Wind power generator

Abstract

To solve problems that a power generator utilizing natural energy, such as wind power or solar power, is affected by natural conditions and thus is less likely to work stably as a power source and a power generator which utilizes wind power is not affected by sunshine unlike solar power generation, however, is unable to generate electric power in a windless state.SOLUTION: A windmill used in a wind power generator according to the invention has a number of rectangular blades connected between an upper ring and a lower ring. The blade has an upward inclination from the lower ring to the upper ring. In a windless state, the windmill is driven by coriolis force to drive a power generator.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation device, and more particularly to a power generation device using a windmill as a prime mover.

Background Art

[0002] In response to the government's carbon neutral declaration, in order to achieve a decarbonized society, the introduction of new power generation methods such as renewable energy is being rapidly promoted.

[0003] Among them, as renewable energy, many power generation proposals using wind power and solar power have been made. Electric power generated by wind power and solar power using these natural energies is affected by natural conditions and is unlikely to be a stable power source.

[0004] Wind power generation using propeller-type windmills commonly seen in wind farms is the most popular power generation method. Patent Document 1 is an example of such a power generation device.

[0005] The wind power generation device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a horizontal axis wind power generation unit having a first generator that converts rotational power transmitted from a rotating horizontal axis to which propeller blades are attached into electric power via a first transmission mechanism and an attitude adjustment blade, a rotating vertical axis that is connected to and supported by the horizontal axis wind power generation unit and rotates together around a vertical axis, and a second generator that is independent of the first generator and converts rotational power transmitted from the rotating vertical axis into electric power via a second transmission mechanism.

[0006] Power generation using solar light depends on sunlight. Power generation using wind power is not affected by sunlight like solar power generation, but power generation cannot be performed in a windless state. An example of wind power generation that enables power generation even in a windless state is disclosed in Patent Document 2.

[0007] Patent Document 2 describes a wind power generation device including a power generation device that converts the rotational force of a windmill transmitted through a main shaft provided in a lift-type windmill into electric power, the wind power generation device including a waterwheel that rotates steadily upon receiving water flow, and a clutch that couples or disengages the rotation shaft of the waterwheel and the main shaft. By coupling the rotation shaft of the waterwheel and the main shaft with the clutch, the windmill can be rotated steadily even in a windless state or a light wind state, and a wind power generation device with good self-starting performance can be obtained. On the other hand, when the wind force is large, the clutch can be disengaged to disconnect the main shaft from the rotation shaft of the waterwheel.

[0008] The wind power generation shown in Patent Document 2 rotates the windmill by using the rotation of the waterwheel when there is no wind. It is a power generation method that cannot be achieved without a water source or a waterwheel for rotating the waterwheel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] Electric power that depends on wind power or sunlight using natural energy is affected by natural conditions and is unlikely to be a stable power source. Power generation using wind power is not affected by sunlight like solar power generation, but there is a problem that power generation cannot be performed in a windless state.

[0011] As a facility capable of generating power even when there is no wind, the power generation device described in Patent Document 3 has been proposed. Patent Document 3 generates power by solar power generation when there is no wind. Further, as a facility proposed to be capable of generating power when there is no wind, there is an invention (Patent Document 2) that uses a waterwheel in combination.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a power generation device capable of generating electricity without relying on sunlight or hydraulic power even in a windless state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the wind power generation device according to the present invention is driven by a windmill having a plurality of rectangular blades connected between rings of an upper ring and a lower ring. Further, in the wind power generation device according to the present invention, the windmill is driven by the Coriolis force.

[0014] In this configuration, the Earth rotates eastward, and since the Earth is a sphere, an eastward force is constantly applied to objects on the Earth. This force is called the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force acts as a rightward force in the Northern Hemisphere and a leftward force in the Southern Hemisphere because the rotation speed of the Earth varies depending on the latitude.

[0015] The wind power generation device according to the present invention has the blades having an upward slope from the lower ring to the upper ring. Further, in the wind power generation device according to the present invention, when the windmill is installed in the Northern Hemisphere, the left edge of the blade is rotationally displaced clockwise with respect to the right edge, and when installed in the Southern Hemisphere, the left edge of the blade is rotationally displaced counterclockwise with respect to the right edge.

[0016] The wind power generation device according to the present invention has variable pitch blades attached to the upper part of the windmill for adjusting the air flow from below the blades upward. Further, in the wind power generation device according to the present invention, the opening degree of the variable pitch blades is adjustable.

[0017] The wind power generation device according to the present invention has the central axis of the windmill perpendicular to the ground surface. Further, in the wind power generation device according to the present invention, a generator is attached to the central axis. Furthermore, in the wind power generation device according to the present invention, the diameter of the windmill is 50 m or more.

Effects of the Invention

[0018] The present invention provides a power generation facility that can generate electricity even in a windless state without requiring an additional device that utilizes sunlight or wind power.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0021] The direction of the Coriolis force is opposite in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the case where the windmill is installed in the Northern Hemisphere will be described.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining the mounting situation of the blades of a windmill, which is the main part of the power generation device of the present invention. The windmill 10 is a multi-blade windmill composed of a large number of blades 11. For the sake of simplicity of explanation, one blade will be described, but the other blades are also mounted on the windmill in the same way.

[0023] The blade 11 is in the shape of a rectangular strip, and the short side of the blade 11 is attached between the upper ring 12 and the lower ring 13. The upper end of the blade 11 is attached to the upper ring 12, and the lower end is attached to the lower ring 13.

[0024] Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the windmill 10 with a plurality of blades 11 attached. The number of blades 11 of the windmill 10 is appropriately about 16, but may be about 12 to 20. Also, it may be less than or more than this.

[0025] The blade 11 is inclined upward from the lower ring 13 toward the upper ring 12. Therefore, the wind (air) that enters the windmill 10 from the outside rises along the inclination of the blade 11. When the wind rises along the blade 11, the upper part of the windmill 10 becomes a negative pressure due to its inertia, and further draws the wind into the windmill 10.

[0026] The variable pitch impeller 14 shown in Fig. 4 is attached to the upper part of the windmill 10. That is, the variable pitch impeller 14 is attached to the upper ring 12. The air that enters the windmill 10 rises along the inclination of the blade 11, and the risen air is exhausted from the variable pitch blades 15 of the variable pitch impeller 14 above the windmill 10.

[0027] The variable pitch impeller 14 has eight variable pitch blades 15. The opening degree of the variable pitch blade 15 is adjustable. By turning the pitch adjustment knob 16 located at the center of the variable pitch impeller 14, the opening degree of the variable pitch blade 15 can be adjusted via the pitch operation piece 17 located at the end of the variable pitch blade 15. When the pitch adjustment knob 16 is turned clockwise, the variable pitch blade 15 rotates in synchronization with its movement and the opening degree of the variable pitch blade 15 becomes smaller. When the pitch adjustment knob 16 is turned counterclockwise, the opening degree becomes larger. By adjusting the opening degree of the variable pitch blade 15, the flow of the air that enters the windmill 10 can be adjusted.

[0028] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the windmill shown in Fig. 1, showing one blade. The blade 11 is in a rotated position about the long axis of the blade. That is, the left edge of the blade 11 is in a state of rotating clockwise with respect to the right edge. Therefore, the air that enters the windmill 10 from the outside abuts on the blade 11 and exerts a force in the direction of rotating the blade 11 to the left. As a result, the windmill 10 composed of a large number of blades attached to the upper ring rotates to the left.

[0029] In a windless state without wind, the windmill 10 rotates due to the Coriolis force acting on the windmill. When the windmill 10 rotates, air rises along the inclination of the blades 15 and sucks wind into the windmill 10. Since the blade 14 is twisted clockwise, the wind contacting the blade 14 exerts a force to rotate the windmill counterclockwise. The windmill 10 continues to rotate to the right due to the wind and the Coriolis force.

[0030] The direction of the Coriolis force is opposite in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. When the windmill of the power generation device of the present invention is installed in the Northern Hemisphere, the operation is as described above. When the windmill is installed in the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force acts to rotate the windmill 10 to the right. The blade 11 is in a rotated position around the long axis of the blade. That is, the left edge of the blade 11 is in a state of rotating counterclockwise with respect to the right edge. The air entering the windmill 10 from the outside exerts a force in the direction of further rotating the blade 11 to the right.

[0031] The overall configuration of the power generation device is shown in FIG. 5. The windmill 10 configured by attaching a variable pitch impeller 14 to the upper part of the windmill 10 and the generator 18 are connected by a central shaft 19 passing through the centers of the upper and lower rings 12 and 13. When the windmill 10 rotates, the generator 18 is driven to generate electricity.

[0032] For the windmill to rotate due to the Coriolis force, it is necessary to overcome the influence of frictional force and the like that resists the movement of the windmill. For this purpose, the diameter of the windmill needs to be of a certain size. It is desirable that the diameter of the windmill is 50 m or more. It is necessary to be at least 20 m or more.

Industrial Applicability

[0033] The wind power generation device according to the present invention can be suitably used as a power generation device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10 Windmill 11 Blade 12 Upper ring 13 Lower ring 14 Variable pitch impeller 15 Variable pitch blade 16 Pitch adjustment knob 17 Pitch operation piece 18 Generator 19 Central axis

Claims

1. A power generation device including a generator driven by a windmill having a plurality of rectangular blades connected between the upper ring and the lower ring.

2. The power generation device according to claim 1, wherein the windmill is driven by the Coriolis force.

3. The power generation device according to claim 2, wherein the blades have an upward inclination from the lower ring to the upper ring.

4. The power generation device according to claim 3, wherein when the windmill is installed in the Northern Hemisphere, the left edge of the blade is rotationally displaced clockwise with respect to the right edge, and when installed in the Southern Hemisphere, the left edge of the blade is rotationally displaced counterclockwise with respect to the right edge.

5. The power generation device according to claim 4, having variable pitch blades attached to the upper part of the windmill for adjusting the air flow from below the blades to above.

6. The power generation device according to claim 5, wherein the opening degree of the variable pitch blades is adjustable.

7. The power generation device according to claim 6, wherein the central axis of the windmill is perpendicular to the ground surface.

8. The power generation device according to claim 7, wherein the generator is attached to the central axis.

9. The power generation device according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of the windmill is 50 m or more.

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