Vertical Converging Nozzle Wind Intake Eliminates Yaw Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wind-energy conversion systems face challenges with high maintenance costs, low efficiency, excessive noise, and vibration due to complex and costly turbines with long blades, which require significant maintenance and often fail prematurely, especially with their gearbox components and yaw systems.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a wind-energy conversion system featuring a substantially vertical converging nozzle with an object extending into it, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle, which can include vanes and be adjustable, allowing for the acceleration of wind and elimination of the need for yaw systems by accepting wind from various directions through multiple inlets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If long turbine blades are used to increase power generation, then power generation efficiency is improved, but maintenance costs and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the turbine blade component from the system by using a direct wind-to-generator configuration where wind flows through a nozzle system that directly drives the generator, removing the need for long blades and their associated maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical turbine blade system with a fluid dynamic nozzle system that uses pressure differentials and flow convergence to directly drive the generator, eliminating the mechanical complexity of long blades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If long turbine blades are used to increase power generation, then power generation efficiency is improved, but noise and vibration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the turbine blades that generate noise and vibration, replacing them with a nozzle-based system that converts wind energy through pressure differentials without the mechanical motion that causes harmful noise and vibration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical rotating blade system with a stationary nozzle system that uses fluid dynamics to drive the generator, eliminating the mechanical vibrations and noise associated with long blade rotation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If gearbox components are used to increase rotational speed, then generator compatibility is improved, but reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational speedVSAvoidgearbox failure rate

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the gearbox from the system by using a nozzle design that directly generates the required rotational speed through flow convergence and pressure differentials, removing the gear train and its associated reliability issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical gear-based speed multiplication system with a fluid dynamic system where the nozzle geometry and flow characteristics directly produce the required rotational speed, eliminating the gearbox and improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If yaw systems are used to turn turbine into the wind, then wind capture efficiency is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind capture efficiencyVSAvoidyaw system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the yaw system by using multiple nozzles positioned to capture wind from various directions simultaneously, removing the need for active rotation and directional control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements multiple nozzles that can each capture wind from different directions, making the system universally effective across varying wind directions without requiring active yaw adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This design enhances efficiency by accelerating wind, reduces maintenance needs, and minimizes noise and vibration, while allowing for flexible operation and reduced costs by eliminating the need for complex yaw systems and long blades.

Implementation Method 1

a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConverging flow acceleration: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9291148B2Intake assemblies for wind-energy conversion systems and methods

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 SHEER WIND INC

AI summary

An intake assembly for a wind-energy conversion system has a substantially vertical converging nozzle, an object extending into the nozzle, and a converging flow passage between the object and the nozzle. For some embodiments, the object may be another nozzle. There may be vanes in one or both nozzles in further embodiments. The object may be configured to move in yet other embodiments.