Carousel-type wind turbine generator

Abstract

A wind turbine generator (100) comprises a support structure (1) rotatably supporting a main shaft (2), a wheel (3) integral with the main shaft (2), a plurality of pairs of blades (4), wherein each pair of blades comprises an upper blade (4a) and a lower blade (4b) mounted on a same shaft (40) rotatably mounted in the wheel (3); locking means (5) suitable for locking and unlocking the rotation of the shaft (40) of the blades with respect to the wheel (3), an anemometer (A), a control unit (U) configured to operate the locking means (5) in such a way to lock or unlock the rotation of the shafts of the blades depending on the wind direction and on the position of the blades, and a main electric generator (6) having a rotor (61) connected to said main shaft (2) of the wind turbine generator.

Description

[0001] CAROUSEL-TYPE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a carousel-type wind turbine generator, that is to say, a wind turbine generator with vertical axis of rotation.

[0004] Wind turbine generators generally comprise a support structure, such as a pole or a mast, that rotatably supports a rotor whereon wind blades protruding radially from the rotor are mounted. The rotor rotates about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The rotor is connected to an electric generator to produce electricity. This type of wind turbine generators is very bulky and has a low efficiency because the blades cannot take full advantage of the wind direction.

[0005] Wind turbine generators with vertical axis are also known, wherein the blades are connected to a rotor that rotates around a vertical axis. The rotor is connected to an electric generator to produce electricity. This type of wind turbine generators is less bulky than the wind turbine generators with a horizontal axis, but they still have a low efficiency because the blades are fixed and cannot take advantage of the wind direction. Moreover, such turbine generators do not take full advantage of the available rotating surface area for the production of electricity.

[0006] KR20150100499A, US9366226B2, and US9394883 describe examples of wind power systems with closed-loop circuit that are quite similar to each other. Fig. 1 of these patent documents shows a carousel-type wind power system according to the prior art, comprising:

[0007] - a support structure (4) that rotatably supports a main shaft (2),

[0008] - a main electric generator attached to the main shaft (2),

[0009] - a wheel (3) integral with the main shaft (2),

[0010] - blades (1 ) connected to the wheel (3).

[0011] Nevertheless, Fig. 1 of KR20150100499A, US9366226B2 and US9394883 does not show a system suitable for controlling the position of the blades according to the wind direction. Therefore, the wind power system of Fig. 1 is inefficient.

[0012] Figs. 2 to 11 of KR20150100499A, US9366226B2 and US9394883 illustrate wind power systems with closed-loop circuit that are totally different and structurally incompatible with the wind power system shown in Fig. 1 of said patent documents. Such a wind power system with closed-loop circuit comprises a fixed structure comprising a tower (11 ) whereto a fixed frame (22) in the form of a circuit is attached. A plurality of trolleys (31 ) slides on tracks (32) of the fixed frame. Each trolley (31 ) is connected to a blade (55). Locking means (brake (59, 58)) are suitable for locking and unlocking the rotation of the shaft of the blades. A control unit is connected to the locking means to lock the rotation of the shafts of the blades, depending on the wind direction and on the position of the blades. However, such a wind power system with closed-loop circuit does not comprise a main shaft connected to a single wheel supporting all the blades, but is provided with a plurality of trolleys (31 ) that support the blades. The provision of trolleys that slide on tracks is more complicated and more expensive compared to a single wheel supported by a central main shaft.

[0013] The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a carousel-type wind turbine generator that is capable of exploiting the wind direction and ensuring the highest possible efficiency.

[0014] Another purpose is to provide such a carousel-type wind turbine generator that is space-saving and at the same time capable of making the maximum use of the surface area of the wind turbine generator.

[0015] Still another purpose is to provide such a carousel-type turbine generator that is versatile and easy to install.

[0016] These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the features of the appended independent claims.

[0017] Advantageous embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

[0018] Further features of the invention will appear clearer from the following detailed description, which refers to a purely illustrative and therefore nonlimiting embodiment, illustrated in the appended drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view that diagrammatically illustrates the wind turbine generator according to the invention, in which some blades have been omitted;

[0019] Figs. 1 A, 1 B and 1 C are enlarged details of Fig. 1 ; and

[0020] Fig. 2 is a top view of the wind turbine generator of Fig. 1 .

[0021] With the aid of the Figures, the wind turbine generator according to the invention, which is comprehensively indicated with reference numeral 100, is described.

[0022] Referring to Fig. 1 , the wind turbine generator (100) comprises a support structure (1 ) rotatably supporting a main shaft (2) that rotates about a vertical axis of rotation (Y). The main shaft (2) is rotatably mounted in bearings (10) provided in the support structure (1 ).

[0023] A wheel (3) is integral with the main shaft (2) in such a way to rotate around the vertical axis of rotation (Y). The wheel (3) is arranged horizontally and has an upper surface (3a) facing upward and a lower surface (3b) facing downward.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 2, the wheel (3) comprises a circular rotary board or plate disposed in horizontal position. A plurality of blades (4) is mounted in the wheel (3).

[0025] Referring to Fig. 1 , the blades (4) comprise upper blades (4a) arranged above the wheel and lower blades (4b) arranged below the wheel (3).

[0026] The wind turbine generator (100) comprises a plurality of pairs of blades, wherein each pair of blades comprises an upper blade (4a) and a lower blade (4b) mounted on the same shaft (40) that is rotatably mounted in the wheel (3). The shaft (40) of each pair of blades extends vertically through the wheel (3). The shaft (40) is rotatably mounted in bearings (30) mounted in the wheel (3). Each blade (4) is shaped like a rectangular plate with a height greater than the width.

[0027] Each blade (4) comprises two wind vanes (42) pivoted at opposite ends of the blade (4) with hinges (43) with vertical axis. As shown in Fig. 2, the wind vanes (42) move according to the wind direction, which is indicated by arrow F. The wind vanes (42) balance the movement of the blades (4) and maximize the performance of the blades (4).

[0028] The shafts (40) of the blades are arranged peripherally in the wheel (3). By way of example, the wind turbine generator (100) may comprise 6 to 10, preferably 8 pairs of blades arranged with the axes of the shafts (40) equally angularly spaced from each other. Fig. 2 illustrates an example with eight pairs of blades arranged with axes equally spaced from each other by 45°.

[0029] Locking means (5) are provided to lock the rotation of the shafts (40) of the pairs of blades.

[0030] Referring to Fig. 1 B, the locking means (5) may comprise an actuator (50) acting on the shaft (40) of the wheels. The actuator (50) may be a linear actuator, such as a cylinder (51 ) and piston (52) assembly, acting on a support (41 ) integral with the shaft (40) of the blades.

[0031] The locking means (5) may also comprise braking systems, such as jaws that tighten the shaft (40) of the wheels.

[0032] The locking means (5) are controlled by a control unit (II) connected to an anemometer (A) suitable for detecting the wind direction.

[0033] The control unit (II) is configured to lock and unlock the shafts (40) of the blades based on the wind direction and on the position of the blades (4).

[0034] In such a case, the wind turbine generator comprises a position detector, such as an encoder, to detect the position of the blades relative to a reference point, so that the control unit (II) can determine which blades to lock and which blades to unlock.

[0035] With reference to Fig. 2, if the wind blows in the direction of arrow F, the blades (4) that are in the left-hand semicircle obtained from a diameter of the wheel (3) parallel to the wind direction, are blocked by the locking means (5). In this way, the wind impacting the blades (4) that are in the left-hand semicircle causes the wheel to rotate in clockwise direction as indicated by arrow R.

[0036] The blades (4) that are in the right-hand semicircle are free to rotate around the axis of their shaft (40). As a result, the blades (4) that are in the right-hand semicircle will be arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the wind direction indicated by arrow F. In this way, the blades (4) that are in the right-hand semicircle do not interfere with the clockwise rotation of the wheel (3).

[0037] With reference to Fig. 1 , the main shaft (2) is connected to a shaft (60) of a rotor (61 ) of a main electric generator (6) installed in the support structure (1 ). In this way, the main electric generator (6) produces electric power due to the rotation of its rotor (61 ) connected to the main shaft (2).

[0038] A toothed wheel (7) with internal toothing is attached to the lower surface (3b) of the wheel (3) in such a way to protrude inferiorly. The toothed wheel (7) has its center passing through the vertical axis of rotation (Y) of the wheel.

[0039] A plurality of pinions (70) meshes with the internal toothing of the toothed wheel (7). Each pinion (70) is connected to a shaft (160) of a rotor (161 ) of a secondary electric generator (106) installed in the support structure (1 ), peripherally to the main electric generator (6).

[0040] Fig. 2 illustrates an example in which the wind turbine generator (100) comprises four secondary electric generators (106) that are equally angularly spaced by 90°.

[0041] The toothed wheel (7) rotates around the vertical axis of rotation (Y), integrally with the wheel (3), driving into rotation the pinions (70) that cause the rotation of the rotors (161 ) of the secondary electric generators so as to produce electricity.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 1A, the wheel (3) has a side edge (31 ). A plurality of upper magnets (32a) protruding superiorly from the upper surface (3a) of the wheel and a plurality of lower magnets (32b) protruding inferiorly from the lower surface (3b) of the wheel are arranged in the proximity of the side edge (31 ) of the wheel.

[0043] With reference to Fig. 2, the upper magnets (32a) are equally angularly spaced from each other. According to the circumference of the wheel, the wind turbine generator (100) may comprise 150 to 250 upper magnets (32a). The example in Fig. 2 shows 200 upper magnets that are equally angularly spaced by 1.8°. The number and arrangement of the lower magnets (32b) are the same as those of the upper magnets (32a). A plurality of coil generators (8) is arranged around the side edge (31 ) of the wheel. Each coil generator (8) comprises a seat (80) with U-shaped section wherein a coil is arranged and excited in the presence of a magnetic field, producing electrical energy.

[0044] During the rotation of the wheel (3), the upper and lower magnets (32a, 32b) pass through the seat (80) of the coil generator and generate a rotating magnetic field that excites the coil, resulting in the production of electric power.

[0045] Each electric coil generator (8) is supported by a respective post (81 ) that rises from the ground.

[0046] An annular flange (35) is arranged under the wheel (3) between the toothed wheel (7) and the blades (4). The annular flange (35) has its center passing through the vertical axis of rotation (Y).

[0047] Referring to Fig. 1 C, the annular flange (35) is supported by brackets (36) that protrude inferiorly from the lower surface (3b) of the wheel. In this way, the annular flange (35) is integral with the wheel. Therefore, the annular flange (35) rotates integrally with the wheel (3).

[0048] A plurality of upper magnets (132a) protrudes superiorly from the annular flange (35) and a plurality of lower magnets (132b) protrudes inferiorly from the annular flange (35).

[0049] The upper and lower magnets (132a, 132b) of the annular flange are equally angularly spaced from each other. A plurality of second coil generators (108) is arranged around the annular flange (35). Each second coil generator (108) comprises a seat (180) with U-shaped section wherein a coil is arranged and excited in the presence of a magnetic field, producing electrical energy.

[0050] During the rotation of the annular flange (35), the upper and lower magnets (132a, 132b) of the annular flange pass into the seat (180) of the second coil generators and generate a rotating magnetic field that excites the coil, resulting in the production of electric power.

[0051] Each second electric coil generator (108) is supported by a respective post (181 ) that rises from the ground. The posts (181 ) of the second electric coil generators (108) are arranged between the support structure (1 ) and the blades (4). It should be considered that a large space is provided on the upper surface (3a) of the wheel between the main shaft (2) and the shafts (40) of the blades. Therefore, a plurality of solar panels (9) can be disposed on the upper surface (3a) of the wheel to produce electricity. The solar panels (9) may be applied on one side or on both sides of one or more blades (4).

[0052] Equivalent variations and modifications may be made to the present embodiment of the invention, within the scope of a person skilled in the art, but still within the scope of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Wind turbine generator (100) comprising:- a support structure (1 ) rotatably supporting a main shaft (2) that rotates about a vertical axis of rotation (Y),- a wheel (3) integral with the main shaft (2) in such a way to rotate about the vertical axis of rotation (Y); the wheel (3) is arranged horizontally and has an upper surface (3a) facing upward and a lower surface (3b) facing downward,- a plurality of pairs of blades (4), wherein each pair of blades comprises an upper blade (4a) and a lower blade (4b) mounted on the same shaft (40) that is rotatably mounted in the wheel (3); the upper blade (4a) is disposed above the wheel and the lower blade (4b) is disposed below the wheel (3),- locking means (5) suitable for locking and unlocking the rotation of the shaft (40) of the blades with respect to the wheel (3),- an anemometer (A) suitable for detecting a wind direction,- a control unit (II) connected to the anemometer (A) and to the locking means (5) and configured to operate the locking means in such a way to lock or unlock the rotation of the shafts of the blades depending on the wind direction and on the position of the blades, and- a main electric generator (6) having a rotor (61 ) connected to said main shaft (2) of the wind turbine generator.

2. The wind turbine generator (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said blades (4) have the shape of a rectangular plate.

3. The wind turbine generator (100) according to claim 2, wherein each blade (4) comprises two wind vanes (42) pivoted at opposite ends of the blade (4) with hinges (43) having a vertical axis.

4. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means (5) comprise linear actuators (50) or brakes acting on said shafts (40) of the blades.

5. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:- a toothed wheel (7) with internal toothing attached to the lower surface (3b) of the wheel (3) with center passing through the vertical axis of rotation (Y) of the wheel;- a plurality of pinions (70) that mesh with the internal toothing of the toothed wheel (7); and- a plurality of secondary electric generators (106) having rotors (161 ) connected to said pinions (70) that mesh with the toothed wheel (7).

6. The wind turbine generator (100) according to claim 5, wherein said main electric generator (6) is arranged centrally in the support structure (1 ) and said secondary electric generators (106) are arranged peripherally in the support structure (1 ).

7. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:- a plurality of upper magnets (32a) protruding superiorly from the upper surface (3a) of the wheel and a plurality of lower magnets (32b) protruding inferiorly from the lower surface (3b) of the wheel in the proximity of the side edge (31 ) of the wheel; and- a plurality of coil generators (8) arranged around the side edge (31 ) of the wheel; each coil generator (8) comprises a seat (80) with U-shaped section wherein a coil is arranged in such a way that, during the rotation of the wheel (3), the upper and lower magnets (32a, 32b) pass into the seat (80) of the coil generator and generate a rotating magnetic field that excites the coil, resulting in the generation of electric power.

8. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:- an annular flange (35) supported by brackets (36) protruding inferiorly from the lower surface (3b) of the wheel so that the annular flange (35) is disposed under the wheel (3) with center passing through the vertical axis of rotation (Y),- a plurality of upper magnets (132a) protruding superiorly from the annular flange (35) and a plurality of lower magnets (132b) protruding inferiorly from the annular flange (35), and- a plurality of second coil generators (108); each second coil generator (108) comprises a seat (180) with U-shaped section wherein a coil is arranged so that, during the rotation of the annular flange (35), the upper and lower magnets (132a, 132b) of the annular flange pass into the seat (180) of the second coil generators and generate a rotating magnetic field that excites the coil, resulting in the generation of electric power.

9. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of solar panels (9) disposed on the upper surface (3a) of the wheel between the main shaft (2) and the shafts (40) of the pairs of blades and / or applied on one side or on both sides of one or more blades (4).

10. The wind turbine generator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising 6 - 10 pairs of blades arranged peripherally on the wheel (3) with angularly equidistant axes of the shafts (40).

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