High-altitude power generation equipment and system

Abstract

The invention provides high-altitude power generation equipment and system, the high-altitude power generation equipment comprises a wind driven generator, a floater and a lightning protection cage body of a closed structure, and the wind driven generator and the floater are both arranged in the lightning protection cage body; the floating device is cylindrical, helium is filled in the floating device, the wind driven generator is arranged in the cylinder of the floating device, and a rotating shaft of the wind driven generator and the floating device are coaxially arranged. According to the high-altitude power generation equipment provided by the invention, the lightning protection cage body is arranged outside the wind driven generator and the floater, and the wind driven generator and the floater can be protected through the lightning protection cage body, so that the risk that the wind driven generator and the floater are struck by lightning is avoided, and the safety of the high-altitude power generation equipment is enhanced; therefore, the high-altitude power generation system can be used in all weathers. Meanwhile, the floating device of the high-altitude power generation equipment is filled with helium, and compared with the prior art that a hydrogen balloon is adopted as the floating device, helium is adopted, so that the high-altitude power generation equipment is safer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of high-altitude power generation, and in particular to high-altitude power generation equipment and a system. Background Art

[0002] As a clean and renewable energy source, wind energy is gaining more and more attention from countries around the world. 9 MW, of which 2×10 7 Megawatts is 10 times greater than the total exploitable hydropower on Earth. Wind has long been used, primarily through windmills for pumping water and grinding flour. Today, wind energy is primarily used for electricity generation. Wind turbines use wind to rotate blades, which are then accelerated by a speed increaser to generate electricity. Conventional wind turbines are located on the ground, where wind power is often not as strong as it is high in the sky due to the influence of topography. This is especially true in cities with numerous high-rise buildings, where ground-based wind turbines are virtually impossible to install.

[0003] Related art discloses a wind power generation device capable of generating electricity at high altitudes. The device comprises a wind turbine and a hydrogen balloon. The hydrogen balloon is annular, with the wind turbine nestled in the middle of the annular balloon. The blades in the wind turbine have a rotation axis coaxial with the hydrogen balloon. Windshields are symmetrically arranged on either side of the hydrogen balloon, used to adjust the angle of the hydrogen balloon according to wind direction. The axis of the hydrogen balloon and the windshields are coplanar. A battery is located on the lower side of the hydrogen balloon. The windshield and wind turbine are each secured to the hydrogen balloon via a plurality of load-bearing cables. Compared to ground-based wind turbines, this high-altitude wind power generation device boasts high power generation efficiency and is unaffected by topography.

[0004] However, high-altitude power generation equipment generally operates in airspace at an altitude of 1,000 to 3,000 meters, where thunderstorms are prone to occur. When lightning strikes high-altitude power generation equipment, it is easy to cause damage to the wind turbine and is very likely to cause the hydrogen balloon to burn, causing irreparable losses. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a high-altitude power generation equipment and system to solve the technical problems raised in the background technology.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a high-altitude power generation device, comprising a wind turbine, a floater, and a closed lightning protection cage, wherein the wind turbine and the floater are both disposed within the lightning protection cage; the floater is cylindrical and filled with helium; the wind turbine is disposed within the cylinder of the floater, and the rotation axis of the wind turbine is coaxial with the floater;

[0007] Extension brackets extending horizontally outward are provided on both sides of the lightning protection cage body, and solar photovoltaic panels are laid on the upper surfaces of the extension brackets.

[0008] Furthermore, the lightning protection cage includes an outer cover and an inner cover, the outer cover is cylindrical, the inner cover is coaxially arranged inside the circular ring of the outer cover, and the inner cover and the outer cover are fixedly connected by a connecting rod; the wind turbine is fixedly arranged in the inner cover, and the outer cover is arranged outside the float.

[0009] Furthermore, a first discharge brush and a second discharge brush are provided on both the outer cover and the inner cover, the first discharge brush is provided in a conductive manner with the outer cover and the inner cover, and the first discharge brush is provided insulated from the surface of the float and the wind turbine housing, and the first discharge brush is provided outside the outer cover and outside the inner cover;

[0010] The second discharge brush is electrically conductively arranged with the surface of the float and the wind turbine shell, and is insulated from the outer cover and the inner cover. The second discharge brush is arranged inside the outer cover and the inner cover.

[0011] Furthermore, the outer cover includes a first cage frame and a metal wire mesh arranged on the outer surface of the first cage frame;

[0012] The inner cover comprises a second cage frame and a metal wire mesh arranged on the outer surface of the second cage frame;

[0013] Both ends of the connecting rod are fixedly connected to the first cage frame and the second cage frame respectively;

[0014] The extension bracket is fixedly connected to the first cage frame.

[0015] Furthermore, the outer shell of the wind turbine is fixedly connected to the second cage frame via a fixing rod.

[0016] Furthermore, a windward rudder is fixedly provided on the tail end of the first cage frame.

[0017] Furthermore, the first cage frame and the second cage frame are both made of carbon fiber tubes.

[0018] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present application also provides a high-altitude power generation system, including the high-altitude power generation equipment as described in the first aspect, and also including a mooring mechanism and a battery energy storage device fixedly arranged on the ground, the mooring mechanism is connected to the high-altitude power generation equipment through a mooring cable, and the high-altitude power generation equipment and the battery energy storage device are connected through a wire.

[0019] Furthermore, the mooring cable includes a steel wire rope, an insulating sleeve is provided on the outside of the mooring cable, and the mooring cable is insulated from the high-altitude power generation equipment.

[0020] Furthermore, the mooring mechanism includes a fixed seat fixedly arranged on the ground, a rotating seat rotatably mounted on the fixed seat, and a winch fixedly mounted on the rotating seat, and the winch is connected to the mooring cable.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are embodied in:

[0022] The high-altitude power generation equipment provided in the present application is provided with a lightning protection cage outside the wind turbine and the float. The lightning protection cage can protect the wind turbine and the float, avoiding the risk of the wind turbine and the float being struck by lightning, thereby enhancing the safety of the high-altitude power generation equipment and enabling the high-altitude power generation system of the present application to be used around the clock.

[0023] Furthermore, the high-altitude power generation equipment of the present application can simultaneously utilize wind energy and solar energy to generate electricity, has a rich variety of energy utilization, is less restricted by weather and geographical factors, and has high power generation efficiency.

[0024] Finally, the float of the high-altitude power generation equipment of the present application is filled with helium. Compared with the use of hydrogen balloons as floats in related technologies, the use of helium is safer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly describes the drawings required for the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Similar elements or parts are generally identified by similar reference numerals throughout the drawings. Elements or parts in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0026] The accompanying drawings herein are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application, and together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be derived from these drawings without inventive effort.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a high-altitude power generation system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the end structure of a mooring cable provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a mooring mechanism provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 A front view of a high-altitude power generation device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the internal structure of a high-altitude power generation device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a lightning protection cage provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] The purpose of this application, its features, and advantages will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and the accompanying text are not intended to limit the scope of the present application in any way, but rather to illustrate the concepts of this application to those skilled in the art by reference to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the technical or scientific terms used in this application should have the common meanings understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0037] In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0038] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, terms such as "mounted," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed or detachable connections, or integration; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0039] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a high-altitude power generation system, comprising a high-altitude power generation device 100, a mooring mechanism 200 fixedly arranged on the ground, and a battery energy storage device 300, wherein the mooring mechanism 200 is connected to the high-altitude power generation device 100 via a mooring cable 400, and the high-altitude power generation device 100 and the battery energy storage device 300 are connected via a wire.

[0041] For example, Figure 2 As shown, the mooring cable 400 can be made of steel wire rope and is provided with an insulating sleeve 402 to protect the mooring cable 400 from lightning strikes. Furthermore, the mooring cable 400 is insulated from the high-altitude power generation device 100. For example, one end of the mooring cable 400 can be wrapped around the high-altitude power generation device 100 and secured with a U-shaped clamp to prevent lightning from being transmitted between the high-altitude power generation device 100 and the mooring cable 400, further ensuring the safety of the high-altitude power generation device 100.

[0042] like Figure 3As shown, the mooring mechanism 200 includes a fixed base 201 fixed to the ground, a rotating base 202 rotatably mounted on the fixed base 201, and a winch 203 fixedly mounted on the rotating base 202. The winch 203 is connected to the mooring cable 400. Specifically, the fixed base 201 can be a reinforced concrete structure directly cast on the ground. A rotating shaft 205 is provided at the bottom of the rotating base 202. The bottom end of the rotating shaft 205 has an outer flange 206 in the shape of an annulus. The rotating shaft 205 is rotatably mounted on the fixed base 201 via a bearing 207. A planar thrust bearing 204 is provided between the outer flange 206 and the fixed base 201.

[0043] When the high-altitude power generation device 100 is suspended in the air, it will swing with the change in wind direction, pulling the mooring cable 400. When the high-altitude power generation device 100 drifts with the change in wind direction, pulling the mooring cable 400, because the winch 203 is fixedly mounted on the rotating base 202, the rotating base 202 will rotate about the rotating axis 205 as the mooring cable 400 moves, thereby reducing the additional tension on the winch 203. The connection between the winch 203's cable drum and the mooring cable 400 only needs to withstand the suspension tension of the high-altitude power generation device 100, and does not need to withstand the additional pulling force when the high-altitude power generation device 100 drifts left and right. This keeps the mooring cable 400 and the winch 203's cable drum axially perpendicular, thereby stabilizing the force on the winch 203 and extending the service life of the winch 203.

[0044] When it is necessary to inspect or replace parts of the high-altitude power generation equipment 100, the winch 203 can be used to wind the mooring cable 400 to pull the high-altitude power generation equipment 100 down from the height to a suitable height above the ground before the operation is carried out, which is convenient for maintenance personnel to operate safely.

[0045] A planar thrust bearing 204 is disposed between the outer flange 206 and the fixed seat 201. The top surface of the planar thrust bearing 204 is fixed to the fixed seat 201, and the bottom of the planar thrust bearing 204 is connected to the upper surface of the outer flange 206. The planar thrust bearing 204 is required to withstand the vertical pulling force (i.e., axial load) when the high-altitude power generation device 100 floats. The bearing 207 between the rotating shaft 205 and the fixed seat 201 is required to withstand the horizontal pulling force (i.e., radial load) when the high-altitude power generation device 100 floats, thereby ensuring a more stable and balanced force on the rotating seat 202.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the high-altitude power generation device 100 includes a wind turbine 1, a floater 2, and a closed lightning protection cage 3. The wind turbine 1 and floater 2 are both disposed within the lightning protection cage 3. The floater 2 is cylindrical and filled with helium. The wind turbine 1 is disposed within the cylinder of the floater 2, with the rotation axis of the wind turbine 1 coaxial with the floater 2. Horizontally extending extension brackets 9 are provided on both sides of the lightning protection cage 3. Solar photovoltaic panels 12 are provided on the upper surfaces of the extension brackets 9 for photovoltaic power generation.

[0047] It can be understood that the high-altitude power generation equipment 100 provided in this embodiment is provided with a lightning protection cage 3 outside the wind turbine 1 and the float 2. The lightning protection cage 3 can protect the wind turbine 1 and the float 2, avoiding the risk of the wind turbine 1 and the float 2 being struck by lightning, thereby enhancing the safety of the high-altitude power generation equipment 100 and enabling the high-altitude power generation system of this application to be used all-weather.

[0048] The enclosed structure of the lightning protection cage 3 utilizes the Faraday cage principle to shield external electric fields through electrostatic induction on the surface of the conductor. When an external electric field acts on the lightning protection cage 3, the free charges are rapidly redistributed, forming a reverse electric field that offsets the external electric field, achieving electrostatic equilibrium and thus effectively protecting the wind turbine 1 and floater 2 from lightning strikes. Furthermore, the floater 2 of the high-altitude power generation device 100 of the present application is filled with helium, which is safer than the hydrogen balloon used in related art.

[0049] For example, Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the lightning protection cage 3 includes an outer cover 4 and an inner cover 5. The outer cover 4 is cylindrical, and the inner cover 5 is coaxially arranged inside the annular ring of the outer cover 4. The inner and outer covers 5 and 4 are fixedly connected by a connecting rod 6. The wind turbine 1 is fixedly mounted within the inner cover 5, while the outer cover 4 is positioned outside the float 2. Both the outer and inner covers 4 and 5 are provided with a first discharge brush 7 and a second discharge brush 8. The first discharge brush 7 is electrically conductive with the outer and inner covers 4 and 5, and is insulated from the surface of the float 2 and the wind turbine 1 housing. The first discharge brush 7 is located outside the outer cover 4 and the inner cover 5. The second discharge brush 8 is electrically conductive with the surface of the float 2 and the wind turbine 1 housing, and is insulated from the outer and inner covers 4 and 5. The second discharge brush 8 is located inside the outer and inner covers 4 and 5.

[0050] When the high-altitude power generation device 100 floats at high altitude, the surface of the floater 2 and the wind turbine 1 housing rub against the air and various impurities in the air. For example, these rub against dust, rain, snow, ice, and other impurities in the air and clouds, generating a large amount of static electricity. If this static electricity accumulates to a certain level and cannot be discharged through appropriate channels, it can significantly affect electronic equipment onboard the floater 2 and within the wind turbine 1. The discharge brushes are typically composed of dozens of very fine metal wire needles, whose resistance is very low compared to the surface resistance of the floater 2 or the housing of the wind turbine 1. This allows corona discharge to occur on the surface of the floater 2 or the housing of the wind turbine 1 at a relatively low voltage, thereby dissipating static electricity. Because the radiation generated by the corona discharge is insufficient to interfere with the electronic equipment onboard the floater 2 or within the wind turbine 1, the effectiveness and safety of these electronic equipment are effectively guaranteed. Therefore, the second discharge brushes 8 can discharge static electricity accumulated on the surface of the floater 2 or the housing of the wind turbine 1.

[0051] Similarly, when lightning strikes the lightning cage 3 , the current will be conducted along the outer surface of the lightning cage 3 and finally converge at the first discharge brush 7 to discharge, thereby releasing the charge accumulated on the lightning cage 3 .

[0052] Exemplarily, the outer cover 4 includes a first cage frame and a metal mesh provided on the outer surface of the first cage frame; the inner cover 5 includes a second cage frame and a metal mesh provided on the outer surface of the second cage frame. The metal meshes used in this embodiment are all bare metal meshes. Exemplarily, the metal mesh can be made of copper wire and used as the conductive layer of the cage. One end of the extension bracket 9 is welded to the first cage frame. The first frame and the second cage frame are used to bear force and load, including bearing the traction between the mooring cable 400, and the load of installing the wind turbine 1, the extension bracket 9, the float 2 and the metal mesh. The metal mesh is only used as a conductive layer.

[0053] The ends of the connecting rod 6 are fixedly connected to the first cage frame and the second cage frame, respectively. For example, the ends of the connecting rod 6 can be fixedly connected to the first cage frame and the second cage frame by bolts, thereby facilitating assembly, disassembly, maintenance, and replacement. Welding can also be used for connection. This embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions on the method of fixing the ends of the connecting rod 6 to the first cage frame and the second cage frame, respectively.

[0054] The outer casing of the wind turbine 1 and the second cage frame are fixedly connected via a fixing rod 10. The ends of the fixing rod 10 can be fixedly connected to the outer casing of the wind turbine 1 and the second cage frame respectively via bolts, thereby facilitating assembly and disassembly. Welding can also be used for the connection. This embodiment does not impose any specific restrictions on the method of fixing the ends of the fixing rod 10 to the outer casing of the wind turbine 1 and the second cage frame respectively.

[0055] To reduce the weight of the entire lightning protection cage 3 and thus the amount of helium required, in this embodiment, both the first and second cage frames can be made of carbon fiber tubes. Carbon fiber tubes offer the advantages of high strength, lightweight, and corrosion resistance, and exhibit minimal deformation under long-term loads, making them ideal for use in high-altitude environments and under heavy loads. Furthermore, carbon fiber tubes are highly conductive, effectively directing lightning and providing lightning protection for the wind turbine 1 and floater 2.

[0056] Furthermore, a windward rudder 11 is fixedly mounted on the rear end of the first cage frame. This rudder 11 adjusts the orientation of the high-altitude power generation device 100, allowing the wind turbine 1 to face the wind directly and generate maximum power. The electricity generated by the wind turbine 1 and the solar photovoltaic panels 12 is transmitted via wires to a rectifier and transformer, where it is used to charge the battery energy storage device 300 or to connect to the power grid for direct grid power supply.

[0057] Finally, it should be noted that the various technical features of the technical solution of this application can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this application.

[0058] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and they should all be included in the scope of the claims and description of the present invention.

Claims

1. A high altitude power generation equipment, characterized in that: The invention comprises a wind turbine (1), a floater (2) and a lightning protection cage (3) with a closed structure, wherein the wind turbine (1) and the floater (2) are both arranged in the lightning protection cage (3); the floater (2) is cylindrical and filled with helium; the wind turbine (1) is arranged inside the cylinder of the floater (2); and the rotation axis of the wind turbine (1) is coaxially arranged with the floater (2); Extension brackets (9) extending horizontally outward are provided on both sides of the lightning protection cage (3), and solar photovoltaic panels (12) are laid on the upper surfaces of the extension brackets (9).

2. A high altitude power generation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lightning protection cage (3) comprises an outer cover (4) and an inner cover (5); the outer cover (4) is cylindrical; the inner cover (5) is coaxially arranged inside the ring of the outer cover (4); the inner cover (5) and the outer cover (4) are fixedly connected via a connecting rod (6); the wind turbine (1) is fixedly arranged inside the inner cover (5), and the outer cover (4) is arranged outside the float (2).

3. A high altitude power generation device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: A first discharge brush (7) and a second discharge brush (8) are provided on both the outer cover (4) and the inner cover (5); the first discharge brush (7) is electrically conductively arranged with the outer cover (4) and the inner cover (5); and the first discharge brush (7) is insulated from the surface of the float (2) and the shell of the wind turbine (1); the first discharge brush (7) is located outside the outer cover (4) and outside the inner cover (5); The second discharge brush (8) is electrically conductively arranged with the surface of the float (2) and the shell of the wind turbine (1), and the second discharge brush (8) is insulated from the outer cover (4) and the inner cover (5). The second discharge brush (8) is located inside the outer cover (4) and inside the inner cover (5).

4. A high altitude power generation device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The outer cover (4) comprises a first cage frame and a metal wire mesh arranged on the outer surface of the first cage frame; The inner cover (5) comprises a second cage frame and a metal wire mesh arranged on the outer surface of the second cage frame; The two ends of the connecting rod (6) are fixedly connected to the first cage frame and the second cage frame respectively; The extension bracket (9) is fixedly connected to the first cage frame.

5. A high altitude power generation device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: The outer shell of the wind turbine (1) and the second cage frame are fixedly connected via a fixing rod (10).

6. A high altitude power generation device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that: A windward rudder (11) is fixedly arranged on the tail end of the first cage frame.

7. The high-altitude power generation equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first cage frame and the second cage frame are both made of carbon fiber tubes.

8. A high altitude power generation system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a high-altitude power generation device (100) as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, and further comprises a mooring mechanism (200) and a battery energy storage device (300) fixedly arranged on the ground, wherein the mooring mechanism (200) is connected to the high-altitude power generation device (100) through a mooring cable (400), and the high-altitude power generation device (100) and the battery energy storage device (300) are connected through a wire.

9. A high altitude power generation system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The mooring cable (400) comprises a steel wire rope (401), an insulating sleeve (402) is provided on the outside of the mooring cable (400), and the mooring cable (400) is insulated from the high-altitude power generation equipment (100).

10. A high altitude power generation system according to claim 8, characterized in that: The mooring mechanism (200) comprises a fixed seat (201) fixedly arranged on the ground, a rotating seat (202) rotatably mounted on the fixed seat (201), and a winch (203) fixedly mounted on the rotating seat (202); the winch (203) is connected to the mooring cable (400).

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