Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03D—WIND MOTORS
  • F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F12/00—Use of energy recovery systems in air conditioning, ventilation or screening
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2220/00—Application
  • F05B2220/60—Application making use of surplus or waste energy
  • F05B2220/602—Application making use of surplus or waste energy with energy recovery turbines
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Definitions

• HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
• HVAC condenser uses condensers to move hot or cold air out of a building. During this process, the condenser produces an exhaust gas with a typical wind speed of 15-25 mph.
• the present methods and apparatus harness wind energy by mounting the wind turbine horizontally over the exhaust of the condenser without impacting the operation of the HVAC condenser.
• a generator of the present disclosure produces electricity at a rate that is proportional to the diameter of the condenser exhaust, usually between 100-500 watts/hour.
• the wattage output is proportional to the force of the exhaust that activates the generator.
• a conduit such as the frame of the present disclosure, with a width, a first end and a second end, is configured so that the first end of the conduit receives a gas flow transmitted by a gas flow channel of a gas flow source, such as a HVAC exhaust, and the conduit is configured to transmit the received gas flow from the first end toward the second end of the conduit.
• the gas flow channel has a diameter.
• a blade assembly having a diameter is coupled to the conduit and the blade assembly is configured to be moved with relatively low torque of less than or equal to 0.5 Newton- meters starting torque when the received gas flow is transmitted from the first end of the conduit.
• the conduit width is greater than the blade assembly diameter so that a portion of the gas flow transmitted by the gas flow channel can bypass the blade assembly to limit back pressure on the gas flow source.
• the blade assembly diameter is greater than the gas flow channel diameter.
• An electrical generator is coupled to the blade assembly.
• the electrical generator is configured to generate electricity when the blade assembly moves.
• FIG. 1 is an isometric side view illustration of a condenser unit having a turbine generator of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof.
• Figure 2 is an isometric top view illustration of the condenser unit of Fig. 1 having a turbine generator of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof.
• Figure 3 is a top view illustration of the condenser unit of Fig. 1 having a turbine generator of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof.
• Figure 4 is top view isometric illustration of a turbine blade of a generator of the present disclosure.
• Figure 5 is side view isometric illustration of a turbine blade of a generator of the present disclosure.
• Figure 6 is a top view illustration of a frame and blade assembly of the present disclosure placed on the exhaust of a condenser unit.
• Figure 7 is a side view isometric illustration of a turbine generator assembly of the present disclosure.
• Figure 8 is an exploded side view illustration of a turbine generator assembly of the present disclosure.
• Figure 9A is a top view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly of the present disclosure.
• Figure 9B is an isometric side view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly of Fig. 9A.
• Figure 10 is an isometric top view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly hub of the present disclosure .
• Generator a low RPM, alternating current (AC) permanent magnet generator.
• the generator preferably, is a direct drive generator that provides low cogging and low startup resistance to effectively start producing electricity at low, less powerful exhaust speeds.
• a non-direct drive generator that is, a generator with gears or brushes would be functional, a gearless, brushless direct drive generator is preferred.
• a preferred exemplary embodiment of the generator provides:
• Blade Design (with hub 640) : The blade length is relatively short compared to other wind turbines with the same output, the blades are designed with a higher arc angle than is found with similar generators to maximize torque and get as many RPMs to the generator.
• a preferred exemplary embodiment provides blades having the following specifications:
• Blade thickness is 0.0625 of an inch made from a light weight material
• Blade shape is that of a 90 degree arc angle from a cylinder with a two inch radius
• Blade length is contingent on the diameter of the condenser exhaust. Blade diameter is one inch larger that the diameter of the condenser exhaust. Blade length is important to achieving the power generation performance because the wind speed at the outer edge of the exhaust is more powerful than on the inner edge.
• Six blades are connected to a hub 640 with a diameter of 3.25 inches (preferably) .
• the relatively small diameter of the hub 640 allows for more blade coverage over the source area .
• Frame - The frame acts as a funnel and collects wind that would otherwise disperse away from the condenser. This exhaust gas is directed over the generator blades .
• the diameter of the frame is approximately 1.0 inch larger than the diameter of the condenser exhaust.
• the frame is 0.5 inches larger than the blade diameter.
• Wire Guard The present generator design is covered by a wire guard which does not impede the flow of exhaust and does not impact the flow of air through the condenser unit.
• the wire guard also serves as a means to protect anyone from injury by the spinning turbine blades.
• Figure 1 is an isometric side view illustration of a condenser unit having an exemplary embodiment of a turbine generator of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof.
• Generator assembly 110 is mounted over the exhaust of condenser unit 120.
• Wire guard 830 is mounted on top of frame 620 and generator 810 is mounted to rotatable blades 410 (see Fig. 4) which are suspended under wire guard 830 and housed in frame 620.
• Figure 2 is an isometric top view illustration of the air conditioning unit of Fig. 1 having a turbine generator of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof. Blades housed in assembly 110 rotate from exhaust escaping condenser 120 and produce energy with generator 810.
• Figure 3 is a top view illustration of the condenser unit of Fig. 1 having an exemplary embodiment of turbine generator 810 of the present disclosure attached the exhaust thereof. Exhaust air from condenser 120 is channeled by frame 620 to impel the rotation of blades housed in frame 620.
• FIG. 4 is top view isometric illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a turbine blade of a generator of the present disclosure.
• the length of the blade 410, line d-d, is selected based on the diameter of the condenser exhaust.
• the blade length is longer than the radius of the condenser exhaust, preferably in the range of by 0.5 to 1.0 inch.
• the perimeter of blade 410 roughly describes a scalene triangle of edges d-d, b-c, c-a, having the widest section bisected by line c-c.
• the triangle shape is cropped by edge b-b at the tip closest to line c-c and edge b' - b' at the opposite tip.
• the portion from line c-c to tip b-b is one third the length of line d-d.
• the portion from line c-c to tip b'-b' is two thirds the length of blade 410.
• the length of line c-c is 3.14 inches
• the length of edge b-b is 0.5 inches
• the width e of blade 410 is 0.0625 inches.
• Blade 410 length d-d is contingent on the diameter of the condenser exhaust port.
• the blade 410 length d-d is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 inch larger than the condenser exhaust port diameter, preferably .
• FIG. 5 is side view isometric illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a turbine blade of a generator of the present disclosure.
• the thickness e-e of blade 410 is 0.0625 inches.
• Blade 410 is formed to curve 90 degree from the x-axis with a curvature radius f of 2 inches .
• FIG. 6 is a top view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a frame and blade assembly of the present disclosure placed on the exhaust of a condenser unit.
• 3.25 inch diameter hub 640 is mounted over the exhaust of an HVAC condenser unit.
• Blades 610 are mounted to hub 640 and extended some distance, such as 0.5 inch, for example, longer than the diameter of condenser exhaust 630.
• Frame 620 is disposed around blades 410 and directs blowing exhaust gas over blades 410.
• the diameter of frame 620 is one inch larger than the diameter of the gas flow channel diameter of condenser exhaust 630.
• Figure 7 is a top and side view isometric illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a turbine generator assembly of the present disclosure.
• FIG 8 is an exploded side view illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a turbine generator assembly of the present disclosure.
• Low revolutions per minute (RPM) permanent magnet generator 810 is mounted to generator mounting block 820, supported by wire guard 830.
• Blade and hub assembly 840 comprised of blades 410 and hub 640, is connected to generator 810 and disposed within frame 620.
• Wire guard 830 is mounted on the top of frame 620.
• FIG. 9A is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly of the present disclosure. Blades 410 are attached to hub 640 with fasteners at fastener locations 910.
• Figure 9B is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly of Fig. 9A. The curved topography of blades 410 is apparent.
• Figure 10 is an isometric side view of an exemplary embodiment of a blade hub of the present disclosure. Fastener locations 910 are used to attach blades 410 to hub 640. Mounting hole 920 is used to attach generator 810 to hub 640 and ensure that generator 810 is centered on hub 640.
• Blade curvature - curved blades create an airfoil which makes the blades turn even at low exhaust gas velocities, for improved power output from the generator.
• the present apparatus harnesses an underutilized, ubiquitous, energy source.
• the present apparatus obtains power recovery in a range that includes but is not limited to 100 watt to 500 watt output.
• the power obtained by the present apparatus is, of course, contingent on the size of HVAC condenser to which the apparatus is mounted.
• the present apparatus contemplates a variety of preferred sizes to fit standard and non-standard HVAC exhaust sizes.
• the present apparatus is easily customized to fit on non-standard HVAC exhausts.
• Wire guard - provides protection from operator and does not restrict HVAC condenser exhaust.
• Electromagnetic braking system on generator
• preferred embodiments of the generator of the system provide an electromagnetic braking system which maintains consistent voltage output in variable wind speeds. Consistent output is advantageous for connection of the electricity produced by the generator .
• Operational temperature range is -30c to 180c which allows for use in extreme climate areas.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
• Permanent Magnet Type Synchronous Machine (AREA)

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• 2013
  • 2013-05-30 WO PCT/US2013/043346 patent/WO2013181380A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2013-05-31 CA CA2817496A patent/CA2817496A1/fr not_active Abandoned

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