Wind turbine and method of manufacture

Abstract

A variable voltage and frequency output wind turbine. Variations of the wind turbine include use of a slotless alternator to reduce alternator noise, a high power AC output to facilitate transmission of the output over extended distances, AC to DC converters and DC to AC converters, and sensors for systems and devices to receive the wind turbine output and to allow matching of the output to the receiving devices and system. Other features include a removable hatchcover for dissipating heat from components contained in the turbine or attached to the hatchcover, a swept blade design to reduce blade-produced noise, and power storage components for storing and intermittently using energy stored as a result of wind turbine power generation.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 487,392, filed Jul. 17, 2006, which claims priority to applicant's U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 699,940, filed Jul. 15, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to the field of wind turbine power generation, and in particular to a wind turbine that can be utilized on a utility grid, that is able to provide a wide range of frequency and voltage output, that can be used as a stand-alone power source, and that includes manufacturing and distribution cost and noise reduction features that increase the range of applications.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]Small-scale wind turbines are in wide and growing use. Small-scale wind turbines are typically used to charge battery banks or to feed power into utility lines. Present wind turbines, however, typically have several wea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a wind turbine with reduced noise, cost, and inefficiency compared to prior art wind turbines. The wind turbine has specialized housing and blades designs to reduce audible noise. The power output device can provide power for non-wind power applications, such as vehicles. The wind turbine uses a high-voltage, high-speed alternator to minimize electrical losses. The alternator design reduces or eliminates cogging torque at startup. The wind turbine is connected to a DC load, and the frequency of the output device can be adjusted to optimize transformer efficiency. The invention also includes a boost alternator system to temporarily store energy and release it at a later time. The wind turbine has sensors and signal processing capabilities to detect voltage and frequency."

Problems solved by technology

However, additional losses can result from the use of a transformer.

At low power levels, core Losses dominate for the transformer, whereas current related losses for the transformer dominate at high power levels.

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