Wind power generation device

Abstract

To provide a wind power generation device having improved startability in a simple construction.SOLUTION: A wind power generation device 100 for generating power with the rotation of a vertical shaft type windmill 11 transmitted to an electric generator 13 includes a speed increasing gear 17 provided between the windmill 11 and the electric generator 13 for increasing the rotating speed of the windmill 11 and transmitting it to the electric generator 13, and a clutch 19 provided between the windmill 11 and the speed increasing gear 17 for transmitting / cutting off the rotation to be transmitted from the windmill 11 to the speed increasing gear 17.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind power generation device.

Background Art

[0002] Wind power generation equipment that generates electricity using wind power is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In the wind power generation device of Patent Document 1, a windmill is rotated by wind power, and a generator is driven by the rotational driving force obtained thereby to generate electricity. However, a propeller-type horizontal axis windmill can only capture wind in one direction and is prone to vibration, so there are many restrictions on the installation of the windmill.

[0003] On the other hand, lift-type windmills such as Darrieus-type windmills, which are vertical axis windmills, can rotate efficiently because they have a high rotational speed and do not select the wind direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, lift-type windmills such as Darrieus-type windmills belong to the category of windmills with a relatively high rotational speed and have the characteristic of high rotational efficiency. However, once a lift-type windmill stops, the rotational torque obtained from the wind is extremely small, so it may be difficult to start rotating by itself.

[0006] For this reason, in order to start rotating even with weak wind, there is also a method of rotating with a starting motor. In that case, the generator can also function as a starting motor, but in order to function as a starting motor, a detector for detecting the rotational position and a drive circuit for driving the generator as a starting motor are required. Therefore, the configuration becomes complicated as a small windmill.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wind power generation device with a simple structure and improved starting performance of windmill rotation. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] The present invention is configured as follows. A wind power generation device in which the rotation of a vertical-axis windmill is transmitted to a generator to generate electricity, A speed increaser provided between the windmill and the generator, which increases the speed of rotation of the windmill and transmits it to the generator; A clutch provided between the windmill and the speed increaser, which disconnects and connects the rotation transmitted from the windmill to the speed increaser; A wind power generation device comprising the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the wind power generation device of the present invention, the starting performance of windmill rotation can be improved with a simple structure. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wind power generation device 100 according to the first embodiment. The wind power generation device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a wind turbine 11, a generator 13, a speed increaser 17, and a clutch 19. This wind power generation device 100 is a wind power generation device including a vertical-axis wind turbine 11 having a rotating shaft 15 erected in the vertical direction. In the wind power generation device 100, the rotation of the wind turbine 11 is transmitted to the generator 13 via the rotating shaft 15, and the generator 13 generates electricity by the transmitted rotation.

[0012] The wind turbine 11 is a Darrieus-type lift wind turbine. This wind turbine 11 has a plurality (three in this example) of blades 21. The blades 21 are formed in a curved shape, and both ends are connected to the rotating shaft 15. Each blade 21 is arranged at equal intervals around the axis of the rotating shaft 15. When the blades 21 of the wind turbine 11 receive wind, the wind turbine 11 rotates in one direction about the axis of the rotating shaft 15.

[0013] The speed increaser 17 is provided between the wind turbine 11 and the generator 13. The speed increaser 17 increases the rotation speed of the wind turbine 11 and transmits it to the generator 13. As the speed increaser 17, a known one such as a speed increasing mechanism having a structure in which a plurality of planetary gears revolve while rotating around a sun gear can be used.

[0014] The clutch 19 is provided between the wind turbine 11 and the speed increaser 17. When the clutch 19 operates, it disconnects and connects the rotation transmitted from the wind turbine 11 to the speed increaser 17. This clutch 19 is, for example, a mechanical clutch such as a centrifugal clutch. When the wind turbine 11 starts to rotate and its rotation reaches a preset rotation speed, this clutch 19 automatically operates by centrifugal force and transmits the rotation of the wind turbine 11 to the speed increaser 17. In this way, the clutch 19 allows the stopped wind turbine 11 to rotate freely until its rotation reaches the set rotation speed of the clutch 19, and blocks the transmission of the rotation of the wind turbine 11 to the speed increaser 17. That is, the load associated with the rotation of the wind turbine 11 is disconnected, making it easily rotatable.

[0015] Here, an axial generator and a radial generator used as the generator 13 will be described.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an axial generator. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a radial generator. The axial generator shown in Figure 2 has a shaft body 41, a plurality of rotor plates 43, and a stator 45. The rotor plates 43 are fixed to the shaft body 41 and rotate together with the shaft body 41. The rotor plates 43 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction, and the stator 45 is arranged between these rotor plates 43. The rotor plates 43 have permanent magnets 47 on the stator 45 side. These permanent magnets 47 are arranged opposite to the stator 45 and are arranged in the circumferential direction so that the magnetic poles alternate. The stator 45 includes coils 49 and is formed in an annular shape. This axial generator generates electric power by receiving a rotating magnetic field from the rotor plates 43 when the shaft body 41 is rotated, causing the coils 49 of the stator 45 to generate an electromotive force. This axial generator is used as a generator when the rotation speed is relatively low. Note that this axial generator can accommodate an increase in output by stacking the configurations of the rotor plates 43 and the stator 45 in the axial direction.

[0017] The radial generator shown in Figure 3 has a shaft body 51, a rotor 53, and a stator 55. The rotor 53 is a plurality of permanent magnets and is fixed around the shaft body 51 so that the magnetic poles alternate. The stator 55 includes coils 59 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. This radial generator generates electric power by receiving a rotating magnetic field from the rotor 53 when the shaft body 51 is rotated, causing the coils 59 of the stator 55 to generate an electromotive force. This radial generator can generate electricity efficiently at high speed rotation.

[0018] In a wind power generation device having a Darrieus type lift windmill, since the rotation of the windmill is relatively slow, an axial generator is mainly used. However, in this configuration, since the rotation of the windmill 11 can be speeded up by the speed increaser 17, it is possible to use a radial generator that can generate electricity with high efficiency at high speed rotation.

[0019] Next, the power generation in the wind power generation device 100 will be described. (At startup) When the blades 21 receive wind, a rotational force is generated in the windmill 11. At this time, the transmission of rotation between the windmill 11 and the speed increaser 17 is blocked by the clutch 19, and the windmill 11 rotates freely. Therefore, the windmill 11 can start rotating smoothly with low resistance even in weak winds.

[0020] (During normal power generation) As the wind speed received by the windmill 11 increases and the rotation of the windmill 11 reaches the set rotation speed of the clutch 19, the clutch 19 operates. As a result, the rotation of the windmill 11 is transmitted to the speed increaser 17 by the clutch 19. At this time, the rotation of the windmill 11 has inertial force due to rotation and reaches a speed sufficient to obtain enough torque to rotationally drive the speed increaser 17. Therefore, when the clutch 19 is connected, the windmill 11 can continue to rotationally drive the speed increaser 17 smoothly without significantly decelerating or stopping.

[0021] The rotation transmitted from the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17 is increased in speed by the speed increaser 17 and transmitted to the generator 13, and the generator 13 generates electricity with high efficiency.

[0022] When the windmill 11 is a Darrieus-type lift windmill, it is generally designed to be combined with an axial-type generator suitable for power generation at low rotational speeds so as to be able to cope with different wind conditions. However, the axial-type generator has a large diameter and a large mass, so the cost tends to be high. Moreover, the power generation efficiency decreases at extremely low rotational speeds.

[0023] In this configuration, by providing a speed increaser 17 between the windmill 11 and the generator 13, a high-speed rotation type radial generator using radially opposed magnets can be used as the generator 13. Therefore, the diameter of the generator 13 can be reduced, miniaturization can be achieved, and the cost can be reduced. Moreover, the power generation efficiency is improved by high-speed rotation.

[0024] (When power generation stops) When the wind power weakens and the rotation of the windmill 11 falls below the set rotation speed of the clutch 19, the transmission of the rotation of the windmill 11 by the clutch 19 to the speed increaser 17 is interrupted, and the windmill 11 rotates idly.

[0025] As described above, according to the wind power generation device 100 according to the first embodiment, by providing the speed increaser 17 between the windmill 11 and the generator 13, while achieving miniaturization, light weight, and cost reduction, the rotation of the windmill 11 can be increased in speed by the speed increaser 17 and transmitted to the generator 13 to efficiently generate electricity.

[0026] Also, by interrupting the transmission of rotation between the windmill 11 and the speed increaser 17 by the clutch 19, the windmill 11 can be smoothly rotated and started even in weak winds. After the windmill 11 starts rotating, by transmitting the rotation of the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17 via the clutch 19, the generator 13 can generate electricity with high efficiency by the rotation increased in speed by the speed increaser 17.

[0027] Moreover, stable rotation can be obtained even in an environment where the wind speed and wind direction are likely to change, and it is equipped with a windmill 11 composed of a Darrieus-type lift windmill that rotates even under low wind speed conditions and rotates from low wind speed to high wind speed, so it can generate electricity with high efficiency.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the case where the windmill 11 is equipped with a Darrieus-type lift windmill is illustrated. However, the windmill 11 may be a straight blade type lift windmill in which a plurality of straight blades are supported in parallel at intervals with respect to the rotation shaft 15.

[0029] (Second Embodiment) Next, the second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a wind power generation device 200 according to the second embodiment. In the wind power generation device 200 according to the second embodiment, a rotation sensor (speed detection unit) 31 and a control unit 33 are added to the wind power generation device 100 according to the first embodiment. The rotation sensor 31 is connected to the control unit 33. Further, the control unit 33 is connected to the clutch 19. As the clutch 19 of the wind power generation device 200, an electromagnetic clutch is used. As the electromagnetic clutch, for example, a known mechanism such as a mechanism that disconnects and connects power transmission by using the electromagnetic force generated by energizing a coil can be used.

[0031] The rotation sensor 31 detects the rotation speed of the windmill 11 and transmits it to the control unit 33. As the rotation sensor 31, for example, a known one such as a configuration that reads the rotation of a rotary encoder by an optical or magnetic sensor and detects the position of the rotary encoder can be used. The control unit 33 transmits a control signal to the clutch 19 and controls a drive unit (not shown) of the clutch 19. The control unit 33 operates the clutch 19 according to the rotation speed of the windmill 11 detected by the rotation sensor 31, and disconnects and connects the rotation transmitted from the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17.

[0032] Next, power generation in the wind power generation device 200 will be described. (At the time of rotational startup) When the blades 21 receive wind, a rotational force is generated in the windmill 11. At this time, the transmission of rotation between the windmill 11 and the speed increaser 17 is blocked by the clutch 19, and the windmill 11 rotates idly. Therefore, the windmill 11 can smoothly start rotating even in weak wind.

[0033] (During power generation) When the wind speed of the wind received by the windmill 11 increases and the rotation of the windmill 11 reaches a preset rotation speed, the control unit 33 transmits a control signal to the clutch 19. Then, the clutch 19 operates, and the rotation of the windmill 11 is transmitted to the speed increaser 17 by the clutch 19. The rotation transmitted from the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17 is increased in speed by the speed increaser 17 and transmitted to the generator 13, and the generator 13 generates power with high efficiency.

[0034] (When power generation stops) When the wind power weakens and the rotation of the windmill 11 falls below the set rotation speed, the control unit 33 cuts off the transmission of the rotation of the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17 by the clutch 19, and the windmill 11 rotates idly.

[0035] As described above, according to the wind power generation device 200 according to the second embodiment, when the rotation start of the windmill 11 is detected by the rotation sensor 31, the control unit 33 operates the clutch 19 to transmit the rotation of the windmill 11 to the speed increaser 17. Thereby, the windmill 11 can be smoothly started even with weak wind, and after the windmill 11 starts rotating, the rotation of the windmill 11 can be transmitted to the speed increaser 17 to generate power with high efficiency by the generator 13.

[0036] Thus, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is also contemplated by the present invention that those skilled in the art can make changes and applications based on combining each configuration of the embodiments with each other, the description of the specification, and well-known techniques, and such are included in the scope for which protection is sought.

[0037] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification. (1) A wind power generation device in which the rotation of a vertical-axis windmill is transmitted to a generator to generate power, A speed increaser provided between the windmill and the generator, which increases the rotation speed of the windmill and transmits it to the generator; A clutch provided between the windmill and the speed increaser, which disconnects and connects the rotation transmitted from the windmill to the speed increaser; A wind power generation device comprising the same. According to this wind power generation device, by providing a speed increaser between the windmill and the generator, while achieving miniaturization, weight reduction, and cost reduction, the rotation of the windmill can be increased in speed by the speed increaser and transmitted to the generator to efficiently generate power. Also, by cutting off the transmission of rotation between the windmill and the speed increaser by means of a clutch, the windmill can be smoothly started even in weak winds. After the windmill starts rotating, the rotation of the windmill is transmitted to the speed increaser via the clutch, so that high-efficiency power generation can be achieved by the generator with the rotation speeded up by the speed increaser.

[0038] (2) A speed detection unit that detects the rotational speed of the windmill, A control unit that operates the clutch to transmit the rotation of the windmill to the speed increaser in response to the detection of the start of rotation of the windmill by the speed detection unit, The wind power generation device according to (1), comprising: According to this wind power generation device, when the start of rotation of the windmill is detected by the speed detection unit, the control unit operates the clutch to transmit the rotation of the windmill to the speed increaser. Thereby, the windmill can be smoothly started even in weak winds, and after the windmill starts rotating, the rotation of the windmill can be transmitted to the speed increaser to efficiently generate power with the generator.

[0039] (3) The windmill is a lift-type windmill of the Darrieus type or the straight-blade type, and the wind power generation device according to (1) or (2). According to this wind power generation device, stable rotation can be obtained even in an environment where the wind speed and direction change easily, and it is equipped with a Darrieus-type or straight-blade-type lift-type windmill that rotates even under low wind speed conditions and rotates from low wind speed to high wind speed, so that high-efficiency power generation can be achieved.

[0040] (4) The generator is a radial type including a shaft body, a rotor provided around the shaft body, and a stator disposed opposite to the periphery of the rotor, and the wind power generation device according to any one of (1) to (3). According to this wind power generation device, since it is equipped with a radial-type generator that efficiently generates power at high rotation speeds, high-efficiency power generation is possible by the driving force of the rotation speeded up by the speed increaser.

Explanation of Signs

[0041] 11 Windmill 13 Generator 17 Speed increaser 19 Clutch 31 Rotation sensor (speed detection unit) 33 Control unit 51 Shaft body 53 Rotor 55 Stator 100, 200 Wind power generation device

Claims

1. A wind power generation device in which the rotation of a vertical-axis windmill is transmitted to a generator to generate electricity, a speed increaser provided between the windmill and the generator, which increases the rotation speed of the windmill and transmits it to the generator; a clutch provided between the windmill and the speed increaser, which disconnects and connects the rotation transmitted from the windmill to the speed increaser; and a wind power generation device comprising the same.

2. a speed detector for detecting the rotation speed of the windmill; a control unit that operates the clutch to transmit the rotation of the windmill to the speed increaser in response to detection of the start of rotation of the windmill by the speed detector; The wind power generation device according to claim 1, comprising the same.

3. The windmill is a lift-type windmill of the Darrieus type or the straight-blade type, The wind power generation device according to claim 1.

4. The generator is of a radial type including a shaft body, a rotor provided around the shaft body, and a stator disposed opposite to the periphery of the rotor, The wind power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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