Panel as a wind energy converter and use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a panel (1) for converting wind energy into electrical energy, wherein, a rotor (5), as an impeller of a wind turbine, provided with at least one rotor blade or a bladed wheel (5a) and connected to at least one generator (8), is accommodated in a box-shaped housing (2) secured to a mounting object (3) and representing a substantially prismatic and / or cylindrical basic shape in its outer contours. Using corresponding inlets (11), the housing (2) allows for a through-flow from a first inflow-direction (A) parallel to the generating cross-sectional area (2a) and optionally a through-flow from a second inflow-direction (B) orientated substantially orthogonal to the first inflow direction (A). The rotor (5) is mounted preferably in the stator of the generator (8) and optionally in a housing-side lower bearing (6), and can be made to rotate by an ambient air flow flowing through the housing (2) from the first inflow direction (A) and / or optionally the second inflow direction (B), such that electrical energy is generated using the generator (8).

Description

[0001] Panel as a wind energy converter and its use

[0002] The invention relates to a panel as a wind energy converter for converting wind energy into electrical energy, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of said panels for the autonomous supply or partial supply of electrical energy, in particular of decentralized facilities used outside of or with difficult access to supply networks.

[0004] With a view to environmental protection goals, such as reducing CO2 emissions, the provision of energy from renewable sources is increasingly being pursued, mandated by law, or even promoted. In addition to the intensive use of hydropower, solar energy (thermal or photovoltaic) in particular is playing an increasing role in meeting energy demand. The last two decades or so have also seen a significant expansion of wind turbines. This has not only shown an increase in the number of such facilities, but also a significant increase in the performance class of these fluid-technical wind energy converters. The increase in the rated output of these wind turbines has also led to an increase in structural dimensions, with mast and tower heights, for example, in the range of over 100 m and rotor diameters of 150 m and more.

[0005] Aside from the technical challenges associated with such large wind turbines (manufacturing, transport, installation, and operation or maintenance), which usually require special traffic-related, mechanical (safety-related), and / or organizational measures, resistance from the affected residential population to the construction of wind turbines is a frequent obstacle. This particularly applies to large-scale installations or wind farms with a large number of wind turbines. In some cases, there may also be regulatory requirements, for example, regarding the preservation of the landscape, protecting the population from unreasonable acoustic emissions, or protecting birds, which restrict or specifically prohibit the construction of such installations.

[0006] Particularly with regard to the advantages of larger-scale production, reliability and system redundancy, accessibility for maintenance and repair, low potential for damage (e.g., due to machine breakdown or the risk of falling), and ultimately also with regard to landscape and nature conservation, preference should be given to smaller, decentralized systems and energy systems distributed over small areas. The aesthetic aspects, i.e., the architectural appearance, of wind turbines should also be taken into account.

[0007] Apparently following these considerations, the published patent application "DE3049624A1 - Wind-powered Generator - December 31, 1980" describes a wind turbine installed in the ridge of a building with a horizontally arranged shaft, which is supplied with additional airflow due to the roof's guiding effect on the wind. Integration into the ridge likely requires special structures in the area of ​​the roof structure or roof covering.

[0008] A similarly compact design, albeit with a vertically rotating impeller (i.e., with a vertically arranged axis) and more universal application, is presented by "DE4203058A1 - Wind Power Plant for Cars, Homes, and Industry - February 4, 1992." This device is "horizontally mounted" for adjustment to the wind direction and features a half-side opening at the front and a wind direction indicator at the rear. A visually appealing, unobtrusive architectural integration into the appearance of the device is difficult to achieve here. This applies to an even greater extent to the device described in the utility model "DE9115618U1 - Wind Turbine for Energy Generation, Suitable for Placement on Buildings, Particularly on Pitched Roofs - December 17, 1992." This is a rather striking wind turbine design with a vertical rotor axis, which is mounted in bearings—possibly secured with vibration-damping—in a surrounding support bracket.

[0009] The utility model "DE9314187U1 - Wind turbines for installation on buildings - September 16, 1993" describes a wind turbine with wind deflectors and a rotor(s) rotation axis oriented perpendicular to the wind direction. These rotors are arranged together with adjustable wind deflectors (wind deflector chambers) in a housing as a compact unit, with the lower housing section corresponding to the shape of the roof. At least the aesthetic concept is already more clearly addressed here.

[0010] "DE19506001 A1 - Method for generating electrical energy by utilizing natural wind movements and thermals under sloping house roofs - August 22, 1996" presents a device in which a tangential wind turbine with a horizontal axis, coupled to a generator, is mounted between roof rafters, with the structure protected by a cover. "DE19644890A1 - Roof-gable integrated wind energy system - October 29, 1996" describes a similar concept, although this also addresses a modular design by connecting the axes of several roller rotors with the aid of axle spacers. The integration of such systems into the appearance of buildings, for example, is feasible to a certain extent; however, special structures in the area of ​​the roof structure or roof covering are also required, which makes the subsequent installation of such systems difficult.

[0011] The withdrawn published application "DE10007199A1 - Wind Energy Converter - September 6, 2001" describes a comparatively compact wind energy converter device for mounting on a body subject to airflow, in particular a building, preferably with a horizontal axis on the ridge of the same. The publication also describes the use of a rotor (wind impeller) with a vertical axis to enable the device to be operated largely independently of the direction of airflow (wind direction).

[0012] The devices described in the relevant literature generally do not meet aesthetic requirements satisfactorily. Furthermore, they are less than suitable, or even unsuitable, for use in buildings with considerable heights or roofs without a ridge.

[0013] Furthermore, the modular arrangement described in part (DE19644890A1) is limited in the majority of the arrangements cited as state-of-the-art by the type of roof construction used to house the devices and, accordingly, the expected power output. This also results in a limitation for the envisaged quantities, which makes economical production in such large numbers at least doubtful. This proves to be a serious weakness considering the size (particularly the height and surface area of ​​the building's outer shell) of today's buildings as a potential application area for such wind energy systems.

[0014] A modular arrangement of small aerodynamic impellers (“Modular wind turbine with multiple micro wind turbine units”, United States Patent Application Publication - US 2008 / 0095621 A1, Apr. 24, 2008) can essentially make use of more favorable technological prerequisites (production in larger quantities), but the device described here hardly meets other requirements, as explained above. The same applies to a device in which an impeller is subjected to air flow guided by a casing and guide device (“Wind turbine with mixers and ejectors”, United States Patent Application Publication - US 2009 / 0317231 A1, Dec. 24, 2009), whereby the type of flow guidance is expected to improve the efficiency of the energy conversion. European Patent Application 0 610 905 A1 “Wind powered turbine” (09.02.1994) describes a wind turbine design with an impeller (arranged on a substantially horizontal shaft) which is subjected to air flow or flow transversely through by means of guide vanes that adjust themselves according to the wind flow. Due to the transverse flow, the effect of the device is independent of the direction of the incoming wind. Several impellers can also be stacked, i.e. arranged axially next to one another. A system (“wind panel”) with multiple mini wind turbines, the impellers of which are each mounted horizontally and covered in a non-contact manner, with each of these units being fastened to the ground by means of a base, is presented in the utility model application “Electrostatic Wind Turbine with Mini Rotors” (DE 20 2012 009 612 Ul, 2013.02.07). A special feature here - apart from the characteristic of the special modularity and irrelevant for the invention presented here - is the electrostatic energy conversion.

[0015] In particular, in the last three examples from the state of the art, the principle of flow requires the arrangement in an exposed position, for example on a mast, which makes integration into existing structural elements and, in particular, uncomplicated accessibility for maintenance or repair work difficult.

[0016] The task is therefore to overcome the problems of the state of the art described above or at least to reduce weaknesses or barriers to application.

[0017] The invention solves this problem by providing a panel with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of the panel according to the invention and its use are shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 5.

[0019] Fig. 1 the basic design of panel 1 in (partial) cross-section,

[0020] Fig. 2 the basic design of the panel 1 in the (partial) view from above (onto the housing 2), Fig. 3 the demarcation or separate design of the sub-unit 23,

[0021] Fig. 4 schematically shows the design of the panel 1 by the monitoring and control unit 19, optionally equipped with the sensor system 20 (for control and optional communication with the user-side remote control 21) as well as by energy storage in the local buffer storage device 26 and optionally by feeding into the public power grid 27 and finally

[0022] Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, the modular use of panels 1, preferably in the sense of facade elements, for example between or next to window surfaces, as components of the WEK energy generation system 22.

[0023] With the aid of the device according to the invention and its corresponding structural implementation, the aforementioned weaknesses of the known devices can be avoided or at least reduced. The focus is particularly on compactness, modularity, and – not least related to this – suitability for large-scale production.To achieve this, a panel 1 (basic design) consists of at least one box-shaped housing 2, the outer contours of which essentially represent prismatic and / or cylindrical basic shapes, the generating cross-sectional area 2a of which, not necessarily made of material, and the cross-sectional areas parallel to this cross-sectional area 2a have any shape suitable for receiving the fluidic components described below, preferably rectangular, polygonal, circular or oval, and which, on the one hand, if necessary by means of a holder 4, is fastened to a suitable mounting object 3, which if necessary itself provides user-specific fastening or kinematic functionalities, for example as a pivoting frame or adjustable mounting surface, and on the other hand serves to guide the flow for the air throughput provided by the wind.

[0024] Since the specific spatial arrangement or orientation of the housing 2 may vary depending on the application, the directional information below refers to the assembly object 3, and "bottom" refers to the side of the housing 2 facing the assembly object 3 or the receptacle 4, "top" refers to the side of the housing 2 facing away from the assembly object 3 or the receptacle 4, and "lateral" refers to the remaining boundary parts of the housing 2 that run essentially orthogonally to the assembly object 3 or the generator cross-sectional area 2a. Inside the housing 2, as an essential fluidic component, at least one rotor 5, each provided with at least one rotor blade or one bladed wheel 5a, is housed as the "impeller" of a wind turbine. The rotor or rotors 5 are mechanically connected to a generator 8 directly, for example by integration into the respective housing component of the generator 8, or via a shaft connection device 7.The rotor 5, in particular as a rotating component of the generator 8, is optionally guided in an upper bearing 9, which is arranged in the region of the upper or outer parts of the housing 2. The rotor 5 is optionally further rotatably mounted in the housing 2 in a conventional manner to absorb longitudinal and transverse forces and is supported, for example, in at least one lower bearing 6 - optionally indirectly via mechanical intermediate elements - in the surface bordering the housing 2 on the lower side.

[0025] Inside the housing 2 as the basic form, the flow channel for a first inflow A, which runs essentially parallel to the base surface 2a, has a constriction 12 in the region of lateral inlets 11 for the air flow running in the direction of the rotor 5 or in the direction of the axial position of the rotor 5, in which constriction 12, for example, vane- or hump-shaped guide devices 10 are accommodated on at least one housing wall. After passing the rotor 5 or the bladed wheel 5a, the air is guided through a housing channel 13, which is separate from the flow channel of the bladed wheel 5a, to the outlet 14 or outlets 14 of the housing 2.

[0026] The device described in the European Patent Application (EP 3 910 257 A1, December 23, 2020) "Wireless ventilation system supplied from integrated wind-photovoltaic panel" uses a rotor placed in the housing or frame of a photovoltaic element (PV panel) to supply energy to a ventilation system for rooms or buildings. This device has some similarities to the basic form described above, although the flow path along which the energy conversion by a "rotor" takes place cannot be fully or clearly determined from the relevant description.

[0027] As a significant innovation and functional extension within the scope of the inventive approach to solving the described problems, air entry into the panel 1 is alternatively or additionally also made possible from a second flow direction B oriented substantially orthogonally to the first flow direction A via an upper cover surface 15 of the housing 2, wherein for this purpose the cover surface 15 is designed to be fluidically permeable at least in a partial area, preferably in an annular surface 15a running concentrically to the rotor axis, for example by means of a grid, and is provided with a further, for example blade-shaped or hump-shaped, guide device 16 in the possible flow path to the rotor 5 in the interior of the housing 2.An extended embodiment provides for a guide device 16a, preferably arranged concentrically to the axis of the rotor 5, for example in a funnel shape, on the outside of the housing 2 on the cover surface 15 or alternatively on the annular surface 15a.

[0028] In a special embodiment, the bladed wheel 5a is provided with specifically designed flow guide surfaces 5b and 5c, respectively, for at least initially separating the air flows moving toward the rotor 5 (incoming flow A and incoming flow B), as well as, if appropriate, with additional guide ribs 5d separating these flow guide surfaces 5b and 5c. In a further embodiment, the guide ribs 5c of possibly several rotor blades of the bladed wheel 5a are connected to form a uniform flat element that functions as a partition wall.

[0029] The panel 1 is expediently mounted on a mounting object 3 such that the prevailing wind in the surrounding area generates at least an air flow in the direction of the inlet 11. The air flow in question, possibly together with the air flow entering from the side, is directed through the bladed wheel 5a and, analogously as described above, to the outlet 14(s) of the housing 2.

[0030] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the panel 1 according to the invention in terms of production technology, manufacturing processes are used in which the guide devices 10 or

[0031] 16 or 16a or at least parts thereof are integrated into the respective surface elements of the housing 2.

[0032] Depending on the inflow situation with regard to the incoming wind, the flow directions for the panel 1 are selected accordingly; for example, in the area of ​​building edges, inlets 11 are typically arranged parallel to these edges so that the panel 1 is flowed through essentially horizontally.

[0033] In this case, the outlets 14 located in the area of ​​the inflow are expediently closed.

[0034] In a special embodiment of the panel 1, the control (opening or closing) of the respective outlets 14 is carried out, for example, by a flow throttling system, preferably actuated by the wind flow, in particular the resulting dynamic pressure, which preferably consists of a flap or a closure mechanism 17 formed by several individual flaps and / or a pivoting gate device 18. In a specific embodiment, the latter is designed as a baffle, preferably representing part or parts of a circular cylinder jacket and provided with at least one device actuated by an auxiliary energy, for example by a wind vane 18a, the pivot axis of which is arranged coaxially to the rotor 5 and is mounted accordingly radially and axially.

[0035] In a further embodiment, the flow channel in the housing 2 towards the end, but in any case in the vicinity of the constriction 12, is at least partially equipped with at least one fluidic closure diaphragm 24, which can be controlled optionally with the aid of a diaphragm actuator or diaphragm actuators 24a, to control the air flow flowing in the direction of the rotor 5, with the aid of which the air throughput is controlled, for example to support control algorithms in the event of a risk of an impermissibly high rotational speed of the rotor 5, or optionally its division from the two flow directions A and B.

[0036] In this way, the air flow (mass flow) is triggered or directed through the panel 1. The bladed wheel 5a on the rotor 5 converts part of the flow energy contained in the flowing air into kinetic energy, which is subsequently converted into electrical energy in the generator 8.

[0037] With regard to the flow-permeable partial area 15a of the cover surface 15, the panel 1 is in any case suitable for a frontal flow, i.e. essentially perpendicular to the cover surface 15 or - from "above" onto the housing of the panel 1 (in relation to a building, for example, from the front or from the side).

[0038] Accordingly, the function according to the invention of such a panel 1, i.e. the energy conversion - generation of electrical energy from flow energy (wind energy) - is ensured, regardless of whether the panel 1 is flowed through from the side or from above (relative to the housing 2).

[0039] An extended modification of the panel 1 provides that the generator 8 is connected in terms of circuitry to a preferably electromechanically or electronically implemented monitoring and control unit 19, which in particular comprises a sensor system 20 for the rotational frequency of the rotor 5 in the sense of a flow monitor, and is regulated with regard to its rotational frequency (operating speed), for example in the sense of optimal power output, or is limited in the rotational frequency, or its rotational movement is prevented or at least braked, if necessary - for example at wind speeds above a certain limit and if necessary with the aid of a separate actuator, i.e. a braking device 25.In a further embodiment, a buffer storage device (an accumulator) 19a is also integrated into the monitoring and control unit 19, with the aid of which, regardless of the current power output by the generator 8, certain auxiliary functions suitable for the respective wind-dependent start-up or at least for the operation of the panel 1 can be carried out, such as, for example, status data storage or communication with a remote control 21.

[0040] At wind speeds above a certain limit value, in a special embodiment of the panel 1, the outlets 14 located in the area of ​​the outflow or discharge are partially or completely closed by corresponding parts of the closure mechanism 17 and / or the gate device 18 and / or the closure panel 24 is actuated, wherein the control of these components, in particular the components 17 and 24 or the relevant control elements, the actuators 17a or the panel actuators 24a, is carried out essentially by the monitoring and control unit 19, but also, in particular in the case of the gate device 18, purely fluidically (by pressure effects of the air flow).

[0041] Furthermore, the monitoring and control unit 19, with which the panel 1 may be equipped, converts the electrical energy generated by the generator 8 in a manner known per se, so that the current to be drawn from the panel 1 is available at the desired voltage level and, if appropriate, as alternating current at the desired frequency or as direct current. The control unit 19 further manages, if appropriate, wired or wireless communication with the user- or operator-side remote control 21, in particular for the purpose of controlled commissioning, monitoring, controlled shutdown, and transmission of operating data of the panel 1, and, if appropriate, with other electronic units relevant to the operation of the panel 1 or a combination of several panels 1.Furthermore, the monitoring and control unit 19 optionally controls the locking mechanism 17 and / or the locking shutter 24 and / or the pivotable link device 18.

[0042] Panels 1 according to the invention, with their handy dimensions, can be easily transported (similar to photovoltaic panels). Furthermore, for the mechanical (fastening) and electrical installation of the panels 1, excellent experience or, if necessary, commercially available components from the aforementioned product range, e.g., for the control or fastening (such as the holder 4), can be used. In principle, the use of the panel 1, in particular as a stand-alone device, is intended for the autonomous supply or partial supply of electrical energy for decentralized facilities used outside of or with difficult access to supply networks, such as vehicles, boats or ships, camping accommodations, mountain huts, traffic control and signaling devices, monitoring devices or measuring stations, or subcomponents thereof. The selected orThe specific size of panel 1 is determined, on the one hand, by the respective energy requirement in relation to the local wind flow conditions, on the other hand, by the available space and the mounting and fastening options, as well as by economically feasible manufacturing options, and therefore covers a wide range. Accordingly, the dimensions (characteristic width) of the housing 2 are, for example, in the order of 20-50 mm (for micromechanical or microelectromechanical applications) or, expediently—without being limited thereto—in the order of approximately 1-2 m, if applications similar to those for typical photovoltaic modules are considered.

[0043] In the latter case, it is particularly suitable for multi-story buildings or buildings of considerable height. Suitable mounting surfaces for panel 3 include all surfaces exposed to the prevailing wind, preferably vertical surfaces, especially exterior building walls. Depending on the space available, panel 1 is mounted on building facade surfaces that are suitable for installation and, above all, architecturally and aesthetically pleasing.

[0044] The panel 1 is therefore available as a modular core element of a WEK energy generation system 22, in which, in the specific application, preferably several or many such modules or panels are used in a network – similar to the known use of photovoltaic panels. In this case, the orderly operation of the WEK energy generation system 22 is achieved through communication between the monitoring and control units 19 of the individual panels 1 in the network and / or the remote control 21. An advantageous use of panels 1 interconnected to form the WEK energy generation system 22 results in particular from the modular use in the manner of facade elements for sufficiently large building surfaces that are particularly exposed to the prevailing wind conditions, e.g., building edges.This is particularly the case with high-rise buildings, where the panels 1 according to the invention are not only suitable for special architectural designs of the buildings, but the housings 2 of the panels 1 may also optionally perform further functions, for example insulation from solar radiation and, at least in partial areas of the housing 2 - provided that this is possible without disruption to the flow - the accommodation of photovoltaic elements or the accommodation of facilities for façade greening.

[0045] The specific selection of the arrangement and positioning is expediently made after knowledge of the prevailing wind conditions, for example, based on appropriate measurements, such as using a model or on-site, or based on calculations (computer simulations). In an extended embodiment, the wind turbine energy generation system 22 is expediently connected to a local buffer storage device (buffer battery) 26 for energy storage, or it is fed into a public power grid 27.

[0046] Particularly in the above-mentioned type of use as a wind turbine system 22, a further advantageous aspect of the panels 1 according to the invention is the operational reliability of the respective system, since in the event of a failure or malfunction of one panel 1, the entire system does not fail. In particular, in order to facilitate maintenance or repair work, for example in the event of a malfunction, in a special embodiment of the panel 1, parts of the cover surface 15 or the partial surface 15a are combined with an upper part of the housing 2, which encloses the generator 8, and the rotor 5 (including the bladed wheel 5a), as well as optionally the coupling 7 and the upper bearing 9, to form a compact sub-unit 23 of the respective panel 1, at least conceptually delimitable, or are actually designed in terms of connection technology such that this sub-unit 23 can be easily removed from the housing 2 oris to be inserted into the housing 2 and secured therein. If necessary, the lower bearing 6 is designed as an easily removable replacement part or is suitably connected to the shaft of the rotor 5, for example by means of an axially positive-locking device that does not impede the rotational movement, and is thus connected to the subunit 23. Any necessary maintenance can thus be carried out, for example, via a balcony parapet. Furthermore, the repair of an affected panel 1 can be carried out, for example, using the equipment typically provided for large buildings (facade lift), without the entire panel 1 having to be removed.

Claims

Claims:

1. Panel (1) as a wind energy converter for converting wind energy into electrical energy, characterized in that in at least one housing (2) fastened to a mounting object (3), optionally by means of a holder (4), box-shaped and preferably in its outer contours representing essentially prismatic and / or cylindrical basic shapes, with a preferably rectangular, polygonal, circular or oval generating cross-sectional area (2a) and similarly shaped cross-sectional areas running parallel to the cross-sectional area (2a), which housing (2) through lateral inlets (11) receives a flow guided by guide devices (10) from a first flow direction (A) essentially parallel to the generating cross-sectional area (2a) and optionally a flow-through through a fluidically permeable,a partial area (15a) of the upper cover surface (15) provided with a further guide device (16) enables the flow to pass through it from a second flow direction (B) oriented substantially orthogonally to the first flow direction (A) (from above), a rotor (5) provided substantially with at least one rotor blade or a bladed wheel (5a) and connected to at least one generator (8) is accommodated as the "impeller" of a wind turbine, wherein the rotor (5) is preferably mounted in the stator of the generator (8) and optionally in a lower bearing (6) integrated or detachably placed on the housing side and is set in rotation by an air flow available from the environment and flowing through the housing (2) from the first flow direction (A) and / or optionally the second flow direction (B), so that electrical energy is generated with the aid of the generator (8).

2. Panel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that parts of the cover surface (15) or the partial surface (15a) with an upper part of the housing 2, which encloses the generator (8), the rotor (5) and optionally a coupling (7) and an upper bearing (9), further optionally the lower bearing (6), are combined in terms of connection technology to form a sub-unit (23) or are at least mentally delimitable and this sub-unit (23) allows, using fastening means known per se, an uncomplicated insertion of the sub-unit (23) into or separation of the same from the rest of the housing (2), in particular for assembly and maintenance purposes.

3. Panel (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that in the interior of the housing (2) in the area of ​​the incoming air flow after inlets (11) in the direction of the rotor (5) (in the radial direction) a constriction (12) of the flow path is realized in which a guide device (10) for the air flow is arranged at least on one housing wall.

4. Panel (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one guide device (10) is integrated in the corresponding wall surface of the housing (2) and / or the further guide device (16) and optionally the guide device (16a) is integrated in the corresponding wall surface, in particular in the partial area (15a), of the upper cover surface (15) of the housing (2) in terms of production technology.

5. Panel (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that outlets (14) located in the region of the first inflow, preferably controlled by wind flow, are opened or closed by a locking mechanism (17) or a link device (18).

6. Panel (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the rotational movement or the rotational speed of the rotor (5), for example in the sense of optimal power output or as protection against inadmissible operating speeds, is regulated or, if necessary, limited or inhibited, this preferably being done by influencing the flow, i.e. the air throughput, of the panel (1) by corresponding parts of a closure mechanism (17) on the side of outlets (14) with the aid of an actuator or actuators (17a), if necessary with the aid of a closure diaphragm (24) which is controllable in particular by a diaphragm actuator or diaphragm actuators (24a) and / or further if necessary with the aid of the generator (8), these components (8) and (17a) and (24a) being connected in terms of circuitry to a, preferably electromechanical orelectronically implemented monitoring and control unit (19) with which, in particular on the basis of the measurement data or signals of a measuring sensor system (20), the operating rotational frequency of the generator (8) is detected and / or regulated or, if necessary, the electrical energy generated by the generator (8) is further converted in a manner known per se as required to meet the desired electrical specifications (in particular type of current, frequency, voltage level).

7. Panel (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, preferably with the aid of a braking device (25), in the case of operationally critical conditions, the rotor (5) and generator (8) can be brought into a safe state by braking or stopping and can be kept in this state until the fault is eliminated by the monitoring and control unit (19).

8. Panel (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the monitoring and control unit (19) for the purpose of controlled commissioning, monitoring, controlled shutdown and transmission of operating data of the panel (1) communicates, preferably wirelessly, with a remote control (21) of a user or operator and is optionally equipped with a buffer storage device (an accumulator) (26) which, independently of a current power output by the generator (8), enables the implementation of auxiliary functions for the respective wind supply-dependent commissioning or at least for the operation of the panel (1), in particular the communication with the remote control (21).

9. Use of panels (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, preferably as a single element for the self-sufficient supply or partial supply of electrical energy in decentralized facilities used outside of or with difficult access to supply networks, such as vehicles, boats or ships, camping accommodations, mountain huts, traffic control devices, monitoring devices or measuring stations or subcomponents thereof.

10. Use of panels (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 as modules in a number determined depending on the structural and flow-technical conditions, characterized in that the panels (1), preferably as facade elements, are combined to form a WEK energy generation system (22) and are optionally operated with the aid of the monitoring and control unit (19) and / or the remote control (21).

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