Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine is supported by a durable and lightweight composite mast comprising a foam material and a support material, wherein the foam material is either (i) layered within or (ii) distributed among the support material. The foam material may be selected from polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, ethafoam, polyester, polyether, ether-like-ester, expanded polystyrene, and/or polyurethane. The support material may be selected from steel, metal, carbon nanotubes, and/or plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene, polylactic acid, polycarbonate, acrylic, acetal and/or nylon. A mixture ratio between the foam material and the support material may be at least 15:1. The mast may comprise a central core layer of foam and a peripheral layer of the support material. In an embodiment, adjacent layers of the central core layer and the peripheral layers alternate between the core and support materials.

Abstract: A ventilator uses teeth of gear to operate up to eight or more bellows. A common drive shaft can be used to operate a stack of multiple such gears, which collectively operate up to 40 or more bellows. Valves can be used to control flow from different ones of the bellows to individual recipients.

Abstract: Vertical axis wind turbines are provided having foil design and geometry that facilitates lift, torque and laminar flow along a 360 degree radial. Contemplated foils are non-planar, and have a chord length that is at least three times greater than a distance between a trailing end of a leading foil, and a leading end of a trailing foil. Additionally or alternatively, the foils are located away from a turbine axis at a distance that is about 2.9-3.5 times greater than a chord length of the foils. In some embodiments, the foils are circumferentially distributed via one or more laminar stall vanes.

Abstract: A generator is described that includes a modified elongated Halbach array of magnets and a second array of magnets that interact to provide a flux field, which in turn interacts with a coil to generate an electrical current. The modified Halbach array includes two sets of magnets that are interspersed. In a first set of magnets the individual magnetic units are arranged in groupings of at least two magnets that are adjacent to one another and have the same magnetic orientation. In the second set of magnets utilizes either individual magnetic units or small groupings of individual magnetic units (relative to the first set of magnets) that are arranged in a different magnetic orientation than the first set, but identical to one another. A controller modifies electrical communication between different coils and/or controls inverters associated with the coils in order to control and stabilize electrical output from the generator.

Abstract: In a method for generating electricity from an apparent wind turbine, a compressor compresses air into compressed air storage to be released at a later time to operate the apparent wind turbine. The method contemplates determining a minimum energy production threshold and a desired energy production threshold, detecting that energy generation from the apparent wind turbine falls below the minimum energy production threshold, and causing the apparent wind turbines to produce at least the minimum energy production threshold.

Abstract: Vertical axis wind turbines are provided having foil design and geometry that facilitates lift, torque and laminar flow along a 360 degree radial. Contemplated foils are non-planar, and have a chord length that is at least three times greater than a distance between a trailing end of a leading foil, and a leading end of a trailing foil. Additionally or alternatively, the foils are located away from a turbine axis at a distance that is about 2.9-3.5 times greater than a chord length of the foils. In some embodiments, the foils are circumferentially distributed via one or more laminar stall vanes.

Abstract: A generator is described that includes a first ring comprising a first array of magnets and a second ring comprising a second array of magnets that interact to provide a flux field, which in turn interacts with a coil to generate an electrical current. The magnets in the first and second array of magnets are potted in a polymer-based material.

Abstract: A generator is described that includes a modified elongated Halbach array of magnets and a second array of magnets that interact to provide a flux field, which in turn interacts with a coil to generate an electrical current. The modified Halbach array includes two sets of magnets that are interspersed. In a first set of magnets the individual magnetic units are arranged in groupings of at least two magnets that are adjacent to one another and have the same magnetic orientation. In the second set of magnets utilizes either individual magnetic units or small groupings of individual magnetic units (relative to the first set of magnets) that are arranged in a different magnetic orientation than the first set, but identical to one another. A controller modifies electrical communication between different coils and/or controls inverters associated with the coils in order to control and stabilize electrical output from the generator.

Abstract: Vertical axis wind turbines are provided having foil design and geometry that facilitates lift, torque and laminar flow along a 360 degree radial. Contemplated foils are non-planar, and have a chord length that is at least three times greater than a distance between a trailing end of a leading foil, and a leading end of a trailing foil. Additionally or alternatively, the foils are located away from a turbine axis at a distance that is about 2.9-3.5 times greater than a chord length of the foils. In some embodiments, the foils are circumferentially distributed via one or more laminar stall vanes.

Abstract: A generator is provided having a first array of magnets and a second array of magnets. The first array is typically disposed in a first elongated Halbach configuration and the second array of magnets is disposed in a second configuration. The first and second arrays are configured to manipulate a net flux field to form a figure eight flux field between the first and second arrays. At least one coil disposed between the first and second arrays, such that relative movement of the first and second arrays with respect to the first coil generates an electric current.

Abstract: Vertical axis wind turbines are provided having foil design and geometry that facilitates lift, torque and laminar flow along a 360 degree radial. Contemplated foils are non-planar, and have a chord length that is at least three times greater than a distance between a trailing end of a leading foil, and a leading end of a trailing foil. Additionally or alternatively, the foils are located away from a turbine axis at a distance that is about 2.9-3.5 times greater than a chord length of the foils. In some embodiments, the foils are circumferentially distributed via one or more laminar stall vanes.

Abstract: A generator is provided having a first array of magnets and a second array of magnets. The first array is typically disposed in a first elongated Halbach configuration and the second array of magnets is disposed in a second configuration. The first and second arrays are configured to manipulate a net flux field to form a figure eight flux field between the first and second arrays. At least one coil disposed between the first and second arrays, such that relative movement of the first and second arrays with respect to the first coil generates an electric current.