초록 ▼

A generally toric lighter-than-air gas bag-type airfoil is tethered to the ground at a plurality of angularly widely distributed points about the periphery of the gas bag. A wind turbine is mounted at the entrance to the axially central vent. The tether lines are entrained about individually operabl

A generally toric lighter-than-air gas bag-type airfoil is tethered to the ground at a plurality of angularly widely distributed points about the periphery of the gas bag. A wind turbine is mounted at the entrance to the axially central vent. The tether lines are entrained about individually operable power winches, preferably controlled by a microprocessor which takes in wind direction and tether line tension data and operates the winches and inflation gas inlet and outlet valves to orient the wind turbine into the wind for maximum power output.

대표청구항 ▼

A tethered airfoil wind energy conversion system, comprising: a positive-lift, lighter-than-air, flexible gas bag-type airfoil provided with a lined vent which extends completely generally axially therethrough; a wind turbine having a power output-providing device; frame means supported by said airf

A tethered airfoil wind energy conversion system, comprising: a positive-lift, lighter-than-air, flexible gas bag-type airfoil provided with a lined vent which extends completely generally axially therethrough; a wind turbine having a power output-providing device; frame means supported by said airfoil and mounting said wind turbine for rotation relative to said airfoil in axial alignment with said vent; a plurality of motorized, individually operable winches, being at least three in number, and being for disposition at spaced sites generally in an imaginary ring on the ground; each such winch having a tether line wound thereon and having a respective outer end; means connecting each tether line outer end to said airfoil radially distally of said vent, so that said airfoil is tethered to said winches from a plurality of widely distributed sites; a means for supplying inflating lighter-than-air gas to the airfoil, this means including a gas inlet control valve; a means for releasing inflating lighter-than-air gas from within the airfoil, this means including a gas release control valve; means for sensing wind direction incident upon said airfoil and for providing an output signal in relation thereto; a tether control system incorporating means for determining for each of a plurality of various different wind direction-related output signals received from said sensing means, respective control signals equating to the amounts by which each of the respective tether lines must be reeled in or played out in order to tilt the airfoil into the wind at an optimum angle of attack to maximize power output of said power output-providing device of said wind turbine; means operatively connecting said sensing means to said tether control system for furnishing said output signal to said tether control system; and means operatively connecting said tether control system to each of said motorized, independently operable winches for furnishing said respective control signals to the respective said winches.