Prime-mover dynamo plants – Fluid-current motors – Wind
Patent
1996-04-04
1998-04-28
Stephan, Steven L.
Prime-mover dynamo plants
Fluid-current motors
Wind
415 21, 416 8, 290 44, F03D 502
Patent
active
057448710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wind system, of the kind fitted with a number blades vertically attached to a closed flexible belt, which extracts energy from the wind impinging on the blades and transfers it to a number of alternators for its conversion into electric power.
The wind system subject of the invention is devised to generate electric power industrially and with a high efficiency.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus using wind energy for its conversion into electric power can be deemed to be divided into two large groups, the so-called "vertical axis" and "horizontal axis" groups.
With regard to horizontal electric power generating apparatus and systems, although plants are currently in operation, such are very complex for they need to be able to rotate about themselves, much like a weather-vane, and hence need to have devices ensuring that they face into the wind at all times. The rotor must also be provided with blade pitch regulation systems, each blade rotating about its own axis, in order to keep the revolutions of the turbine constant regardless of the wind velocity. A multiplication box is also required to adapt the turbine revolutions, of about tens of revolutions per minute, to those of the alternator, between 700 and 3000 revolutions per minute. Considering the above and the large size of these machines, the investment cost required rockets and making it pay and exploiting it is therefore difficult.
It is finally noteworthy that these systems operate only under very heavy winds wherefore their installation is limited to just a few geographical locations and their use as a power generation system can never be widespread.
Currently known vertical systems and apparatus are inconvenient in two significant ways, since they must firstly be installed, much like horizontal axis systems and apparatus, in areas with a high wind potential and, secondly, their output is below that of the horizontal axis systems aforesaid, wherefore they cannot be deemed to be industrially effective power obtention systems.
A third family exists in which the system of the invention could fit, namely all systems having no axis. Among these reference could, for instance, be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,910 and GB Patents 2,131,490 and 2,131,491. U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,910 relates to a wind system comprising two parallel cables passing through two pairs of pulleys to define two closed parallel loops. A number of aerodynamic profiled blades are mounted between these two cables vertically, arranged in such a way that wind impinging upon the blades causes the cables to move. As the patent specification clearly discloses, the system was devised to work as a wind blanket and secondly as a potential source of domestic power.
GB Patents 2,131,490 and 2,131,491 relate to plants having a number of posts or pivots arranged as vertices of a polygon, each acting as a common shaft for two top and bottom pulleys through which two closed cables pass defining two horizontal closed and parallel loops. Patent 2,131,491 discloses a number of aerodynamic profiles arranged vertically between both loops upon which the wind impinges to cause the blades and hence the cables to move. This linear movement of the cables causes an angular movement of the pivots which may be converted into useful energy. In Patent 2,131,490, the aerodynamic profiles are replaced with sails of flexible material.
Although these systems are theoretically feasible, they are variously inconvenient and therefore scarcely practical if a plant of suitable dimensions is to be made to obtain electric power providing a sufficient output and efficiency in order for an acceptable profitability to be achieved. Thus, for instance, a realistic plant would require columns over 20 meters high and several tonnes in weight, and the pulleys turning with the column would therefore also have huge dimensions and require a revolution multiplier group. The cost and complexity of these plants would therefore be such as to render them wholly impractical to obta
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Ponomarenko Nicholas
Stephan Steven L.
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