Abstract: A fluid turbine comprises a turbine shroud and an ejector shroud. The turbine shroud has an axial length LM. The ejector shroud has an axial length LE. The ratio of LM to LE is from 0.05 to 2.5. In particular embodiments, the ejector shroud has an axial length LE, an outer diameter DI at the inlet end, and an outer diameter DE at the exhaust end. The ratio of LE to DI is from 0.05 to 3; and the ratio of LE to DE is from 0.05 to 3. The resulting ejector shroud is 30%-50% shorter than ejector shrouds of previous designs.

Abstract: A shrouded fluid turbine comprises an impeller and a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller. The shroud includes alternating inward and outward curving elements that form mixing elements on a trailing edge of the turbine shroud. The inward and outward curving elements have exposed lateral surfaces, or in other words do not have sidewalls joining the inward and outward curving elements. This allows for both transverse mixing and radial mixing of fluid flow through the turbine shroud with fluid flow passing along the exterior of the turbine shroud.

Abstract: A Controlled Unaided Surge and Purge (CUSPS) suppressor for firearms uses the blast and plume characteristics inherent to the ballistic discharge process to develop a new two-step controlled surge and purge system centered around advanced mixer-ejector concepts. The blast surge noise is reduced by controlling the flow expansion, and the flash effects are reduced by controlling inflow and outflow gas purges. In the preferred embodiment, suppressor vent holes are convergently contoured to better reduce the blast surge. Preferably a two-stage supersonic mixer/ejector system, in combination with adjacent vent holes in the suppressor housing and a divergent entrance nozzle, is used to control or eliminate the external Mach disk, while rapidly mixing and diluting the propellant with purged gases. A diffuser downstream of the mixer/ejector system further increases ejector performance and pumping. The pumped gases are used to self-clean and cool the CUSPS suppressor.

Abstract: A shrouded wind turbine comprises an impeller and a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller. The shroud includes alternating inward and outward curving elements that form mixing elements on a trailing edge of the turbine shroud. The inward and outward curving elements have exposed lateral surfaces, or in other words do not have sidewalls joining the inward and outward curving elements. This allows for both transverse mixing and radial mixing of air flow through the turbine shroud with air flow passing along the exterior of the turbine shroud.

Abstract: A shrouded wind turbine comprises a shroud disposed about an impeller. The impeller surrounds a nacelle body which is shaped to enhance smooth flow of wind through the impeller. Some embodiments include an inlet and an outlet in the nacelle body, allowing airflow through an interior cavity. Other nacelle bodies may be tapered, flared, include mixing lobes around a trailing edge, or may have other shapes that enhance fluid flow. Some nacelle bodies include an annular groove that promotes flow attachment. Maintaining airflow attachment to the nacelle body within the turbine increases the energy generation capacity of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A wind turbine has an impeller surrounded by a shroud. The shroud includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The surface is coated with a silicone polyurethane polymer. The resulting surface has reduced surface energy, and can shed rain, snow, and ice more easily.

Abstract: A wind turbine shroud that comprises a plurality of wind turbine shroud segments engaged to each other in a radial pattern about a central axis. Each wind turbine shroud segment may be created through a rotational molding and/or blow molding process and can be engaged with other wind turbine shroud segments to create a variety of wind turbine shrouds.

Abstract: Various components of a shrouded wind turbine are coated with carbonyl iron powder. The resulting wind turbine has a reduced radar signature compared to conventional wind turbines.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A shrouded wind turbine includes a shroud. The shroud is a ring airfoil and has a cross-sectional airfoil shape. The airfoil shape is optimized to minimize flow separation of the airstream passing inside the shroud.

Abstract: A wind turbine produces a unique pressure profile downstream of the wind turbine. This pressure profile reflects the structure of the wind turbine, which includes a shroud that has mixing lobes on a trailing edge thereof. The pressure profile includes high pressure and low pressure regions corresponding to the number and location of the mixing lobes on the shroud.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine blade comprises a leading edge surface, a trailing edge surface, an upper camber surface extending between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface, and a lower camber surface extending between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface. Notably, the trailing edge surface includes a plurality of air flow mixing lobes. An ejector blade may be located above the upper camber surface and behind the trailing edge surface. The ejector blade may include an ejector blade trailing edge surface that includes a plurality of ejector blade mixing lobes. The ejector blade mixing lobes may include a plurality of ejector blade high energy mixing lobes and ejector blade low energy mixing lobes. Advantageously, the mixing lobes allow for a reduced wakes behind the HAWT and thus decrease the requisite separation distance between HAWTs in a wind farm.

Abstract: A Mixer/Ejector Wind Turbine (“MEWT”) system is disclosed which routinely exceeds the efficiencies of prior wind turbines. Unique ejector concepts are used to fluid-dynamically improve many operational characteristics of conventional wind turbines for potential power generation improvements of 50% and above. Applicants' preferred MEWT embodiment comprises: an aerodynamically contoured turbine shroud with an inlet; a ring of stator vanes; a ring of rotating blades (i.e., an impeller) in line with the stator vanes; and a mixer/ejector pump to increase the flow volume through the turbine while rapidly mixing the low energy turbine exit flow with high energy bypass fluid flow. The MEWT can produce three or more time the power of its un-shrouded counterparts for the same frontal area, and can increase the productivity of wind farms by a factor of two or more. The same MEWT is safer and quieter providing improved wind turbine options for populated areas.

Abstract: A shrouded wind turbine includes a shroud with an exterior surface that includes a smooth outer surface. The smooth outer surface is large enough that additional devices, particularly advertising displays or solar panels, can be mounted to the shroud to more efficiently use available surface area, both on the wind turbine itself and on the footprint of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprises a turbine shroud and optionally an ejector shroud. The wind turbine encloses a permanent magnet ring generator. A static ring of phase windings is located in the turbine shroud, and wind airflow causes a rotor having permanent magnets thereon to rotate, creating an electric current in the static ring. The permanent magnets are arranged to form a Halbach cylinder with the magnetic field being exterior to the rotor.

Abstract: A wind turbine has an impeller surrounded by a shroud. The shroud is formed from inflatable components extending between two rigid structural members. When inflated, the shroud acts to increase the energy generated by the impeller. Under adverse wind conditions, the inflatable components can be deflated to reduce surface area and wind load on the turbine.