Vertical Axis Wind Turbines in Building Plenum Spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building designs fail to effectively generate enough on-site energy to achieve energy neutrality, despite previous attempts at incorporating wind-powered systems, as they are not capable of producing sufficient electricity to meet the energy demands of modern buildings.
Innovation Solution
A building design incorporating a radial turbine assembly within a plenum space, configured to rotate about a vertical axis, coupled with a conventional electricity generator, and featuring a wind screen to enhance performance, allowing for efficient wind energy conversion and electricity generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wind turbines are incorporated into buildings, then on-site energy generation capability is improved, but the energy generation amount remains insufficient to achieve energy neutrality
Solution Approach 1:
The building is divided into multiple floors with plenum spaces between them, and each plenum space can potentially host wind turbine assemblies. This segmentation allows the building to utilize wind energy generation across multiple levels rather than relying on a single location, thereby increasing the total energy generation capacity while maintaining the building's structural integrity and aesthetic design.
2Use of energy by moving object
If wind turbines are integrated into building structures, then energy generation is improved, but the integration efficiency with building architecture is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine assemblies are merged with the building's architectural structure by positioning them within plenum spaces between floors. This integration combines the energy generation function with the building's existing structural elements, eliminating the need for separate, externally mounted turbine systems and achieving a more efficient integration that serves both aesthetic and functional purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The plenum spaces between floors serve multiple functions: they provide structural separation between floors, accommodate building systems, and host wind turbine assemblies for energy generation. This multi-functionality increases integration efficiency by utilizing existing architectural spaces for dual purposes rather than requiring dedicated spaces solely for energy generation equipment.
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 design enables buildings to generate a significant portion of their energy requirements, with estimates suggesting 10% of power at 13 mph wind and 100% at 28 mph wind, making the building energy-neutral.
Implementation Method 1
a radial turbine assembly positioned within the plenum space, wherein the radial turbine assembly is configured to rotate about a vertical axis
Implementation Method 2
The radial turbine assembly drives a conventional electricity generator
Data Source
AI summary
A building with an integrated wind-powered electricity generation system includes a plurality of floors, wherein each of the plurality of floors includes inhabitable space. The building further includes a plenum space between adjacent ones of the plurality of floors and a plurality of vertical axis wind turbines, wherein each of the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines is positioned within a separate plenum space. The building further includes at least one electricity generator operably coupled to the plurality of vertical axis wind turbines. At least one of the vertical axis wind turbines includes a wind screen extending around a portion of the outer circumference of the vertical axis wind turbine.