Vertical type wind power generating device

Abstract

To provide a vertical type wind power generating device that is increased in the degrees of freedom in installation site, reduced in noise and impact on an ecosystem, and lowered in breakage risk of a blade at the time of strong wind as compared to existing vertical type wind power generating devices.SOLUTION: A vertical type wind power generating device includes: a conical outer structure 40; a power transmission shaft 20 installed inside the outer structure 40 so as to be rotatable; wind-receiving means 30 installed to the power transmission shaft 20 and including a wind-receiving surface; and a power generator 10 connected to the power transmission shaft 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind turbine generator, and more particularly to a vertical wind turbine generator. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, the effects of climate change caused by global warming have been felt all over the world. Under these circumstances, there is a demand to promote the introduction of renewable energy in order to achieve zero emissions of greenhouse gases, which are one of the causes of global warming.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vertical-axis type (vertical type) wind power generator (Patent Document 1) has been known as a wind power generator, in which eight radial blades are provided on a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-337245 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, problems have been pointed out regarding wind turbine generators, such as installation locations, noise pollution, impact on ecosystems, and damage to blades in strong winds, and there is a demand for technology that can solve these problems.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its problem to be solved is to provide a vertical wind turbine generator that has greater freedom in terms of installation location, produces less noise and has less impact on the ecosystem, and has a lower risk of blade damage in strong winds, compared to conventional vertical wind turbine generators. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention comprises a cone-shaped outer structure, a power transmission shaft rotatably installed inside the outer structure, a wind-receiving means having a wind-receiving surface provided on the power transmission shaft, and a generator connected to the power transmission shaft. Effect of the Invention

[0008] In the vertical wind turbine of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the risk of blade damage during strong winds can be reduced compared to conventional vertical wind turbines because excess wind can be released along the cone-shaped outer structure. In addition, because the wind-receiving means is provided inside the outer structure, noise and impacts on the ecosystem can be reduced. The vertical wind turbine of the present invention has a structure that can be made compact, so there is a high degree of freedom in the installation location. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vertical wind turbine generator according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an outer structure, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the outer structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is a front view showing an example of a vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is an explanatory diagram of the wind intake means shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13A shows another example of the wind intake means, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram of the wind intake means of FIG. 13A in use. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of an adhesion prevention means, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of the adhesion prevention means in FIG. [Figure 6] (a) is an explanatory diagram when a generator is installed at the upper end of the power transmission shaft, (b) is an explanatory diagram when two generators are installed at intervals in the vertical direction of the power transmission shaft, and (c) is an explanatory diagram when four generators are installed at intervals in the vertical direction of the power transmission shaft. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a power transmission shaft when two or more generators are provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Embodiment) An example of an embodiment of a vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example, the vertical wind turbine generator shown in Fig. 1 mainly comprises a generator 10, a power transmission shaft 20, a wind receiving means 30, an outer structure 40, and a wind intake means 50 (Fig. 3(c) and Fig. 4(a), etc.).

[0011] The generator 10 is a device (generator) that converts rotational motion into electricity. As the generator 10, a new or existing one can be used.

[0012] A power transmission shaft 20 is connected to the generator 10. The power transmission shaft 20 is a member that transmits rotational force by a wind receiving means 30 (described later) to the generator 10. In this embodiment, the power transmission shaft 20 is a vertically elongated columnar shaft that is perpendicular to the generator 10, and its lower end is connected to the generator 10. The upper end of the power transmission shaft 20 is rotatably supported by a bearing 21.

[0013] The wind receiving means 30 is a member that receives wind and rotates the power transmission shaft 20. In this embodiment, a plurality of wind receiving means 30 are provided in multiple stages at intervals in the vertical direction of the power transmission shaft 20. Each stage of the wind receiving means 30 is composed of a plurality of blades 31, and each stage can be handled as an independent unit.

[0014] In this embodiment, an odd number of blades 31 constitute each wind receiving means 30. If an even number of blades are provided at equal intervals, when wind is received from a certain direction, the blades 31 that are on the same line in a plan view may cancel out the rotational forces, resulting in a small amount of received wind.

[0015] In contrast, by using an odd number of blades 31, two blades 31 are not arranged on the same axis, which has the advantage that rotational forces are less likely to cancel each other out and it becomes easier to rotate the power transmission shaft 20. The odd number of blades 31 can be provided at equal or unequal intervals as long as they do not cause rotational forces to cancel each other out.

[0016] If the structure is such that the rotational forces are unlikely to cancel each other out, the number of blades 31 of each wind receiving means can be an even number. For example, by setting the blades 31 at uneven intervals, it is possible to make it difficult for the rotational forces to cancel each other out even if there is an even number of blades.

[0017] In addition, by making the multiple blades 31 constituting the wind receiving means 30 have different shapes, it is possible to make it difficult for rotational forces to cancel each other out, regardless of whether the number of blades 31 is an even number or an odd number.

[0018] In short, if the structure of each wind receiving means 30, which is composed of multiple blades 31, is not point-symmetric, specifically, if the structure of each wind receiving means 30 is non-point-symmetric with respect to the center point of the blades 31 in the vertical and horizontal directions of the power transmission shaft 20, then it is possible to make it less likely that the rotational forces caused by the blades 31 will cancel each other out.

[0019] The blade 31 in this embodiment has a horizontal rectangular shape with a vertical wind-receiving surface (vertical wind-receiving surface), and a bent portion 31b is provided on the tip side of a flat base portion 31a. In this embodiment, the bent angle of the bent portion 31b with respect to the base portion 31a is set to 45 degrees, but this angle may be other than 45 degrees. The wind-receiving surface does not have to be vertical, and may be provided at an angle with respect to an imaginary vertical plane.

[0020] In this embodiment, the lateral length of the blades 31 constituting the wind receiving means 30 is different for each stage. Specifically, the length of the blades 31 constituting the wind receiving means 30 on the lower stage side is made longer in the lateral direction than the length of the blades 31 constituting the wind receiving means 30 on the upper stage side.

[0021] In other words, if the vertical height dimension of the blades 31 is constant, the upper blades 31 have a smaller wind receiving area and the lower blades 31 have a larger wind receiving area.

[0022] When the length of the blade 31 is set in this manner, when the power transmission shaft 20 and the wind receiving means 30 are viewed from the front, they have a tree-like shape that is wider at the bottom and gradually narrower towards the top, in other words, a shape like a vertical turbine.

[0023] There is no particular limit to the number of blades 31 constituting each wind receiving means 30. Also, the number of blades 31 in each stage of wind receiving means 30 may be the same or different. When the number of blades is different, all wind receiving means 30 may have a different number of blades 31, or some wind receiving means 30 may have a different number of blades 31.

[0024] A flow straightener 32 is provided above and below each wind receiving means 30. For convenience, Fig. 1 only shows the flow straightener 32 above the uppermost wind receiving means 30 and the flow straightener 32 below the lowermost wind receiving means 30, but in this embodiment, the flow straightener 32 is provided at various locations between each wind receiving means 30, above the uppermost wind receiving means 30, and below the lowermost wind receiving means 30.

[0025] The flow straightener 32 straightens out the flow of air so that the air taken in does not escape vertically but strikes the vertical wind-receiving surface of the blade 31, and may be, for example, a disk-shaped or rectangular plate. When a plate is used as the flow straightener 32, it may be provided in a direction intersecting the power transmission shaft 20 (for example, perpendicular to the power transmission shaft 20) as shown in FIG.

[0026] In this embodiment, one flow straightener 32 is provided between each wind receiving means 30, but two or more flow straighteners 32 can also be provided between each wind receiving means 30. In addition, the flow straighteners 32 can be provided only between any wind receiving means 30, such as only above the uppermost wind receiving means 30 and only below the lowermost wind receiving means 30.

[0027] The outer structure 40 is a member that covers the outside of the generator 10, the power transmission shaft 20, and the wind-receiving means 30. The outer structure 40 is a member for preventing animals such as birds and other flying objects from colliding with the wind-receiving means 30, etc., and is a member for supporting the wind intake means 50, which will be described later.

[0028] The outer structure 40 in this embodiment is a substantially triangular pyramid-shaped structure tapered toward the upper end side. The outer structure 40 may be a pyramid shape other than a triangular pyramid, such as a cone shape or a pyramid shape other than a triangular pyramid. The outer structure 40 may be a truncated pyramid shape in which the apex side of a triangular pyramid or a cone-shaped pyramid is cut by a plane parallel to the bottom surface.

[0029] In this application, the term "pyramidal" is a concept that includes triangular pyramids, other pyramidal shapes, conical shapes, and the like, as well as truncated pyramidal shapes in which the apex side of these is cut by a plane parallel to the base.

[0030] When the outer structure 40 is made into a pyramidal shape such as a triangular pyramid or a cone, the wind can escape along the inclined surface of the outer structure 40 as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 3(a), thereby preventing excessive wind from entering or being received, and reducing the risk of collapse or damage to the blades 31, the power transmission shaft 20, the outer structure 40, etc. This effect is particularly large when the outer structure 40 is made into a triangular shape (triangular pyramid shape) that has properties that are resistant to external pressure.

[0031] In this embodiment, the outer structure 40 is a mesh structure equipped with ventilation holes 41 through which wind passes and a plurality of truss structures so that the outer structure 40 will not collapse or be damaged even when subjected to strong winds. The outer structure 40 in this embodiment is configured in the shape of a truncated triangular pyramid by combining three supports and a mesh material.

[0032] The configuration of the outer structure 40 is one example, and other configurations are also possible. For example, it can be configured by combining multiple long members in a diagonal lattice shape as shown in Fig. 2(a), or by a planar member with holes as shown in Fig. 2(b). In either case, it is provided with a vent hole 41 through which air passes.

[0033] The material of the outer structure 40 is not particularly limited, but when the wind intake means 50 described later is provided, it is preferable that the outer structure 40 is made of a material having strength and hardness sufficient to support the wind intake means 50. When the adhesion prevention means 60 described later is provided, the outer structure 40 is preferably made of a material that vibrates when struck by a striking tool 62.

[0034] In this embodiment, the outer structure 40 is provided with wind intake means 50 for taking in wind therein. The wind intake means 50 is a turbo device equipped with a wind power concentration function and a rectification function. As an example, the wind intake means 50 shown in Figs. 3(a) to (c) is a so-called wind lens-shaped structure, and a plurality of wind intake means 50 are attached to the outer structure 40.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3(c), the wind intake means 50 of this embodiment is in the shape of a circular ring, with one side of the periphery expanding like a trumpet. Due to its structure, the wind intake means 50 takes in wind from a small diameter opening (hereinafter referred to as "small diameter opening") 51 and expels it from a large diameter opening (hereinafter referred to as "large diameter opening") 52, amplifying the wind that has been taken in.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 3(a), a plurality of wind intake means 50 are attached to the outer structure 40. In this embodiment, the wind intake means 50 are provided at the same height as the wind receiving means 30 located on the inside of the outer structure 40 so that wind can be intensively sent to the blades 31 constituting the wind receiving means 30 of each stage.

[0037] A plurality of wind intake means 50 are provided along the circumferential direction of each stage. The wind intake means 50 of this structure is attached so that the small diameter opening 51 faces outward and the large diameter opening 52 faces inward.

[0038] The wind intake means 50 shown here is only one example, and wind intake means 50 other than those shaped like a wind lens can also be used. For example, as shown in Fig. 4(a), a wind intake means 50 equipped with a straightening net 54 inside a pipe member 53 can also be used. Wind intake means 50 of this structure is attached so that the large diameter opening 55 faces outward and the small diameter opening 56 faces inward, as shown in Fig. 4(b).

[0039] By providing such wind intake means 50, the taken-in wind can be straightened by the straightening net 54 and blown directly onto the blades 31. Generally, the blades 31 do not rotate well in turbulent air, but blowing straightened wind onto the blades 31 allows them to rotate smoothly.

[0040] However, the wind intake means 50 is not an essential component and can be omitted when not required. For example, when the wind intake means 50 is installed in a place where sufficient wind power is expected to generate electricity even without the wind intake means 50, the wind intake means 50 can be omitted when not required.

[0041] As shown in Figures 5(a) and (b), the vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention may be provided with adhesion prevention means 60 for preventing adhesion of ice or snow (hereinafter referred to as "icing, etc."). As an example, the adhesion prevention means 60 shown in Figures 5(a) and (b) includes a mounting ring 61 fixed to the power transmission shaft 20, a striking tool 62 protruding outward from the mounting ring 61, and a struck tool 63 provided on the outer structure 40.

[0042] 5(a)(b) is a circular mounting ring 61 with multiple striking tools 62 protruding outward from its outer periphery. In this embodiment, the striking tool 62 has a rod-shaped portion 62a and a spherical striking ball 62b attached to the tip of the rod-shaped portion 62a. The striking tools 62 may be installed at equal or unequal intervals, and the number of striking tools to be installed can be determined according to the size of the vertical wind turbine generator, etc.

[0043] In this embodiment, the striking tool 62 is made of a material that contracts when the temperature rises and expands when the temperature drops, and the striking ball 62b comes into contact with the struck tool 63 when it expands and does not come into contact with the struck tool 63 when it contracts.

[0044] In this way, at temperatures where icing or the like is likely to occur, the striking ball 62b comes into contact with the struck tool 63, thereby preventing icing or the like, and at temperatures where icing or the like does not occur, the striking ball 62b does not come into contact with the struck tool 63, thereby preventing the generation of noise due to the striking sound.

[0045] The struck tool 63 is a member that is struck by the striking ball 62b. The struck tool 63 can be made of various materials, such as rubber material, that can transmit vibrations generated during striking to the outer structural body 40. The struck tool 63 is attached to the inner surface of the outer structural body 40. A plurality of struck tools 63 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer structural body 40.

[0046] In this embodiment, the mounting ring 61 and the striking tool 62 are installed at a position lower than the lowest wind receiving means 30, and the struck tool 63 is installed at a position lower than the lowest wind intake means 50. The mounting ring 61, the striking tool 62, and the struck tool 63 can also be installed at other positions.

[0047] The configuration of the adhesion prevention means 60 is one example, and other configurations are also possible for the adhesion prevention means 60. For example, an electric jack (not shown) can be connected to the mounting ring 61, and the mounting ring 61 and the striking tool 62 can be raised and lowered by the electric jack so that they strike the struck tool 63 when raised and do not strike the struck tool 63 when lowered.

[0048] In this case, a power supply unit (e.g., a power supply unit with a thermostat) not shown can be connected to the electric jack so that the power turns on when the temperature drops below a preset threshold (e.g., 0°C) and turns off when the temperature rises above the threshold (e.g., 0°C).

[0049] In this case, when the air temperature drops below the threshold, the power is turned on and the jack is raised, so that the striking tool 62 comes into contact with the struck tool 63, and when the air temperature rises above the threshold, the power is turned off and the jack is lowered, so that the striking tool 62 does not come into contact with the struck tool 63. When this method is adopted, the power supply device can be made to operate with electricity generated by the vertical wind turbine power generation device.

[0050] Providing such adhesion prevention means 60 has the advantage that problems due to icing and the like are less likely to occur even in cold regions, making it easier to maintain power generation efficiency. However, the adhesion prevention means 60 is not an essential component and can be omitted if not required.

[0051] The vertical wind turbine of the present invention can be installed not only on land but also offshore. Installation can be performed in the same manner as in the past, and when installing on soft ground, nodular foundation piles can be used for the bases of the supports (the bases supporting the three supports in the previous example).

[0052] When installing offshore, the installation method can be selected depending on factors such as the distance to the ground at the installation site, for example, from a bottom-mounted method in which the system is fixed to the seabed (ground) or a floating method in which the system is floated on the ocean.

[0053] In a vertical wind power generation device having the above-mentioned configuration, since the multiple wind receiving means 30 are independent, even if one of the wind receiving means 30 in one stage fails, power generation can be continued by the other wind receiving means 30, which has the advantage of reducing the risk of power generation being stopped.

[0054] In addition, since each wind receiving means 30 can be handled as an independent unit, in the event of a malfunction, only the malfunctioning wind receiving means 30 needs to be replaced, while the remaining healthy (non-malfunctioning) wind receiving means 30 can continue to be used, resulting in the advantages of excellent maintainability and cost-effectiveness.

[0055] The electricity generated by the vertical wind turbine of the present invention can be used not only as a regular power source, but also for other purposes, such as electrolyzing river or seawater to generate hydrogen.

[0056] The vertical wind turbine of the present invention can be made compact and has a high degree of freedom in terms of installation location, so it can be installed in areas with good infrastructure conditions and a hydrogen production facility can be installed nearby to create an environment for the accumulation of green energy. This can contribute to industrial promotion and help with regional revitalization. In the future, it is expected that a regional power grid will be established and the system can be used for facilities and regional power.

[0057] In addition, unlike propeller-type wind turbines, the vertical wind turbine of the present invention does not have a huge exposed propeller that rotates, so it has a higher degree of freedom in terms of installation location compared to propeller-type wind turbines. For example, it can be expected to play a role as a windbreak against high-rise building winds, which are a problem in urban areas, and also contribute to the power supply in the installation area.

[0058] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the mounting ring 61, striking tool 62 and struck tool 63 are arranged in one stage, but the mounting ring 61, striking tool 62 and struck tool 63 can also be arranged in multiple stages spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the generator 10 is provided at the lower end of the power transmission shaft 20, but the generator 10 can be provided at other locations. For example, it can be provided at the upper end of the power transmission shaft 20, as shown in Fig. 6(a). In this case, the lower end side of the power transmission shaft 20 can be supported by a bearing.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the case where one generator 10 is provided is taken as an example, but two or more generators 10 can be provided. In this case, for example, one generator can be provided at the upper end side and one generator can be provided at the lower end side of the power transmission shaft 20 as shown in Fig. 6(b), or generators can be provided at intervals in the axial direction of the power transmission shaft 20 as shown in Fig. 6(c). When two or more generators 10 are provided, one can be provided for each wind receiving means 30.

[0061] When two or more generators 10 are installed, as shown in FIG. 7, a core pillar (hereinafter referred to as the "inner pillar") 22 is erected, and a cylindrical power transmission shaft 20 equipped with a plurality of blades 31 is placed on the outside of the inner pillar 22 via bearings 23, so that each power transmission shaft 20 can rotate independently.

[0062] The inner support 22 is fixed between the upper end bearing 21 (FIG. 6(c)) and the lowest generator 10 so as not to rotate. One power transmission shaft 20 is provided for each generator 10, and one power transmission shaft 20 is connected to each generator 10. When each power transmission shaft 20 rotates, electricity is generated by the generator 10 to which the power transmission shaft 20 is connected.

[0063] In this case, the generator 10, the power transmission shaft 20, and the wind receiving means 30 provided on the power transmission shaft 20 function as one power generation unit 24. As a result, even if one power generation unit 24 breaks down, power generation can be continued by the other power generation units 24, reducing the risk of power generation being stopped.

[0064] When there is only one generator 10, the power transmission shaft 20 may be made of a solid pillar material. However, as in the case when two or more generators 10 are provided, it is also possible to use a cylindrical shaft that is arranged on the outside of the inner support 22 via a bearing 23.

[0065] Although not described in the above embodiment, the power transmission shaft 20 may be provided with a gearbox that amplifies the rotational force and transmits it to the generator 10, or a brake device that reduces the rotational speed of the blades 31 and the power transmission shaft 20 in strong winds.

[0066] In the above embodiment, the striking tool 62 is made of a material that contracts when the temperature rises and expands when the temperature drops, but the struck tool 63 may also be made of the same material. In some cases, both may be made of the same material.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the mounting ring 61 is raised and lowered by an electric jack as an example, but the striking tool 63 can also be raised and lowered. For example, a ring-shaped base seat with the striking tool 63 protruding inward is installed on the inner surface of the outer structural body 40, and the base seat is raised and lowered by an electric jack, thereby obtaining the same effect as when the mounting ring 61 is raised and lowered by an electric jack.

[0068] The configuration of the above embodiment is merely an example, and the configuration of the vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. The configuration of the vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention can be modified, such as by adding, replacing, deleting, etc., as appropriate, within the scope of achieving the intended purpose. [Industrial Applicability]

[0069] The vertical wind turbine generator of the present invention can be used not only as an onshore wind turbine generator installed on land, but also as an offshore wind turbine generator installed on the ocean. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10. Generator 20 Power transmission shaft 21 Bearings 22 Inner support 23 Bearings 24 Power Generation Units 30 Wind blowing means 31 Blade 31a Base 31b Bend 32 Flow rectifier 40 Outer structure 41 Vent 50 Wind intake means 51 Small diameter 52 Large diameter mouth 53 Pipe members 54 Rectifier network 55 Large diameter mouth 56 Small diameter 60 Anti-adhesion measures 61 Mounting ring 62 Striking Tools 62a Rod-shaped part 62b Hit ball 63 Hit equipment

Claims

1. In a vertical wind turbine, A cone-shaped outer structure; A power transmission shaft rotatably installed inside the outer structure; a wind receiving means having a wind receiving surface provided on the power transmission shaft; A generator connected to the power transmission shaft, A vertical wind turbine generator.

2. The vertical wind turbine generator according to claim 1, The wind receiving means has a plurality of blades each having a wind receiving surface. A vertical wind turbine generator.

3. 3. The vertical wind turbine generator according to claim 2, A plurality of blades are provided on the power transmission shaft at uneven intervals. A vertical wind turbine generator.

4. The vertical wind turbine generator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The wind receiving means has an odd number of blades each having a wind receiving surface. A vertical wind turbine generator.

5. The vertical wind turbine generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The wind receiving means is provided in a plurality of stages in the longitudinal direction of the power transmission shaft. A vertical wind turbine generator.

6. The vertical wind turbine generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Equipped with a flow regulator that regulates the flow of air taken into the outer structure, A vertical wind turbine generator.

7. 7. The vertical wind turbine generator according to claim 6, The wind receiving means is provided in a plurality of stages in the longitudinal direction of the power transmission shaft, A flow regulator is provided above and / or below each of the air receiving means. A vertical wind turbine generator.

8. The vertical wind turbine generator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The outer structure is provided with a wind intake means for rectifying the wind and taking it into the outer structure. A vertical wind turbine generator.

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