You know what?
My sketch is very different from what these guys ended up with.
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/213475
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:WhalePower_Corp#Company:_WhalePower_Corp .
Smooth (left) and scalloped (right) idealized humpback whale flipper models used for wind tunnel testing of lift, drag, efficiency, and stall behavior. While testing, only one of the models is mounted in the wind tunnel. These idealized, scale models, milled from clear polycarbonate sheet, use a NACA 0020 sectional profile (20% thick).
http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/index.php?story=156
Quote:
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The tests were reported by biomechanicist Frank Fish of West Chester University, Pa., fluid dynamics engineer Laurens Howle of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University and David Miklosovic and Mark Murray at the U.S. Naval Academy. They reported their findings in the May 2004 issue of Physics of Fluids, published in advance online on March 15, 2004.
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Patent:
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2006042401
What is claimed is:
1. A turbine/compressor comprising: at least one magneto-electric device; a drive train coupled to said magneto-electric device; and at least one rotor blade coupled to said drive train, said rotor blade having a shaped leading edge configured to enhance lift and reduce drag.
2. A turbine/compressor according to claim 1 wherein said leading edge includes a series of spaced tubercles formed therealong.
3. A turbine/compressor according to claim 2 further comprising a control system to adjust the orientation of said rotor blade so that said rotor blade faces incoming fluid flow.
4. A turbine/compressor according to claim 3 further comprising a second control system to alter the shape of said rotor blade.
5. A turbine/compressor according to claim 4 wherein said second control system alters the pitch of said rotor blade.
6. A turbine/compressor according to claim 4 wherein said second control system alters the spacing and/or shape of said tubercles.
7. A turbine/compressor according to claim 1 wherein said drive train is a shaft directly coupling said rotor blade and said magneto-electric device.
8. A turbine/compressor according to claim 1 wherein said drive train includes a drive shaft and transmission arrangement acting between said rotor blade and magneto-electric device.
9. A turbine/compressor according to claim 8 further comprising a control system to adjust the orientation of said rotor blade so that said rotor blade faces incoming fluid flow.
10. A turbine/compressor according to claim 9 further comprising a second control system to alter the shape of said rotor blade.
11. A turbine/compressor according to claim 10 wherein said second control system alters the pitch of said rotor blade.
12. A turbine/compressor according to claim 11 wherein said second control system alters the spacing and/or shape of said tubercles.
13. A turbine comprising: at least one generator; a drive train coupled to said generator; and at least one rotor blade coupled to said drive train, said rotor blade having a shaped leading edge with a series of spaced tubercles formed therealong.
14. A turbine according to claim 13 further comprising a control system to adjust the orientation of said rotor blade so that said rotor blade faces incoming fluid flow.
15. A turbine according to claim 14 further comprising a second control system to alter the shape of said rotor blade.
16. A turbine according to claim 15 wherein said drive train is a shaft directly coupling said rotor blade and said generator.
17. A turbine according to claim 15 wherein said drive train includes a drive shaft and transmission arrangement acting between said rotor blade and
generator.
18. A turbine according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality of linked generators.
19. A turbine according to claim 18 wherein said linked generators are in¬ line.
