METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR CONVERTING LOW-POTENTIAL ENERGY OF FLOW Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: energy converters. SUBSTANCE: invention is designed for converting low-potential energy of air flow into mechanical or electric energy. According to proposed method air flow is delivered through draft tube to turbine wheel and its energy-generating elements with subsequent conversion of energy of air flow into mechanical or electric energy. With air flow passing through draft tube before getting onto turbine wheel, cross-section of flow is divided into parallel isolated channels concentrically distributed over entire cross-section of flow, each flow being directed to corresponding section of turbine wheel whose energy-generating elements are also divided into concentrical energy independent sections, and mechanical or electric energy obtained is synchronized and brought in compliance with consumer's characteristics. Device contains wind turbine rotors with blades enclosed in draft tubes and energy-generating elements. Rotors are made in form of energy-differentiating bushings coaxially mounted in draft tube and rotating on independent concentric ring fixed supports. Recesses to pass air flow are formed between fixed supports. Each rotating energy differentiating-bushing and fixed support corresponding to said bushing are furnished with self-contained sections of electric generator whose elements are arranged opposite to each other on bushings and supports. EFFECT: increased efficiency at energy conversion. 23 cl, 5 dwg