Conical fan assembly for use in a wind turbine for the generation of power

1. A system to generate electricity using a flow of air, the system comprising:

a plurality of vertical blades disposed radially along an outer circumference of a cylindrical blade drum, wherein the plurality of vertical blades encircle an internal volume;

a conical fan disposed within the internal volume, the conical fan further comprising:

a generally conical support member having an exterior surface, a major axis, a base, and a tip; and

a plurality of generally sickle-shaped blades, each generally sickle-shaped blade attached to the exterior surface, wherein the plurality of generally sickle-shaped blades are positioned with a generally uniform orientation to define a helix for urging air to flow in a spiral pattern up and around the generally conical support member;

a shaft disposed along the major axis, the shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end operationally connected to a generator, wherein rotation of the cylindrical blade drum or conical fan causes the generator to generate electricity;

an internal fan positioned at or below the lower aperture, the internal fan capable of rotation to force a fluid along the major axis;

wherein the conical support member is frustoconical, defining an upper aperture and a lower aperture.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conical fan is capable of directing a fluid flow through the internal volume and along the major axis without generating significant back pressure therein.

3. A turbine assembly, the turbine assembly comprising:

a plurality of vertical blades disposed radially along an outer circumference and defining a cylindrical blade drum having an internal volume; and

a conical fan disposed within the internal volume, the conical fan comprising:

a generally conical member having a base and an oppositely disposed tip, an exterior surface, and a major axis; and

a plurality of blades extending from the exterior surface;

wherein the plurality of fan blades define a helix for urging a fluid to flow in a generally laminar spiral flow pattern in the direction extending from the base toward the tip;

wherein the conical fan and the cylindrical blade drum are capable of rotation about the major axis.

4. The turbine assembly of claim 3 , wherein the conical fan is rotatable to direct a fluid flow entering the internal volume along the major axis without generating back pressure in the internal volume.

5. The turbine assembly of claim 3 , wherein the conical fan pulls the fluid flow from the internal volume.

6. The turbine assembly of claim 5 , the conical fan further comprising:

an internal fan positioned near the base, the internal fan capable of rotation to force a fluid along the major axis.

7. The turbine assembly of claim 3 , wherein the conical member is hollow and truncated to define a frustoconical member.

8. The turbine assembly of claim 3 , wherein the conical fan and the cylindrical blade drum are operationally connected to a shared rotating shaft powered by rotation of the conical fan and the cylindrical blade drum.

9. A conical fan assembly, comprising:

a generally conical support member having an exterior surface and a vertical major axis;

a plurality of generally crescent-shaped fan blades extending from the exterior surface of the support member, wherein the plurality of fan blades define a helix configured to urge a fluid to flow in a spiral flow pattern up and around the support member;

an upper aperture and a lower aperture, the lower aperture having a larger diameter than the upper aperture; and

an internal fan positioned at or below the lower aperture, the internal fan capable of rotation to force a fluid along the vertical major axis;

wherein the support member is frustoconical and hollow.

10. The conical fan assembly of claim 9 , wherein the fan blades are sickle-shaped.

11. The conical fan assembly of claim 9 , wherein each respective fan blade has a respective proximal end and a respective distal end; and wherein the respective fan blades are sized and positioned such that the respective distal end of each respective fan blade is a uniform distance from the vertical major axis.

12. The conical fan assembly of claim 11 , wherein upon rotation, the respective distal ends define a cylinder.