controlled in response to prevailing wind direction admit air to the chambers and aid in imparting rotation. A central core may be utilized for creating the desired pressure profile in the chamber

Hein, L. A.

Myers, W. N.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

United States Patent [191 
Hein et al. 
I1 11 4,309,146 
1451 Jan. 5,1982 
[54] AMPLIFIED WIND TURBINE APPARATUS 28797 3/1925 France .......................... 415/DIG. 8 
30331 5/1926 France ................................ 415/3 A 
[75] Inventors: Leopold A. Hein, Fayetteville, Tenn.; 843482 7/1939 France ................................ 416/123 
William N. Myers, Huntsville, Ala, 1062631 4/1954 France ................................ 415/4 A 
1086320 2/1955 France ................................ 415/2 A 
1231581 5/1971 United Kingdom 415/2 A 
1519774 8/1978 United Kingdom ............... 415/2 A 
1731 Assignee: The United States of America as ............... 
represented by the Administrator of 
the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, Washington, D.C. OTHER PUBLICATIONS 
Appl. No.: 129,780 
Filed: Mar. 12, 1980 
Int. c1.3 ................................................ F03D 1/04 
U.S. C1. .............................. 415/2 R; 415/DIG. 8 
Field of Search ......... 415/2 A, 3 A, 4 A, 2-4 R, 
415/DIG. 8 
~561 References Cited 
U.S. PATENT DOC'LJMENTS 
129,567 7/1872 Jones ................. 
145,214 12/1873 Kline ..... 
1,5 19,447 12/1924 Fortier-B 
1,545,633 7/1925 Bender ........................... 415/4 A X 
3,302,552 2/1967 15/2 A X 
3,345,931 10/1967 15/3 A X  
4,017,205 4/1977 415/2 A 
4,018,543 4/1977 5/DIG. 8 
4,070,131 1/1978 Yen ............................... 415/DIG. 8 
4,154,556 5/1979 Webster ............. ..... 415/2 A 
4,236,866 12/1980 Martinez ............ ..... 415/2 R 
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 
463711 8/1928 Fed. Rep. of Germany ..... 415/4 A 
2402647 7/1975 Fed. Rep. of Germany ..... 415/2 A 
539099 6/1922 France ........... 415/3 A 
Aviation Week & Space Technology Mar. 1, 1976; vol. 
104; No. 9; pp. 50-5 1 .  
Primary Examiner-Everette A. Powell, Jr. 
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph H. Beumer; John R. 
Manning; L. D. Wofford, Jr. 
F71 ABSTRACT 
The invention relates to the utilization of wind energy 
and increasing the effects thereof for power generation. 
Amplified wind turbine apparatus is disclosed wherein 
ambient inlet air is prerotated in a first air rotation 
chamber (E) having a high pressure profile increasing 
the turbulence and Reynolds number thereof and a 
second rotation chamber (C) adjacent and downstream 
of the turbine has a low pressure core profile whereby 
flow across the turbine is accelerated and thereafter 
exits the turbine apparatus through a draft anti-interfer- 
ence device (D) which eliminates interference with 
ambient winds at the outlet of the turbine apparatus. 
Pivotable vanes 12 controlled in response t@ prevailing 
wind direction admit air to the chambers and aid in 
imparting rotation. A central core 20 may be utilized for 
creating the desired pressure profile in chamber B. 
4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 
a 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19820016763 2020-03-21T16:46:49+00:00Z
U.S. Patent Jan. 5, 1982 Sheet 1 of 4 4,309,146 
U.S. Patent Jan. 5 ,  1982 Sheet 2 of 4 4,309,146 
U.S. Patent Jan. 5, 1982 Sheet 3 of4  4,309,146 
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U.S. Patent Jan. 5 ,  1982 Sheet 4 of 4 4,309,146 
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4,309,146 
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The construction designed to carry out the invention 
will be hereinafter described, together with other fea- 
The invention will be more readily understood from 
a reading of the following specification and by refer- 
ence to the accompanying drawings forming a part 
thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating wind turbine 
apparatus constructed according to the present inven- 
With considerable attention being given atternate tion; 
forms of energy, the efficient use of wind power and the FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts cut away 
capturing of increased energy from the winds has re- 15 illustrating an air rotation chamber constructed accord- 
cieved much consideration. However, it has generally 
been known that the chances of obtaining increased FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the air rotation chamber 
energy from the winds is very slim. Due to the normally 
low Reynolds numbers of the prevailing ambient wind FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the outlet inter- 
flows, it is difficult to extract more than 55% of the 20 ference reduction device constructed according to the 
AMPLIFIED WIND TURBINE APPARATUS 
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION 
5 tures thereof. The invention described herein was made by an em- 
ployee Of the United States Government and may be 
manufactured and used by or for the Government for 
governmental purposes without the Payment of any 
royalties thereon or therefor. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
10 and wherein: 
ing to the present invention; 
illustrated in FIG. 2; 
energy from the winds. 
One attempt to harness increased wind energy power 
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,131 wherein atmo- 
spheric wind is admitted tangentially into a vertical 
structure downstream of the wind turbine which pro- 
duces a vortex flow and corresponding low pressure 
core tending to induce air flow across the horizontal 
turbine. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,03 1,405 discloses a horizontal turbine 
having a shroud which adjusts to the direction of wind 
to enhance the wind affects against the turbine. 
Other attempts have been proposed for directing the 
wind and increasing its effects against a turbine blade 
including the provision of a turbine having variable 
pitch blades whereby the angle of attack is varied to 
compensate for the changes in wind directions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It has been found that wind powered turbine appara- 
tus having amplified wind effects can be had by provid- 
ing a first rotation chamber wherein ambient inlet winds 
are pre-rotated around a core to increase the Reynolds 
number prior to impinging the turbine blades and a 
second air rotation chamber on the downstream side of 
the turbine in which ambient winds are introduced and 
rotated to create a low pressure profile whereby flow 
across the horizontal turbine apparatus includes an anti- 
interference device for reducing the draft retarding 
affects of the ambient wind at the turbine outlet. 
Accordingly, an important object of the present in- 
vention is to provide a wind turbine apparatus which 
can extract more of the available energy from a given 
amount of ambient wind flow. 
Another important object of the present invention is 
to amplify the affects of ambient winds through a suii- 
able inlet prior to entering the turbine whereby the 
turbine apparatus may be used more efficiently at lower 
wind velocities affording longer running periods. 
Still another important object of the present inven- 
tion is to provide wind turbine apparatus which com- 
pensates for changes in the direction of the ambient 
winds entering the apparatus. 
Still another important object of the present inven- 
tion is the provision of wind turbine apparatus in which 
interference between the turbine outlet flow and the 
ambient wind is reduced minimizing outlet losses. 
invention; 
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an air rotation device 
according to an alternate embodiment of the present 
invention; 
FIG. 6 is a perspective view with parts cut away of 
an alternate embodiment of an air pre-rotationaI charn- 
ber constructed according to the invention wherein the 
ambient winds are admitted to the device along a verti- 
cal axis; and 
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of an air prerota- 
tional chamber according to the invention wherein the 
core of the device is cone-shaped; and 
FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 
1. 
25 
30 
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED 
EMBODIMENT 
Apparatus for extracting increased energy from am- 
bient winds is disclosed in FIG. 1 as including a housing 
40 A and a horizontal wind turbine carried in the housing 
having a plurality of turbine blades. An air prerotation 
chamber B is disposed adjacent the turbine having an air 
inlet through which ambient wind is admitted for con- 
veyance to the turbine. In the prerotation chamber B 
45 inlet air is rotated prior to reaching the turbine means to 
create a high pressure profile by which larger wind 
forces are applied at the tips of the turbine. Down- 
stream, next adjacent the turbine is a second air rotation 
chamber C having an air inlet for admitting ambient 
50 wind to create a low pressure on the downstream side of 
the turbine facilitating air flow across the turbine in an 
accelerated manner. Anti-interference means D is pro- 
vided to reduce interference between the turbine outlet 
flow and the ambient winds at the outlet of the turbine 
Referring now in more detail in the drawings, FIG. 2 
illustrates air pre-rotation chamber B as including a 
central profiled core 10 about which the incoming air 
rotates. Circumferentially spaced about core 10 is a 
60 plurality of curved pivotal vertical vanes 12 which may 
be selectively opened and closed depending on the di- 
rection of the ambient winds by means of any conven- 
tional servo mechanism and sensor apparatus 14. An air 
pipe loa is defined between the core 10 and vanes 12 
65 through which the prerotated air passes to a horizontal 
turbine 15 having turbine blades 1%. Adjacent pivot- 
able vanes 12 are a plurality of corresponding stationary 
vanes 16 which form a continuation of the opened piv- 
35 
55 apparatus minimizing outlet losses. 
3 
otal vanes 12a to provide curved entrance passage 
through which the incoming air enters the air pipe 10a 
and is rotated. The pivotable vanes 12 may be carried by 
pivots 18 about a ring frame 20 adjacent the upper and 
lower ends thereof and suitably affixed in housing A. 5 
Upwardly curved stationary vanes 22 are provided 
concentric about the stationary vertical vanes 16 to 
direct the incoming air upwardly through the passages 
13 and the air pipe 10a to the turbine blade tips. An 
aerodynamic air inlet is provided by conical annular 10 
members 23 and 23a which introduce air to the inlet 
passages of vanes 22 and 16. Vanes 22 may also be car- 
ried between member 23a and base 26 in any suitable 
manner, such as vertical struts 22a. 
It will be noted that core 10 is fixed and extends from 15 
adjacent the turbine to the bottom of the pre-rotation 
chamber B and is stationary relative to turbine IS. As air 
enters pre-rotation chamber B a high pressure profile is 
created across the chamber such that a low pressure 
exists around core 10 and a high pressure exists at the 20 
outside of the air pipe as defined by vanes 12. The larg- 
est wind forces will be applied to the blade tips 150 of 
the turbine where the moment arm is the greatest. Tur- 
bulence, and hence Reynolds number, of the incoming 
air is increased prior to reaching the turbine. 
Air rotation chamber C may be identical to that of 
chamber B except that core 10 is preferably omitted and 
the like numerals have been used. Ambient winds enter 
the air rotation chamber and create a low pressure core 
profile therein whereby flow across the turbine 15 is 30 
accelerated from chamber B to C. A convergent hous- 
ing section 29 connects chambers B and C wherein air 
flow is further accelerated. Turbine 15 may be carried 
by any suitable manner such as narrow struts 15d ex- 
tending across the housing A and affixed to the sides 35 
thereof which carry a hub 15e about which the turbine 
rotates. Power take-off from the rotating turbine may be 
had in any conventional manner such as self-contained 
electrical generating units with rotor parts carried by 
the turbine and stator parts carried by hub 1%. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, anti-draft interference device 
D includes a pair of circular disk-shaped elements 30 
and 31 which are open all the way around and are con- 
vexly curved inwardly to define a venturi-like device 
having a throat 32 in the middle thereof open omni- 45 
directionally to the ambient wind. The disk elements 
may be spaced and supported by any suitable means 
such as struts 32a extending therebetween. The ambient 
winds can enter the device D from any direction 
whereby a low pressure reaion is created to provide a 50 
25 
40 
4 
as shown. It has been found that a diffusion angle, a, of 
approximately twelve (12) degrees effectively promotes 
boundary layer separation which allows the turbine 
outlet gases to escape with greatly minimized interfer- 
ence at effective wind speed operation. 
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment E of an air 
rotation chamber, such as B and C, with or without core 
10 in which vanes 42, which correspond to 16 in FIG. 3, 
are extended in length and are made more definitely 
curved. Vanes 42 are stationary and are continued by 
movable vanes or flaps 44 which pivot about 46 (carried 
by suitable ring frames as shown in FIG. 2). Vanes 44 
define an air flow pipe 48 which is closed at its back side 
against the winds and open on its front side for the 
admission of air through opened curved vanes 44a 
which rotate the incoming air to create the vortex flows 
therein. A movable air scoop 50 may rotate as part of 
housing 5Qa and introduces a large volume of air to the 
air rotation chamber. Upward direction of air is op- 
tional and may be done with upwardly curved vanes 
such as shown in FIG. 2. Vanes 44 may be pivoted 
responsive to the direction of wind flow by means of a 
conventional servo-mechanism and control 52. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a form of the invention wherein the 
inlet air is admitted to the turbine via an air rotation 
chamber F instead of as shown in FIG. 1. In this in- 
stance, an adjustable turn sail 60 having a generally 
cork-screw shape is provided which rotates the air prior 
to reaching the turbine. The air may enter chamber F 
tangentially or axially. If tangentially, a cone-shape core 
62 and housing 64 may be utilized to create the desired 
high pressure profile as illustrated in FIG. 7. 
It is to be understood that while air inlets 50 and the 
various turbine inlet and outlet vanes have been indi- 
cated separately to rotate with the prevailing wind, the 
same may be ccmtrolled together. 
Thus, it can be seen that wind turbine apparatus can 
be had according to the present invention wherein the 
winds effects are amplified to extract more energy from 
the ambient winds wherein rotation chambers are pro- 
vided in order to increase the turbulence and accelera- 
tion of air across the turbine while post turbine wind 
interference between the ambient wind and flow of 
outlet gases is minimized to further enhance turbine 
performance. It has been estimated that power output 
increase of twenty percent may be achieved as com- 
pared to free stream turbine runners. 
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has 
been described using specific terms, such description is 
for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood 
pump effect enhancing thedraft of air outwaidly from that changes A d  ;ariation; may be made without de- 
the turbine outlet 33 through opening 3Pa formed in the parting from the spirit or scope of the following claims. 
lower element 31. Interference is effectively avoided What is claimed is: 
between the air leaving the turbine and the ambient 1. Wind powered turbine apparatus having amplified 
winds going across it. 
Underneath disk element 30, received in the opening a housing; 
31a formed in the lower disk 31 is a divergent section 34 a wind turbine rotatably carried in said housing hav- 
which includes a top portion having a plurality of ing a plurality of turbine blades; 
curved vanes 36 which plug opening 31a and provide a first air inlet carried by said housing through which 
an outlet 34a for the flow of exhaust air. Section 34 may 60 a first ambient air flow is admitted for conveyance 
be caused to rotate within opening 31a about annular to said wind turbine; 
member 23a in response to the ambient wind direction an air pre-rotation chamber carried by said housing 
by use of a conventional servo-mechanism and control and disposed in series air flow between said air 
38 as is well known. Vanes 36 are curved upwardly and flow inlet and said wind turbine; 
outwardly so that flow outwardly therethrough is di- 65 a plurality of pivotable curved vertical vane elements 
rected favorably with the ambient winds flowing carried about pivots circumferentially spaced 
through device D when 34 is rotated. The vanes 36 may about said air pre-rotation chamber, said vanes 
have a curved spoon-shape and side section essentially being selectively opened and closed to define an air 
55 wind effects comprising: 
4,309,146 
5 6 
pipe within said chamber through which said air said second air rotation chamber including a second 
flows, said vane elements being opened on a side plurality of pivotable vertical vane members hav- 
fronting the prevaling ambient winds and closed on ing pivots circumferentially spaced around said 
an opposing back side thereof forming a curved second air rotation chamber and being selectively 
wall of said air pipe, said open vertical vanes im- 5 opened for imparting rotation to said second air 
parting a rotational motion to said air flow prior to flow creating a low pressure profile in said second 
reaching said turbine; air rotation chamber accelerating air flow across 
a plurality of upwardly curved horizontaI vane ele- said wind turbine; and 
ments carried adjacent said vertical vane elements draft anti-interference means carried by said housing 
of said air pre-rotation chamber imparting an up- 10 downstream of said air rotation chamber adjacent 
ward motion to said air flow; said horizontal vanes an outlet of said wind turbine for releasing interfer- 
being spaced vertically along the height of said ence between air leaving the turbine and outside 
vertical vanes; ambient wind flow across said outlet. 
a core element centrally disposed in said air chamber 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said air 
immediately below said wind turbine extending 15 rotation chamber includes a plurality of fixed curved 
generally the height of said vertical vanes defining vane members circumferential1 y spaced about said piv- 
a space between said core element and said air pipe otal vane members and forming a continuation of said 
wall within said air pre-rotation chamber, said air pivotal vane members when said pivotal vane members 
vanes rotating said air around and about said core are pivoted to said open position. 
imparting centrifugal force to said air flow creating 20 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said draft anti- 
a low pressure profile adjacent said core and a high interference means includes a fixed omni-directional air 
pressure profile adjacent said wall of said air pre- inlet having upper and lower vertically spaced disk- 
rotation chamber; shaped elements carried adjacent said turbine outlet 
said turbine blade having tips being disposed gener- having opposed curved portions forming a restricted 
ally above said space defined in said air pre-rota- 25 throat portion therebetween open omni-directionally to 
tion chamber, the wind forces of said high pressure the flow of ambient winds therethrotigh, said lower 
profile being applied to said tips of said turbine element having an opening formed therein through 
blades at the outlet of said air pipe for more effi- which air flows outwardly from said turbine apparatus. 
cient utilization of said wind; 4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a plurality of 
a second air rotation chamber carried by said housing 30 vane members carried in said lower disk opening being 
adjacent the opposite side of said wind turbine; curved upwardly and outwardly for directing said out- 
a second air inlet carried by said housing for admit- let flow in the direction of ambient wind through said 
ting a second ambient air flow to said second air anti-interference means. 
rotation chamber; + * * * *  
35 
40 
45 
50 
55 
60 


Amplified wind turbine apparatus

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