United S ta tes Pa tent

US 007315093B2
( 12) ( 10) Pa tent N 0. : US 7,315,093 B2
Gra ha m, S r. ( 4 5) Da te o f Pa tent: J a n. 1, 2008
( 54 ) WIN D TURBIN E S YS TEM FOR BUILDIN GS 2005/024 2590 A1* 11/2005 Za mbra no et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 290/4 4
2006/0037319 A1* 2/2006 Ka uf ma n . . . . . . . . . . 60/651
Invento r: J o hn l ? I Gra ha m, S r , Bee Ca ves * R? Zl el . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rd S uite 204 Aus tin TX( Us ) 7874 6 2006/0170222 A1* 8/2006 Za mbra no et a 1. 290/55
2007/00184 62 A1* 1/2007 Richa rds et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290/55
( * ) N o tice: S ubj ect' to a ny dis cl a imer, the term o f this FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
p a tent 1s extended o r a dj us ted under 35
U. S . C. 154 ( 1) ) by 0 da y s . GB 24 04 700 A * 2/2005
J P 2001153025 A * 6/2001
( 21) Ap p 1_ N O; 11/379,089 J P 2001193631 A * 7/2001
J P 2005207288 A * 8/2005
( 22) Frl ed: Ap r. 18, 2006 * Cited by exa miner
( 65) Prio r Publ ica tio n Da ta Prima ry Exa mineril o s ep h Wa ks
Us 2 AZZOI I IEy , Ag ent, 01' ' FirmiLa W Of ? ces Of Ma rk Berrier
Rel a ted US . Ap p l ica tio n Da ta
( 57) ABS TRACT
( 60) Pro vis io na l a p p l ica tio n N o . 60/763,615, ? l ed o n J a n.
31, 2006 S y s tems a nd metho ds f o r ca p turing the energ y o f Wind
currents by p l a cing Wind-driven turbines a t o ne o r mo re
( 51) Int Cl edg es o f a buil ding s ro o f , Where the Wind currents a re
F 03D 9/ 00 ( 2006-01) co ncentra ted by de? ectio n o f the Wind o iT the ho riz o nta l
( 52) US . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290/55; 290/4 4 f a ces Of the buil ding In o ne embo diment a cy hndrica l Wind
( 58) Fiel d Of Cl a S S i? Ca tiOH S ea rch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290/55 turbine is p l a ced a t the edg e o f a buil ding s ro o f to p . The
S ee a p p l ica tio n ? l e f o r co mp l ete s ea rch his to ry . turbine s tructure drives a n el ectrica l g enera to r. The a xis o f
( 56) Ref erences Cited ro ta tro n o f the turbrne 1s p a ra l l el to the g ro und a nd to the
US . PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
edg e o f the buil ding . A co ncentra to r ma y be us ed to direct
ris ing Winds into the turbine. Turbines ca n be ins ta l l ed o n
mul tip l e s ides o f the buil ding to o p timiz e the s y s tem f o r
V a ria tio ns in Wind directio n With cha ng es in s ea s o ns o r
6 Cl a ims , 5 Dra wing S heets
3,956,902 A * 5/1976 Fiel ds , J r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62/33
4 ,019,828 A * 4 /1977 BunZer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 16/55 Wea ther Co nditio ns
6,590,363 B2* 7/2003 Tera mo to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320/101 '
7,084 ,520 B2* 8/2006 Za mbra no et a 1. 290/4 4
7,276,809 B2* 10/2007 Za mbra no et a 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 290/55
1]
I
335 ;
\
330
32% 337
% //////
310
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1, 2008 S heet 1 0f 5 US 7,315,093 B2
Wind f l o w
Buil ding
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1, 2008 S heet 2 0f 5 US 7,315,093 B2
Wind f l o w
I
Buil ding
Fig . 1B
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1, 2008 S heet 3 0f 5 US 7,315,093 B2
Wind f l o w
230
@ f
220
Buil ding
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1, 2008 S heet 4 0f 5 US 7,315,093 B2
US 7,315,093 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 1 2008 S heet 5 o f 5
Fig . 4
US 7,315,093 B2
1
WIN D TURBIN E S YS TEM FOR BUILDIN GS
RELATED APPLICATION S
This a p p l ica tio n cl a ims the bene? t o f US . Pro vis io na l
Pa tent Ap p l ica tio n S er. N o . 60/763,615 by J o hn F. Gra ha m,
? l ed J a n. 31, 2006, Which is hereby inco rp o ra ted by ref er
ence a s if s et f o rth herein in its entirety .
BACKGROUN D
1. Fiel d o f the Inventio n
The inventio n rel a tes g enera l l y to Wind turbines , a nd
mo re p a rticul a rl y to s y s tems a nd metho ds f o r p o s itio ning
Wind turbines a t the edg es o f buil ding ro o f s in o rder to
util iZe co ncentra ted Wind ? o W a t the edg e o f the ro o f f o r
p urp o s es s uch a s el ectricity g enera tio n.
2. Rel a ted Art
Wind turbines o f ma ny ty p es ha ve been us ed to g enera te
el ectricity in a va riety o f Wa y s . The p rio r a rt des cribes
turbines in a va riety o f l o ca tio ns incl uding na tura l ridg el
ines , o p en ? el ds , mes a s a nd o n s hip s . Recent des ig n co n
cep ts f o r rebuil ding the Wo rl d Tra de Center s ho Wed p l a ns to
inco rp o ra te Wind turbines in tha t s tructure to ha rnes s the
el ectrica l g enera ting p o Wer o f p a s s ing Winds . Thes e turbines
f o r g enera ting el ectricity ta ke ma ny f o rms incl uding the
f o l l o wing :
H o riz o nta l Axis Turbines ( tra ditio na l -l o o king Windmil l s )
o p era te With f a n-l ike ro to rs tha t l o o k l ike a irp l a ne p ro p el l ers
tha t f a ce into o r a Wa y f ro m the Wind. The H o riz o nta l Axis
Turbine is the mo s t co mmo n turbine co n? g ura tio n us ed
to da y .
The Da rrieus Turbine Which l o o ks ro ug hl y cy l indrica l ,
With Wind-ca tching bl a des tha t s p a n the l eng th o f the cy l
inder o f ten des cribed a s l o o king l ike a n eg g bea ter. This
vertica l a xis turbine ha s vertica l bl a des tha t ro ta te into a nd
o ut o f the Wind, the bl a des a re p l a ced ro ug hl y p a ra l l el in a n
a rc to the a xis . Guy ca bl es a re us ua l l y us ed to keep the
turbine erect. In a dditio n to keep ing the turbine erect, the
ca bl es imp o s e a l a rg e thrus t l o a ding o n the ma in turbine
bea ring s , ca us ing increa s ed Wea r o n the bea ring s . With this
ty p e o f turbine, rep l a cing ma in bea ring s req uires tha t the
turbine be ta ken do Wn. The Da rrieus Wa s invented in the
1920 s a nd is no t Widel y us ed to da y .
The Da rrieus Turbine is a l s o rel a ted to ma chines With
s tra ig ht vertica l a xis bl a des ca l l ed Giro mil l s o r cy cl o turbines
Which us e a Wind va ne to mecha nica l l y o rient a bl a de p itch
cha ng e mecha nis m. They Were des ig ned to be mo unted o n
a to Wer o r o ther device. The cy l co turbine Wa s ma rketed
co mmercia l l y f o r s evera l y ea rs , but never p ro g res s ed
bey o nd the res ea rch s ta g e.
The S a vo nius Turbine is S -s ha p ed if vieWed f ro m a bo ve.
The turbine turns rel a tivel y s l o Wl y , but y iel ds hig h to rq ue. It
ha s been p ro ven us ef ul f o r p ump ing Wa ter a nd o ther ta s ks ,
but its s l o W ro ta tio na l s p eeds ha ve no t been p ro ven to
g enera te el ectricity co s t ef f ectivel y f ro m Wind p o Wer.
The p res ent ty p es o f turbines in co mmercia l us e a re
g enera l l y dep l o y ed in o p en ? el ds o r mes a s , a s f a r f ro m
Wind-s l o Wing o bs tructio ns a s p o s s ibl e to a l l o W Wind to
s trike their a irf o il s o r bl a des a t ma ximum s p eed. They a re
ra is ed a bo ve the g ro und a s much a s p o s s ibl e to bring the
a irf o il s a Wa y f ro m Wind-s l o Wing g ro und ef f ects .
Aug mento rs o r co ncentra to rs ha ve a l s o been devel o p ed to
try to co ncentra te Wind o nto the turbines , but they ha ve no t
been p ro ven to be eco no mica l l y s ucces s f ul in co mmercia l
us e.
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S UMMARY OF TH E IN V EN TION
This dis cl o s ure is directed to s y s tems a nd metho ds f o r
us ing Wind turbines tha t s o l ve o ne o r mo re o f the p ro bl ems
dis cus s ed a bo ve. One embo diment co mp ris es a s y s tem f o r
ca p turing the energ y o f Wind currents by p l a cing Wind
driven turbines a t o ne o r mo re edg es o f a buil ding s ro o f ,
Where the Wind currents a re co ncentra ted by de? ectio n o f
the Wind o f f the vertica l f a ces o f the buil ding .
In o ne embo diment, a p o Wer-g enera ting Wind turbine
s tructure is p l a ced a t ( o n o r nea r) the edg e o f a buil ding s
ro o f to p . The device ma y emp l o y a va riety o f dif f erent
turbine s ty l es , incl uding s tra ig ht-Wing o r cy l indrica l ty p es
( a s Wil l be des cribed in mo re deta il bel o W,) p ro p el l er-s ty l e,
o r a ny o ther ty p e. The a xis o f ro ta tio n is p a ra l l el to the
g ro und a nd p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the buil ding . The p l a ce
ment o f the turbine s tructure nea r the edg e o f the buil ding
a l l o Ws it to us e the buil ding Wa l l a s a p a s s ive co ncentra to r
to f unnel Wind up the f a ce o f the buil ding a nd into the
turbine s tructure. A co ncentra to r ma y be us ed to hel p ca tch
a nd direct ris ing Winds into the turbine. Turbines ca n be
ins ta l l ed o n mul tip l e s ides o f the buil ding to o p timiZe the
s y s tem f o r va ria tio ns in Wind directio n With cha ng es in
s ea s o ns o r Wea ther co nditio ns .
In o ne embo diment, the Wind turbine ha s a cy l indrica l
turbine s tructure, a nd the turbine is o riented With its a xis
p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the ro o f . The Wind turbine ma y be
p o s itio ned a dj a cent to a p a ra p et Wa l l , s o tha t the p a ra p et Wa l l
s creens a t l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the neg a tive Wind ? o W f ro m the
turbine a s the bl a des ro ta te. A de? ecto r ma y be a tta ched to
the p a ra p et Wa l l o r the turbine its el f to redirect the co ncen
tra ted Wind ? o W to Wa rd a des ired p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine
to increa s e e? iciency . In o ne embo diment, the Wind turbine
is co up l ed to a g enera to r Which g enera tes el ectricity When
driven by the Wind turbine. The s y s tem ma y incl ude a
co ncentra to r to redirect Wind ? o W o ver the edg e o f the ro o f
to a des ired p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine. The co ncentra to r
ma y be a dj us ta bl y p o s itio ned to enha nce o r s p o il Wind ? o W
to the Wind turbine. The s y s tem ma y a l s o incl ude s o l a r cel l s
mo unted o n the co ncentra to r a nd co n? g ured to g enera te
el ectricity f ro m s un l ig ht co nta cting them. The s y s tem ma y
f urther incl ude a de? ecto r p o s itio ned o n the s ide o f the Wind
turbine o p p o s ite the edg e o f the ro o f to redirect Wind ? o W
o rig ina ting o p p o s ite the edg e o f the ro o f to a des ired p o rtio n
o f the Wind turbine ena bl ing the turbine to util iZe the Wind
f ro m mul tip l e directio ns .
Yet a no ther embo diment co mp ris es a metho d incl uding
p ro viding a Wind turbine, mo unting the turbine o n a ro o f o f
a buil ding , a nd p o s itio ning the turbine a t the edg e o f the ro o f
Within Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by the
vertica l f a ce o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver the edg e
o f the ro o f . The metho d ma y f urther incl ude co ncentra ting o r
s p o il ing the ? o W o f Wind o nto the Wind turbine, driving a
g enera to r With the Wind turbine to g enera te el ectricity , a nd
co up l ing the Wind turbine to a s et o f s o l a r cel l s to g enera te
el ectricity in the a bs ence o f Wind, a mo ng o ther thing s .
N umero us o ther embo diments a re a l s o p o s s ibl e.
BRIEF DES CRIPTION OF TH E DRAWIN GS
Other o bj ects a nd a dva nta g es o f the inventio n ma y
beco me a p p a rent up o n rea ding the f o l l o Wing deta il ed
des crip tio n a nd up o n ref erence to the a cco mp a ny ing dra W
ing s .
FIGS . 1A a nd 1B a re dia g ra ms il l us tra ting Wind ? o W o ver
a buil ding .
US 7,315,093 B2
3
FIG. 2 is a dia g ra m il l us tra ting the p o s itio ning o f the Wind
turbine a t the edg e o f a buil ding to ta ke a dva nta g e o f the
co ncentra ted Wind ? o W in a cco rda nce With o ne embo di
ment.
FIG. 3 is a deta il ed dia g ra m il l us tra ting the s tructure o f a
Wind turbine s y s tem in a cco rda nce With o ne embo diment.
FIG. 4 is a dia g ra m il l us tra ting a revers e-Wind-? o W
de? ecto r a s us ed in o ne embo diment.
Whil e the inventio n is s ubj ect to va rio us mo di? ca tio ns
a nd a l terna tive f o rms , s p eci? c embo diments thereo f a re
s ho Wn by Wa y o f exa mp l e in the dra Wing s a nd the a cco m
p a ny ing deta il ed des crip tio n. It s ho ul d be unders to o d, ho W
ever, tha t the dra Wing s a nd deta il ed des crip tio n a re no t
intended to l imit the inventio n to the p a rticul a r embo diment
Which is des cribed. This dis cl o s ure is ins tea d intended to
co ver a l l mo di? ca tio ns , eq uiva l ents a nd a l terna tives f a l l ing
Within the s co p e o f the p res ent inventio n a s de? ned by the
a p p ended cl a ims .
DETAILED DES CRIPTION OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMEN TS
One o r mo re embo diments o f the inventio n a re des cribed
bel o W. It s ho ul d be no ted tha t thes e a nd a ny o ther embo di
ments des cribed bel o W a re exemp l a ry a nd a re intended to be
il l us tra tive o f the inventio n ra ther tha n l imiting .
As des cribed herein, va rio us embo diments o f the inven
tio n co mp ris e s y s tems a nd metho ds f o r ca p turing the energ y
o f Wind currents by p l a cing Wind-driven turbines a t o ne o r
mo re edg es o r the p erimeter o f a buil ding s ro o f , Where the
Wind currents a re co ncentra ted by de? ectio n o f the Wind o f f
the vertica l f a ces o f the buil ding .
In o ne embo diment, a n energ y g enera tio n s y s tem ma kes
us e o f a cy l indrica l turbine ha ving mul tip l e bl a des tha t a re
p a ra l l el to the a xis ( a xis o f ro ta tio n) o f the turbine. The
turbine is p o s itio ned o n the ro o f o f a buil ding , nea r the edg e
o f the ro o f o n its p erimeter. The turbine is o riented ho riZo n
ta l l y , With its a xis p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the ro o f . In this
embo diment, a p a ra p et Wa l l extends up Wa rd f ro m the edg e
o f the ro o f . The turbine is p o s itio ned behind the p a ra p et,
With the a xis o f the turbine a t ro ug hl y the s a me heig ht a s the
to p o f the p a ra p et, s o tha t the Wind co ming o ver the p a ra p et
hits the up p er p o rtio n o f the turbine a nd p us hes the turbine
bl a des a Wa y f ro m the edg e o f the ro o f . The l o Wer p o rtio n o f
the turbine is s hiel ded f ro m the Wind s o tha t the Wind ( a ir
eddies ) do es no t p us h a g a ins t the turbine bl a des a s they
ro ta te ba ck to Wa rd the edg e o f the ro o f .
As the Wind p us hes the bl a des o f the turbine, the bl a des
ro ta te o n a s ha f t tha t is o n the a xis o f the turbine. In this
embo diment, a p ul l ey ( o r g ea r) is a tta ched to the turbine
s ha f t s o tha t it ro ta tes With the s ha f t. The p ul l ey drives a bel t
o r cha in tha t in turn drives a g enera to r o r a l terna to r. The
g enera to r p ro duces el ectrica l current tha t ca n be us ed to
p o Wer el ectrica l circuits in the buil ding a nd/o r to recha rg e
ba tteries tha t ca n s to re the energ y f o r l a ter us e. This embo di
ment a l s o incl udes a Wind co ncentra to r tha t redirects a ddi
tio na l a ir? o W into the turbine. The co ncentra to r ma y be
des ig ned to a ct a s a s p o il er When the Wind s p eed a t the
turbine is to o hig h, to redirect the ? o W o f Wind currents
a p p ro a ching the turbine f ro m the ro o f ( ra ther tha n the s ide
o f the buil ding ,) o r to emp l o y s o l a r cel l s to g enera te a ddi
tio na l el ectricity .
Ref erring to FIG. 1A, a dia g ra m il l us tra ting Wind ? o W
o ver a buil ding is s ho Wn. In this ? g ure, the Wind is bl o Wing
f ro m the rig ht s ide o f the ? g ure to the l ef t s ide o f the ? g ure.
The Wind is rep res ented by the l ines With the a rro Whea ds . It
ca n be s een tha t the Wind is bl o Wing g enera l l y f ro m the rig ht
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s ide o f the ? g ure to the l ef t s ide o f the ? g ure ( a s indica ted
by the directio n o f the a rro Whea ds . As the Wind enters the
rig ht s ide o f the ? g ure, there a re no o bs tructio ns a bo ve the
g ro und ( 100,) s o the Wind directio n is es s entia l l y ho riZo nta l .
As the Wind a p p ro a ches buil ding 110 a nd p a ra p et Wa l l ( 120)
if p res ent, it is de? ected, s ince it ca nno t ? o W thro ug h the
buil ding . The Wind ca n o nl y ? o W up Wa rd a nd o ver the
buil ding , o r a ro und the buil ding . FIG. 1A s ho Ws tha t the
Wind Which is bl o cked by the buil ding turns up Wa rd. The
Wind Which is no t bl o cked by the buil ding co ntinues to ? o W
es s entia l l y ho riZo nta l l y . This es s entia l l y f unnel s the Wind
thro ug h a rel a tivel y na rro W s p a ce a t the edg e o f the ro o f .
This ef f ectivel y co ncentra tes the Wind currents a t the edg e o f
the ro o f a nd ca us es the Wind s p eed to be hig her a t this p o int
tha n a t a n o p en a nd uno bs tructed p o int o n the g ro und.
It s ho ul d a l s o be no ted tha t, When there is a p a ra p et Wa l l ,
the Wind crea tes a vo rtex o r circul a r mo tio n a t a certa in
dis ta nce f ro m the p a ra p et Wa l l dep ending o n its heig ht. The
hig her the p a ra p et Wa l l , the f urther the circul a r mo tio n
Wo ul d be f ro m the Wa l l . Then the Wind ca n beg in to ? o W
na tura l l y ho riZo nta l l y a g a in. This ef f ect is s ho Wn in FIG. 1B.
The p o s itio ning o f the turbine s tructure ma y be p o s itio ned to
ta ke a dva nta g e o f the circul a r mo tio n o f the Wind ca us ed by
the p a ra p et Wa l l .
Ref erring to FIG. 2, a dia g ra m il l us tra ting the p o s itio ning
o f the Wind turbine a t the edg e o f a buil ding to ta ke
a dva nta g e o f the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W a t this p o int is
s ho Wn. Ag a in, the Wind is s ho Wn ? o Wing f ro m the rig ht s ide
o f the ? g ure to the l ef t s ide o f the ? g ure, Where it is de? ected
by buil ding 210, ca us ing it to the co ncentra ted a t the edg e
221 o f the ro o f 220. Wind turbine s tructure 230 is p l a ced a t
the edg e o f the ro o f , Where the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W ca n
drive the turbine.
In this embo diment, Wind turbine 230 ha s a cy l indrica l
s tructure. ( FIG. 2 s ho Ws the end o f Wind turbine 230ithe
l eng th o f the Wind turbine extends into the p a g e. ) The a xis
o f Wind turbine 230 ( a ro und Which the turbine bl a des a re
driven by the Wind) is p a ra l l el to edg e 221 o f ro o f 220. As
indica ted in ? g ure, the bl a des o f Wind turbine 230 a re driven
in a co untercl o ckwis e directio n by the ? o W o f the Wind,
Which in this embo diment is s tro ng er a cro s s the to p o f the
turbine s tructure. The l eng th o f the cy l indrica l s tructure o f
Wind turbine 230 Wil l ty p ica l l y be determined by p ra ctica l
des ig n co ns idera tio ns , but o ne o r mo re turbines ma y extend
a l o ng the edg e o f the ro o f . If mo re tha n a s ing l e Wind turbine
is us ed, the turbines ma y be mecha nica l l y co up l ed to ea ch
o ther, o r they ma y o p era te indep endentl y .
Ref erring to FIG. 3, a mo re deta il ed dia g ra m il l us tra ting
the s tructure o f a Wind turbine s y s tem in a cco rda nce With
o ne embo diment is s ho Wn. In this ? g ure, Wind turbine
s tructure 330 is p o s itio ned a t the edg e o f ro o f 320 o f
buil ding 310. It s ho ul d be no ted tha t ref erences to the edg e
o f the ro o f s ho ul d be bro a dl y co ns trued to incl ude p o s itio ns
Which a re no t o nl y a t the j unctio n o f the ho riZo nta l ro o f 320
a nd vertica l f a ce 315 o f buil ding 310, but a l s o p o s itio ns
Which a re s u? icientl y cl o s e to this j unctio n to p l a ce the
bl a des o r p a ddl es o f the turbine s tructure a t l ea s t p a rtia l l y
Within the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W Which co mes o ver the
edg e o f the buil ding .
In this embo diment, Wind turbine s tructure 330 incl udes
a turbine p o rtio n 335 a nd a s up p o rt s tructure 336. As
dep icted in the FIG. 3, turbine p o rtio n 335 ha s a cy l indrica l
s tructure incl uding a s et o f bl a des ( eg 331) Which a re
s up p o rted by a rms ( eg 332) tha t a re co nnected to a centra l
hub 333. H ub 333 ro ta tes a ro und a n a xl e a t the a xis o f the
cy l indrica l s tructure, thereby a l l o Wing the turbine bl a des to
ro ta te a ro und this a xis a s Wel l . The a xl e is hel d by s up p o rt
US 7,315,093 B2
5
s tructure 336 Which, in this embo diment, co ns is ts o f a
s imp l e A -s ha p ed f ra me. S up p o rt s tructure 336 ma inta ins
the p o s itio ning o f turbine p o rtio n 335 With res p ect to the
Wind ? o W o ver the edg e o f the buil ding ( a s indica ted by the
a rro Ws . )
It s ho ul d be no ted tha t in o ne embo diment, turbine p o rtio n
335 incl udes tWo s ets o f bl a des tha t a re o f f s et f ro m ea ch
o ther, bo th a l o ng the a xis o f the turbine a nd a ng ul a rl y . Fo r
ins ta nce, ref erring to FIG. 3. o ne embo diment emp l o y s a
turbine p o rtio n 335 Which is eig ht f eet l o ng ( into the p a g e in
the ? g ure. ) A ? rs t s et o f three bl a des a nd s up p o rting a rms
( e. g . , 331 a nd 332) a re s ho Wn us ing s o l id l ines . Ea ch o f thes e
bl a des is f o ur f eet l o ng a nd theref o re extends a l o ng ha l f the
l eng th o f turbine p o rtio n 335. A s eco nd s et o f three bl a des
a nd s up p o rting a rms ( e. g . , 34 1 a nd 34 2) a re s ho Wn us ing
do tted l ines . Ea ch o f thes e bl a des is a l s o f o ur f eet l o ng , but
they a re p o s itio ned o n the o ther ha l f o f turbine p o rtio n 335.
S ince the tWo s ets o f turbine bl a des a re p o s itio ned o n
dif f erent ha l ves o f turbine p o rtio n 335, the bl a des o f the ea ch
s et do no t bl o ck the Wind to the bl a des o f the o ther s et.
Further, s ince the s ets o f bl a des a re a ng ul a rl y o f f s et ( by 60
deg rees in the ? g ure,) the bl a des o f o ne o f the tWo s ets Wil l
be mo re o p tima l l y p o s itio ned to ca tch the Wind a nd res ta rt
the s p inning o f the turbine a f ter it s to p s .
S up p o rt s tructure 336 a l s o incl udes a cro s s -bra ce 337
Which s erves bo th to s tif f en the s up p o rt s tructure a nd to
p ro vide a mo unting p o int f o r a g enera to r 34 0. Pul l ey s 334
a nd 338 a re p ro vided o n the turbine p o rtio n 335 a nd g en
era to r 34 0, res p ectivel y . A bel t 339 co up l es the tWo p ul l ey s
s o tha t When turbine p o rtio n 335 ( incl uding p ul l ey 334 )
ro ta tes , this drives bel t 339 Which in turn ro ta tes p ul l ey 338,
thereby driving the g enera to r a nd ca us ing it to g enera te
el ectricity .
S up p o rt s tructure 336 a l s o incl udes a cro s s -bra ce 337
Which s erves bo th to s tif f en the s up p o rt s tructure a nd to
p ro vide a mo unting p o int f o r a g enera to r 34 0. S tructure 337
ma y a l s o ha ve a co mp o nent to a dj us t the entire turbine s
p o s itio nithis Wo ul d ena bl e the turbine to ma ximiz e the
Winds co ntinua l cha ng e in directio n. Pul l ey s 334 a nd 338 a re
p ro vided o n the turbine p o rtio n 335 a nd g enera to r 34 0,
res p ectivel y . Abel t 339 co up l es the tWo p ul l ey s s o tha t When
turbine p o rtio n 335 ( incl uding p ul l ey 334 ) ro ta tes , this
drives bel t 339 Which in turn ro ta tes p ul l ey 338, thereby
driving the g enera to r a nd ca us ing it to g enera te el ectricity .
Al s o s ho Wn in FIG. 3 is a co ncentra to r 350. Co ncentra to r
350 is mo unted o n a co ncentra to r s up p o rt 351 Which ca n be
mo unted to p a ra p et Wa l l 311. Co ncentra to r 350 is us ed to
redirect a nd co ncentra te the Wind ? o W to Wa rd turbine p o r
tio n 335. Co ncentra to r 350 is a n o p tio na l co mp o nent o f the
s y s tem Which ma y be hel p f ul When the no rma l Wind ? o W
Wo ul d o therWis e be mo re vertica l ( s o tha t it Wo ul d mis s
turbine p o rtio n 335. ) Al terna tivel y , co ncentra to r 350 ma y
a l l o W the Wind ? o W to be redirected s o tha t turbine p o rtio n
335 ca n be p o s itio ned s l ig htl y f a rther o nl y f ro m the edg e o f
the ro o f , ma king the ins ta l l a tio n o f the s y s tem l es s o bvio us
a nd mo re a es thetica l l y p l ea s ing .
As dep icted in FIG. 3, co ncentra to r 350 is a dj us ta bl e. A
s eco nd p o s itio n o f co ncentra to r 350 is s ho Wn by the do tted
l ines in the ? g ure. It ma y be des ira bl e to a dj us t to the
p o s itio n o f co ncentra to r 350 to o p timiZe the Wind ? o W
a cro s s turbine p o rtio n 335. Co ncentra to r 350 ma y a l s o be
us ed to s p o il the Wind ? o W if the Wind s p eed beco mes to o
hig h. In o ther Wo rds , if the Wind ? o W is s u? icientl y hig h tha t
the turbine s tructure ma y be da ma g ed, co ncentra to r 350 ma y
be p o s itio ned to bl o ck, o r s p o il , the exces s Wind ? o W. The
p o s itio n o f co ncentra to r 350 ma y be ma nua l l y o r a uto ma ti
ca l l y a dj us ta bl e. Ano ther enha ncement to co ncentra to r 350
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is the p l a cement o f s o l a r cel l s 360 o n the up p er s urf a ce o f the
co ncentra to r. S o l a r cel l s 360 ma y a ug ment the el ectricity
g enera ted by the turbine s y s tem, a nd ma y even p ro vide the
o nl y s o urce o f el ectricity if the Wind ? o W a cro s s turbine
p o rtio n 335 is ins u? icient to drive the s y s tem.
Ref erring to FIG. 4 , a dia g ra m il l us tra ting a revers e-Wind
? o W de? ecto r a s us ed in o ne embo diment is s ho Wn. In this
embo diment, Wind turbine s tructure 4 30 is a g a in s ho Wn
mo unted a t the edg e o f a buil ding 4 10. In this ? g ure,
ho Wever, the Wind is dep icted a s ? o Wing f ro m l ef t to rig ht.
In o ther Wo rds , the Wind is no t bl o Wing o ver the p a ra p et Wa l l
4 11 a t the edg e o f the buil ding , but is ins tea d co ming a cro s s
the ro o f to p . Whil e the turbine p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine
s tructure is des ig ned to ro ta te in the s a me directio n ( co un
tercl o ckWis e in the ? g ure,) reg a rdl es s o f the directio n f ro m
Which the Wind s trikes it, a revers e-Wind-? o W de? ecto r 4 4 0
is p o s itio ned to the l ef t o f Wind turbine s tructure 4 30 a nd is
o riented s o tha t Wind hitting the de? ecto r is directed to the
l o Wer ha l f o f the turbine p o rtio n. De? ecto r 4 4 0 thereby
co ncentra tes the Wind o n the l o Wer ha l f , Where it ca n p us h
the turbine bl a des , a nd reduces the Wind hitting the up p er
ha l f , Where it Wo ul d res is t the ( co untercl o ckwis e) ro ta tio n o f
the turbine bl a des .
The f o reg o ing des crip tio n co rres p o nds to a n exemp l a ry
embo diment. It is co ntemp l a ted tha t ma ny va ria tio ns o f the
f ea tures des cribed a bo ve, a s Wel l a s o thers Which a re no t
exp l icitl y des cribed, ma y be p o s s ibl e in a l terna tive embo di
ments . S o me o f thes e va ria tio ns Wil l be des cribed brie? y
bel o W. Thes e va ria tio ns Wil l be a p p a rent to p ers o ns o f
o rdina ry s kil l in the ? el d o f the inventio n up o n rea ding the
p res ent dis cl o s ure, a nd a re bel ieved to be Within the s co p e
o f the a p p ended cl a ims .
In the exemp l a ry embo diment des cribed a bo ve, the tur
bine s tructure is p l a ced nea r the edg e o f the buil ding . The
s tructure do es no t req uire a p a ra p et Wa l l but if o ne exis ts , the
turbine s tructure ma y be mo unted o n the to p o f the p a ra p et
o r the ins ide o r o uts ide edg e o f the p a ra p et Wa l l o r o n the
ro o f o f the buil ding behind the p a ra p et. As no ted a bo ve, the
turbine s tructure ca n be mo unted o n the ro o f a Wa y f ro m the
vertica l f a ce o f the buil ding to f a cil ita te ins ta l l a tio n o r to
reduce the a es thetic imp a ct o f the ins ta l l a tio n. The Wind Wil l
s til l be us ed to drive the turbine thro ug h p ro p er p l a cement o f
the s y s tem a nd thro ug h the us e o f a co ncentra to r o r a ug
mento r. The p o s itio n o f the turbine s tructure ca n be a dj us ted
by mea ns o f va rio us ty p es o f mo unting bra ckets , the us e o f
va rio us mo unting ho l es in the bra ckets , a nd s o o n to a l l o W
p o s itio ning tha t is o p tima l f o r the g iven s ite a nd p reva il ing
co nditio ns . The mo unting bra ckets ma y incl ude vibra tio n
da mp ening s up p o rts to reduce the tra ns mis s io n o f g enera ted
no is e into the buil ding .
The s tructure ma y be buil t in mo dul a r s ectio ns ( e. g . , f ro m
4 to 20 f eet in Width a nd f ro m 2 to 8 f eet in dia meter. ) This
ma y a id ins ta l l a tio n a nd a l l o W s y s tems a nd/ o r co mp o nents to
be ea s il y a nd eco no mica l l y ma s s ma nuf a ctured, s hip p ed a nd
ins ta l l ed. The units ca n o p era te indep endentl y ( e. g . , ea ch
indep endentl y g enera tes el ectricity ) o r, if des ired, the units
ca n be mecha nica l l y l inked to g ether. The mecha nica l l ink
a g e betWeen the units co ul d p ro vide a mo re eco no mica l
ins ta l l a tio n a nd co ul d reduce the number o f a l tema to rs /
g enera to rs , Wiring o r s imil a r eq uip ment us ed to p ro duce
el ectricity . The number o f mo dul a r s ectio ns , l eng th o r dia m
eter o f the turbine( s ) ca n be cus to miZed to util iZe the f ul l
p erimeter o f a p a rticul a r buil ding if des ired. As p o inted o ut
a bo ve, the s y s tem ca n be ins ta l l ed o n mul tip l e s ides o f the
buil ding to o p timiZe the va ria tio ns o f the s ea s o ns a nd
g enera l Wind directio n.
US 7,315,093 B2
7
The exemp l a ry turbine s tructure des cribed a bo ve us es a
cy l indrica l turbine. The cy l indrica l des ig n o f the turbine a nd
ho riz o nta l o rienta tio n o f the turbine ma y be des ira bl e to
ma ke the mo s t e? icient us e o f the co ncentra tio n o f Wind
co ming o ver the ho riZo nta l edg e o f the ro o f . It is no t
neces s a ry , ho wever, to us e this ty p e o f turbine des ig n, a nd
o ther embo diments ma y us e p ro p el l er-s ty l e o r o ther ty p es o f
turbines , a nd the turbines ma y be o riented ho riz o nta l l y ,
vertica l l y , o r o therWis e. The dia meter, s iZe o r o ther des ig n
p a ra meters o f the turbines ma y va ry , dep ending o n s uch
f a cto rs a s the heig ht o f the buil ding , s treng th o r va ria bil ity
o f the Wind, ty p ica l Wea ther co nditio ns , the a mo unt o f
energ y req uired, a nd s o o n.
S o me o f the a dva nta g es o f the va rio us embo diments o f
the inventio n ma y incl ude its l o W co s t, e? iciency a nd
ma inta ina bil ity in co mp a ris o n to co nventio na l Windmil l s
a nd vertica l s tra ig ht-Wing -ty p e turbines . Fo r exa mp l e, cy l in
drica l -ty p e turbines ca nno t be ef f ectivel y emp l o y ed in
g ro und ins ta l l a tio ns due to the reduced s p eed o f Wind next
to the g ro und. When cy l indrica l -ty p e turbines a re dep l o y ed
vertica l l y ( s ta nding up ,) they exert tremendo us unba l a nced
f o rces o n their a xl e bea ring s . The p res ent s y s tem a l l o Ws the
us e o f cy l indrica l -ty p e turbines With their a xis o f ro ta tio n
p a ra l l el to the g ro und, reducing the s tres s o n the bea ring s
a nd a l l o Wing inexp ens ive l o ng -l if e bea ring s to be emp l o y ed.
Co nventio na l vertica l ins ta l l a tio ns a l s o ty p ica l l y req uire the
us e o f g uy Wires tha t a ncho r the turbine to the g ro und,
increa s ing the f o rces o n the bea ring s , a nd increa s ing the
co mp l exity o f the ins ta l l a tio n. The p res ent s y s tem reduces
the s tres s the s y s tem a nd the co mp l exity a nd exp ens e o f the
ins ta l l a tio n. Co mp a red to current metho ds , the p res ent s y s
tem reduces the s tres s ca us ed by vibra tio n f ro m the Wind,
Which in turn reduces the ma intena nce/exp ens e a nd the
co mp l exity o f the ins ta l l a tio n. The p res ent s y s tem is a l s o
mo re e? icient a nd q uiet tha n ty p ica l co nventio na l turbine
s y s tems beca us e o f the us e o f de? ecto rs a nd/ o r p a ra p et Wa l l s
to reduce the ? o W o f Wind a g a ins t the p o rtio n o f the turbine
tha t is mo ving in the directio n o p p o s ite the Wind ? o W.
When Wind bl o Ws a g a ins t the f a ce o f a buil ding , the a ir in
co nta ct With the buil ding f a ce is co mp res s ed by the f o rce o f
the mo ving a ir behind it. This f o rce, co mbined With the
re? ected f o rce f ro m the inertia o f the imp a cting a ir, ca us es
the a ir a t the buil ding f a ce to mo ve a ro und to either the s ides
o f the buil ding o r o ver the to p o f the buil ding . Even a l l o Wing
f o r increa s ed f rictio n die to l a mina r ? o W res is ta nce a g a ins t
the buil ding Wa l l a nd a t the edg e o f the ro o f p a ra p et, the a ir
mo ving o ver the edg e o f the p a ra p et is g rea tl y a ccel era ted
o ver the s p eed o f the a mbient a ir ( the s p eed o f the Wind in
the a bs ence o f the vertica l s urf a ces o f the buil ding o r o ther
s tructure) .
Beca us e the Wind turbine o f the p res ent s y s tem is p o s i
tio ned a t the edg e o f the ro o f , this hig h-energ y mo ving a ir
drives the turbine, extra cting the Wind s energ y a nd g ener
a ting el ectricity . Al tho ug h it ma y be o mitted o r g iven a
va riety o f s ha p es , the co ncentra to r ( a l s o ca l l ed a ba ? l e o r
a ug mento r) is us ed in the p ref erred embo diment to f unnel
mo ving a ir into the Wind turbine. The co ncentra to r a l l o Ws
the device to co mp ens a te f o r p l a cement is s ues tha t ma y
ma ke it di? icul t to p l a ce the Wind turbine a t the p o int o f
g rea tes t a ir ? o W. The device, its mo unts a nd the co ncentra to r
a re co n? g ured to p ro vide the mo s t a dva nta g eo us a ir? o W to
the Wind turbine. The co ncentra to r a l ters the a ir? o W co nto ur
nea r the edg e o f the buil ding to p revent mo ving a ir f ro m
p a s s ing up a nd hig h o ver the buil ding , bey o nd the rea ch o f
the Wind turbine s bl a des .
As no ted a bo ve, the co ncentra to r ma y incl ude s o l a r
el ectric p a nel s o n its up p er s urf a ce in o rder to g enera te
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el ectricity indep endentl y o f the turbine mecha nis m. The
co ncentra to r ma y f urther incl ude mecha nica l a ctua to rs to
a dj us t the p o s itio n o f the co ncentra to r a nd to thereby
imp ro ve bo th the Wind-g a thering a bil ity a nd the l ig ht
g a thering a bil ity o f the co ncentra to r. Al terna tive embo di
ments ma y a l s o incl ude a n a uto bra king mecha nis m to p ro
tect the s tructure f ro m o vers p eed Winds . This mecha nis m
ma y be imp l emented us ing the co ncentra to r, o r a s ep a ra te
s p o il er Which is p o s itio ned a l o ng the l eng th o f the turbine.
When o vers p eed o p era tio n is detected ( el ectrica l l y o r
mecha nica l l y ) a n a ctua to r is a ctiva ted o r a ca tch is rel ea s ed
( el ectrica l l y o r mecha nica l l y ,) a l l o Wing the s p o il er to bl o ck
a ir? o W to the turbine.
In the p ref erred embo diment, ea ch s ectio n co nta ins its
o Wn el ectrica l g enera ting mecha nis m a nd el ectro nic p o Wer
ma na g ement circuitry . In s o me embo diments , s o me s ectio ns
ma y no t ha ve indep endent el ectrica l p o Wer g enera ting ca p a
bil ity . They ma y ins tea d be mecha nica l l y co up l ed to o ther
s ectio ns to p ro vide a dditio na l mecha nica l p o Wer to a no ther
s ectio n tha t ha s el ectricity g enera ting eq uip ment. Other
s eg ments ma y inco rp o ra te a Wa ter p ump ins tea d o f a n
el ectrica l g enera to r, to hel p p ump Wa ter thro ug h the buil d
ing , o r a f res h a ir s y s tem to reduce H V AC co s ts a nd f o rce
f res h a ir into the buil ding When the temp era tures a re co rrect.
In a no ther embo diment a l inka g e to a ventil a to r s y s tem tha t
Wil l a ug ment el ectrica l l y -p o wered a ir ha ndl ing s y s tems
When the Wind is bl o Wing . The mecha nica l p o Wer o f the
turbines ma y be ha rnes s ed f o r o ther p urp o s es a s Wel l .
The bene? ts a nd a dva nta g es Which ma y be p ro vided by
the p res ent inventio n ha ve been des cribed a bo ve With reg a rd
to s p eci? c embo diments . Thes e bene? ts a nd a dva nta g es , a nd
a ny el ements o r l imita tio ns tha t ma y ca us e them to o ccur o r
to beco me mo re p ro no unced a re no t to be co ns trued a s
critica l , req uired, o r es s entia l f ea tures o f a ny o r a l l o f the
cl a ims . As us ed herein, the terms co mp ris es , co mp ris
ing , o r a ny o ther va ria tio ns thereo f , a re intended to be
interp reted a s no n-excl us ivel y incl uding the el ements o r
l imita tio ns Which f o l l o W tho s e terms . Acco rding l y , a s y s tem,
metho d, o r o ther embo diment tha t co mp ris es a s et o f el e
ments is no t l imited to o nl y tho s e el ements , a nd ma y incl ude
o ther el ements no t exp res s l y l is ted o r inherent to the cl a imed
embo diment.
Whil e the p res ent inventio n ha s been des cribed With
ref erence to p a rticul a r embo diments , it s ho ul d be unders to o d
tha t the embo diments a re il l us tra tive a nd tha t the s co p e o f
the inventio n is no t l imited to thes e embo diments . Ma ny
va ria tio ns , mo di? ca tio ns , a dditio ns a nd imp ro vements to the
embo diments des cribed a bo ve a re p o s s ibl e. It is co ntem
p l a ted tha t thes e va ria tio ns , mo di? ca tio ns , a dditio ns a nd
imp ro vements f a l l Within the s co p e o f the inventio n a s
deta il ed Within the f o l l o Wing cl a ims .
Wha t is cl a imed is :
1. A s y s tem co mp ris ing :
a Wind turbine; a nd
a de? ecto r;
Wherein the Wind turbine is mo unted o n a ro o f o f a
buil ding a nd p o s itio ned to ena bl e the Wind turbine to be
driven by Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by
a vertica l f a ce o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver the
edg e o f the ro o f ;
Wherein the Wind turbine co mp ris es a cy l indrica l turbine
s tructure ha ving a n a xis a bo ut Which a p l ura l ity o f
turbine bl a des ro ta te, a nd Wherein the Wind turbine is
o riented With the a xis p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the ro o f ;
Wherein the Wind turbine is p o s itio ned a dj a cent to a
p a ra p et Wa l l extending vertica l l y f ro m the edg e o f the
ro o f , a nd Wherein the Wind turbine is p o s itio ned s uch
US 7,315,093 B2
tha t the p a ra p et Wa l l s creens a t l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the
Wind turbine f ro m the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W, Wherein
the s creened p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine is co unter
ro ta ting With res p ect to the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W
Wherein the de? ecto r is a tta ched to the p a ra p et Wa l l a nd
co n? g ured to f urther s creen the co unter-ro ta ting p o r
tio n o f the Wind turbine f ro m the co ncentra ted Wind
? o W Whil e a l l o wing the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W to
rea ch a p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine tha t ro ta tes With the
co ncentra ted Wind ? o W.
2. A s y s tem co mp ris ing :
a Wind turbine; a nd
a co ncentra to r;
Wherein the Wind turbine is mo unted o n a ro o f o f a
buil ding a nd p o s itio ned to ena bl e the Wind turbine to be
driven by Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by
a vertica l f a ce o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver the
edg e o f the ro o f ;
Wherein the Wind turbine co mp ris es a cy l indrica l turbine
s tructure ha ving a n a xis a bo ut Which a p l ura l ity o f
turbine bl a des ro ta te, a nd Wherein the Wind turbine is
o riented With the a xis p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the ro o f ;
Wherein the Wind turbine is p o s itio ned a dj a cent to a
p a ra p et Wa l l extending vertica l l y f ro m the edg e o f the
ro o f , a nd Wherein the Wind turbine is p o s itio ned s uch
tha t the p a ra p et Wa l l s creens a t l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the
Wind turbine f ro m the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W, Wherein
the s creened p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine is co unter
ro ta ting With res p ect to the co ncentra ted Wind ? o W
Wherein the co ncentra to r is p o s itio ned o n a s ide o f the
Wind turbine cl o s es t to the edg e o f the ro o f , Wherein the
co ncentra to r is co n? g ured to be a dj us ta bl y p o s itio ned
to redirect Wind ? o W o ver the edg e o f the ro o f to a
des ired p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine, a nd Wherein the
co ncentra to r is co n? g ured to be a l terna tel y a dj us ta bl e
to a t l ea s t a ? rs t p o s itio n in Which the co ncentra to r
co ncentra tes Wind ? o W to the Wind turbine a nd a
s eco nd p o s itio n in Which the co ncentra to r bl o cks a t
l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the Wind ? o W to the Wind turbine.
3. A s y s tem co mp ris ing :
a Wind turbine, Wherein the Wind turbine is mo unted o n a
ro o f o f a buil ding a nd p o s itio ned to ena bl e the Wind
turbine to be driven by Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y
co ncentra ted by a vertica l f a ce o f the buil ding a nd
? o Ws up a nd o ver the edg e o f the ro o f ; a nd
a de? ecto r p o s itio ned o n a s ide o f the Wind turbine
o p p o s ite the edg e o f the ro o f , Wherein the de? ecto r is
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4 5
10
co n? g ured to redirect Wind ? o W o rig ina ting o p p o s ite
the edg e o f the ro o f to a des ired p o rtio n o f the Wind
turbine.
4 . A s y s tem co mp ris ing :
TWo o r mo re Wind turbines , Wherein ea ch Wind turbine is
mo unted o n a ro o f o f a buil ding a nd p o s itio ned to
ena bl e the Wind turbine to be driven by Wind ? o W
Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by co rres p o nding ver
tica l f a ces o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver
co rres p o nding edg es o f the ro o f , Wherein the Wind
turbines a re p o s itio ned a t tWo o r mo re dif f erent edg es
o f the ro o f , a nd Wherein the edg es a re o riented in
dif f erent directio ns .
5. A metho d co mp ris ing :
p ro viding a cy l indrica l Wind turbine ha ving a n a xis a bo ut
Which a p l ura l ity o f turbine bl a des ro ta te;
mo unting the Wind turbine o n a ro o f o f a buil ding ;
p o s itio ning the Wind turbine a t a n edg e o f the ro o f Within
Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by a vertica l
f a ce o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver the edg e o f
the ro o f , Wherein the Wind turbine is p o s itio ned With
the a xis p a ra l l el to the edg e o f the ro o f ;
s creening a t l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine f ro m the
co ncentra ted Wind ? o W behind a p a ra p et Wa l l ; a nd
p o s itio ning a co ncentra to r o n a s ide o f the Wind turbine
cl o s es t to the edg e o f the ro o f to redirect Wind ? o W o ver
the edg e o f the ro o f , Wherein the co ncentra to r is a l ter
na tel y p o s itio ned in a ? rs t p o s itio n in Which the co n
centra to r co ncentra tes Wind ? o W to the Wind turbine o r
a s eco nd p o s itio n in Which the co ncentra to r bl o cks a t
l ea s t a p o rtio n o f the Wind ? o W to the Wind turbine.
6. A metho d co mp ris ing :
p ro viding a Wind turbine;
mo unting the Wind turbine o n a ro o f o f a buil ding ; a nd
p o s itio ning the Wind turbine a t a n edg e o f the ro o f Within
Wind ? o W Which is p a s s ivel y co ncentra ted by a vertica l
f a ce o f the buil ding a nd ? o Ws up a nd o ver the edg e o f
the ro o f ; a nd
p o s itio ning a de? ecto r o n a s ide o f the Wind turbine
o p p o s ite the edg e o f the ro o f to redirect Wind ? o W
o rig ina ting o p p o s ite the edg e o f the ro o f to a des ired
p o rtio n o f the Wind turbine.