WIND TURBINE WITH SKELETON-AND-SKIN STRUCTURE
A wind turbine comprises a turbine shroud and optionally an ejector shroud. The turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud include a skeleton support structure, with a skin covering at least a portion of the turbine shroud and/or ejector shroud skeleton. In other embodiments, leading and trailing edges of the turbine shroud and/or ejector shroud are made of a rigid material and are not covered by the skin of the shroud.
1 . A wind turbine including a turbine shroud, the turbine shroud comprising:
a turbine shroud fire rigid structral member;
a turbine shroud second rigid structural member:
a plurality of internal ribs connecting the first rigid structural member to the second rigid structural member; and
a turbine skin covering at least a portion of the plurality of first internal ribs, wherein the skin comprises a fabric or a polymer.
2 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , further comprising an ejector shroud and at least one truss connecting the ejector shroud to the turbine shroud; wherein the ejector shroud comprises:
an ejector shroud first rigid structural member.
an ejector shroud second rigid structural member;
a plurality of second internal ribs connecting the ejector shroud first rigid structural member to the ejector shroud second rigid structural member; and
an ejector skin covering at least a portion of the plurality of second internal ribs, the skin comprising a fabric or a polymer.
3 . The wind turbine of claim 2 , wherein the turbine shroud first rigid structural member and the ejector shroud first rigid structural member each have a substantially circular shape.
4 . The wind turbine of claim 2 , wherein the ejector shroud second rigid structural member has a crenellated shape, and the plurality of second internal ribs are shaped so as to form mixing lobes on the ejector shroud.
5 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein a leading edge of the turbine shroud and a trailing edge of the turbine shroud are not covered by the turbine skin.
6 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , further comprising an impeller; wherein the turbine shroud is disposed about the impeller.
7 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the turbine skin comprises a film of polyurethane-polyurea copolymer material.
8 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the turbine skin is reinforced with a highly crystalline polyethylene, para-aramid fibers, or a polyaramide material.
9 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the turbine shroud second rigid structural member has a crenellated shape, and the plurality of first internal ribs are shaped so as to form mixing lobes on the turbine shroud.
10 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein a leading edge of the turbine shroud and a trailing edge of the turbine shroud are formed of a rigid material.
11 . The wind turbine of claim 10 , wherein the rigid material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, metals, and mixtures thereof.
12 . The wind turbine of claim 10 , wherein the rigid material is a glass reinforced polymer.
13 . The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the turbine skin comprises a plurality of layers.
14 . A wind turbine comprising a turbine shroud, an ejector shroud, and at least one truss connecting the turbine shroud to the ejector shroud;
wherein the turbine shroud comprises:
a first rigid structural member defining a leading edge of the turbine shroud;
a second rigid structural member defining a trailing edge of he turbine shroud;
a plurality of first internal ribs connecting the first rigid structural member to the second rigid structural member; and
a turbine shroud skin covering at least a portion of the plurality of first internal ribs, and comprising a fabric or a polymer;
wherein the ejector shroud comprises:
an ejector shroud first rigid structural member defining a leading edge of the ejector shroud;
an ejector shroud second rigid structural member defining a trailing edge of the ejector shroud;
a plurality of second internal ribs connecting the ejector shroud first rigid structural member to the ejector shroud second rigid structural member; and
an ejector shroud skin covering at least a portion of the plurality of second internal ribs, and comprising a fabric or a polymer;
wherein the first rigid structural member and the ejector shroud first rigid structural member each have a substantially circular shape; and
wherein the second rigid structural member and the ejector shroud second rigid structural member each have a circular crenellated circumference.
15 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , further comprising an impeller; wherein the turbine shroud is disposed about the impeller.
16 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the turbine shroud skin and the ejector shroud skin are formed of a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer material.
17 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the turbine shroud fabric skin and the ejector shroud fabric skin are reinforced with a highly crystalline polyethylene, para-aramid fibers, or a polyaramide.
18 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the turbine shroud fabric skin and the ejector shroud fabric skin are reinforced with a polyvinyl chloride resin.
19 . The wind turbine of claim 14 , wherein the leading edge of the turbine shroud, trailing edge of the turbine shroud, leading edge of the ejector shroud, and trailing edge of the ejector shroud are formed of a rigid material.
20 . A method of making a wind turbine comprising:
(a) providing an impeller;
(b) forming a skeleton and covering at least a portion of the skeleton with a skin to form a turbine shroud, the skin comprising a fabric or a polymer film; and
(c) disposing the shroud about the impeller.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of forming a skeleton includes providing a first rigid circular member and a second rigid circular member, and connecting the first and second annular members with a plurality of spaced ribs.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of connecting the annular members with spaced ribs includes forming at least one high-energy mixing lobe and at least one low-energy mixing lobe.
23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the second rigid circular member forms a crenellated shape on a downstream edge of the turbine shroud.
24 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising disposing an ejector shroud about the turbine shroud, an outlet end of the turbine shroud extending into an inlet end of the ejector shroud.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the ejector shroud is formed by providing an ejector skeleton and covering at least a portion of the ejector skeleton with a skin, the skin comprising a fabric or a polymer film.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the ejector skeleton is formed by providing a first rigid circular member and a second rigid circular member, and connecting the first and second annular members with a plurality of spaced ribs.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the step of spaced ribs of the ejector skeleton are axially extendable.
28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the ejector skeleton second rigid circular member forms a crenellated shape on a downstream edge of the ejector shroud.