Wind turbine system

Abstract

System for generating electrical power on a railway track. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power, the system for providing electrical power comprising at least one wind turbine apparatus and energy storage means. The wind turbine apparatus comprises a turbine and a generator, the turbine comprising plurality of blades mounted on a substantially vertically oriented drive shaft, the blades configured to be rotated by air flow created by trains running on the railway track. The rail includes a top surface and has a height defined as the vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the upper surface of the sleeper. The wind turbine apparatus includes an upper surface and the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies in a substantially horizontal plane. The vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the plane containing the upper surface of the or each wind turbine apparatus is less than or equal to the height of the rail.

Description

[0001] Wind Turbine System

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to wind turbines, and in particular to a system including wind turbines for harnessing air flow created by the movement of trains.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] The world’s energy resources are depleting and it increasingly important to find new ways of generating energy. Wind power is a renewable energy source. Wind turbines harness energy from wind by converting mechanical power used to spin a rotor into electrical energy. Successfully harnessing energy from wind can be difficult since ideal sites for reliable and consistent wind are often in remote locations. Further, wind turbines are typically very large imposing structures and tend to be noisy and not visually appealing.

[0006] Moving vehicles, such as trains, produce gusts of wind. A wind turbine device which aims to harness energy from such gusts of wind is described in CN106368904. The power generation device comprises a number of turbine blades transmission shafts and a generator. The device is designed to be mounted on rails forming part of a railway track.

[0007] CN101149045 describes a similar railway wind power generation device. The apparatus is arranged between railway track rails and includes multiple rotors mounted on a shaft, the shaft connected to a central generator.

[0008] W02020 / 008379 describes a system which includes a series of vertical wind turbines arranged along each side of a railway track. The turbines are described as being of considerable size, much greater in height than the train wheels and because of this are installed at a location which is spaced apart from the track to ensure sufficient clearance from windows and exits of moving trains. It would be desirable to provide an improved wind turbine apparatus suitable for use on a railway track.

[0009] Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to the invention there is provided a combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power, the railway track comprising a plurality of sleepers each having an upper surface onto which at least one rail is mounted, the system for providing electrical power comprising: at least one wind turbine apparatus, the or each wind turbine apparatus comprising a turbine and a generator, the turbine comprising plurality of blades mounted on a substantially vertically oriented drive shaft, the blades configured to be rotated by air flow created by trains running on the railway track, and the electrical generator in communication with the drive shaft and configured to generate electrical power from movement of the drive shaft; and energy storage means for storing electrical power generated from said movement of the drive shaft; wherein the or each rail includes a top surface and has a height defined as the vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the upper surface of the sleeper, and the or each wind turbine apparatus includes an upper surface and the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies in a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein the vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the plane containing the upper surface of the or each wind turbine apparatus is less than or equal to the height of the rail. Preferably, the railway track comprises a pair of parallel rails.

[0011] Preferably, the railway track has a pair of outside edges defined by the sleepers and the or each of the wind turbine apparatus is positioned in a location in-between one of the pair of rails and one of outside edges of the railway track.

[0012] Preferably, the plane in which the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies is substantially aligned with a plane containing the top surface of the rail.

[0013] Preferably, the plane in which the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies is located below a plane containing the top surface of the rail.

[0014] The system preferably comprises a plurality of wind turbine apparatus. The plurality of wind turbine apparatus are preferably connected in series. Each wind turbine apparatus may be connected to a different sleeper. Alternatively, more than one wind turbine apparatus may be connected to each sleeper.

[0015] The energy storage means may be a battery.

[0016] The electrical power generated is preferably for use on the railway track. It may be useful in powering ancillary applications to the railway, such applications selected from the group comprising signaling applications, such as track counters and wayside monitoring systems.

[0017] The at least one wind turbine apparatus may further comprise at least one solar panel.

[0018] The invention provides an improved system for generation of electrical power from the movement of trains on a railway track.

[0019] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] In the Drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a wind turbine apparatus forming part of the system of the invention;

[0021] Figure 2a is a side view of the wind turbine apparatus of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 2b is a cross-section through the line A-A in Figure 2a;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a system including a plurality of wind turbine apparatus;

[0024] Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view along the line B-B in Figure 3; and

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of two wind turbine apparatus attached to a railway sleeper.

[0026] Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates a wind turbine apparatus indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The apparatus comprises a housing 12, with a turbine 14 mounted on top of the housing. The housing is adapted to be attached to a railway sleeper via a pair of brackets 16 which include apertures 18 for the insertion of fasteners such as screws 19.

[0028] The turbine 14 comprises an open frame made from an upper plate 15 mounted to a plurality of support struts 17. Within the open frame, a plurality of impeller blades 22 are mounted on a drive shaft 26 which is oriented substantially vertically. The housing 12 includes an electrical generator 28 for converting mechanical energy from the rotating drive shaft into electrical energy. The apparatus may also include a solar panel 24 on the upper plate of the wind turbine apparatus 10.

[0029] The wind turbine apparatus forms part of a system for providing power to part of a railway track, the railway track comprising a pair of substantially parallel rails 28 mounted on a plurality of railway sleepers 20, which are substantially rectangular support structures laid perpendicular to the rails. The system could equally be used in railway track systems comprising a single rail.

[0030] When the wind turbine apparatus is installed on a railway track the drive shaft 26 is oriented vertically, substantially perpendicular to the sleepers and the apparatus is arranged on the railway track so that gusts of wind generated by trains cause the impeller blades 22, and drive shaft 26, to rotate. The solar panel 24, enables power to be generated even when trains are not passing by.

[0031] At its most basis, the system would include one wind turbine apparatus 10 and a means for energy storage, such as a battery. However, as illustrated in Figure 3, the system preferably includes a plurality of wind turbine apparatus 10 connected in series. The wind turbine apparatus 10 are mounted to the sleepers, adjacent to the rails, and are connected together in series via electrical cabling 32. In the illustrated examples the wind turbine apparatus 10 is attached to the sleeper via brackets on the housing, the brackets including apertures 18 for receipt of fasteners, such as screws 19. Other means of fastening the wind turbine apparatus to the sleeper would be well understood by the skilled person. The wind turbine apparatus are also connected in series to a battery 30 for storing generated power.

[0032] The energy stored in the battery 30 may be used to power ancillary applications to the railway, such as signals, track counters and wayside systems. These systems are currently powered by additional cabling which is expensive to install and to run.

[0033] Each sleeper 20 has a wide upper surface 35, onto which the rails are secured, and a pair of narrow end surfaces 34. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, each of the wind turbine apparatus 10 are preferably positioned in-between one of the rails 28 and the outside edge 34 of the sleepers 20. Alternatively, the wind turbine apparatus could be attached to the end surface 34 of the sleeper.

[0034] The rails each have a top surface 36 and a height, H, defined as the distance between the top rail surface 36 and the top surface of the sleeper 35. The wind turbine apparatus is dimensioned such that, when in position, the distance between a plane containing the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus and the top surface of the rail 36 is not more than the height of the rail H. This is so that the wind turbine apparatus does not interfere with passing trains. The plane containing the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus 10 is preferably lower than, or in line with the plane containing the upper edge of the rail, as illustrated in Figure 4.

[0035] The power of the wind generated by passing trains is inversely proportional to the distance of the turbine from the track. Energy yield can be maximised by making the turbine small enough that it can sit right beside the track, as shown in Figures 3 to 5.

Claims

Claims1. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power, the railway track comprising a plurality of sleepers each having an upper surface onto which at least one rail is mounted, the system for providing electrical power comprising: at least one wind turbine apparatus, the or each wind turbine apparatus comprising a turbine and a generator, the turbine comprising plurality of blades mounted on a substantially vertically oriented drive shaft, the blades configured to be rotated by air flow created by trains running on the railway track, and the electrical generator in communication with the drive shaft and configured to generate electrical power from movement of the drive shaft; and energy storage means for storing electrical power generated from said movement of the drive shaft; wherein the or each rail includes a top surface and has a height defined as the vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the upper surface of the sleeper, and the or each wind turbine apparatus includes an upper surface and the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies in a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein the vertical distance between the top surface of the rail and the plane containing the upper surface of the or each wind turbine apparatus is less than or equal to the height of the rail.

2. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to. Claim 1, wherein the railway track comprises a pair of parallel rails.

3. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to. Claim 2, and wherein the railway track has a pair of outside edges defined by the sleepers and theor each of the wind turbine apparatus is positioned in a location in-between one of the pair of rails and one of outside edges of the railway track.

4. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, wherein the plane in which the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies is substantially aligned with a plane containing the top surface of the rail.

5. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plane in which the upper surface of the wind turbine apparatus lies is located below a plane containing the top surface of the rail.

6. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, the system comprising a plurality of wind turbine apparatus.

7. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy storage means is a battery.

8. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical power generated is for use on the railway track.

9. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wind turbine apparatus further comprises at least one solar panel.

10. A combination of a railway track and a system for generating electrical power according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical power generated is for use in powering ancillary applications to the railway, such applications selected from the group comprising signaling applications, such as track counters and wayside monitoring systems.

Images