Process and installation for producing usable energy from parallel flows

Claim 1

A process of generating usable energy from parallel flows which flow against a flow unit for generating a potential vortex, which unit comprises at least one inflow aperture and at least one outflow aperture wherein a spiral-like rotary flow generates the potential vortex which drives a turbine constituting an energy converter arranged in the direction of flow of the potential vortex; the spiral-like rotary flow is generated by the built-up pressure which is caused by the parallel flows flowing against the flow unit; the built-up pressure acting on an outer hollow member formed by a plurality of movable flaps opens some of the flaps, with an overall pressure building up inside the outer hollow member and closing the flaps not affected by the built-up pressure; the resulting rotary flow is divided into a first and a second partial flow by a separating element comprising a through-flow aperture and the rotary flow of the first partial flow is converted into a swirl flow by an inner hollow member which is tangentially impinged, which swirl flow is directed outwardly by a vacuum existing at the outflow aperture of the inner hollow member, which, at the same time, constitutes the outflow aperture of the flow unit; the swirl flow, after having passed through the outflow aperture, forms the potential vortex as a result of shear forces of the parallel flows flowing past the swirl flow, which potential vortex draws a flow volume from at least one of the second partial flow and from the outside through the through-flow aperture of the separating element into an interior of the inner hollow member; and a plurality of vortex generating elements are used to generate from the second partial flow a plurality of vortex flows which are also guided into the inner hollow member and intensify a flow field of the potential vortex.

Claim 3

A device for generating usable energy from parallel flows, having a flow unit which comprises at least one inflow aperture and at least one outflow aperture and which is intended to generate a potential vortex, and having a turbine arranged in the direction of flow of the potential vortex, wherein: the flow unit comprises an outer hollow member which is composed of a plurality of flaps and which is covered by plates at both ends, one plate being provided with the outflow aperture; the flaps open and close automatically around axial pivot axes by build-up of pressure of the parallel flows; an inner hollow member is arranged inside, and concentrically relative to, the outer hollow member and is provided with at least one inflow aperture to allow tangential flowing-in conditions, one end of said inner hollow member forming the outflow aperture of the flow unit and the other end of said inner hollow member being covered by a separating element arranged radially in the outer hollow member while leaving free a through-flow aperture; and in a region separated from the inner hollow member by the separating element there is arranged a plurality of vortex generating elements whose vortex flows are directed into the interior of the inner hollow member.

Claim 4

A device for generating usable energy from parallel flows, having a flow unit which comprises at least one inflow aperture and at least one outflow aperture and which is intended to generate a potential vortex, and having a turbine arranged in the direction of flow of the potential vortex, wherein: the flow unit comprises an outer hollow member which is composed of a plurality of flaps and which is covered by plates at both ends, one plate being provided with the outflow aperture; the flaps open and close automatically around axial pivot axes by build-up of pressure of the parallel flows; an inner hollow member is arranged inside, and concentrically relative to, the outer hollow member and is provided with at least one inflow aperture to allow tangential flowing-in conditions, one end of said inner hollow member forming the outflow aperture of the flow unit and the other end of said inner hollow member being covered by a separating element arranged radially in the outer hollow member while leaving free a through-flow aperture; and in a region separated from the inner hollow member by the separating element there is arranged a plurality of vortex generating elements whose vortex flows are directed into the interior of the inner hollow member.