Vertical axis wind turbine with computer controlled wings
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F03D-009/00
H02P-009/04
출원번호
US-0462551
(2009-08-05)
등록번호
US-8410622
(2013-04-02)
발명자
/ 주소
Wallach, Christopher S.
출원인 / 주소
Wallach, Christopher S.
대리인 / 주소
Hunter, Robert M.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
16
초록▼
An apparatus and method for extracting power from a moving fluid, such as the wind. In an illustrative embodiment, the invention is a vertical axis wind turbine with variable-pitch wings, each turned directly by a servomotor under the control of an on-board computer. The computer is continuously upd
An apparatus and method for extracting power from a moving fluid, such as the wind. In an illustrative embodiment, the invention is a vertical axis wind turbine with variable-pitch wings, each turned directly by a servomotor under the control of an on-board computer. The computer is continuously updated from onboard transducers which measure wind direction, wind speed, rotor assembly position and rotor assembly speed and calculates each wing's optimum angle of attack at all times and under all conditions. This angle is then sent as a command to each wing's servomotor and the computer executes the control loop again.
대표청구항▼
1. A vertical axis wind turbine for extracting energy from wind having a direction, said vertical axis wind turbine comprising: a tower;a shaft that is mounted in said tower;a rotor assembly that is attached to said shaft, said rotor assembly comprising at least one spoke;at least one wing or blade
1. A vertical axis wind turbine for extracting energy from wind having a direction, said vertical axis wind turbine comprising: a tower;a shaft that is mounted in said tower;a rotor assembly that is attached to said shaft, said rotor assembly comprising at least one spoke;at least one wing or blade that is pivotably attached to each said at least one spoke, each at least one wing or blade having a chord line and an angle of attack and being operative to generate lift;at least one servomotor, each said at least one servomotor being attached to each said at least one wing or blade and to each said at least one spoke and being operative to adjust the orientation of each said at least one wing or blade relative to said at least one spoke;a plurality of sensors that measure a wind direction, a wind speed, a direction of said at least one wing or blade, a speed of said at least one wing or blade, a rotor assembly position and a rotor assembly speed and produce output signals; anda computer that is operative to iteratively accept said output signals, calculate an apparent wind direction, and send an input signal to each said at least one servomotor to change said angle of attack of each said at least one wing or blade so as to maximize the power output of the vertical axis wind turbine;wherein said angle of attack is an angle between said chord line and the said apparent wind direction. 2. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further comprising: more than one said wing or blade; andmore than one said servomotor. 3. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said computer is operative to accept said output signals and send said input signal at least 50 times per second. 4. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further comprising: at least two spokes;wherein each said at least one wing is supported at its top and at its bottom by one of said at least two spokes and each said at least one servomotor is disposed adjacent either at said top or said bottom. 5. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein each said at least one wing is supported at its midpoint by a single spoke and each said at least one servomotor is disposed adjacent said midpoint. 6. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further comprising: a slip ring or an induction coil for transmitting power to each said servomotor and said computer. 7. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein each said at least one servomotor is a right angle gear head servomotor or a stepper motor. 8. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further comprising: a generator that is attached to said shaft. 9. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 wherein said generator is selected from the group consisting of: a high speed, brushless, rectified alternating current, indirect drive generator with a speed increasing transmission mounted beside said tower; anda low speed, axial flux, brushless, rectified alternating current, direct drive generator mounted at the top of said tower and beneath said rotor assembly. 10. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further comprising: a power supply, said power supply supplying power to each said at least one servomotor. 11. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 10 wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of: a chemical battery; anda capacitor. 12. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind speed sensor that is selected from the group consisting of: a tachometer generator with a revolutions per minute output;an analog, non-contacting anemometer with a first position output;a digital, non-contacting anemometer with a second position output;a hot wire, analog anemometer with a speed output; andan ultrasonic analog or digital anemometer with a speed output. 13. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind speed sensor that is located on a rotating or non-rotating mast that is disposed above said rotor assembly, on a rotating or non-rotating hub that is attached to said tower beneath said rotor assembly, or on said at least one spoke or an extension to said at least one spoke. 14. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind speed sensor that receives regulated operating power from said computer. 15. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind azimuth sensor that is selected from the group consisting of: an analog, non-contacting wind azimuth sensor with a first position output; anda digital, non-contacting wind azimuth sensor with a second position output. 16. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind azimuth sensor that is located on a rotating or non-rotating mast that is disposed above said rotor assembly, on a rotating or non-rotating hub that is attached to said tower beneath said rotor assembly, or on said at least one spoke or an extension to said at least one spoke. 17. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wind azimuth sensor that receives regulated operating power from said computer. 18. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a rotor azimuth sensor that is selected from the group consisting of: an analog, non-contacting rotor azimuth sensor with a first position output; anda digital, non-contacting rotor azimuth sensor with a second position output. 19. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a rotor azimuth sensor that is located on said rotor assembly with an input shaft attached to said tower or in said tower. 20. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a rotor azimuth sensor that receives regulated operating power from said computer. 21. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wing azimuth sensor that is selected from the group consisting of: an analog, non-contacting wing azimuth sensor with a first position output; anda digital, non-contacting wing azimuth sensor with a second position output. 22. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wing azimuth sensor that is located on said at least one spoke. 23. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a wing azimuth sensor that receives regulated operating power from said computer. 24. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 10 further comprising: a wing motor controller/driver that is associated with each at least one wing that receives power from said power supply. 25. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said computer is a microcomputer or a microcontroller. 26. A vertical axis wind turbine for extracting energy from wind having a direction, said vertical axis wind turbine comprising: a tower;a shaft that is mounted in said tower;a rotor assembly that is attached to said shaft, said rotor assembly comprising a plurality of spokes;a wing that is pivotably attached to each of said spokes, each said wing having a chord line and an angle of attack and being operative to generate lift;each said wing and each of said spokes having a servomotor attached thereto, each said servomotor being operative to adjust the orientation of said wing relative to said spoke;a plurality of sensors that measure a wind direction, a wind speed, a direction of said at least one wing, a speed of said at least one wing, a rotor assembly position and a rotor assembly speed and produce output signals; anda computer that is operative to iteratively accept said output signals, calculate an apparent wind direction, and send an input signal to each said servomotor to change said angle of attack of each said wing so as to maximize the power output of the vertical axis wind turbine;wherein said angle of attack is an angle between said chord line and an apparent wind direction.
Brulle Robert V. (St. Louis County MO granted to U.S. Department of Energy under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 2182), Control system for a vertical axis windmill.
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