TUBULAR TURBINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A turbine system configured to convert fluid energy into electrical power is disclosed. The turbine system includes a tubular frame, a shaft disposed in the tubular frame, a fan coupled to the shaft, and at least one turbine that utilizes rotation of adjacent copper coil discs and magnetic discs to generates energy when a fluid impinges the fan. This configuration allows for a smaller turbine system that may be placed in various compact spaces and that provides a localized, efficient source of electrical energy
1 . A system comprising:
a tubular frame having an internal space;
a shaft in the tubular frame;
a fan coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft when a fluid impinges the fan;
at least one turbine coupled to the shaft and housed in the internal space of the tubular frame, the at least one turbine having:
a copper containing disc including a plurality of copper coils mounted in the copper containing disc;
an electronics board electronically coupled to the copper coils in the copper containing disc;
a magnet containing disc mounted on the shaft and arranged adjacent to the copper containing disc, the copper containing disc having a plurality of magnets mounted in the magnet containing disc, the magnet containing disc being configured to rotate with the shaft in response to fluid impinging on the fan;
wherein the turbine is configured to generate energy in response rotation of the magnet containing disc.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine has three copper containing discs and four magnet containing discs.
3 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine has a mounting for attachment to the frame.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular frame has a diameter of at least 9 inches.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular frame has a length of at least 14 inches.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular frame is formed from a polymer material.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics board includes two or more rectifiers coupled to at least one of the copper containing disc.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the mounting board is a circuit board.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein copper coils are circular in cross-sectional shape.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein copper containing disc includes nine separate copper coils.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the copper containing disc has a diameter of at least 4 inches.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnet containing disc include twelve round magnets.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnet containing disc has a diameter of at least 3.5 inches.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the shaft is a stainless-steel shaft.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine produces 16 volts per copper containing? disc at a shaft? speed of 1,700 rpm.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine produces 380 volts at a shaft speed of 2,800 rpm.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular frame is configured to be placed in an outer frame.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the outer frame includes HVAC ductwork.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the outer frame includes a circulating fan frame.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular frame has a movable panel that when opened exposes the components of the turbine.
21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine is a series of turbines connected end-to-end.
22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine is a set of turbines arranged in a stacked configuration.
23 . A method, comprising:
positioning at least one tubular turbine in a shaft of an HVAC or airway system in a building;
causing air flow to impinge a fan of the at least one turbine;
in response to air flow impinging the fan, causing a set of magnet containing discs to rotate relative to a set of copper containing discs.