Modular Wind Turbine With Rotating Toroidal Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbines suffer from noise pollution, lack of versatility, and durability issues, with single turbine units generating power inefficiently and ceasing operation if one turbine fails, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A modular multi-turbine system with toroidal support structures and a computer control system that allows turbines to rotate for optimal wind alignment, incorporating radar, robotic vision, and predictive wind models to manage turbine positioning and operation, and a tower that can rotate out of high winds to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single turbine units are used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity and reliability are insufficient because one turbine failure stops entire operation
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine system is divided into multiple independent turbine modules (first turbine, second turbine, third turbine, fourth turbine) that can operate independently. Each turbine has its own generator and control system, allowing individual turbines to be maintained or replaced without shutting down the entire system. This segmentation directly improves reliability while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows individual turbines to be taken offline for maintenance or replacement without affecting overall system operation. Failed turbines can be discarded or repaired independently while other turbines continue generating power, ensuring continuous productivity and high reliability through partial system operation.
2Power
If large blades are used in conventional turbines, then the power generation capability is high, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to unacceptable noise levels
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple smaller turbine modules instead of one large turbine with big blades. Each module has smaller blades that generate less noise individually, while the collective arrangement of multiple modules achieves the required total power output. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between power generation and noise pollution.
3Productivity
If a modular multi-turbine system with rotation capability is implemented, then the productivity and adaptability are improved through optimal wind alignment, but the device complexity increases due to additional control systems and rotation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
Each turbine module is equipped with rotation capability that allows dynamic adjustment of blade orientation relative to wind direction. The turbines can rotate to optimize their positioning for maximum energy capture, transforming from static to dynamic operation. This dynamic adjustment significantly improves productivity by adapting to varying wind conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates control systems that monitor wind conditions and turbine performance, using this feedback to automatically adjust turbine positioning and operation. The computer control system processes data from multiple turbines and optimizes their configuration in real-time, improving energy generation efficiency while managing the complexity through automated control algorithms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If turbines are fixed in position, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability is poor because turbines cannot optimize positioning relative to wind direction
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine modules transition from fixed positioning to dynamic positioning capabilities. Each turbine can rotate and adjust its orientation based on wind direction and speed, allowing optimal alignment for energy capture. This dynamic adaptability is achieved through rotation mechanisms that enable turbines to respond to changing environmental conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular system enhances power generation efficiency, reduces noise, and maintains high performance even if one turbine fails, with the computer control system optimizing energy production and protecting the turbines from damage.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of blades attached to a hub, wherein the blades and hub form a wind turbine
Data Source
AI summary
A modular multi-turbine unit of fixed toroidal support structures having a rail system designed to allow each of the plurality of turbines to rotate to a most efficient position relative to the wind for generating power, a computer control system capable of positioning each of the plurality of turbines to most effectively generate power from the wind, preventing damage to the turbines, and providing a wind predictive model based on the wind characteristics for the area in which the wind turbine is located.