The vTurbine(tm)

The Problem:

1) Conventional wind turbines perform poorly in low ambient wind conditions.

2) Conventional wind turbines are difficult to inspect, service and maintain, requiring the use of a crane, a crew, and tower climbers.

3) Conventional wind turbines of the aforementioned types can also be destroyed by high wind conditions.

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The Solution

The vTurbine(tm) solves the first problem by placing a lightweight sail in front of the turbine. This sail directs air into turbine increasing the airspeed and dynamic pressure. The sail and wind turbine taken together are held together by a lightweight frame. This combined unit is configured so that it may be raised and lowered, like a flag on a flagpole, under manual or automatic control.

The vTurbine(tm) solves the second and third problems by raising and lowering the turbine under:

a) the direct control of a human operator OR

b) under automatic control of a sensing, measuring and processing computer.

What's Different About the vTurbine(tm)

The vTurbine(tm) differs from US patent #4218175 by Carpenter by combining the following assets in a non-obvious way:

1) it uses a proven high efficient wind turbine blades that are available off the shelf, instead of a heavy, unwieldy and impractical helical airscrew that does not work efficiently.

2) Instead of using a heavy, rigid and impractical Laval nozzle, the vTurbine(tm) uses a sail. This sail is a lightweight fabric structure, that like the sail on a sailboat, channels the air to the turbine in an efficient manner.

3) the sail and the turbine are held together by a frame and mounted on a mast. The resulting assembly can be rapidly raised and lowered such that the optimal amount of wind is captured by the sail. In times of heavy wind the unit can be lowered - all the way to the ground if necessary. The sail can then be easily removed by releasing its affixing straps from the front and back supporting rings. In times of low wind the unit ascends to the top of the tower seeing the fastest winds for optimal power generation.

Improvements and New Features
The invention improves on previous wind turbines by using a sail that is a lightweight tensile structure. The sail and turbine are affixed to the tower by a lightweight frame. This assembly can be raised and lowered easily.

How Does the Invention Work

The Invention works by the venturi effect which states that in low speed wind conditions that the product of velocity and cross-sectional area are a constant. The result is that a wide capture area converts a low speed wind into a small cross-sectional area of high speed wind where the turbine can do its job most efficiently.

The windspeed is monitored by instruments and the unit is raised and lowered to maximize the power generated, subject to the constraint of the system operating at the correct speed and remaining intact.

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My invention is used for reducing the cost of electricity generated from wind in geographic areas that have low average wind speeds.

My invention is used for reducing the cost and difficulty of inspecting, servicing, maintaining and repairing wind turbines.

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The parts of my invention consist of:

a sail that collects wind and directs it into the turbine. 

a frame upon which the sail and turbine are mounted.

a mast upon which the sail and turbine can be raised and lowered.

rigging similar to that of a flagpole which allows the unit to be raised and lowered.

a counterweight that allows the unit to be in balance, like the counterweight on an elevator.

a wind speed measuring device - an anemometer - which monitors the windspeed and sends it to a controller.

a controller which raises and lowers the vTurbine(tm) assembly

a monopole on which the vTurbine assembly is mounted.

an electrical generator, alternator or dynamo, that converts the motion of the wind turbine blades into electricity.

wiring that joins the electrical generator to a junction box for transmission of power from the unit to the load

a housing that protects the generator, alternator or dynamo from rain, dust, insects, bird, bats and other debris.