Wind power generation system

Abstract

A wind power generation system that is useful in various ways for use with existing buildings such as buildings. This system has one or more wind-catching funnel arranged at the roof of an existing building or at a first position of an existing building adjacent thereto. An air pressure-driven rotor is mechanically coupled to a generator at a second position of an existing building such as inside or on the ground surface. A conduit fluidly connects the one or more wind-catching funnels at the first position to the air pressure-driven rotor at the second position of the existing building.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind power generation system. In particular, the present invention relates to a wind power generation system that is useful in various ways for attachment to existing structures such as buildings or towers, but is not limited thereto.

Background Art

[0002] References to background art in this specification should not be construed as an admission that such technology forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] As large-scale electrification continues worldwide, power generation has become an increasingly important issue, particularly with new loads such as electric vehicles. With climate change, there is significant pressure towards renewable power generation methods. Various forms of wind turbines have been developed to harness the power of the wind. These typically take the form of tall towers with very large blades (often over 50 m and in some cases over 100 m in length) that rotate in open fields, on hills, at sea, or other locations with relatively stable wind patterns. However, such large-scale installations are very expensive, require large areas of land, are often in remote locations and require power distribution, thereby adding significantly to complexity, cost, and reduced efficiency. Additionally, they cause significant noise pollution and are ineffective at high wind speeds.

[0004] In recent years, consumer-driven distributed generation has grown with the emergence of low-cost solar installations that homeowners can install on their rooftops. A significant drawback of such systems is that they only generate power during daylight hours when the sun is shining. At night, electricity must be drawn from the power grid or some form of energy storage device such as a home battery that can be charged during the day. Overall, this has significantly altered the load profile of the power grid and caused problems with existing power distribution and generation infrastructure.

[0005] Unlike sunlight, wind power generation has the potential to utilize the power of the wind 24 hours a day. Small wind turbines can be seen, for example, on boats and caravans. However, their power generation capacity is limited and they cannot supply power to houses, factories, office buildings in cities, or supply significant power to the power grid. Their designs do not easily scale up to increase power generation and at least inherit some of the significant drawbacks of large wind turbines (such as the considerable size required, noise pollution, tower costs, etc.).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The proposed model of a small wind power generation system can divide the components of wind power generation into three separate functional components. This system recognizes that there may be a wind transmission stage between the wind collection device and the wind treatment device that processes wind into electrical energy. For example, the individual components between a funnel (i.e., ventilation duct) type wind collector and a generator may be wind conductors. By including wind conductors, it is possible to facilitate the diverse use of smaller and cheaper components that enable economical power production from small-scale components.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a wind power generation system that overcomes or improves one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks or problems, or at least provides a useful alternative.

[0008] Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In one form, although it need not be the only form or actually the broadest form, a wind power generation system that is useful in various ways for use with existing buildings such as buildings is provided. The wind power generation system that is useful in various ways is One or more wind-catching funnels disposed at a first location of an existing building, A pneumatically driven rotor mechanically coupled to a generator at a second location of the existing building, A conduit fluidly connecting one or more wind-catching funnels at the first location of the existing building to the pneumatically driven rotor at the second location of the existing building and having.

[0010] The conduit can be attached to the existing building. The conduit can be attached outside the existing building. The conduit can be attached to the wall of the existing building. The conduit can be attached to the roof of the existing building. The existing building may be a building. The building may be a house, a factory, an office building, a high-rise building, etc. The existing building may be a tower. The first location may be on or near the roof of the existing building. The second location may be located inside the existing building. The second location may be located on or near the ground surface of the existing building.

[0011] One or more wind-catching funnels can be rotatably attached to the conduit. One or more wind-catching funnels can be rotatably attached to the conduit via an annular swirling connection through which air can move. One or more wind-catching funnels have a filter. The filter may have a mesh. The filter may have gauze.

[0012] A wind power generation system that is useful in various ways can further include one or more pressure relief valves. One or more pressure relief valves may be in fluid communication with the conduit. One or more pressure relief valves can be configured to release air pressure from inside the conduit when the air pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum value. One or more pressure relief valves can release excess pressure into the atmosphere. One or more pressure relief valves may be disposed at one or more positions along the conduit.

[0013] The pneumatically driven rotor can have a plurality of pneumatically driven rotors. The plurality of pneumatically driven rotors may be arranged in series. The pneumatically driven rotor can reduce its diameter along the series in the direction of the air flow. The plurality of pneumatically driven rotors arranged in series can be aligned axially. The plurality of pneumatically driven rotors may be located within a casing. Each of the plurality of pneumatically driven rotors can be mechanically coupled to its own generator at a second position. The casing may be tapered between each rotor. The casing may be tapered between each rotor in consideration of reducing the diameter of the rotor along the series. The casing may be tapered between each rotor in consideration of reducing the diameter of the rotor along the series, in order to feed air (in a bellows-like manner) into the casing as the size of the rotor reduces. Each rotor can be attached to the shaft of a separate generator. Each generator may be centrally held within the casing by a support column.

[0014] The pneumatically driven rotor can have at least three blades. The blades of the pneumatically driven rotor may be curved or angled. The blades of the pneumatically driven rotor can have overlapping portions. The blades of the pneumatically driven rotor can have overlapping edges.

[0015] One or more wind-catching funnels can have a rudder. The rudder may be a tail rudder. The funnel may have a face. The face may have a largely open end. The rudder may be attached on the side opposite to the largely open end of the funnel. The rudder can be configured to direct the face of the funnel towards the prevailing wind. The funnel may have a circular cross-section. The ends of the funnel may have a square cross-section or other shapes.

[0016] The generator can be arranged coaxially with the pneumatically driven rotor. The generator may be integrated with the pneumatically driven rotor. The generator may be located at the center of the pneumatically driven rotor. The pneumatically driven rotor and the generator may be mechanically coupled by a common shaft.

[0017] In another form, a method of installing and using a wind power generation system, which is useful in various ways, in an existing building such as a building is provided. This method includes the step of attaching conduits to one or more of the walls and roofs of the existing building; the step of installing one or more wind-catching funnel(s) at one or more inlets of the conduits at a first location of the existing building; the step of fluidly connecting a pneumatically driven rotor to an outlet of the conduit at a second location of the existing building; the step of generating electricity using a generator mechanically coupled to the pneumatically driven rotor, using the wind pressure received by one or more wind-catching funnel(s); and

[0018] This method can further include a method of fluidly connecting one or more additional pneumatically driven rotors in series at a second location of the existing building, each pneumatically driven rotor being mechanically coupled to its own generator. The pneumatically driven rotors can be arranged in series inside a casing. The pneumatically driven rotors can have their diameters reduced along the series. The step of attaching conduits to one or more of the walls and roofs of the existing building can include the step of attaching the conduits outside the existing building.

[0019] This method can further include the step of transmitting the electricity generated by the generator to one or more of a storage battery or a power grid. The variously useful wind power generation system used in this method is preferably as described above. Each generator can have a rotor attached to its shaft that is centrally held within a casing by a support column. The casing may be tapered between each rotor to account for reducing the diameter of the rotor along a series. Due to the casing being tapered, air can be fed into the casing as the size of the rotor decreases.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

[0021] By way of example only, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a variously useful wind power generation system 10 attached to an existing building in the form of a building 20. This includes a wind capture funnel 100, a wind conductor pipe in the form of a conduit 200, and an air-driven rotor generator system 300 that will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0024] The wind-catching funnel 100 has a large open end 102 with an attached filter 104. A front view of the filter 104, which shows mesh or gauze, is provided at "A". The funnel 100 is rotatably attached to the inlet of the conduit 200 via a rotatable fixture 106. The rotatable fixture 106 enables the funnel 100 to pivot with respect to the conduit 200, allowing the funnel to rotate and always face the direction of the prevailing wind.

[0025] The funnel 100 also has a tail-ladder 108 on the side opposite the open end 102 of the funnel 100 to direct the open face of the funnel 100 towards the prevailing wind, and has a filter 104 on the open face to deflect debris and other foreign objects from entering.

[0026] The conduit 200 is attached to the wall 22 and roof 24 of the building 20. The conduit 200 can be of any suitable length and take any suitable path as long as it fluidly connects the funnel 100 at a first location of the building 20 to the air-driven power generation system 300 at a second location of the building 20. The conduit 200 provides fluid communication of the wind collected by the funnel 100 to the air-driven power generation system 300.

[0027] The conduit 200 can be constructed of any suitable material, such as a steel pipe or plastic pipe, depending on the strength of the wind and the nature of the building 200 to which it is attached. The surface area of the wind-catching funnel 100 must be several times larger than the surface area of the conduit 200 so that the wind speed and / or air pressure can be significantly increased by using a conduit 200 with a much smaller cross-sectional surface area.

[0028] Figure 2 shows a wind power generation system 10 that is similar to the system shown in Figure 1 but has a plurality of wind-catching funnels 100 rotatably attached to a conduit 200. With this arrangement, the same conduit 200 can be oriented into the wind. It should be understood that more than two funnels 100 can be in fluid communication with the same conduit 200. This allows for a larger wind collection area and also allows the wind to be collected from more than one location.

[0029] It should be understood that the funnel 100 can be of any suitable shape, such as rectangular, square, or various shapes. By using funnels of various shapes, wind with a larger surface area can be directed towards wind with a smaller surface area, and thus the speed and / or air pressure of the wind can be increased. As the wind moves through the tapered funnel 100, the same amount of wind is fed into a smaller space, increasing the wind speed and / or pressure. More air in a smaller space means higher air pressure and faster air / wind movement. Three square meters of the surface area of the funnel 100 can be directed towards a conduit with an area of one square meter, and the speed of the wind moving through it can potentially triple.

[0030] Using a conductor tube with a cross-sectional area of 0.5 square meters with a funnel having a cross-sectional area of 6 square meters is expected to increase the wind speed by up to 24 times its initial speed. Thus, a 5-knot wind can produce a maximum wind speed of 120 knots within the conduit 200, enabling the production of significant power at relatively low wind speeds.

[0031] Figure 2 also shows a pressure relief valve 202 located within conduit 200. The pressure relief valve 202 is a safety mechanism configured to open when the air pressure within conduit 200 reaches a predetermined maximum value. It can prevent overly high-speed and / or high-pressure winds from overloading the air-driven power generation system 300. When the pressure relief valve 202 operates, overly high-speed and / or high-pressure winds can be released to the atmosphere. Since the pressure relief valve is only required in areas of very high-speed winds, it may be optional. Also, in some jurisdictions, it may be required as a safety feature. The pressure relief valve 202 is located at a corner of conduit 200 in Figure 2, but it is not limited thereby. It should be understood that the pressure relief valve 202 may be located elsewhere as long as it is in fluid communication with conduit 200. Further, it should be understood that two or more pressure relief valves 202 can be installed at various locations along conduit 200 and / or even within the air-driven power generation system 300.

[0032] Figure 3 shows the air-driven power generation system 300 in more detail. In fluid communication with conduit 200 is a rotor 302 mechanically coupled to a generator 350 via a common shaft 320. The rotor 302 has a plurality of blades 304. In a preferred form, there are at least three blades 304, and these blades have overlapping edges that generally cover the surface area of a casing 310 within which the rotor 302 is located, and are angled or curved. The generator 350 is mounted within the casing 310 by a support structure 352. The rotor 302 is suspended by the shaft 320 at the center within the casing 310. Electric wires 354 electrically connect the generator 350 to a battery system 360 or a power grid (not shown) via an inverter or the like. The air-driven power generation system 300 can be supported, for example, on a surface 332 such as the ground, a basement floor, or the top floor of a building, by a stand 330 that supports a casing 310 within which the rotor 302 and the generator 350 are disposed.

[0033] Figure 4 shows an air-driven power generation system 300 having a plurality of rotors 302 aligned in series along an axial axis. The second rotor 302 in series has a smaller diameter than the first rotor 302 in series. Correspondingly, the casing 310 is tapered between each rotor 302 to account for the reduction in the diameter of the rotors 302 along the series. Each rotor 302 has an associated generator 350. Alternatively, the plurality of rotors 302 can be connected to a single generator 350 along a common shaft. It should also be envisioned that one or more rotors 302 can be mechanically coupled to one or more generators 350 by alternative means such as, for example, belts, chains, and / or gears.

[0034] In this configuration, the wind from the first rotor moves into the casing 310 from the conduit 200 and can traverse the series of rotors 302. The second (and any additional rotors 302 and generators 350) are preferably slightly smaller in size than the previous rotor 302 and generator 350. Processing the wind multiple times can be achieved by confining and directing the air using an airtight tapered casing 310 as the size of the rotors 302 decreases. The casing 310 can be made from any suitable material including, for example, steel.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, using the inlet of the large casing 310, support beams shown in the form of struts 356 in cross-sectional view "A" of FIG. 4 can be provided inside the casing 310. The struts 356 can extend radially and preferably intersect each other at the center to add strength. The struts 356 are preferably narrow to minimize air resistance and allow air to flow through the casing 310 with minimal obstruction. As seen in cross-sectional view "B" of FIG. 4, the support structure 352 holding the generator 350 also preferably extends radially within the casing 310 to hold the generator 350 and thus the rotor 302 at its center.

[0036] In a preferred configuration, the rooftop 24 of a building in a windy area of an existing building is first selected. The conduit 200 is attached to the rooftop 24 by suitable fixtures such as steel straps bolted to the roof 24. The funnel 100 with the filter 104, the rotatable fixture 106, and the ladder 108 is connected to the conduit by suitable means such as welding or sealing and bolting. The conduit 200 with any safety valve 202 can extend to the casing 310 surrounding the rotor generator system 300 using a tube or the like. The assembly of the rotor 304 and the generator 350 can be bolted to the support structure 352 located inside the casing 310.

[0037] In use, the system 10 can be assembled in areas with strong winds where electricity is needed. One or more funnels 100 are provided with a filter 104 covering the open face of the funnel 100 and a ladder 108 for orienting the funnel 100 towards the prevailing wind, and are assembled on a rooftop 24 or other high location to collect and compress the incoming wind. The funnel 100 is connected to tubes of various shapes in the form of conduits 200 to transport the wind to a rotor generator system 300 located at a different position from the funnel 100. The conduit 200 can have pressure relief valves 202 positioned at one or more locations as needed. These pressure relief valves 202 serve to relieve excess pressure within the conduit 200 and prevent damage to the rotor generator system 300 and other components. The conveyed wind is directed into a casing 310 containing one or more rotors 302 and a generator 350. The rotors 302 and the generator 350 are supported within the casing 340 by a support structure 352. The support structure holds the rotors 302 and the generator 350 in fixed positions inside it and serves to prevent the blades 304 of the rotors 302 from connecting with the casing. The compressed wind is directed through the blades 304, which rotate the rotor 302 and then rotate a shaft mechanically coupled to the generator 350. The rotating shaft rotates the shaft 320, and the generator 350 converts mechanical energy into electricity, which can be conducted via electric wires 354 to either a storage battery 360 for power storage or a power grid for use by consumers.

[0038] Advantageously, a wind power generation system that is variously useful provides a small-scale and multi-purpose system that can overcome many of the deficiencies of large-scale wind power generation systems in remote locations. Smaller rotors are more economically viable and can be placed in cities, factories, farm sheds, houses, residential garages, etc. Smaller rotors located in the basements of quiet rooms or buildings are much quieter and more economically viable than huge rotors in remote locations. Furthermore, distributed generation can reduce transmission losses as more electricity can be consumed at or near the power generation source.

[0039] Unlike a residential rooftop solar system, a wind power generation system, which is useful in various ways, can generate electricity at night. The wind power generation system, which is useful in various ways, can be used in parallel with a rooftop solar system to increase and supplement power generation, providing more stable and reliable power generation over various days and seasons. It can be used to charge batteries or be connected to the power grid to export any excess electricity as needed.

[0040] By using two or more funnels connected to a common duct as a wind collection device, it becomes possible to convert a greater amount of air pressure into electricity than can be achieved by a single funnel of the same size. For example, the surface area of a series of funnels placed in a large shed may exceed the circumference of a city-based rotor blade. Furthermore, industrial wind turbines have rotor blades with large gaps between the blades. In contrast, a funnel wind collector does not have such gaps and thus captures all the wind flowing through it.

[0041] By using one or more funnels and ducts, it is also possible to capture wind from various locations. By using ducts for transmitting wind, it becomes possible to use a smaller rotor, and the generator can be placed in a convenient location, such as on the ground, or in a ceiling cavity of a house, or, for example, on the top floor of a high-rise building. The system can use a tower, but since there is no need to support the weight and load of the generator, it advantageously reduces the size, strength, and cost of the tower support system. A generator located on the building's foundation or, for example, under the roof of a building rooftop is easier and cheaper to access and maintain / repair than a rotor located on an industrial wind turbine, especially one located offshore.

[0042] The funnel and the conduit may be formed as necessary for manufacturing and functional purposes. As a result, the rotor and generator system can be placed in more convenient and cost-effective locations, such as the basement of a building or the top floor of a high-rise building. Improved accessibility in such locations reduces the costs of maintenance and repair.

[0043] By using two or more generators in series inside an airtight casing, it becomes possible to process the same amount of air two or three times (or more, although there are diminishing returns). Each rotor and generator can be placed in the same location on a separate, independent single shaft, separate from the combination of the next rotor and generator in the same series. This manufacturing method can enable the generation of a greater level of electricity from the same amount of wind compared to processing the wind only once.

[0044] By having a series of rotors and generators, each of the reduced-size rotors and generators enclosed within a common casing can process the air that has been electrically processed by the first rotor-generator system a second and third time by smaller rotors and generators. As a result, the amount of electricity generated from the same amount of wind can be increased. Processing the same amount of wind several times means that this wind turbine can increase the total power supply from low wind speeds and can meet the needs of small factories, residences, and farms. Urban dwellers may be able to supply their own electricity for home use and may even be able to charge electric vehicles.

[0045] Multiple funnel air collectors connected to one or more conduits 200 that transmit wind to one or more rotors and generators allow the system to have flexibility for adapting to a wide range of situations and wind speeds. The system can also be adapted to perform wind power generation at oil field drilling rigs, farms, wheat storage bins at ports, etc. A preferred objective of this system is to significantly increase the production and use of wind power and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.

[0046] Having a pressure relief valve can improve the safety and durability of the system by allowing excessively high-speed or high-pressure air to escape from the system. The pressure relief valve opens when the speed and / or pressure of the air in the conduit exceeds a predetermined maximum level. The pressure relief safety valve can prevent damage to the funnel, support structure, rotor, and generator due to excessive air conditions.

[0047] The filter on the funnel advantageously serves to prevent birds, insects, sticks, leaves, and other foreign objects from entering the funnel and then damaging the rotor or generator.

[0048] In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, upper and lower, etc. can be used only to distinguish one element or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying an actual such relationship or order. To the extent the context permits, references to an integer, or a component, or a step (or the like) should not be construed as being limited to only one of that integer, component, or step, but rather can be one or more of that integer, component, or step, etc.

[0049] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for the purpose of explanation to those skilled in the relevant art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As described above, many alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of wind power generation. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been specifically described, other embodiments will be apparent to or relatively easily developed by those skilled in the art. The present invention is intended to encompass all alternatives, modifications, and variations of the present invention described herein, as well as other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above invention.

[0050] As used herein, an element or act described in the singular and preceded by the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding a plurality of elements or acts unless explicitly stated to the contrary. Further, reference to "one embodiment" of the present disclosure is not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0051] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," or similar terms are intended to mean non-exclusive inclusion, such that a method, system, or apparatus that has a list of elements does not include only those elements but may well include other elements not listed.

Claims

**Claim 1** A wind power generation system useful in various ways for use with an existing building such as a building, One or more wind capture funnels arranged at a first position of the existing building, A plurality of pneumatically driven rotors, each pneumatically driven rotor being attached to the shaft of its respective generator at a second position of the existing building, the plurality of pneumatically driven rotors and generators being arranged in series inside a casing and having diameters decreasing along the series, a plurality of pneumatically driven rotors, A conduit fluidly connecting the one or more wind capture funnels at the first position of the existing building to the casing, the pneumatically driven rotor at the second position of the existing building, and the generator And having, Each generator is held centrally within the casing by a support, and the casing is tapered between each rotor for the decreasing diameter of the rotor along the series and for allowing air to flow within the casing as the size of the rotor decreases, a wind power generation system useful in various ways. **Claim 2** The conduit is attached to the existing building and extends outside the existing building, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The one or more wind capture funnels are rotatably attached to the conduit, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to claim 1 or 2. **Claim 4** The one or more wind capture funnels have a filter at the wind capture funnel inlet, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to any one of claims 1 to 3. **Claim 5** Further comprising one or more pressure relief valves in fluid communication with the conduit, the one or more pressure relief valves being configured to release air pressure from inside the conduit when the air pressure inside the conduit exceeds a predetermined maximum value, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to any one of claims 1 to 4. **Claim 6** The plurality of pneumatically driven rotors and generators arranged in series are axially aligned, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to any one of claims 1 to 5. **Claim 7** Each of the plurality of pneumatically driven rotors is mechanically coupled to its own generator at the second position, the wind power generation system useful in various ways according to any one of claims 1 to 6. **Claim 8** The pneumatically driven rotor is at least three blades that are curved or angled, having at least three blades with overlapping portions, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The existing building is a building, and the conduit is attached to one or more of the walls and roof of the building, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The first position is on or near the roof of the building, and the second position is located inside the building or adjacent to the building, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Each of the one or more wind-catching funnels has a ladder, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Each generator is arranged coaxially with each pneumatically driven rotor, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Each pneumatically driven rotor and generator are arranged in the same place on a single independent shaft separate from the combination of the next rotor and generator in the same series, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A plurality of wind-catching funnels are fluid-connected to the same conduit at different positions, for the variously useful wind power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A method of installing and using a variously useful wind power generation system in an existing building such as a building, the step of attaching a conduit to one or more of the walls and roof of the existing building; the step of installing one or more wind-catching funnels at one or more inlets of the conduit at a first position of the existing building; the step of fluid-connecting a casing including a plurality of pneumatically driven rotors to an outlet of the conduit at a second position of the existing building, wherein the plurality of pneumatically driven rotors are arranged in series inside the casing and the diameter decreases along the series, and the casing is tapered between each rotor for the decreasing diameter of the rotor and for flowing air into the casing as the size of the rotor decreases. A step of using a plurality of generators to generate electricity using the wind pressure received by the one or more wind capture funnel, wherein each generator has a pneumatically driven rotor attached to its shaft and is centrally held within the casing by a support column, and A method, comprising. **Claim 16** The method according to claim 15, wherein the step of attaching a conduit to one or more of the walls and roofs of the existing building comprises attaching the conduit to the outside of the existing building. **Claim 17** The method according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising the step of transmitting the electricity generated by the generator to one or more of a battery or a power grid. **Claim 18** The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the variously useful wind power generation system is the one described in any one of claims 1 to 14. **Claim 19** The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein a plurality of wind capture funnels are fluidly connected to the same conduit at different positions.

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