DOUBLE COUNTER-ROTATING ROTOR WIND TURBINE.

MX434522BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-19ANDRES DE ANTONIO SIMANCAS
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
MX · MX
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
ANDRES DE ANTONIO SIMANCAS
Filing Date
2023-09-14
Publication Date
2026-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing wind turbine technologies face limitations in blade size, manufacturing, and transportation, and there is a need for more efficient energy generation systems capable of producing high power output, such as 80 MW, while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Method used

A double counter-rotating rotor wind turbine design with blades made of fiberglass and carbon fiber materials, featuring a double helix arrangement of counter-rotating propellers, synchronized to maximize wind energy capture, and a clutch system for variable power generation using high-speed permanent magnet generators.

Benefits of technology

The design achieves efficient energy conversion from wind to electrical energy, producing up to 80 MW with reduced wind resistance and cost-effectiveness, allowing for variable power output based on demand.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a counter-rotating double-rotor wind turbine comprising two propellers, each formed with a set of blades, wherein the first set of blades (4) rotates clockwise, and the second set of blades (5) rotates counterclockwise, wherein the rotation of the sets of blades (4, 5) is synchronized at the same revolutions per minute; wherein the wind turbine comprises two gearboxes with generators, wherein each and every generator (10) is connected to the gearboxes (11) through an electromagnetic clutch (14) which is connected to the input shaft of each of the generators (10), wherein the electromagnetic clutch (14) is arranged to engage or disengage, according to the required energy demand, each and every generator, thereby controlling the generation of the required electrical energy.
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Description

DOUBLE COUNTER-ROTATING ROTOR WIND TURBINE. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention belongs to the technical field of generating electricity from the kinetic energy of the wind, converting this energy into mechanical energy and the latter into electrical energy; that is, the present invention aims to extract the maximum amount of energy from the wind. Within the wind power generation industry, multiple limitations have been found in relation to the size of the blades. The present invention also aims to excel in terms of the manufacture, size, and transport of the blades used for the development and manufacture of the double counter-rotating wind turbine of the present invention. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION From the explosion of wind turbine technology in 1910 until 2005 we have witnessed a slow but steady advance of innovations in this field of electricity generation from the kinetic energy of the wind. However, in the period from 2005 to 2012 we observed a decrease in the number of patent applications worldwide and in AWEA exhibitions, finding in them some very simple innovations and not much development in them. Thus, from 2012 to today we have observed a technological acceleration, one example being the 10 MW wind turbines placed on towers up to 130 meters high The wind power generation industry, in its highly specialized phase, dates back to very ancient times. The present invention focuses on the current technological race to build the most powerful generators, seeking the lowest cost per Megawatt (MW) installed and the highest profitability of wind energy. Currently, there is fierce competition among wind turbine manufacturers to build the most powerful machine. One of the leading companies is Clipper, a North American firm whose British subsidiary attempted to manufacture a 10 MW wind turbine with a blade diameter of 180 meters in 2009. Now, they have returned to the technological race, and this British subsidiary aims to produce a 12 MW machine. Other companies that have developed wind generators include AMS USA with a 10 MW turbine and a rotor diameter of 190 meters; SWAY TURBINE BERGEN, a Norwegian company, with a 10 MW turbine and a rotor diameter of 164 meters; and AREVA ADWEN, a French company, which has entered the scene with an 8 MW turbine and a rotor diameter of 180 meters. Along with these, there are four or five other companies vying for the most effective and economical generation of wind energy worldwide. Likewise, there are currently high-speed, water-cooled, permanent magnet generators such as the 5 MW HS PMG, with which it would be impossible to achieve the electrical power generation that is intended with this invention. There are also currently CNC machines for machining large-diameter helical bevel gears with which it would be possible to manufacture a power multiplier of up to 40 MW, and CNC laser beam cutting machines capable of cutting steel plates up to 12.4 mm (1 / 2 inch) thick, as well as plasma cutting machines capable of cutting steel plates up to 25.4 mm (1 inch) thick with high definition to make the housing parts of the multiplier to be used. Regarding the existence of the technology to manufacture wind turbine blades or vanes up to 110 meters, that is, 220 meters in total rotor diameter, a diameter larger than existing generators, on which this invention is fundamentally based, said blades will be manufactured in three parts with base material of fiberglass material, carbon fiber material and hybrid reams of epoxy polyester - urea. As indicated in the title of the invention, the wind turbine of the present invention is a counter-rotating double-rotor wind turbine. The origin of counter-rotating propellers comes from aviation, such as the propellers that equipped the Soviet ANTONOV 70 bombers. These counter-rotating propeller aircraft were the awe and terror of NATO and USAF aircraft, which flew at 950 km / h with Kuznetsov NK 12 engines. Thanks to the design of the counter-rotating propellers, a power multiplier effect was achieved in the second propeller, but these propellers were designed to power an aircraft and not to generate electrical energy, so the field of the present invention is completely different. Another element of high importance in the present invention is the clutch or coupling system of the vanes or blades gears to the generator, which is an intermediate electromagnetic clutch with high torque that allows the coupling or decoupling of the generators of the present invention. In addition, the blades have the characteristic that they can rotate on their axis until they are in a position completely parallel to the wind (in the same direction as the wind), achieving a "flag" position once said generator has been disengaged from the generator; with this flag position, achieving less wind resistance of the blades, since said rotor at that moment is not connected to the generators and it is not necessary for the propeller to rotate. Now, the present invention aims to incorporate all these technological advances, for which reason a wind turbine like the one of the present invention has been developed, with which we can obtain an 80 MW generator at a very low cost of around $0.0285 per Megawatt-hour (MWh). A further element of the present invention is the 5 MW HS PMG type permanent magnet generators which are water-cooled and high speed. In an improvement of the present invention, these generators arranged in the wind turbine include an intermediate high-torque electromagnetic clutch that allows coupling or decoupling of the generators used to generate electrical energy according to the demand on the electrical grid or at the discretion of the company that supplies said electrical energy service. This electromagnetic clutch is a disc clutch, which allows the generators of the present invention to be connected and disconnected remotely, to generate variable power, in a range from 0 to 80 MW, either by disconnecting the required generators one by one, or by disconnecting certain generators in a group, or by disconnecting all the generators at once; this depends on the energy demand required. Another important element of the present invention is the rotation multiplier. This multiplier, so named because it is the device used to multiply the number of revolutions of the rotor propellers to reach the HS PMG generators, is an arrangement of 8 generators (more could be used to increase power). These generators are placed around the rotor axes and connected and adapted by a gear system that transmits the rotor speed to the eight 5 MW generators, so that together they produce a total of 40 MW. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The figures accompanying this patent specification are as follows: FIGURE 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the blade or vane of the present invention, which shows the elements that compose it, and they are the following: (1) Base arm (2) Proximal arm to the axis, (3) Distal arm to the axis. FIGURE 2 It is a side view of the double helix, which is formed by the blades, vanes or vanes of the present invention. FIGURE 3 It is a front view of the double helix separated radially from each other, where the arrows show the direction of rotation of each of the helices relative to each other. FIGURE 4 This is a side view of an example of a gear that meshes the central or outer shaft with the gears of the multiplier, which transmit the driving power to the generators. FIGURE 5 It shows the gear coupling arrangement towards the generator. FIGURE 6 It is an isometric view of the double multiplier FIGURE 7 It is a view of the electromagnetic clutch that connects to the electric power generator FIGURES It is an isometric view of the counter-rotating twin-rotor wind turbine mounted on a tower for operation. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to obtain a tool, specifically a counter-rotating double rotor wind turbine, to increase and make the most of the kinetic energy capacity of the wind as a renewable source of electrical energy in any geographical area of ​​the globe and not only and specifically in known geographical areas of high wind speed. The object of the invention is multiple; on the one hand, it is to obtain a piece of equipment or tool that takes advantage of the wind speed in any condition of the geographical area and produces through an electrical energy generator equipped with an array of generators by means of a multiplier. The object of the invention, on the other hand, is to obtain a pair of propellers up to 110 meters long (radius), resulting in a total propeller diameter of 220 meters; in addition to obtaining a double propeller arrangement which rotate in opposite directions and arranged on two coaxial axes, that is, one axis inside the other with different directions of rotation. The object of the invention, and by means of what has been described above, is also to obtain an energy multiplier device with a number N of generators located radially, preferably permanent magnets of 3000 rpm, which can be coupled at will according to the energy demand that the electrical network needs. The ultimate and main objective of the invention is to combine all these improvements and innovations into a counter-rotating double rotor wind turbine, which makes it possible to take full advantage of the kinetic energy of the wind and transform it into electrical energy at a capacity of 80 MW or higher. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to maximize the use of the kinetic energy of the wind to transform it into electrical energy. Thus, the present invention consists of the association of a pair of counter-rotating blades where each set of blades (propeller) is mounted on a different rotor. These rotors rotate in counter-rotation, being adjacent to each other and axially aligned. These propeller blades are made up of three separable parts for easier manufacturing and transportation, since their dimensions make them very difficult to transport and / or manufacture on site. It also includes a pair of gearboxes, each comprising an arrangement of 8 generators. Each gearbox is provided with mechanical power through a gear arrangement that transmits the movement of the rotors to all the generators.where said generators are arranged radially to the rotors, said generators are preferably permanent magnet generators of 3000 rpm, which can be coupled at will according to the energy demand that the electrical network needs; One of the first challenges for the development of the present invention was the design and manufacture of the blades, vanes or vanes for the generator, so we have resorted to theoretical considerations to calculate the power of a wind turbine of 220 meters in diameter as follows: The formula to obtain the energy that can potentially be obtained from the wind is: Wind energy - ( I / 2 AV3p ) Cp Where: A = swept area of ​​the turbine blades (m2) V = wind speed (m / s) P (rho) = air density (kg / m3) = 1 2 kilos x cubic meter CP = theoretical factor of the maximum capacity of the turbine to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. For blades or propellers 110 meters long, with a diameter of 220 meters, the swept area is: A = rrd2 / 4 = n(220m)2 / 4 = 37.994η?2 The rotation speed of the blades will be 15 RPM The speed of the blade tips at 15 RPM is 10.66 meters per minute, equivalent to 173 meters per second. The speed of sound is 343 m / s. Turbines, blades, propellers, or vanes typically have their maximum efficiency at a wind speed of 15 m / s to 18 m / s. Considering the air density at sea level, we have: Wind energy = (¼ (37.994 m2) (18m / s)3(1.2 kg / nr) ) 0.6 Wind energy = 79,769,163 J / s Wind energy = 79,769,163 W Wind energy = 79.7 MW This is the maximum theoretical energy that could be obtained from the wind following Betz's law (Cp factor of 0.6); other factors that reduce the turbine's production capacity may apply. DETERMINATION OF THE BLADE TIP SPEED Circumference length: L = (π * D) L = (3.1416'220 m) L = 691.52 m V = 691.52 * 15 RPM V= 10,372 8 / 60 V= 172.88 m / s V = 172.88 m / s (60) = 10,380 m / min = 622 km / h ........ subsonic speed Speed ​​of sound = 343.2 m / s = 1,235 km / h It's worth mentioning that we have plenty of room to increase the rotor speed and rotor diameter without exceeding the speed of sound at the blade tip. Now, the shape and arrangement of the blade, vane or blade of the present invention is as shown in Figure 1, where the three parts in which it is designed and formed can be seen, which are the base arm (1) which has a length of 55 meters from the part of joining said base arm to the rotor or axis of rotation to its furthest end to said rotor, the second part of the blade called the arm proximal (2) to the axis of rotation which has a length less than the total length of the base arm (1), said proximal arm (2) is joined or assembled to the base arm (1) in the ways in the state of the art known and has a length that runs from an end proximal to the axis of rotation, without reaching the edge of the part joining the base arm (1) with the axis of rotation, to before the furthest edge of the base arm (1), without reaching said furthest edge of said base arm;Likewise, the third and final part of the blade, called the distal arm (3) to the axis of rotation, is shown, which has a length of no less than 55 meters since, when said distal arm (3) is assembled with the base arm (1) and the proximal arm (2), the total length of the blade, vane or paddle has a total length of 110 meters, where the distal arm (3) is assembled at one of its ends to the end of the proximal arm (2) furthest from the rotor, as well as at the end furthest from the rotor of the base arm (1), and the other end of the distal arm (3) represents the end furthest from the rotor or axis of rotation. As mentioned above, said wind turbine blades of the present invention can be manufactured from NACA 4012 profile, which are manufactured in three different molds (one mold for each arm) with a material among others, of fiberglass-based materials in combination with carbon fiber materials, hybrid reams of polyester - epoxy - urea. As can be seen in figures 2 and 3, the arrangement of blades or vanes is shown in a side and front view, where as indicated from the title of the invention, it is a double rotor wind turbine, that is, it has an arrangement of a double set of blades or vanes that form a propeller, where each set of blades consists of 3 blades of 110 meters in length each, which are arranged radially equidistant from each other, this distance of 110 meters yields a diameter of rotation of 220 meters, where said blades consist of three pieces or parts each such as a base arm (1), proximal arm (2) and distal arm (3), the first set of blades (4) is supported at the distal end of a central shaft or main shaft (6) of rotor, where said set of blades or propeller (4), as shown by the arrow (8) of figure 3, rotates in the same direction as the hands of a clock, that is, clockwise;Likewise, in said figures 2 and 3, the second set of blades or vanes (5) is also shown, which is mounted axially just behind the first set of blades (4) on an outer shaft (7) which is hollow; where said outer shaft (7) houses the central shaft (6) inside, and where said central shaft (6) and outer shaft (7) are coaxial, that is, they rotate on the same axis of rotation; where, as shown by the arrow (9) in figure 3, said second set of blades or propeller (5) rotates in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the first set of blades (4), thus obtaining the characteristic of a “double counter-rotating rotor; It is worth noting that this double propeller arrangement generates greater utilization of wind speed, since the space formed by the first and second sets of blades creates a vacuum effect and propulsion for the second set of blades, increasing its speed and thus achieving greater efficiency in the airflow circulating through the blades. It is also worth noting that the rotation of the propellers or sets of blades (4) and (5) must be synchronized, in opposite directions and at the same revolutions per minute, for proper use of the wind power in the present invention. Now, as shown in Figure 4, the central shaft (6) transmits its rotational force to the electricity generators (10) through a gear arrangement (11), where, for each rotor, that is, for both the central shaft (6) and the outer shaft (7), the driving force is transmitted through a helical bevel gear which transmits and multiplies the rotor speed to 8 or more generators (10) of 5 MW each. Figure 5 shows the coupling arrangement of the gears (11) towards the generator (10) Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the 16 generators (10) of the present invention, wherein said arrangement of 16 generators is arranged in two power multipliers (12, 13), wherein each multiplier (12, 13) is arranged one after the other axially about the central (6) and outer (7) axes, wherein said multipliers each comprise a total of 8 or more generators (10) around (radially) the central (5) and outer (7) axes; the arrangement of the first multiplier (12) is connected by a gear arrangement to the rotor of the central shaft (6), which rotor is comprised and driven by the first set of blades (4); and the second multiplier (13) is connected by a gear arrangement to the rotor of the outer shaft (7), which rotor is comprised and driven by the second set of blades (5). Figure 7 shows the arrangement of an electromagnetic clutch (14) that is arranged and coupled with the gears (11) that transmit power from the rotor to the generators (10). This clutch (14) is located on the rotor shaft, which is the mechanical power input to the generators. This clutch is located in each of the generators (10) so that each of the generators of the two multipliers (12, 13) can be engaged to generate the required electrical power and disengaged to remain in a standby state (without generating electrical power). This allows the operator or an automated control (not shown) to remotely connect and disconnect each of the generators according to the power requirements of the electrical grid and / or at the discretion of whoever controls the production of said electrical power, in order to obtain a required power output ranging from 0 to 80 MW, or more. It should be noted that the blades have the characteristic that they can rotate on their longitudinal axis until they are in a position completely parallel to the wind (in the same direction as the wind). That is, when the generator is working, the blades are directed facing the wind flow to receive the full force of the wind and thus take full advantage of its power. When the generator is not working, the blades can be rotated so that the wind does not hit the face of the blades, leaving them parallel or in the same direction as the wind. This achieves a feathered position once the generator has been disengaged. This feathered position results in less wind resistance for the blades, since the rotor is not connected to the generators at that moment and it is not necessary for the propeller to rotate. And finally, Figure 8 shows the arrangement of the wind turbine of the present invention on a support tower (16) where said wind turbine can take full advantage of the wind power, depending on the height of said tower. For the present invention, a tower of up to 260 meters in height, or more, has been designed, where said tower is adapted inside with passages to house the necessary wiring to lower the electrical energy produced and the means necessary for its maintenance.

Claims

1 A counter-rotating double-rotor wind turbine comprising: a first set of blades (4) consisting of three blades (4) arranged radially equidistant from each other, said first set of blades (4) being arranged on a rotor corresponding to a central axis (6) that rotates by the radial movement of the first set of blades (4); a second set of blades (5) being arranged axially behind the first set of blades (4), the second set of blades (5) consisting of three blades (5) arranged radially equidistant from each other, said second set of blades (5) being arranged on a rotor corresponding to an outer axis (7) that rotates by the radial movement of the second set of blades (5); wherein said outer axis (7) is a hollow axis and said central axis (6) is arranged within said outer axis (7), i.e., said central axis (6) and outer axis (7) are coaxial;a pair of power multipliers (12, 13), wherein each of the multipliers (12, 13) comprises an arrangement of eight electric power generators (10) each, said multipliers (12, 13) being axially positioned on and around the central (6) and outer (7) shafts one after the other, said, specifically the first multiplier being connected to the rotor of the main shaft (6) by means of a gear set (11), and the second multiplier (13) being connected to the rotor of the outer shaft (7) by means of a gear set (11); said generators (10) being arranged on and around the central (6) and outer shaft (7) shafts respectively, said generators (10) are connected to and receive driving force from the central (6) and outer shaft (7) shafts through the gear set (11);said counter-rotating double rotor wind turbine, characterized in that: said first set of blades (4) rotates clockwise, and the second set of blades (5) rotates counterclockwise, wherein said rotation of the sets of blades (4, 5) is a synchronized rotation at the same revolutions per minute; and in that: each and every one of the generators (10) is connected to the sets of gears (11) through an electromagnetic clutch (14) which is connected to the input of the shaft of each of the generators (10), wherein said electromagnetic clutch (14) is arranged to engage or disengage, at the discretion of the required energy demand, each and every one of the generators, thereby achieving control of the required electrical energy generation; 2 A counter-rotating double rotor wind turbine according to that claimed in claim 1 characterized in that: the blades are formed by three parts, a base arm (1) which has a length of 55 meters from the part of joining said base arm to the rotor or axis of rotation to its furthest end from said rotor;a proximal arm (2) to the axis of rotation which has a length less than the total length of the base arm (1), said proximal arm (2) and has a length that runs from a proximal end to the axis of rotation, without reaching the edge of the part joining the base arm (1) with the axis of rotation, to before the farthest edge of the base arm (1), without reaching said farthest edge of said base arm, and a distal arm (3) to the axis of rotation, which has a length of not less than 55 meters since, when said distal arm (3) is assembled with the base arm (1) and the proximal arm (2), the total length of the blade, vane or paddle has a total length of 110 meters, wherein the distal arm (3) is assembled at one of its ends to the end of the proximal arm (2) furthest from the rotor, as well as at the farthest end of the rotor of the base arm (1), and the other end of the distal arm (3).; 3 A counter-rotating twin-rotor wind turbine according to that claimed in claim 1 characterized in that: the arrangement of the electromagnetic clutch (14) which is coupled with the gears (11) that transmit the power from the rotor to the generators (10), said clutch (14) being arranged on the rotor shaft, so that an operator or an automated control can remotely connect and disconnect each and every one of the generators according to the power requirements of the electrical grid and / or at the discretion of whoever has control of the production of said electrical power.

4. A counter-rotating twin-rotor wind turbine according to that claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: the blades can rotate about their longitudinal axis until they are in a position completely parallel to the wind direction, achieving a “feather” position once said generator has been disengaged from the generator (10) 5 A counter-rotating twin-rotor wind turbine according to that claimed in claim 1 characterized in that: the wind turbine is mounted on a support tower (16) where said wind turbine can fully utilize the wind power, depending on the height of said tower, where said tower is adapted inside with passages to accommodate the wiring necessary to lower the electrical energy produced and the means necessary for its maintenance.