Vertical axis wind turbine

Abstract

To provide a vertical axis wind power generating device excellent in self-starting property, ie, easy to rotate when it starts rotating due to wind from a stationary state. [Solution] The problem was solved by a vertical axis wind turbine generator comprising: a rotating shaft 1 that is installed perpendicular to the wind flow and is set up so as to be rotatable about its axis; multiple main wing bodies 2 that receive the wind and rotate integrally with the rotating shaft 1; multiple sub-wing bodies 3 that are located closer to the rotating shaft 1 than the main wing body 2 at a predetermined interval and are arranged forward of the main wing body 2 in the direction of rotation of the rotating shaft 1; a first support part 4 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 1 and extends perpendicular to the rotating shaft 1 to fix either the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3; a second support part 5 that is fixed to the rotating shaft 1 and extends perpendicular to the rotating shaft 1 to fix the other of the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3; and a generator 6 that is connected to the rotating shaft 1 and generates electricity by the rotation of the rotating shaft 1.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind power generating device using a vertical axis wind turbine, and more specifically to a power generating device consisting of a straight Darrieus wind turbine. [Background technology]

[0002] Wind power generation, which utilizes naturally occurring wind as energy and does not emit carbon dioxide, a known cause of global warming, is attracting social attention as a relatively environmentally friendly power generation method compared to thermal and nuclear power generation. Wind power generation generates electricity by rotating a generator using the torque of a wind turbine driven by wind. Various technologies aimed at improving power generation efficiency have been proposed. Generally, wind turbines used for wind power generation include horizontal-axis wind turbines, whose rotational axis is aligned horizontally with the wind direction, and vertical-axis wind turbines, whose rotational axis is aligned perpendicular to the wind direction. Of these, vertical-axis wind turbines offer advantages such as low initial investment due to their simple structure, high power generation efficiency due to their high rotational speed, flexibility in installation location due to their ability to be installed regardless of wind direction, and less impact on the landscape compared to horizontal-axis wind turbines.

[0003] Various such vertical axis wind turbines are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wind turbine including a rotor shaft that is a vertical axis, blades that receive fluid and rotate around the rotor shaft due to lift and drag, and a frame that has three or more support columns arranged to surround the rotor shaft and the blades and supports the rotor shaft. Patent Document 2 discloses a vertical axis wind turbine including a main shaft unit having a support column and a main shaft that is rotatable around the vertical axis on the upper part of the support column, multiple blade units each consisting of blades extending vertically around the main shaft and arms connecting the blades to the main shaft, and a generator that generates electricity by rotation of the main shaft. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3239619 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-60113 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the vertical axis wind power generation devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, although the wind turbine rotates regardless of the wind direction, there is a problem that the device has poor self-starting ability, in that it is difficult for the wind to automatically start rotating from a stationary state when the wind force is weak.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine generator that has excellent self-starting properties, ie, that is, that it easily starts rotating when it is caused by wind from a stationary state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] That is, the vertical axis wind turbine disclosed in the present application comprises a rotating shaft (1) that is installed perpendicular to the wind flow and is rotatable about its axis, a plurality of main wing bodies (2) that receive wind and rotate integrally with the rotating shaft (1), a plurality of sub-wing bodies (3) that are disposed closer to the rotating shaft (1) than the main wing body (2) at a predetermined interval and further forward in the direction of rotation of the rotating shaft (1) than the main wing body (2), and a plurality of sub-wing bodies (3) that are fixed to the rotating shaft (1) and that are used for the rotating shaft (1). The vertical axis wind power generation device is characterized by comprising: a first support part (4) extending in the vertical direction of the axis (1) and fixing one of the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body (2) and the sub-wing body (3); a second support part (5) fixed to the rotating axis (1), extending in the vertical direction of the rotating axis (1) and fixing the other of the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body (2) and the sub-wing body (3); and a generator (6) connected to the rotating axis (1) and generating electricity by the rotation of the rotating axis (1).

[0008] [2] The vertical axis wind turbine generator according to [1] above, characterized in that the chord length of the sub-wing body (3) is shorter than the chord length of the main wing body (2).

[0009] [3] The vertical axis wind power generation device according to either [1] or [2], characterized in that the sub-wing body (3) and the main wing body (2) are arranged in pairs.

[0010] [4] The vertical axis wind power generation device according to either [1] or [2], characterized in that the main wing bodies (2) and the sub-wing bodies (3) are arranged in equal numbers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the vertical axis wind turbine generator of the present invention, the wind flows between the main wing body and the sub-wing body, increasing the lift acting on the main wing body and the sub-wing body, and therefore the generator has excellent self-starting properties, meaning that it can easily start rotating from a stationary state due to the wind even when the wind force is weak. Furthermore, even in such low wind force conditions, the generator can efficiently convert wind energy into rotational energy to generate electricity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a partially vertically cut explanatory view showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A vertical axis wind turbine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is a preferred example for carrying out the present invention, and therefore various technical limitations are imposed thereon. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment unless otherwise specified in the following description to specifically limit the invention. The "up-down direction" in the description refers to the up-down direction in FIG. 3, which is the up-down direction when the vertical axis wind turbine is installed, and the "horizontal direction" in the description refers to the left-right and front-rear directions in FIG. 3, which are perpendicular to the rotation axis when the vertical axis wind turbine is installed.

[0014] Below, a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing the vertical axis wind turbine generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an explanatory view showing a part of the vertical axis wind turbine generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, cut vertically. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a vertical axis wind turbine generator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] [First embodiment] 1 to 3, the vertical axis wind turbine generator of this embodiment includes a rotating shaft 1, a main wing body 2, a sub-wing body 3, a first support section 4, a second support section 5, and a generator 6. The wind turbine W is made up of the rotating shaft 1, the main wing body 2, the sub-wing body 3, the first support section 4, and the second support section 5, and when rotated by wind, the generator 6 connected to the rotating shaft 1 generates electricity.

[0016] The rotating shaft 1 is installed perpendicular to the wind flow, and as the rotating shaft 1, which is a member set upright so as to be rotatable about its axis, rotates about its axis, the generator 6 connected to the rotating shaft 1 can generate electricity. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 1 is inserted into ball bearings 72 provided on the upper and lower parts of the housing 7, and is rotatable about its axis relative to the housing 7. In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 1 is a columnar member that is elongated in the vertical direction and set upright inside the housing 7, but in other embodiments, the rotating shaft 1 may have any shape, such as a cylindrical, elliptical, or polygonal column, as long as it is rotatable about its axis.

[0017] The main wing body 2 is a plurality of components that rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 1 upon receiving wind. Because the main wing body 2 is integrated with the rotation shaft 1 via the first support portion 4 and the second support portion 5, it can rotate the rotation shaft 1 by receiving wind and rotating. The shape of the main wing body 2 is preferably an airfoil shape in which one side is rounded and the other side is flat or concave, or a symmetrical wing or spindle shape in which both sides are bulged in a horizontal cross section. In this embodiment, the main wing body 2 has a longitudinal direction that is approximately perpendicular to the direction connecting the main wing body 2 and the rotation shaft 1 in a horizontal cross section, and has a symmetrical wing or cone shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, three main wing bodies 2 are arranged concentrically around the rotation shaft 1, with approximately equal intervals between them. In this embodiment, three main wing bodies 2 are arranged, but in other embodiments, a plurality of main wing bodies, such as two, four, or five, may be arranged.

[0018] The sub-wing bodies 3 are multiple components arranged closer to the rotation axis 1 than the main wing body 2 at a predetermined interval and further forward in the direction of rotation of the rotation axis 1 than the main wing body 2. The provision of the sub-wing bodies 3 increases the lift acting on the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 as wind flows between them, making it easier for the wind turbine W to start rotating from a stationary state even when the wind is weak. Furthermore, because the sub-wing bodies 3 are integrated with the rotation axis 1 via the first support portion 4 and the second support portion 5, they can rotate the rotation axis 1 by receiving the wind. The shape of the sub-wing body 3 is preferably an airfoil shape with one side bulging roundly and the other side flat or concave, or a symmetrical airfoil or spindle shape bulging on both sides in a horizontal cross section. In this embodiment, the sub-wing body 3 has an airfoil shape whose longitudinal direction is approximately perpendicular to the direction connecting the sub-wing body 3 and the rotation axis 1 in a horizontal cross section and is asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal direction. Because the sub-wing body 3 has this shape, when wind flows between the main wing body and the sub-wing body, the lift acting on the sub-wing body 3 increases and is applied to the inside of the wind turbine W, making it easier for the wind to start rotating from a stationary state even when the wind force is weak. Furthermore, as in this embodiment, the leading edge of the sub-wing body 3 is preferably arranged further forward in the direction of rotation of the rotation axis 1 than the leading edge of the main wing body 2. In this embodiment, three sub-wing bodies 3 are arranged concentrically around the rotation axis 1, with approximately equal intervals between them. In this embodiment, three main wing bodies 2 are arranged, but in other embodiments, a plurality of main wing bodies 2, such as two, four, or five, may be arranged.

[0019] In addition, it is preferable that the chord length of the sub-wing body 3 is shorter than the chord length of the main wing body 2. More specifically, it is preferable that the chord length of the sub-wing body 3 is shorter than the chord length of the main wing body 2 in the horizontal cross section of the sub-wing body 3. When the sub-wing body 3 has such a shape, the main wing body 2 is relatively larger than the sub-wing body 3, and therefore the rotational inertial force acting on the wind turbine W increases, making it easier to rotate. The main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 are formed from the same type of material selected from lightweight and weather-resistant materials such as light metals such as aluminum alloys, and resins such as carbon resins and engineering plastics, and the vertical lengths of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 are approximately the same, which means that the main wing body 2 is relatively heavier than the sub-wing body 3.

[0020] It is preferable that the sub-wing body 3 and the main wing body 2 are arranged approximately parallel to each other. More specifically, it is preferable that, in the horizontal cross section of the sub-wing body 3, the longitudinal direction of the sub-wing body 3 in the horizontal cross section is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main wing body 2 in the horizontal cross section. When the sub-wing body 3 and the main wing body 2 are arranged in this manner, wind flows between the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3, increasing the lift acting on the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3, which speeds up the response of the wind turbine W to changes in wind speed and makes it easier for the wind turbine W to rotate.

[0021] It is preferable that one pair or the same number of main wing bodies 2 and sub-wing bodies 3 are arranged. In other words, it is preferable that one sub-wing body 3 is arranged for one main wing body 2, and that the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 form a pair. When one pair or the same number of main wing bodies 2 and sub-wing bodies 3 are arranged, wind flows between all of the main wing bodies 2 and sub-wing bodies 3, increasing the lift acting on the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3, speeding up the response of the wind turbine W to changes in wind speed and making it easier for the wind turbine W to rotate.

[0022] The first support part 4 is a member that extends in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 1 and fixes either the upper end or the lower end of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3. By integrating the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 with the rotation axis 1 by the first support part 4, it is possible to transmit the force acting due to the wind received by the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 to the rotation axis 1. In this embodiment, the first support part 4 is a disk-shaped member that extends in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis 1 and fixes the upper ends of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3, but in other embodiments, it can also be a rod-shaped member that connects the side surfaces of the upper ends of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 to the outer circumferential surface of the rotation axis 1.

[0023] The second support part 5 is a member that is fixed to the rotation shaft 1, extends in the vertical direction of the rotation shaft 1, and fixes the other of the upper end side or lower end side of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3. By integrating the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 with the rotation shaft 1 by the second support part 5, it is possible to transmit the force acting due to the wind received by the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 to the rotation shaft 1. In this embodiment, the second support part 5 is a disk-shaped member that extends in the vertical direction of the rotation shaft 1 and fixes the lower ends of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3, but in other embodiments, it can also be a rod-shaped member that connects the side surfaces of the lower ends of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 to the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 1.

[0024] The generator 6 is a component connected to the rotating shaft 1 and generates electricity through the rotation of the rotating shaft 1. The generator 6 is connected directly or indirectly to the rotating shaft 1. The generator 6 can convert the mechanical rotational energy of the wind turbine W generated by wind power into electrical energy. The generator 6 has, for example, a magnet that moves in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft 1 and a wound coil placed in close proximity to the magnet; as the magnet rotates, the magnetic field of the wound coil changes, generating an induced current in the wound coil.

[0025] An amplifier can also be installed between the generator 6 and the rotating shaft 1. The amplifier uses gears to amplify the rotation of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 to the rotation speed required for power generation. Further increasing the rotation speed of the main wing body 2 and the sub-wing body 3 generated by the wind can help improve power generation efficiency.

[0026] The housing 7 is a member that houses the wind turbine W, which is composed of the rotating shaft 1, main wing body 2, sub-wing body 3, first support member 4, and second support member 5, and the generator 6. The top of the housing 7 is opened horizontally by supports 71 so that wind can reach the wind turbine W. The generator 6 is housed in the lower part of the housing 7. Furthermore, a pair of ball bearings 72 are disposed in the top and bottom of the housing 7, and the rotating shaft 1 is inserted into the ball bearings 72, allowing the rotating shaft 1 to rotate freely around its axis relative to the housing 7. In this embodiment, the outer shape of the housing 7 is approximately rectangular parallelepiped, but in other embodiments, the outer shape of the housing 7 can be a cube, polygonal prism, columnar, cylindrical, or other shape as long as it does not prevent wind from reaching the wind turbine W and can house the generator 6.

[0027] [Second embodiment] As shown in FIG. 4 , the vertical axis wind turbine generator of this embodiment includes a rotating shaft 1, a main wing body 2, a sub-wing body 3, a first support section 4, a second support section 5, a generator 6, and the like, similar to the first embodiment. The wind turbine W is made up of the rotating shaft 1, the main wing body 2, the sub-wing body 3, the first support section 4, and the second support section 5, and when rotated by wind, the generator 6 connected to the rotating shaft 1 generates electricity. The wind turbine W is housed in a housing 7. Although the generator 6 is not shown, it is housed in the lower part of the housing 7, similar to the first embodiment. The rotating shaft 1, the main wing body 2, the sub-wing body 3, the first support section 4, the second support section 5, the generator 6, and the housing 7 are the same as those described for the respective members and associated members in the first embodiment, except for the differences from the first embodiment described below.

[0028] In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the wind turbine W has a two-tiered structure in the vertical direction. That is, the main wing bodies 2 and the sub-wing bodies 3 are arranged in threes concentrically around the rotation axis 1, with the rotation axis 1 communicating with the upper and lower tiers, at approximately equal intervals. The first support portion 4 and the second support portion 5 extend perpendicular to the rotation axis 1 and secure the upper and lower ends of the main wing bodies 2 and the sub-wing bodies 3 to form the wind turbine W. In this case, the first support portion 4 or the second support portion 5, which forms the boundary between the upper and lower tiers, is technically the first support portion 4 when focusing on the lower tier and the second support portion 5 when focusing on the upper tier. However, in reality, the first support portion 4 and the second support portion 5 serve as both the first support portion 4 and the second support portion 5, which allows for a weight reduction when using a two-tiered structure. In this way, by arranging the wind turbine W in two tiers in the vertical direction, a large amount of electrical energy can be generated without increasing the horizontal diameter of the wind turbine W, even when there are restrictions on the installation area of ​​the wind power generation device. In this embodiment, the wind turbine W is formed in a two-tiered structure, but in other embodiments, it may be similarly stacked in the vertical direction to form a three or more tiered structure.

[0029] The embodiments of the vertical axis wind turbine generator of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings (Figs. 1 to 4). However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1. Rotation axis 2. Wing body 3. Sub-wing body 4...First support part 5...Second support part 6. Generator 7. Housing 71...post 72 Ball bearing W...Windmill

Claims

1. a rotating shaft that is installed perpendicular to the wind flow and is rotatable about its axis; a plurality of main wing bodies that rotate integrally with the rotation shaft when exposed to wind; a plurality of sub-wing bodies arranged closer to the rotation shaft than the main wing body at a predetermined interval and further forward in the direction of rotation of the rotation shaft than the main wing body; a first support portion fixed to the rotation shaft, extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft, and fixing one of the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body and the sub-wing body; a second support portion fixed to the rotation shaft, extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft, and fixing the other of the upper end side or the lower end side of the main wing body and the sub-wing body; A vertical axis wind turbine generator comprising a generator connected to the rotating shaft and generating electricity by rotation of the rotating shaft.

2. 2. The vertical axis wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the chord length of the sub-wing body is shorter than the chord length of the main wing body.

3. 3. The vertical axis wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the sub-wing body and the main wing body are arranged in pairs.

4. 3. The vertical axis wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein the number of the main wing bodies and the number of the sub-wing bodies are the same.

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