Power kite, kite engine and acting method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a power kite, a kite engine and an acting method thereof. The power kite is formed by transforming a triangular kite, and the shape of the power kite is a regular triangle. The overall structure of the kite engine comprises a power unit, a tension unit, a chain transmission unit and a series of kite bodies. The power unit comprises a power pull rope and a power inertia wheel; the tension unit comprises a tension rope and a tension inertia wheel; the power pull rope and the tension pull rope are respectively connected with each kite of the series of kite in sequence; the power inertia wheel and the tension inertia wheel are the same in size and are located on the same vertical plane; the two rotating shafts communicate with each other through chain transmission energy, and the two inertia wheels rotate clockwise and have the same rotating speed; when the two inertia wheels rotate, wingspans of ascending and descending of the series kite are different, lift force is different, the difference value of the lift force drives the inertia wheels to rotate through the power pull rope and the tension pull rope, and meanwhile power is output outwards.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of new energy technology, belonging to new wind energy utilization technology, and in particular to a power kite, a kite engine and a working method thereof. Background Art

[0002] The simplest kite is a colorful children's toy made of small sticks, thin strings and colored paper.

[0003] About 20 years ago, more and more surfing enthusiasts began to use large kites instead of motorboats to pull their skateboards for surfing. The 20-square-meter kite combined with a high-tech rope that is 15 times stronger than a steel cable allows surfers to reach speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour, or fly more than 15 meters into the air and then gently glide back to the water.

[0004] Currently, researchers from various countries are working to give kites a new function: turning them into high-altitude wind power generation platforms. In the foreseeable future, "wind power kites" will fly high into the sky, "capturing" the stronger and more stable wind energy there.

[0005] According to records, although people used large kites to pull small trains as early as the early 19th century, it was not until around 1980 that people began to study the possibility of kite power generation.

[0006] The researcher who pioneered theoretical research in this field is named Lloyd. He calculated at the Livermore National Laboratory in California that if the wingspan of a kite could reach the size of the wings of a Lockheed C-5 transport aircraft (68 meters long), theoretically, from a wind of 10 meters per second, the kite could obtain megawatts of energy when flying back and forth in the wind, which is comparable to the power output of today's large ground wind turbines.

[0007] Lloyd proposed two ways of generating electricity with kites: one is to install propeller-like turbine blades on the wings of the kite, and the air drives the blades to rotate to generate electricity, which is then transmitted to the ground through conductive ropes; the other option is to use the force applied to the tension rope by the kite in the air to drive the ground equipment to generate electricity.

[0008] Compared to traditional wind turbines with towers and windmills, this kite-based high-altitude wind turbine system has its own advantages: the tethered aircraft can reach higher altitudes, where wind energy is stronger and more stable. Furthermore, because there is no need to build towers to support the giant rotating blades, construction costs and installation time are significantly reduced.

[0009] Compared with traditional wind power equipment, the kite power generation system, which is still in the laboratory stage, still has many difficulties to overcome.

[0010] For example, in this system, the kite acts as a wind energy collector to convert high-altitude wind energy into mechanical energy, while also maintaining the stability and balance of the system. However, the balancing movement and the working movement are coupled and influence each other, making it difficult to design the optimal pulling mode for balance and work. The system is complex, and its sustainability and stability are difficult to guarantee.

[0011] Safety issues must also be considered. During thunderstorms, power stations can be easily destroyed by lightning that "comes down the ropes."

[0012] As one of the world's pioneers in developing precision kite power generation prototypes, WindLift, founded by Robert Clayton, began developing kite power generation systems in 2005. They are currently conducting power generation experiments on land using surfing kites.

[0013] The experimental power generation system consists of a 90 cm diameter drum connected to a 60 kW power output terminal. The kite pulls the drum through a rope to drive the power output terminal to generate electricity, and then releases the tension through the tension line. In this process, the motor is used to reverse the drum and tighten the kite again.

[0014] The problem facing the experiment now is that during the re-tightening process, the kite needs to release all the tension or, better, make the tension negative, that is, let the air push the kite down, but the kite can only release most of the tension in the rope when its wingspan is fully folded. Therefore, the researchers used an inflatable kite with a slender air bubble in front of the wings to maintain the shape of the wings.

[0015] Even so, the wings were too flexible and difficult to pull tight again.

[0016] WindLift's kites use fiber wings that are more similar to traditional kites, while some of its competitors are working on using rigid wings. This design is more expensive and more susceptible to damage during landing, but rigid wings are more aerodynamic than fiber wings and can capture more energy from the wind.

[0017] Makani Power, a California-based company, is one of the leading companies in this field. Their large carbon composite kites are equipped with four power take-offs (PTOs) with propellers. During takeoff, the PTOs act as motors, driving the propellers and propelling the kite upward. After takeoff, the generated lift quickly allows the kite to fly without additional assistance. Once the wind's thrust balances the propeller pull, the PTOs begin generating electricity.

[0018] Last year, Makani launched a prototype of a 30-kilowatt kite-generated power system. Its ultimate goal is to deploy the system at sea and connect the generated electricity to the grid.

[0019] In the field of high-altitude wind power, foreign research institutions have the "first-mover advantage", and China, which has the advantages of "time and place", also has a promising future.

[0020] According to statistics, the average wind density of major ground-based wind power stations around the world is less than 1 kilowatt / square meter. The wind density near the jet stream over New York can reach 16 kilowatts / square meter. The wind density in most areas at an altitude of 10,000 meters above the Chinese land exceeds 5 kilowatts / square meter, and the wind density near the high-altitude jet stream over Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong regions even reaches 30 kilowatts / square meter, the highest in the world.

[0021] Taking advantage of the "geographical advantage", some domestic companies have begun to get involved in high-altitude wind power projects in recent years.

[0022] In November 2009, Guangdong High Altitude Wind Energy Technology Co., Ltd. was established in Guangzhou. The company plans to use specially made large kites to rise and fall at altitudes ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of meters, using wind energy and its own gravity, and use the generated pulling force to drive the ground power output terminal to generate electricity. The company's short-term goals are to build a 2-megawatt industrial prototype and a 10-megawatt medium- and high-altitude wind power generation demonstration power station.

[0023] Generally speaking, there are many R&D units at home and abroad that are researching, designing and experimenting with kite power generation devices, but none of them have yet entered commercial operation. The reason is that the core technology of the kite engine has not passed the test. Summary of the Invention

[0024] A power kite is formed by slightly modifying the triangular kite. Its structure includes: a windbreaker, a central column, a top corner, a left column, a right column, a crossbeam, a power rope, a power point, a tension rope, a tension point, a traction cloth, a lower edge, a lower end point and a tail scarf; the shape of the kite is an equilateral triangle, with the top corner facing upwards and the angle between the top corners being 90 degrees. From the top corner to the lower end point is a vertically downward central column; at three-fifths of the height of the central column, a crossbeam is horizontally arranged, and the left and right end points of the crossbeam are respectively connected to the left end point starting from the top corner and downwards. The left column and the right column are arranged on the right; the lower end point of the center column and the lower edges of the left and right windbreakers are on the same horizontal line, and the middle of the lower edge of the windbreaker is connected to a flowing tail scarf downward; the traction cloth is a triangle, and the connection between it and the center column is the vertical edge of the traction cloth; the connection point between the power rope and the center column is called the power point, which is on the center column, and the distance between it and the lower end point of the center column is 25% of the length of the center column; the connection point between the tension rope and the center column is called the tension point, which is on the center column, and the distance between it and the top corner is 15% of the length of the center column.

[0025] A kite engine, the overall structure of which includes four parts: a power unit, a tension unit, a chain drive, and a series of kites; the outer casings of the power unit and the tension unit are fixed on the ground in parallel, and the series of kites are composed of several power kites connected in series; the power unit is composed of a power pull rope, a pulley, a power inertia wheel, and a pull rope connecting column on the power inertia wheel; the power inertia wheel is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, and the other end of the rotating shaft is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed to the casing of the power unit; the tension unit is composed of a pull rope, a pulley, a power inertia wheel, and a pull rope connecting column on the power inertia wheel; the power inertia wheel is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, and the other end of the rotating shaft is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed to the casing of the power unit; , a tension inertia wheel, a rope connecting column on the tension inertia wheel, the tension inertia wheel is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, the other end of the rotating shaft is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed on the box of the power unit; the power ropes are connected to the various power points of the series kites in sequence, and the tension ropes are connected to the various tension points of the series kites in sequence; the power inertia wheel drives the chain transmission through the rotating shaft, and the other end of the chain transmission is connected to the rotating shaft of the tension inertia wheel. The inertia energy of the two inertia wheels is interconnected, and the power work of the two inertia wheels is output to the outside through the rotating shaft of the power inertia wheel.

[0026] The power inertia wheel and the tension inertia wheel are of the same size, with diameters equal to the length of the kite's central column. The two inertia wheels are located on the same vertical plane, with their rotating axes at the same height. The distance between the outer circles of the two inertia wheels is equal to 20% of the length of the kite's central column. Both inertia wheels rotate clockwise at the same speed. In the clockwise rotation direction, the drawstring connecting column on the power inertia wheel lags behind the drawstring connecting column on the tension inertia wheel by an angle of 60°.

[0027] The kite engine working method has the following specific steps:

[0028] (1) Prepare a certain number of powered kites to be used as a series of kites;

[0029] (2) Arrange the kites in the series in a straight line with equal spacing of several meters;

[0030] (3) connecting the power rope sequence to each kite power point in series;

[0031] (4) connecting the tension rope sequence to each kite tension point of the series kite in series;

[0032] (5) In the clockwise direction, the connection column of the cable of the power inertia wheel lags behind the connection column of the cable of the tension inertia wheel by an angle of 60°;

[0033] (6) The rope connecting columns of the two inertia wheels are respectively on their respective inertia wheels and move clockwise from the lowest point to the highest point by relying on inertia;

[0034] (7) The kite 5 is blown upright by the wind, with a large wingspan and a large lift force. The kite 5 starts to rise strongly from the lowest point, driving the power rope 18 and the tension rope 28 to pass around the pulley 17 and the pulley 27, driving the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 to rotate vigorously, and the kite 5 reaches the highest point;

[0035] (8) The rope connecting columns of the two inertia wheels are respectively on their respective inertia wheels and move clockwise from the highest point to the lowest point by relying on inertia;

[0036] (9) Pulled by the rope, the kites in the series lean forward, as shown by the dotted line. The wingspan facing the wind is small, and the lift is small. With the help of inertial energy, the ropes of the two inertia wheels go around the pulleys and pull the kites in the series from top to bottom;

[0037] (10) Repeat the above steps (6) to (9), and the two inertia wheels communicate with each other through the chain transmission energy, and continuously output power to the outside through the rotating shaft of the power inertia wheel to perform work.

[0038] The present invention creatively provides a powered kite, a kite engine and a working method thereof. The beneficial effects of the present invention include:

[0039] 1. The kite engine proposed in this invention successfully develops and utilizes a variable-wingspan kite method, creating a highly efficient and practical new technology for utilizing wind energy. It can be used for power generation, rice milling, cart pulling, and boat pulling. In particular, kite-based power generation offers significant advantages over existing wind turbine tower power generation methods.

[0040] 2. Compared with existing wind turbine tower generators, kite generators are simple to produce, low in cost, easy to transport, and cheap to maintain. They can be easily installed on plains, mountains, seas, southeast coasts, and Gobi deserts.

[0041] 3. The wind at high altitudes is stronger and more stable, and the power kites can be flown to altitudes of hundreds or even thousands of meters.

[0042] 4. Existing wind turbine tower generators not only produce disturbing noise but are also harmful to birds. Some European and American countries have begun to dismantle existing wind turbine tower generators.

[0043] 5. The equipment cost of a high-tower wind power station is roughly divided into: wind turbine 40%, tower 25%, blades 20%, and substation 15%. A kite power station not only eliminates the tower and blades, but also has no requirements for size and weight. The production, installation, and maintenance costs are low, so the total construction cost of a kite power station can be reduced by 50%. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a power kite of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of an embodiment of a kite engine of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the working method of the kite engine of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples.

[0048] Figure 1 A structural diagram of an embodiment of a power kite of the present invention is given.

[0049] The power kite embodiment of the present invention is slightly modified based on the delta kite. Its structure includes: a windbreaker 21, a center column 30, a top corner 37, a left column 23, a right column 29, a crossbeam 22, a power rope 18, a power point 34, a tension rope 28, a tension point 33, a traction cloth 24, a lower edge 36, a lower end point 38 and a tail scarf 39.

[0050] The kite has an equilateral triangle shape, with an upward vertex 37 and an included vertex angle of 90°. From the vertex 37 to the lower endpoint 38 is a vertically downward center column 30; at three-fifths of the height of the center column, a horizontal beam 22 is arranged, and the left and right endpoints of the beam 22 are respectively connected to the left column 23 and the right column 29 arranged to the left and right from the vertex 37 downward; the lower endpoint 38 of the center column and the lower edges 36 of the left and right windbreakers are on the same horizontal line, and the middle of the lower edge 36 of the windbreaker is connected downward to a flowing tail scarf 39.

[0051] The traction cloth 24 is triangular in shape, and its connection to the center post 30 forms the vertical side of the traction cloth 24. The connection point between the power cord 18 and the center post 30 is called the power point 34. It is located on the center post 30, and the distance between it and the lower end point 38 of the center post is 25% of the length of the center post 30. The connection point between the tension cord 28 and the center post 30 is called the tension point 33. It is located on the center post 30, and the distance between it and the top corner 37 is 15% of the length of the center post 30.

[0052] Figure 2 A structural diagram of an embodiment of a kite engine of the present invention is given.

[0053] The kite engine embodiment of the present invention has an overall structure consisting of four parts: a power unit 1, a tension unit 2, a chain drive 4, and a series of kites 5. The outer casings of the power unit 1 and tension unit 2 are fixed side by side on the ground, and the series of kites 5 is composed of several power kites connected in series.

[0054] The power unit 1 is composed of a power rope 18, a pulley 17, a power inertia wheel 9, and a rope connecting column 16 on the power inertia wheel 9. The power inertia wheel 9 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 15, and the other end of the rotating shaft 15 is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed to the housing of the power unit 1.

[0055] The tension unit 2 is composed of: a tension rope 28, a pulley 27, a tension inertia wheel 29, and a tension rope connecting column 26 on the tension inertia wheel 29. The tension inertia wheel 29 is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft 25, and the other end of the rotating shaft 25 is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed on the box of the power unit 2.

[0056] The power pull rope 18 is sequentially connected to each power point of the series kite 5; the tension pull rope 28 is sequentially connected to each tension point of the series kite 5.

[0057] The kite engine embodiment of the present invention comprises two inertia wheels 9 and 29. Both wheels are of identical size, with diameters equal to the length of the kite's central column. The two wheels are located on the same vertical plane, with their rotating axes at the same height. The distance between their outer circumferences is 20% of the length of the kite's central column. The power inertia wheel 9 drives a chain drive 4 via a rotating shaft 15. The other end of the chain drive 4 is connected to the rotating shaft 25 of the tension inertia wheel 29. Both inertia wheels 9 and 29 rotate clockwise at the same speed.

[0058] According to the clockwise rotation direction, the drawstring connecting column 16 on the power inertia wheel 9 lags behind the drawstring connecting column 26 on the tension inertia wheel 29 by an angle, and the lag angle is 60°.

[0059] When the rope connecting columns 16 and 26 of the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 move clockwise from the lowest point to the highest point on their respective inertia wheels, the series kite 5 is blown upright by the wind, with a large wingspan and a large lift against the wind. The series kite 5 rises strongly and passes through the power rope 18 and the tension rope 28 around the pulley 17 and the pulley 27, driving the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 to rotate vigorously.

[0060] When the pull cords connecting the two inertia wheels 9 and 29, 16 and 26, move clockwise from their highest point to their lowest point on their respective inertia wheels, the kites 5 in series tilt forward, as shown by the dotted lines. Their wingspan facing the wind is small, and their lift is low. Leveraging the inertial energy of the inertia wheels 9 and 29, the kites 5 in series are pulled from top to bottom by the pull cords 18 and 28, which pass around pulleys 17 and 27.

[0061] The kite series 5 utilizes wind energy to generate power. A small amount is consumed during the descent, while the majority is stored in the inertia wheels 9 and 29. The inertia energy of the power inertia wheel 9 and the tension inertia wheel 29 is transferred to each other via the chain drive 4. This energy is then output to the outside through the rotating shaft 15 of the power inertia wheel 9.

[0062] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the working method of the kite engine of the present invention is given.

[0063] The specific steps of the kite engine working method of the present invention are as follows:

[0064] 1. Prepare a certain number of powered kites to make kite series 5;

[0065] 2. Arrange the kites of kite series 5 in a straight line with equal spacing of several meters;

[0066] 3. Connect the power rope 18 in series with the power points of each kite in the series kite 5 in sequence;

[0067] 4. Connect the tension rope 28 in series with the tension points of each kite in the series kite 5 in sequence;

[0068] 5. In the clockwise direction, the connecting post 16 of the pull rope 18 of the power inertia wheel 9 lags behind the connecting post 26 of the pull rope 28 of the tension inertia wheel 29 by an angle of 60°;

[0069] 6. The rope connecting posts 16 and 26 of the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 respectively move clockwise from the lowest point to the highest point on their respective inertia wheels by relying on inertia;

[0070] 7. The kite 5 is blown upright by the wind. With a large wingspan and strong lift, the kite 5 rises strongly from the lowest point, driving the power rope 18 and the tension rope 28 to pass around the pulleys 17 and 27, driving the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 to rotate vigorously, and the kite 5 reaches the highest point.

[0071] 8. The pull rope connecting columns 16 and 26 of the two inertia wheels 9 and 29 respectively move clockwise from the highest point to the lowest point on their respective inertia wheels by relying on inertia;

[0072] 9. Pulled by the ropes 18 and 28, the kites 5 in series all lean forward, as shown by the dotted lines. Their wingspan is small against the wind, and their lift is small. With the help of inertial energy, the ropes 18 and 28 of the two inertia wheels pass around pulleys 17 and 27, pulling the kites 5 in series from top to bottom.

[0073] 10. Repeat steps 6 to 9 above. The two inertia wheels 9 and 29 communicate with each other through the chain drive 4, and continuously output power to the outside through the rotating shaft 15 of the power inertia wheel 9 to perform work.

Claims

1. A powered kite, which is slightly modified based on a triangular kite. Its structure includes: Windbreaker, center column, top corner, left column, right column, crossbeam, power rope, power point, tension rope, tension point, traction cloth, lower edge, lower endpoint and tail scarf; the shape of the kite is an equilateral triangle, with the top corner facing upwards and the included angle of the top corners being 90°, and the center column pointing vertically downwards is located between the top corner and the lower endpoint; at three-fifths of the height of the center column, a crossbeam is arranged horizontally, and the left and right endpoints of the crossbeam are respectively connected to the left column and the right column arranged left and right from the top corner; the lower endpoint of the center column and the lower edges of the left and right windbreakers are on the same horizontal line, and the middle of the lower edge of the windbreaker is connected downwards to a flowing tail scarf; the traction cloth is a triangle, and the connection between it and the center column is the vertical side of the traction cloth; the connection point between the power rope and the center column is called the power point, which is on the center column, and the distance between it and the lower endpoint of the center column is 25% of the length of the center column; the connection point between the tension rope and the center column is called the tension point, which is on the center column, and the distance between it and the top corner is 15% of the length of the center column.

2. A kite engine, the overall structure of which comprises four parts: a power unit, a tension unit, a chain drive, and a series of kites; the outer casings of the power unit and the tension unit are fixed side by side on the ground, and the series of kites is composed of several power kites connected in series; the power unit comprises: The power pull rope, pulley, power inertia wheel, and pull rope connecting column on the power inertia wheel, the power inertia wheel is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, the other end of the rotating shaft is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed on the housing of the power unit; the tension unit is composed of: a tension pull rope, a pulley, a tension inertia wheel, and a pull rope connecting column on the tension inertia wheel, the tension inertia wheel is fixed to one end of the rotating shaft, the other end of the rotating shaft is fixed in a bearing, and its bearing seat is fixed on the housing of the power unit; the power pull ropes are sequentially connected to each power point of the series of kites, and the tension pull ropes are sequentially connected to each tension point of the series of kites; the power inertia wheel drives the chain transmission through the rotating shaft, and the other end of the chain transmission is connected to the rotating shaft of the tension inertia wheel. The inertial energy of the two inertia wheels is mutually communicated, and the power work of the two inertia wheels is output outward through the rotating shaft of the power inertia wheel.

3. A kite engine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The power inertia wheel and the tension inertia wheel are of the same size, with diameters equal to the length of the kite's central column. The two inertia wheels are located on the same vertical plane, with their rotating axes at the same height. The distance between the outer circles of the two inertia wheels is equal to 20% of the length of the kite's central column. Both inertia wheels rotate clockwise at the same speed. In the clockwise rotation direction, the drawstring connecting column on the power inertia wheel lags behind the drawstring connecting column on the tension inertia wheel by an angle of 60°.

4. The kite engine works by the following steps: (1) Prepare a certain number of powered kites to be used as a series of kites; (2) Arrange the kites in the series in a straight line with equal spacing of several meters; (3) connecting the power rope sequence to each kite power point in series; (4) connecting the tension rope sequence to each kite tension point of the series kite in series; (5) In the clockwise direction, the connection column of the cable of the power inertia wheel lags behind the connection column of the cable of the tension inertia wheel by an angle of 60°; (6) The rope connecting columns of the two inertia wheels are respectively on their respective inertia wheels and move clockwise from the lowest point to the highest point by relying on inertia; (7) The series kites are blown upright by the wind, with a large wingspan and a large lift force. The series kites start to rise strongly from the lowest point, driving the power rope and the tension rope to pass through the pulleys and pulleys, driving the two inertia wheels to rotate vigorously, and the series kites reach the highest point; (8) The rope connecting columns of the two inertia wheels are respectively on their respective inertia wheels and move clockwise from the highest point to the lowest point by relying on inertia; (9) Pulled by the rope, the kites in the series lean forward, with a small wingspan facing the wind and a small lift. With the help of inertial energy, the ropes of the two inertia wheels go around the pulleys and pull the kites from top to bottom; (10) Repeat the above steps (6) to (9), and the two inertia wheels communicate with each other through the chain transmission energy, and continuously output power to the outside through the rotating shaft of the power inertia wheel to perform work.

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