Transverse-Axis Torque Turbine With S-Shaped Flow Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transverse-axis turbines face challenges in harsh environments due to turbulence and debris impact, affecting their survivability and power generation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotor with interconnected s-shaped surfaces that form a shielded core, redirecting fluid flow to enhance torque and protect internal components, using an Euler spiral segment for smooth flow transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional turbine designs are used in harsh environments, then structural simplicity is maintained, but survivability against turbulence and debris impact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where an inner rotor is positioned within an outer rotor, both rotating about the same axis. The inner rotor has blades that extend radially outward, while the outer rotor has blades that extend radially inward, creating a protected configuration where the inner rotor is shielded by the outer rotor structure from turbulence and debris impact, thereby improving survivability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine is divided into two separate rotor systems (inner rotor and outer rotor) that can be independently designed and optimized. This segmentation allows each rotor to be tailored for specific functions - the outer rotor providing structural protection while the inner rotor focuses on power generation efficiency, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity
2Power
If rotor geometry is optimized for power generation, then power coefficient improves, but vulnerability to turbulence and debris impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The nested rotor configuration places the power-generating inner rotor within the protective envelope of the outer rotor. The outer rotor's blade structure acts as a shield that deflects turbulence and debris away from the more vulnerable inner rotor blades, allowing the inner rotor to be optimized for high power coefficient without direct exposure to harmful environmental factors
Solution Approach 2:
The outer rotor serves as an intermediary element between the environmental hazards (turbulence and debris) and the power-generating inner rotor. It intercepts and mitigates the harmful effects before they reach the inner rotor, enabling the inner rotor to maintain optimized geometry for power generation while being protected from damage
3Reliability
If shielded core size is increased for better protection, then survivability improves, but rotor diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested configuration allows the shielded core (inner rotor) to be positioned concentrically within the outer rotor structure. This nesting enables effective protection with a compact overall diameter, as the protective outer rotor shares the same rotational space rather than requiring additional radial clearance, thus improving survivability without proportionally increasing rotor diameter
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves power coefficient and performance in turbulent conditions while enhancing structural robustness and survivability, allowing for scalable use in air or water environments.
Implementation Method 1
The geometry of the shaped surface redirects the fluid flow along its surface directly into the oncoming flow at the surface's outer end when the outer end of one shaped surface points into the fluid flow providing torque to the turbine rotor.
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of interconnected shaped surfaces forms a shell, providing space for a shielded core within the rotor. The shielded core provides protection from the turbulence and debris of the fluid flow to rotating and stationary elements of the turbine placed within.
Data Source
AI summary
A Savonius-type rotor assembly is improved by utilizing a plurality of blades, shaped and interconnected by a plurality of shaped surfaces, forming a rotor shell exposed to a flowing fluid that efficiently redirects the surface flow along each shaped surface directly against the flowing fluid at its blade tip as each blade tip is pointed directly into the flowing fluid. Each shaped skin surface has a concave section and a convex section. The concave section of each shaped surface forms the concave portion of one blade, and the convex section of the same shaped surface forms the convex portion of an adjacent blade. On a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the rotor axis, each shaped surface follows an s-shape, and the concave section substantially follows an Euler spiral segment that is tangent at its outer end to the circumference of the rotor.