Wind energy conversion systems, devices, and methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64C-031/06
B64C-039/02
F03D-005/00
F03D-009/00
H02K-007/18
출원번호
US-0643200
(2015-03-10)
등록번호
US-9643721
(2017-05-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Schaefer, David Brian
출원인 / 주소
Schaefer, David Brian
대리인 / 주소
Coeckx, Hilde M. L.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
Airborne devices for generating power in a crosswind power generating phase, including a body and at least one non-planar wing. A control system directs the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase. Wind energy conversio
Airborne devices for generating power in a crosswind power generating phase, including a body and at least one non-planar wing. A control system directs the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase. Wind energy conversion systems and methods including an airborne device, a tether, a generator, and a control system that directs the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path including a crosswind power generating phase.
대표청구항▼
1. An airborne device for generating power in a crosswind power generating phase, comprising: a body;at least one non-planar wing including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and pos
1. An airborne device for generating power in a crosswind power generating phase, comprising: a body;at least one non-planar wing including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and positioned at a positive dihedral angle relative to a horizontal;a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether;an adjustment mechanism arranged to change a position of the at least two side segments of the at least one non-planar wing relative to the body allowing the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase; andwherein the side segments are configured to generate aerodynamic lift in a direction substantially perpendicular to an actual flight path when the airborne device is directed to make turns during the crosswind power generating phase. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-planar wings has an aspect ratio between about 4 and about 10. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein a front non-planar wing is coupled to one end of the body and a rear non-planar wing is coupled to an opposite end of the body. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein exterior surfaces of the at least one non-planar wing are devoid of flight control surfaces. 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a propeller assembly to aid in launch and retrieval of the device so that the propeller assembly operates in conjunction with the tether to control movement of the device by generating forces that allow the airborne device to follow a flight path with a trailing edge of the at least one non-planar wing facing the direction of motion of the airborne device during launch and retrieval. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least two interconnecting side segments are at a dihedral angle relative to a vertical. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-planar wing has a chord length that is about constant along a length of the at least one wing. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-planar wing includes a rigid uni-frame structure such that no bending loads are transferred to the body. 9. A system for generating power during a crosswind power generating phase, comprising: an airborne device including a body;at least one non-planar wing coupled to the body, the at least one non-planar wing including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and positioned at a positive dihedral angle relative to a horizontal;a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether;an adjustment mechanism arranged to change a position of the at least two side segments of the at least one non-planar wing relative to the body;a control system arranged to direct the adjustment mechanism so that the airborne device is directed to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase; andwherein the side segments are configured to generate aerodynamic lift in a direction substantially perpendicular to an actual flight path when the airborne device is directed to make turns during the crosswind power generating phase. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined flight path during the crosswind power generating phase has a range of flight path that is less than about six times a wingspan of the device. 11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a front non-planar wing coupled to one end of the body, and a rear non-planar wing coupled to an opposite end of the body. 12. A method for converting wind energy, comprising: providing an airborne device for generating power during a crosswind power generating phase, the airborne device comprising: a body; at least one non-planar wing including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and positioned at a positive dihedral angle relative to a horizontal, and the at least one non-planar wing is coupled to the body; and a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether;installing a control system to direct the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path during the crosswind power generating phase;coupling the tether to the airborne device via the coupling mechanism;installing a generator and coupling the generator to the airborne device via the tether;capturing wind energy with the airborne device during the crosswind power generating phase; andtransferring the captured wind energy to the generator via the tether. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined flight path during the crosswind power generating phase has a range of flight path that is less than about six times a wingspan of the device. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the airborne device further comprises a propeller assembly and wherein the control system directs the propeller assembly to generate forces that allow the airborne device to follow a flight path with a trailing edge of the at least one non-planar wing facing the direction of motion of the airborne device. 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing the airborne device with an adjustment mechanism arranged to change a position of the at least one non-planar wing relative to the body. 16. A system for generating power during a crosswind power generating phase, comprising: an airborne device including at least one non-planar wing including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and positioned at a positive dihedral angle relative to a horizontal;a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether; anda control system arranged to direct the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase and the flight path following a range of flight path that is less than about six times a wingspan of the device. 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a propeller assembly. 18. A system for generating power during a crosswind power generating phase, comprising: an airborne device including a body;at least one non-planar wing coupled to the body including at least two wing segments and at least two interconnecting side segments, the at least two wing segments extending substantially parallel to each other and positioned at a positive dihedral angle relative to a horizontal, and including an airfoil shaped segment having a leading edge and a trailing edge;a propeller assembly coupled to the airborne device;a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether; anda control system directing the propeller assembly to generate forces that allow the airborne device to follow a flight path with the trailing edge of the at least one non-planar wing facing the direction of motion of the airborne device. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the control system instructs the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path of increasing altitude during the crosswind power generating phase. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined flight path during the crosswind power generating phase has a range of flight path that is less than about six times a wingspan of the device. 21. A method for converting wind energy, comprising: providing two or more airborne devices, each airborne device comprising a body, at least one non-planar wing, a coupling mechanism arranged to couple the airborne device to a tether, and a control system arranged to direct the airborne device to follow a predetermined flight path;coupling a tether to each of the airborne devices;providing a generator and operatively coupling the generator to the airborne devices via the tethers; coordinating flight paths of the airborne devices so that at a point in time at least one of the airborne device performs a crosswind power generating phase; capturing wind energy with the airborne device describing the power generating phase;transferring the captured wind energy to the generator via the tether coupled to the airborne device while performing the crosswind power generating phase;repeating the power generation cycle so that the generator provides a continuous power supply; andwherein the amount of tether released during the crosswind power generating phase is equal to the amount of tether withdrawn on the return cycle, such that the net tether movement is zero during one power generating cycle. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein two or more airborne devices are operating with tethers on the same generator so that the airborne devices are operating out of phase to each other in the power generation phase and a return phase to reduce fluctuation in the average power level generated.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Goldstein, Leonid, Airborne wind energy conversion system with fast motion transfer.
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