# How a Wind Turbine Shroud Can Adjust Its Blades to Control Power > This patent describes a wind turbine design where a ring-shaped casing around the main rotor has small, adjustable blades that can change their angle to control how much wind hits the rotor and how much power is generated. - **Patent:** US 20140030059 - **Original title:** Fluid turbine with variable pitch shroud segments - **Owner:** FloDesign Wind Turbine - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 10 - **Field:** energy, mechanical, aerospace, software ## What it does This patent describes a 'shrouded fluid turbine' that includes a main 'rotor' (the spinning blades) and a 'ringed airfoil' around it, which acts like a shroud or casing. This ringed airfoil is made up of many 'pivotable airfoil segments' (Claim 1), which are essentially small, adjustable blades. Each of these segments can 'rotate about an axis to change a pitch' (Claim 2), meaning their angle can be adjusted. A 'pitch control mechanism' (Claim 3) can change the angle of these segments, even 'continuously' during operation (Claim 4). By changing the angle of these shroud segments, the turbine can control the airflow to the main rotor, thereby managing its power output or reducing the impact of uneven wind, like 'wind shear' (Claim 19). For example, if the wind is too strong, the segments can be angled to reduce the airflow to the rotor, preventing over-speeding. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover wind turbines that do not have a shroud or casing around their rotor. - Does not cover shrouded turbines where the shroud segments are fixed and cannot change their angle or 'pitch'. - Does not cover controlling turbine power solely by adjusting the pitch of the main rotor blades. - Does not cover systems where the entire ringed airfoil pivots as a single unit, rather than individual segments being adjustable. - Does not cover turbines where the shroud's pitch is only set once and not altered during operation. ## The clever bit The clever part is shifting the primary power control mechanism from the large, complex main rotor blades to smaller, individually adjustable segments on the surrounding shroud. This allows for fine-tuned control of airflow and can specifically address issues like wind shear by altering the shroud's pitch in different sections, making the turbine more adaptable. ## Real-world examples 1. FloDesign Wind Turbine's ducted turbine prototypes 2. Advanced shrouded wind turbine designs 3. Turbines designed for urban or turbulent wind environments ## Why it matters Controlling the power output of wind turbines is crucial for efficiency and preventing damage in varying wind conditions. This invention offers a way to manage power and mitigate 'wind shear' — where wind speed changes significantly over the height of the rotor — without needing to adjust the large, heavy main rotor blades. This could lead to more stable and potentially more efficient wind energy generation, especially in turbulent environments. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Wind Turbine Shroud Can Adjust Its Blades to Control Power cover? This patent describes a wind turbine design where a ring-shaped casing around the main rotor has small, adjustable blades that can change their angle to control how much wind hits the rotor and how much power is generated. ### Who owns patent US 20140030059? This patent is owned by FloDesign Wind Turbine. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 30, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 20140030059 cited by? This patent has been cited by 10 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Controlling the power output of wind turbines is crucial for efficiency and preventing damage in varying wind conditions. This invention offers a way to manage power and mitigate 'wind shear' — where wind speed changes significantly over the height of the rotor — without needing to adjust the large, heavy main rotor blades. This could lead to more stable and potentially more efficient wind energy generation, especially in turbulent environments. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover wind turbines that do not have a shroud or casing around their rotor. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20140030059/fluid-turbine-with-variable-pitch-shroud-segments **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140030059 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Wind Turbine Blades Reduce Noise with Small Fins](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7927078/wind-turbine-blade-tip-vortex-breakers) — This patent describes how small, flat fins attached to the tips of wind turbine blades can reduce noise and improve efficiency by managing swirling air, called vortices. - [How Wind Turbines Adapt to Icy Weather to Keep Making Power](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11946452/control-system-for-wind-turbines-in-cold-climates) — This patent describes a control system that helps wind turbines manage ice buildup on their blades, allowing them to either keep generating electricity safely or shut down gracefully when conditions get too severe. - [How Wind Turbine Blades Get More Lift with Extra Parts](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8303250/method-and-apparatus-for-increasing-lift-on-wind-turbine-blade) — This patent describes adding special front and back parts to a wind turbine blade to create specific air channels, making the blade generate more power from the wind. - [How Tiny Bumps on Wind Turbine Blades Reduce Noise](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10400744/wind-turbine-blade-with-noise-reducing-micro-boundary-layer-energizers) — This patent describes how small, specially shaped bumps or grooves on a wind turbine blade's underside can reduce noise by controlling airflow and preventing turbulence. - [Wind Turbine Blades with a Deeply Curved Front Surface](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7614852/wind-turbine-blade-and-assembly) — This patent describes a wind turbine blade designed with a deeply curved, concave front surface and a high camber ratio to potentially capture more wind energy.