MOUNTAIN-SHAPED WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Abstract

The present invention proposes a support structure for hundreds of small wind turbines, constructed from solid arches or half-arches, each located in a different vertical plane and connected to each other along one or more vertical edges, such that each arch is formed by posts and beams, is anchored to the ground or the seabed, and is narrow relative to its height, giving the resulting wind turbine support structure the appearance of a mountain or an iceberg. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure [1].

Description

Title of the invention: MOUNTAIN-SHAPED WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE technical field

[0001] Wind energy production. Previous technique

[0002] Horizontal axis wind turbines are increasing in size year by year. Their maintenance per megawatt is thus reduced, but the mass of materials per megawatt (steel for the towers, composite materials for the blades, magnets for the generators, etc.) required for the construction of these wind turbines also increases.

[0003] These wind turbines are very competitive but their size often generates opposition among the population, due to their visual impact on the landscape.

[0004] Furthermore, they are criticized for requiring too much concrete for their foundations. Description of the invention

[0005] / Technical problem

[0006] / Technical solution

[0007] / Benefits provided

[0008] Low-rise onshore wind turbines benefit from a modest wind resource. High-rise onshore wind turbines benefit from a good wind resource but face opposition from local residents because they alter the landscape.

[0009] The invention presented here would allow for easier integration of wind power into various landscapes, in all regions of the world, and could even improve the aesthetics of landscapes. This invention is based on a support structure for numerous modestly sized wind turbines, with horizontal or vertical axes, or even without blades. Such structures could raise hills and mountains, restoring their pre-erosion shape, and add relief to plains or bodies of water, resembling volcanic hills, islands, or icebergs. The height of such structures could reach several tens of meters in terrestrial sites or on lakes, and exceed several hundred meters in offshore sites. These wind turbine support structures would have a shape adapted to each geographical site in order to integrate as harmoniously as possible.Partial ascents of these structures could be made possible on foot in order to increase their acceptance by the local population.

[0010] The proposed structure, which could reach several tens or even hundreds of meters in total height, would be a non-planar, wind turbine support structure constructed from solid arches or half-arches, each built in a different vertical plane and connected to each other along one or more vertical edges. Each solid arch or half-arche would be made of a lightweight, highly open structure, allowing wind to pass through from all sides, with a narrow width relative to the total height of the structure. Optionally, guy wires would be stretched between the top of each arch or half-arche and the ground, and between the arches or half-arches, and between the arches or half-arches and the guy wires, in order to stabilize the entire structure.

[0011] In its simplest version, the envisaged wind turbine support structure is made from two flat, solid arches situated in vertical planes orthogonal to each other. Each arch is constructed using a post-and-beam structure, with a width that is small relative to its height. The beams of the arches or half-arches support the various rows of wind turbines. Guy wires are optionally stretched between the arches and the ground, as well as between the arches themselves, and between the arches and the guy wires, in order to stabilize the structure, enhance its mountain-like appearance, and warn birds of the presence of moving rotors. From a distance, the wind turbine support structure has the shape of a mountain, and retains this appearance for an observer circling the structure, both on the ground and in the air.The structure thus formed is fixed relative to the ground, but more than half of the wind turbines it supports will always be able to capture the wind regardless of its direction.

[0012] In versions more adapted to each site, the general shape will use arches or half-arches that are not necessarily planar, and an average angle between the two arches or half-arches that is not necessarily close to 90°. The structure could be made from 3 half-arches, or 2 non-orthogonal arches, or 1 arch and 2 half-arches, or 4 half-arches, or with more than 4 half-arches.

[0013] Given the modest size of the wind turbines installed on these structures, the production of electrical energy could be envisaged with nominal operation for wind speeds of the order of 16 m / s, and not only 12 m / s as is generally the case with large rotors, allowing a significantly increased energy production at a comparable swept area.

[0014] Such a wind turbine support structure could also be installed at sea, on a fixed foundation or on a float. This float could be fixed relative to the wind, or orientable downwind.

[0015] These structures could be made of wood, anchored by ground screws, without using any concrete. However, these structures could also be made of any other material such as steel, aluminum, concrete, composite materials, and anchored on concrete foundations.

[0016] The use of multiple rotors would allow for significant material savings, such as in the composite materials of the blades and the magnets of the generators, at equivalent power. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Fig. 1 presents the wind turbine support structure installed on a mountain or hill, with two flat and orthogonal arches.

[0018] Fig. 2 presents the wind turbine support structure installed on a plain or body of water, lake, or sea, with two flat and orthogonal arches of trapezoidal shape.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows the wind turbine support structure installed on a mountain or hill, with two non-planar arches.

[0020] Fig. 4 presents a method of constructing an arch, with wind turbines assembled on a beam on one side of this arch, such that the plane of the arch is that of the sheet.

[0021] Fig. 5 shows the wind turbine support structure installed on a mountain or hill, with three flat half-arches, without any guy wires.

[0022] Fig. 6 shows the wind turbine support structure installed on a mountain or hill, with one arch and two flat half-arches, without any possible guy wires.

[0023] Fig. 7 shows the wind turbine support structure installed on a mountain or hill, with four flat half-arches, without any guy wires. Best way of implementing the invention

[0024] This invention is based on a support structure for numerous small wind turbines, only about 2 to 10 m in diameter on land. The height of such structures could reach 80 m on land.

[0025] In its simplest version, the envisaged wind turbine support structure is made from two intersecting flat arches. Each arch is constructed using a post-and-beam structure, with a narrow width relative to the overall height of the structure. The beams of each arch support the individual wind turbines, arranged in one or more rows. Guy wires are stretched between the arches and the ground, between the arches themselves, and between the arches and the guy wires, in order to stabilize the assembly, enhance the mountainous appearance, and deter birds from the presence of moving rotors.

[0026] In versions more adapted to each geographical site, 3 to 5 half-arches will be used.

[0027] On land sites, the arches are made with vertical posts in wood or steel and horizontal beams in wood, forming a grid in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped approximately 3 m high, approximately 12 m wide and approximately 12 m long, braced by tensioned cables or bracing tie rods. These The meshes are pre-assembled in the factory and then transported to the site, ideally a mountaintop or hilltop.

[0028] The bottom of the arches is fixed on floor screws, ideally without the use of concrete.

[0029] The structure then takes the form of a mountain rise of a shape specific to each site, imitating the mountain on which it is installed, before its erosion.

[0030] The numerous small power wind turbines (approximately 2 to 5 kW) are installed on the supporting structure by hand, with a net providing the function of a safety floor between the beams.

[0031] The hundreds of wind turbines installed on all levels of the arches and half-arches can then provide a power of several megawatts, and benefit from very good wind speeds due to their height above the ground.

[0032] Over bodies of water, the arches are constructed with vertical steel columns and horizontal steel beams, forming a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped grid approximately 25 m high, 25 m wide, and 25 m long, braced by tensioned cables or tie rods. These grids are pre-assembled in port and then transported and assembled on site in the case of a non-floating structure. In the case of a floating structure, these grids are pre-assembled and then assembled in port before being transported to site. The complete structure could reach several hundred meters in height above the water's surface. Non-patent literature

[0033] The proposed structure, which could reach several tens or even hundreds of meters in total height, would support wind turbines and be constructed from solid arches or half-arches, each built in a different vertical plane and connected to each other along one or more vertical edges. Each arch would be made of a lightweight, highly open structure, allowing wind to pass through from all sides, with a narrow width relative to the total height of the structure. Optionally, guy wires would be stretched between the top of each arch or half-arche and the ground, and between the two arches or half-arches, or between the arches or half-arches and the guy wires, in order to stabilize the entire structure.

[0034] The invention presented here would allow for easier integration of wind power into various landscapes, in all regions of the world, and even improve the aesthetics of landscapes. This invention is based on support structures for numerous modestly sized wind turbines. Such structures could raise hills and mountains, restoring their pre-erosion shape, and add relief to plains or bodies of water, to resemble volcanic hills, islands, or icebergs. The height of such structures could reach several tens of meters in terrestrial sites and on lakes, and exceed several hundred meters in offshore sites. These wind turbine support structures They would have a shape adapted to each site in order to integrate as harmoniously as possible. Partial ascents of these structures could be made possible on foot to increase their acceptance by the local population. Some habitable sections could potentially be integrated for tourism purposes, particularly over bodies of water.

[0035] In its simplest version, the envisaged wind turbine support structure is made up of two flat arches situated in vertical planes orthogonal to each other. Each arch is constructed using a post-and-beam structure, with a narrow width relative to the overall height of the structure. The beams of the arches or half-arches support the various rows of wind turbines. Guy wires are optionally stretched between the arches or half-arches and the ground, and between the arches or half-arches, and between the arches or half-arches and the guy wires, in order to stabilize the structure, reinforce its mountain-like appearance, and warn birds of the presence of potentially moving rotors. From a distance, the wind turbine support structure has the shape of a mountain, and retains this appearance for an observer rotating around the structure, both on the ground and in the air.The structure thus formed is fixed relative to the ground, but more than half of the wind turbines it supports will always be able to capture the wind regardless of its direction.

[0036] In versions better suited to each site, the general shape will use arches or half-arches that are not necessarily planar, and an arbitrary average angle between the two arches or half-arches. The structure may be made from 3 half-arches, or 2 arches not orthogonal to each other, or 1 arch and 2 half-arches, or 4 half-arches, or more than 4 half-arches.

[0037] Given the modest size of the wind turbines installed on these structures, the production of electrical energy could be envisaged with nominal operation for wind speeds of the order of 16 m / s, and not only 12 m / s as is generally the case with large rotors, allowing a significantly increased energy production at a comparable swept area.

[0038] Such a wind turbine support structure could also be installed at sea, on fixed foundations or on a float. This float could be fixed relative to the wind, or orientable downwind.

[0039] The invention relates to a model of a support structure for horizontal axis or vertical axis wind turbines, or bladeless wind turbines, or a mix of these different types of wind turbines.

[0040] The wind turbines installed on this structure should ideally be chosen from among the particularly quiet models.

[0041] On land, this structure is fixed relative to the ground. On the other hand, the horizontal axis wind turbines that it supports orient themselves into the wind on their own mast.

[0042] On the water, this structure can be fixed relative to the ground, but it can also be floating, installed on floats, and oriented towards the wind.

[0043] The low mass of these wind turbines allows them to be installed and maintained by hand for the smallest models, or with light lifting means.

[0044] The use of several rotors allows a significant saving of material (steel for the masts, composite materials for the blades, magnets for the generators, ...) at equivalent power.

[0045] This load-bearing structure could be made by assembling rectangular parallelepipeds, each braced by tensioned cables or tie rods. Lifting drones could be used to assemble these structural elements if the terrain did not allow for the installation of cranes. The structure obtained by assembling these structural elements can be secured to the ground by anchors screwed into the soil, its posts, and any guy wires.

[0046] Each structure can have a different overall shape depending on the installation site.

[0047] Access to the floors of the structure will be possible for its maintenance, but possibly also for visitors for tourist purposes.

Claims

Claims

1. Supporting structure for hundreds of small-power wind turbines, constructed from full arches or half-arches each located in a different vertical plane and connected to each other along one or more vertical edges, such that each arch is made by posts and beams, is anchored to the ground or the seabed, is of small width compared to its height, giving the wind turbine supporting structure thus formed the appearance of a mountain or an iceberg.

2. Structure according to claim 1. stabilized by stays stretched between the arches or half-arches and the ground, and between the two arches or half-arches, and between the arches or half-arches and stays.

3. Structure according to claims 1. and 2., floating on a body of water because anchored on a float instead of the ground, and able to orient itself facing the wind.

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