Wind turbine cellular tower

Abstract

An omni-directional radio frequency (RF) antenna suitable for receiving and transmitting mobile-phone communication data is found integrated in each turbine blade of a wind turbine. Each RF antenna has a wired connection that passes from the cellular antenna through the turbine blade to the turbine blade's connection with the wind turbine's nacelle and electrically connected to an antenna radio. In some embodiments, the antenna radio is connected to a microwave antenna that communicates (to both receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) data) with a cellular network node. The microwave antenna is located on the wind turbine's tower below the lowest extent of a turbine blade so that the turbine blades do not interfere with the microwave communication between the microwave antenna and the cellular base station as they rotate.

Description

Wind Turbine Cellular TowerBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Rural communities and rural areas often find mobile-phone service to be limited in options and availability. One can look at coverage maps of the many cell-phone service providers to see that there are large areas of the United States, typically though not exclusively rural areas having little to no population, where cell-phone service is not available. For the service providers, placing cell towers in rural areas with little to no population is an expensive investment with a low likelihood of a return on such an investment.

[0002] While mobile-phone service is sparse in rural communities and rural areas, these same areas are being "populated" with wind farms to generate clean (i.e., no carbon emissions) energy. Wind turbines are typically, though not exclusively, placed / located on top of hills in rural and remote locations to maximize the capture of wind energy. Additionally, the wind turbines are typically between 80 and 90 meters in height (excluding the extended length of the turbine blades). The positioning of a wind turbine on top of hills in open areas, combined with the height of the wind turbines (which far exceed the heights of cell towers) creates a large "line of sight" area surrounding a given wind turbine.SU M MARY OF TH E INVENTION

[0003] According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, an omni-directional radio frequency (RF) antenna, suitable for receiving and transmitting cell-phone communication data, is found on or within at least one turbine blade of a wind turbine. Each RF antenna is connected to an antennae radio, typically a wired connection that passes from the antenna through (or on) the turbine blade to the turbine blade's connection with the wind turbine's nacelle. At each turbine blade's connection (referring to turbine blades with an RF antenna) with the wind turbine's nacelle, the connection from the RF antenna is attached to a slip ring: one slip ring per RF antenna / turbine blade. Each slip ring is connected to a contact axel which, in turn, is connected to an antenna radio. In various embodiments, the antenna radio is connected to a microwave antenna that communicates (to both receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) data) with another cellular base station site and to its core network. The microwave antenna is located on the windturbine's tower (also referred to as the tower structure) below the lowest extent of a turbine blade so that a turbine blade does not interfere with the microwave communication between the microwave antenna and a receiving station site to connect to a carrier network.

[0004] In various embodiments of the disclosed invention, the RF antenna is integrated within the material of a formed turbine blade. Alternatively, the RF antenna may be attached to the surface of a turbine blade. In additional, alternative embodiments, particularly, though not exclusively, with respect to large turbine blades sufficient in size that a person is able to stand upright inside of the turbine blade, the integration of the RF antenna to the turbine blade may include mounting the antenna in that space / cavity inside of the turbine blade. Irrespective of the specific integration of the RF antenna with the turbine blade, the omni-directional RF antenna may be formed in dimensions that would conform to the available space and / or shape of the turbine blade into or onto which it is integrated. Further still, irrespective of the way the antenna is integrated with / to the turbine blade, the RF antennae should be designed to have minimal to no effect on the aerodynamics of the turbine blades or their operation as part of the wind turbine.

[0005] While turbine blades vary between 18 and 107 meters in length, the omnidirectional RF antenna of the turbine blade is typically, though not exclusively, located between 3 and 8 meters from the connection to the wind turbine's nacelle. In some embodiments, the RF antennae are located, at their closest point, four (4) meters from the wind turbine's nacelle. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, a distance of four meters will typically provide optimal performance and diversity.

[0006] As will be readily appreciated, wind turbines typically utilize three turbine blades, though the present invention is not limited to embodiments of wind turbines having three turbine blades. According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, each RF antenna associated with a turbine blade may correspond to a distinct frequency and cellular format from the RF antennae of other turbine blades of the same wind turbine (i.e., for a wind turbine having three turbine blades, supporting three distinct cellular providers). However, in many embodiments, a wind turbine may be configured to support only one cellular provider, i.e., having all turbine blades (or only one turbine blade) with integrated antennae configured to support the frequency(ies) and / or format(s) of a single cellular provider.

[0007] According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, and / or each of the RF antennae, the antenna radio, and the external communication system to connect to a cellular network / service (such as the microwave antenna) may be powered by battery power associated with the wind turbine. Indeed, the cellular enabling features of a suitably configured wind turbine, which includes (by way of illustration and not limitation) the RF antennae, the antenna radio, and the elements of a network communication subsystem, as well as the interconnecting elements (e.g., wiring, slip rings, contact axel, and the like), may be powered by one or more wind turbine- associated batteries that are charged by power generated by the wind turbine in which the cellular system is incorporated.

[0008] In alternative embodiments, the cellular system may communicate with other cellular base stations, as well as core networks via physical connection instead of wireless transmissions via the elements of the network communication subsystem, e.g., a microwave connection. For example, an alternatively configured cellular system may include a controller that communicates (communicating Rx and Tx data) over a fiber optic, a wired connection, or a combination of the two, to communicate with a cellular base station.BRI EF DESCRI PTION OF THE FIGU RES

[0009] Figure 1 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a wind turbine cellular tower, formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a pictorial diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a wind turbine cellular tower, formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed invention.

[0011] Figure 3 is a pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a wind turbine cellular tower's nacelle, formed in accordance with aspects of disclosed invention.

[0012] Figure 4 is a pictorial diagram illustrating yet another alternative embodiment of a wind turbine cellular tower, formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] By way of definition, and as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the term "backhaul" refers to the transmission of data from a remote site and / or network edge to a central site or network core. The transmission involves a set of connections, which can be wire (e.g., copper wire and the like), fiber, or wireless, that connect core networks with smaller subnetworks, even wind turbine cellular towers, enabling users to access the internet or other communication services. Backhaul is essential for transporting voice, video, and data traffic from mobile base stations to central exchange points, facilitating the aggregation and redistribution of data.

[0014] For purposes of simplicity in description, the following description will largely made with respect to the omni-directional RF antennae as being "incorporated within" a turbine blade. While incorporation within the turbine blade, either encased in the material forming the turbine blade or within a cavity of the turbine blade, may be desirable over an omni-directional RF antenna being attached to the surface of the turbine blade, the disclosed subject matter should be viewed as applicable to both embodiments: "attached to" and "incorporated within."

[0015] Turning to Figure 1, this figure shows a pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary wind turbine cellular tower 100 formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed invention. The wind turbine cellular tower is shown as including three turbine blades 102, where each turbine blade has incorporated within it a cellular, omni-directional RF antenna 104.

[0016] While wind turbine cellular tower 100 is illustrated as including three turbine blades, it should be appreciated that this configuration is industry-typical of wind towers. However, the disclosed invention is not so limited. Indeed, the disclosed invention may be implemented on towers that have two or more turbine blades. Indeed, a common alternative to three turbine blades would be a tower (now shown) that utilizes four turbine blades. In such embodiments, an omni-directional RF antenna may be incorporated within one or all four turbine blades.

[0017] In some embodiments of the disclosed inventive subject matter (not shown) in Figure 1, it is also possible that multiple antennae may be incorporated into (or attached to) any or all of the turbine blades of a suitably configured wind turbine cellular tower. Multiple antennae would enable multiple carrier support, per turbine blade so configured. For example, if each turbine blade incorporated two antennae, one antenna on each blade could be configured to receive the RF / cellular signals corresponding to afirst cellular carrier, while the other antennae could be configured to receive the RF / cellu lar signals corresponding to a second cellular carrier. Moreover, while not disclosed, parsing of the signals from the multiple RF antenna into separate signals would be carried out by hardware in the nacelle of the wind turbine in order to facilitate proper processing of the communications to the appropriate cellular networks.

[0018] According to various embodiments of the disclosed inventive subject matter, the omni-directional RF antennae 104 are integrated within the turbine blades 102 between three and eight meters from their connection to the wind turbine cellular tower's nacelle 112, as indicated by circle 110. Typically, though not exclusively, the omni-directional antennae are configured to operate at a lower frequency, e.g., sub-lGHz.

[0019] With respect to positioning and in various embodiments, the cellular antennae may be located anywhere along the turbine blades. However and advantageously, the further that the cellular RF antennae are located from the nacelle, the more rapidly these antennae will be rotating which may require additional processing support (e.g., by the antenna radio) in order to supply reliable cellular communication with cellular devices. In actual embodiments, each cellular RF antenna is integrated within a turbine blade such that the closest portion of the antenna is within 4 meters of the turbine blade's connection to the wind turbine cellular tower's nacelle 112.

[0020] According to embodiments of the disclosed inventive subject matter, cellular antennae 104 are omni-directional RF antennae, each able to transmit and receive cellular (RF) signals. Typically, though not exclusively, the omni-directional RF antennae are wide-band RF antennae, able to communicate via a variety of protocols.

[0021] According to various embodiments of the disclosed inventive subject matter, the wind turbine cellular tower may include, or be associated with, a network communication system 118, such as shown by box 118. The network communication system includes a cellular routing module 116 and a communication feature, such as microwave antenna 108.

[0022] As those skilled in the art will appreciate, cellular data received from cellular devices, and / or cellular data obtained from a cellular network node to be transmitted to cellular devices, needs to be processed: e.g., unpacking data, identifying destinations, routing data, etc. According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, this processing is often caried out on a specifically configured computing device referred to herein as the cellular routing module 116.

[0023] While the cellular routing module processes the cellular data for use (either transmission to cellular devices or transmission to a cellular network node, due to the remoteness of wind turbines (including wind turbine cellular towers) the wind turbine cellular tower's network communication system will also be equipped with, or associated with, a network communication feature, such as microwave antenna 108. A communication feature, such as microwave antenna 108, sends and receives processed cellular data with one or more remotely positioned cellular network nodes (i.e., a remote cellular network node in relation to the wind turbine cellular tower) and / or relay stations to the cellular network nodes. In alternative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the communication feature may comprise available infrastructure, such as a fiber optic line, a wired communication / transmission line, integrated access backhaul (IAB) technology communications, and the like.

[0024] According to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, some elements of a given network communication system, such as the microwave antenna 108, when located on the wind turbine cellular tower 100, should be located on the tower 114 below the lowest extent 106 of the turbine blades 102, such that the turbine blades do not interfere with any microwave transmissions to and from microwave antenna 104 as the blade rotates due to the wind.

[0025] According to various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, due to the wind turbine cellular tower's typical remoteness from common infrastructure, the elements described herein that convert a wind turbine into the disclosed wind turbine cellular tower, such as wind turbine cellular tower 100, may be configured to operate on battery power of batteries (not shown) associated with the wind turbine cellular tower. Moreover, in various configurations of the disclosed subject matter, such batteries may be charged by the power generating capabilities of the wind turbine cellular tower itself.

[0026] Turning to Figure 2, this figure shows a pictorial diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a wind turbine cellular tower 200 formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed invention. Indeed, in some circumstances there may be infrastructure suitably close to tower 200 such that transmission elements of the network communication subsystem, such as a microwave antenna, are not needed and / or placed on tower 114. Instead, the wind turbine cellular tower 200 may communicate with and utilize a local structure, such as base station 202. In these embodiments, the base station 202 will have its own network communication system, which may include the displayed microwave antenna 204, though in alternativeembodiments (not shown), tower 200 may communicate via a network communication subsystem with a cellular network node via an optic fiber connection, a wired connection, or a combination of both optic and wired connections.

[0027] In addition to, or as an alternative to, the use of microwave communications or other existing infrastructure including fiber optic lines, and in providing 5G service, integrated access backhaul (IAB) technology may be used. IAB technology provides fiberscarce (and / or microwave free) wireless backhaul and can boost 5G coverage expansion. In the case of IAB technology and according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the network communication system of a wind turbine cellular tower may be configured to communicate with an IAB donor associated with a cellular network. This lAB-configured wind turbine cellular tower utilizes the backhaul services of an IAB donor, a cellular tower connected to a cellular network and configured to provide IAB backhaul services to other towers, as the communication point to the cellular network for one or more wind turbine cellular towers. In short, the IAB donor becomes the point of connection to a cellular network for one or more wind turbine cellular towers. In various embodiments, the IAB donor may be connected to a plurality of wind turbine cellular towers in a series of wind turbine cellular towers through a single lAB-configured wind turbine cellular tower. Alternative, multiple wind turbine cellular towers may be specifically configured to communicate with the IAB donor, permitting both individual lAB-configured wind turbine cellular towers to communicate with the IAB donor, and a single lAB-configured wind turbine cellular tower of a series of wind turbine cellular towers.

[0028] Communications between an lAB-configured wind turbine cellular tower and the IAB donor will typically, though not exclusively, be conducted via the omni-directional antenna(ae) of the wind turbine cellular tower. In yet another alternative embodiment, a wind turbine cellular tower may be configured as an IAB donor. In such instances, the wind turbine cellular tower / IAB donor would typically connect via local infrastructure, such as fiber optic communications to a cellular network note.

[0029] Turning to Figure 3, this figure shows a pictorial diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a nacelle 112 of a wind turbine cellular tower, such as either of wind turbine cellular towers, including wind turbine cellular towers 100 or 200 described above and / or wind turbine cellular tower 400 described below, all formed in accordance with aspects of disclosed invention.

[0030] As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a typical configuration of a nacelle, and a suitably configured wind turbine cellular tower nacelle 112, will include an alternator section 306 that includes rotating magnets and stationary coils, the combination of which are used to convert the turbines' rotation into power. Additionally, a suitably configured nacelle typically also includes main bearings 308 that stabilize the main shaft as it rotates in response to the wind turning the turbine blades.

[0031] Also included as part of the nacelle 112 are power brushes and slip rings 316 that enable power to pass through the nacelle 112 and down the tower 114 for distribution to a power grid. Still further, the nacelle includes yaw bearings 318 that stabilize the nacelle as wind turns the turbine blades and rotates the nacelle to face (with the turbine blades) the source direction of the wind.

[0032] In addition to the typical nacelle features and according to aspects of the disclosed subject matter, wired connections 302 pass down each turbine from the omnidirectional cellular antennae 104 to one of a set of slip rings, one slip ring per antenna. Usage of the slip rings allows the transfer (for both transmission and reception) of cellular signals between a cellular antenna 104 and an antennae radio 314. Correspondingly (but not shown in Figure 3), the antennae radio 314 is connected via a wired connection to each slip ring 304 associated with an omni-directional RF antenna 104.

[0033] In addition to its connection to the slip rings 304, and because the nacelle 112 can rotate, antennae radio 314 maintains a communication connection to the cellular network (via the network communication subsystem, e.g., a microwave channel as described in relation to Figure 1 or via wired connections are described in relation to Figure 2) via one of slip rings 316. Indeed, slip rings 316 communicate both power (as generated in the alternator section 306 by the turning of the turbine blades 102) and cellular communications being received by and transmitted from the antennae radio 314.

[0034] It should be appreciated, however, that while the antennae radio 314 is illustrated in Figure 3 as being within the nacelle, the present invention is not so limited. In alternative embodiments, the antennae radio could be located outside of the nacelle, such as in the tower's base station 202 discussed in Figure 2. In any case, the wired connection between the antennae and the antennae radio is comprised of one or more slip rings. Advantageously, the use of slip rings allows for communications between the omni-directional antennae in the wind turbines and the antennae radio 314.

[0035] According to aspects of the disclosed inventive subject matter, main shaft 310, post 320, and stub mast 322 are structural elements that support the nacelle and permitrotation according to wind direction. They may be hollow or have a cavity / channel in which wired connections for, at least, cellular communications and / or data can pass.

[0036] Also shown as part of the overall nacelle assembly is tail boom 312. Tail boom 312 assists in alignment of the nacelle with the source direction of the wind.

[0037] Turning to Figure 4, Figure 4 is a pictorial diagram of another alternative embodiment of a wind turbine cellular tower, formed in accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter. Indeed, while the omni-directional antennae incorporated with the turbine blades of a wind turbine cellular tower operate at a frequency, in many instances at a sub-lGHz frequency, that provides sufficient bandwidth to support voice transmissions and data, many cellular devices offer features (e.g., internet connectivity, data transfer, etc.) that are more suited to higher bandwidths.

[0038] To provide this higher bandwidth and in accordance with aspects of the disclosed subject matter, one or more mid-band directional antennae may be mounted on the wind turbine cellular tower. As shown on wind turbine cellular tower 400 of Figure 4, a plurality of mid-band directional antennae 402, operating at a frequency of between 2 GHz to 7 GHz, are placed around the tower 114.

[0039] In various embodiments, the mid-band antennae may be mounted on the wind turbine structure / tower below the nacelle 112, but the mounting need not be clear of the lower extent 106 of the turbine blades as they rotate. Indeed, as shown in Figure 4, the mid-band antennae 402 mounted on the tower structure 114 of wind turbine cellular tower 400 are placed above this lower extent 106.

[0040] While a single mid-band antenna could provide higher bandwidth to the wind turbine cellular tower 400, improved coverage is achieved by the use of multiple midband antennae. Illustratively, wind turbine cellular tower 400 includes four mid-band antennae 402, each mid-band antenna being positioned from another at 90 degrees, with a separation of one to three meters. Alternatively, a suitably configured wind turbine cellular tower may be arranged with three mid-band antennae, spaced around the tower at 120-degree intervals, again with one to three meters of separation. Advantageously, these arrangements will provide higher gain (translating to higher bandwidth) than omnidirectional antennae on the turbine blades 102. However, with higher propagation the actual coverage area will be less.

[0041] As those skilled in the art will appreciate, these higher bands would be used with carrier aggregation to supplement the overall omni-directional coverage nearer the tower with better performance of higher bandwidths. Further away from the windturbine cellular tower 400, the cellular service will revert to the lower band service of the omni-directional antennae 104. Of course, with the turbine blades rotating, the mid-band antennae will give less consistent service for low band frequencies. More particularly, when a turbine blade rotates in front of a mid-band antenna, cellular service in that band might not even be possible or, at best, limited. In those instances, reliance will revert to the omni-directional antennae 104 (see Figures 1 and 2) in the turbine blades 102 with lower band cellular service. In extreme cases, particularly when there is no wind and the blades are stationary, if the turbine blades happen to be in front of some of the mid-band antennae, the service otherwise available from the additional mid-band antennae might be effectively unavailable. Advantageously, cellular services will still be available, but at a lower bandwidth.

[0042] Of course, with the addition of mid-band antennae, a second antenna radio, such as antenna radio 404, may be needed to send and / or receive data between cellular devices and a cellular network, though it is also to utilize antenna radio 314 that is positioned in the nacelle 112, though would require additional slip rings for connectivity. Irrespective of whether there is an antenna radio for the mid-band antenna(e), the data path for cellular data, between cellular devices and a cellular network, pass through the network communication system 118

[0043] Also shown in Figure 4 is a second microwave antenna 408. In various embodiments, utilizing multiple antennae allows for linking multiple wind turbine cellular towers together, often in a series, where only one of the wind turbine cellular towers needs communicate with a cellular network. This is especially advantageous when the wind turbine cellular towers are deployed in an area that would preclude all but a few (at least one) linked wind turbine cellular tower to communicate (wirelessly or through a local physical connection) with a cellular network core.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 07 October 2025 (07.10.2025)1. A wind turbine cellular tower suitably configured to operate as a cellular tower of a cellular network, the wind turbine cellular tower comprising: a plurality of turbine blades, and wherein at least a first turbine blade of the plurality of turbine blades configured with a first cellular antenna, and wherein the first cellular antenna is configured to wirelessly send and receive cellular communications with one or more cellular devices; an antennae radio coupled to the first cellular antenna and suitably configured to send and receive cellular radio signals, via at least the first cellular antenna, to the one or more cellular devices; a network communication system comprising at least one cellular routing node configured to bridge exchanges of cellular data between the antennae radio and at least one cellular network node; wherein wind turbine cellular tower provides cellular communications between the at least one cellular network node and the one or more cellular devices irrespective of whether the plurality of turbine blades of the wind turbine cellular tower is continuously rotating and irrespective of any rotational position of the plurality of turbine blades.

2. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 1, wherein the antennae radio is continuously coupled to the at least first cellular antennae via at least a first slip ring.

3. The wind turbine tower of Claim 1, wherein at least two turbine blades of the plurality of turbine blades are configured with a cellular antenna, including the first turbine blade, and wherein the antennae radio is continuously coupled to each of the at least two turbine blades as the plurality of turbine blades continuously rotate via at least a corresponding slip ring per wind turbine.

4. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 1, wherein the network communication system comprises: a cellular routing module suitably configured to process cellular data received from the antenna radio to a format suitable for use by the at least one cellular network node, and to process cellular data received from the at least one cellular network node to a format suitable for use by the antenna radio; and a communication feature for transmitting processed cellular data to the at least one cellular network node, and receiving processed cellular data from the at least one cellular network node.

5. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 4, wherein the communication feature comprises microwave device configured to transmit and receive cellular data from a corresponding microwave device associated with the at least one cellular node.

6. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 5, wherein the microwave feature is located on the wind turbine cellular tower below a lowest extent of any of the plurality of wind turbine blades as they rotate around a nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower.

7. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 5, wherein the wherein the microwave feature is located in an associated to the wind turbine cellular tower.

8. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 4, wherein the communication feature comprises a fiber optic connection suitably configured to transmit and receive cellular data from the at least one cellular node.

9. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 4, wherein the communication feature is configured to communication via a wireless connection to an integrated access backhaul (IAB) donor associated with the at least one cellular network.

10. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 1, wherein the first cellular antenna in the first turbine blades is integrated with the first turbine blade at a distance of between three and eight meters from a nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower.

11. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 10, wherein the first cellular antenna in the first turbine blades is integrated with the first turbine blade at a distance of four meters from the nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower.

12. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 1, further comprising a first midband antenna attached to a tower structure and below a nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower, and wherein the first mid-band antenna is configured to supplement cellular coverage of the at least first turbine blade to provide a higher cellular bandwidth through carrier aggregation.

13. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 12, further comprising a plurality of mid-band antennae attached to the tower structure and below a nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower, including the first mid-band antenna.

14. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 13, and wherein the plurality of midband antennae is attached to the tower structure above a lowest extent of any of the plurality of wind turbine blades as they rotate around the nacelle of the wind turbine cellular tower.

15. The wind turbine cellular tower of Claim 13, wherein the plurality mid-band antennae comprise: a configuration of three mid-band antennae attached around the tower structure at 120 degree intervals, or a configuration of four mid-band antennae attached around the tower structure at 90 degree intervals; and wherein each mid-band antenna operates at a frequency between 2GHz and 7Ghz.

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