AU2023202465A1 - Wind Turbine Tower - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine (1) includes a turbine wheel (2). Consisting of a top and bottom rim (4) with vertical blades connecting both together. (3) The wheel is supported on a vertical axle structure (5) The wheel assemblies include top and bottom spokes (18), radiating from the central axel (5) extending to the wheel rims (4) that are connected by blades (3) extending between the top and bottom rim (4) of the turbine wheel. The blades (3) are a fixed pitch with respect to each other to form a 360 degree circle, and each wheel may be stacked and connected to the central axis (5) to form the desired height for the location and power required. 1 FIG 1 1 NOTE: TURBINES CAN 00 BE STACKED IN c ACCORDANCE TO 9 DELIVER DESIRED e POWER 2 N 3 Lu 4 r 4 Cl) Cll 3 11a 4 4 lib 8 12 16 14 1 11c 9

Description

FIG 1

1 NOTE: TURBINES CAN BE STACKED IN c ACCORDANCE TO 9 DELIVER DESIRED e POWER 2 N 3

Cl) Cll Lu 4 r 4

3

11a 4 4

lib

8

12 16

14 1

11c

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

* [0001]

This invention concerns a wind turbine for the generation of electricity that includes a single or multiple turbine wheels, vertically mounted on a vertical extending central axle, with the perimeter of the turbine wheel driving a generator of electricity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

* [0002]

Windmills have been used for many generations for the purpose of pumping water from the ground and for generating electricity. The basic advantage of the windmill is that it uses the power of the wind to rotate a wheel having radially extending blades that are driven by the wind. This rotary movement is converted into various useful purposes. For example, wind turbines in the form of propellers mounted on towers have been placed in areas where steady winds are prevalent and the wind turbines are used to generate electricity.

* [0003]

The blades of the conventional wind turbines are very large and made of expensive rigid material and are constructed to have the blades extend radially from a central hub, with no extra support at the outer tips of the blades. The conventional wind turbine blades rotate at a high rate of revolutions and must withstand both the centrifugal forces generated by the fast revolution of the blades and the cantilever bending forces applied to the blades by the wind. Since the outer portions of the blades move at a very high velocity and are engaged by strong winds, the larger the blades the stronger they must be and the more expensive they become. Thus, there is a practical limit as to the length and width of the blades because of the expense of stronger materials for larger blades.

* [0004]

Another type of wind turbine is one that has sail wings constructed of cloth that are a substitute for the rigid blades of the conventional wind turbines described above. For example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,330,714, 4,350,895, and 4,729,716 disclose wind turbines that do not use rigid propeller blades but use sails that catch the wind. The sails are mounted on radiating spars of the turbine. These particular wind turbines include circular inner and outer rims with the sails of the turbine supported by both the inner and outer rims. The outer rim supports the outer portions of the sails so that the force of the wind applied to the sails may be absorbed to a major extent by the outer rim so there is little if any cantilever force applied to the sails. This allows the blades of the wind turbine to be formed of lighter weight material, material that is not required to bear as much stress in comparison to the typical free bladed turbine. However, the relative speed of the wind on a turbine wheel is greater near the outer portions of the blades of the turbine wheel in comparison with the inner portions of the blades, and the above noted patents do not teach adjustments for changing the pitch or twist of the cloth blades in a turbine wheel for compensating for different wind loads on different parts of the blades.

* [0005]

A feature in some of the prior art wind turbines is the means by which the speed of the turbine may be adjusted when the wind velocity changes. For example, some of the wind turbines may be turned away from facing directly into the wind during high speed winds. Others may increase the load applied by the electrical generator that is driven by the wind turbine. However, it is desirable that the load of the generator be maintained at a desired level, and it is desirable to avoid frequent changes in the direction in which the wind turbine faces.

* [0006]

Thus, it would be desirable to produce and use a wind turbine that does not have to have its pitch angle changes, relative to wind conditions and can catch the wind from 360 degrees.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

* [0007]

Briefly described, this disclosure sets forth the features of a wind turbine that is powered by atmospheric wind and which can be used to create rotary energy that is transformed into an end product, such as to drive an electrical generator, to run a grist mill, or to pump water. The end use may vary in accordance with need, but a practical end use for the wind turbine is to create electricity by driving a generator.

* [0008]

In one form of the system the wind turbine includes a turbine wheel that is rotatably mounted on a support about a vertical extending central axis. A plurality of vertical blades connected to vertical axis via spokes radiating from a top and bottom rim to which the vertical blades are attached. (the turbine wheel assembly)..

* [0009]

The angle of attack of the blades (pitch angle), in relation to the wind, is fixed eliminating moving parts and thus reducing production and maintenance costs. The wheel assemblies can be stacked vertically around the central axle to create the desired power generation and to suit environmental conditions.

* [0010]

The support of the wind turbine may comprise an upright tower with one or multiple turbine wheels rotatably mounted on the tower about a vertical extending central axle.

* [0011]

The turbine wheel may include an outer perimeter mesh structure to prevent birds and other wildlife accidently entering into the path of the blades.

* [0012]

Also, the top wheel can have a protective cover to also prevent wildlife from accessing the structure.

* [0013]

Other features and advantages of the structure disclosed herein may be understood from the following specification and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

* [0014]

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the wind turbine.

* [0015]

FIG. 2 is schematic illustration of a single wheel of the wind turbine of FIG. 1, except showing the vertical aero foil blades.

* [0016]

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing the 360 degree nature of the wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

* [0017]

Referring now in more detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a wind turbine 1 that includes a turbine wheel 2 having an outer perimeter formed by a series of vertical aero foil blades 3 and a top and bottom rim on each wheel 4 that extends continuously about the turbine wheel. Axle structure 5 is at the center of the turbine wheel 2 and is mounted on a ground support 7 and a plurality of blade assemblies 3 are mounted to the axle structure 5 that forms the perimeter of the turbine wheel and a protective cover 6 that prevents wildlife entering the tower.

* [0018]

The turbine wheels 2 are mounted on an axle 5 and the axle is rotatably mounted on the ground support 7 by a bearing 8 and rotatably mounted on a top bearing 9 which is fixed to a support frame 10 shown in Fig 8. The axle 5 may be generally circular in cross section. Strengthening guide wires 11A, 11B and 11C and 11D are mounted on the external top corners of the support frames 10 and fixed to the ground at the required angles. This construction provides high resistance against the on-coming wind forces.

* [0019]

FIG. 1 illustrates the power takeoff assembly 12 that is mounted to the axle 5 at the base of the turbine wheels 2 for the purpose of extracting rotary energy from the turbine wheels. The power takeoff assembly 12 that is connected to and drives a low speed shaft 13. The low-speed shaft connects to a gear box 14 which drives a high speed shaft 15 which rotates the rotor of an electrical generator 16, which is mounted on a support cradle 17. There can be a combinations of multiple electrical generators 16 and other components.

* [0020]

The cradle 18 may be shaped in an arc that is concentric with respect to supporting the electrical generators 17 and their components.

* [0021]

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the turbine wheel 2 that has its aero foil blades assemblies 3 shaped as aero foils to act the same as an aircraft wing (or sail on a yacht) to catch the available wind.

* [0022]

FIG. 2 also shows the direction of the wind W compared with the direction of the wind turbine movement WT and the resulting direction of the relative wind RW as it meets the moving blade assemblies 3. Because the blade assemblies are an aero foil shape their reaction is one of lift as the wind passes over them. This reaction eliminates the need for the blade angles to be changed as the wind direction changes.

* [0023]

FIG. 3 shows the top and bottom rim 4 of a wind turbine wheel 2 Showing their 360 degree nature and the assembly of the aero foil blades 3 located around the circumference of the turbine wheel 2 and the spoke assemblies 18 that are arranged at equal angles from one another and extend radially from the axle structure 5.

* [0024]

An advantage of the concentric arrangement of aero foil blade assemblies of FIG. 3 is that larger turbine wheels may be constructed so as to provide more power to the driven apparatus, such as to several electrical generators. Also, the turbine wheels 2 can be stacked vertically to take advantage of wind passages at various heights.

[0025]

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the foregoing description sets forth in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention, modifications, additions, and changes might be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

CLAIMS What I Claim Is:

1. A wind turbine comprising: a set of aero foil blades fixed between a top and bottom flat rim creating wheels that are mounted on a central vertical rotatable axle, each of said blades having a fixed aero foil shape giving the wheels multiple angles of attack creating at any point around the perimeter of the wheel an optimal angle of attack for the wind direction at any point of time to obtain at least 50% of maximum energy that can be extracted using the turbine. 2. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein the turbine wheel has a circumferential sidewall about a central axis, said circumferential sidewall defining a 360 degree face to any wind direction, said sidewall is a continual series of aero foil blades. 3. The wind turbine recited in Claim 2, wherein said sidewall aero foil blades can be spaced relevant to the application and size of the wind turbine circumference required. 4. The wind turbine recited in Claim 3, wherein said sidewall of aero foil blades can be of specified heights and widths. 5. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein each of said aero foil blades has a leading edge and a trailing edge defining a surface for receiving wind, wherein the number of blades being sufficient to entirely redirect direct wind impinging upon the turbine. 6. The wind turbine recited in Claim 5, wherein the leading edge of each of the aero foil blades overlaps the trailing edge of an adjacent blade by an amount between 5% and 60% of its surface area. 7. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein each of said aero foil blades is twisted such that the tip end of said aero foil blade is twisted to form an angle of attack as determined by the height of the wheel being produced. 8. The wind turbine recited in Claim 7, wherein each of said aero foil blades is twisted such that the hub end of said blade is twisted at an angle comparable to an aircraft wing specification 9. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein a covering cone is provided on top of the wind turbine wheel covering the hub, and prevent the air mass escaping upwards out from the top of the turbine wheel, so that kinetic energy in said air mass is captured. 10. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, the turbine is connected to a multi-pole generator having poles connected in series and of sufficient size to provide a higher output voltage relative to the output of a dipole generator. 11. The wind turbine recited in Claim 10, wherein the control of turbine speed is regulated by a controller that measures generator power output and modifies field current of the generator to load rotor to regulate rotation speed of the turbine wheels to obtain at least 50% of maximum generator power output under all wind conditions. 12. The wind turbine recited in Claim 11, wherein the control of turbine speed is regulated by a controller that measures generator power output and modifies field current of the generator to load rotor to regulate rotation speed of the turbine to obtain at least 80% of maximum generator power output under all wind conditions. 13. The wind turbine recited in Claim 12, wherein an inverter is connected to the generator output with apparatus to provide the maximum electrical output of the generator under all normal wind conditions for delivery to the user. 14. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein said set of fixed pitch aero foil blades are of such number that they overlap each other as viewed straight on from the front of the turbine. 15. The wind turbine recited in Claim 1, wherein said set of fixed pitch aero foil blades are shaped with a curvature on a front blade surface and a different curvature on a reverse blade surface to affect the apparent wind as seen by the moving blades of said turbine.

16. The wind turbine recited in Claim 6, wherein the leading edge of each of the blades overlaps the trailing edge of an adjacent blade by an amount between 14% and 20% of its surface area.

&/'ϭ 28 May 2023

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