Propeller Windmill with Corrugated Blades and Weathercock Stabilizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional small-sized propeller windmills face challenges in achieving efficient power generation at low wind speeds and maintaining stability against strong winds, with existing solutions either compromising starting performance or increasing weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A propeller windmill design featuring a two-wing base blade with a corrugated shape, supported by deformable elastic bodies, and a weathercock stabilizing mechanism with a cylindrical body and cross-wind receiving wings, allowing for flexible pitch angles and modular configuration to adapt to varying wind conditions and loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the pitch angles of blades are changed and controlled independently by a mechanical mechanism housed in a hub, then the windmill can withstand strong winds, but the starting performance and power generation efficiency deteriorate when wind speed is low
Solution Approach 1:
The blade pitch angle is made dynamically adjustable through a control mechanism that responds to wind conditions. The mechanism includes a control blade that rotates with the main blades and triggers pitch changes at specific rotational positions, allowing the windmill to adapt its pitch angle dynamically - using higher pitch angles for strong winds and lower pitch angles for low wind speeds, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a weathercock stabilizing means is added to ensure downwind positioning, then the windmill maintains stability against strong winds, but the weathercock stability is insufficient in small-sized downwind-type windmills
Solution Approach 1:
The weathercock stabilizing function is merged with the existing blade structure. The control blade is positioned downstream of the main blade and works in conjunction with the blade's aerodynamic properties to provide weathercock stability. This integration allows small-sized windmills to achieve sufficient stability without adding separate bulky stabilizing components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the blade rotational plane is arranged more on leeward side than the vertical support strut, then the rotational front plane should be displaced to leeward side, but in small-sized windmills the rotational front plane returns to the original upwind position
Solution Approach 1:
The control blade is positioned downstream of the main blade to create preliminary aerodynamic action. As the blade rotates, the control blade experiences wind pressure first and triggers the pitch angle change at the appropriate rotational position, ensuring the blade maintains downwind displacement even in small-sized windmills where the rotational plane is close to the support strut.
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
Enhances aerodynamic performance at low wind speeds, improves starting properties, and prevents windmill damage from strong winds while maintaining lightweight and cost-effective manufacturing, enabling efficient power generation and stability across different wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
blades formed of a thin-plate-like sheet are mounted on an rotary input shaft of the power generator in symmetry with respect to a rotational axis by way of a hub, the blade has a corrugated wing shape
Implementation Method 2
the blade has a corrugated wing shape
Implementation Method 3
the blade is supported by deformable elastic bodies
Implementation Method 4
supported by deformable elastic bodies, and the blade is exchangeable with a blade having a different pitch angle or a different length
Implementation Method 5
a weathercock stabilizing mechanism with a cylindrical body and cross-wind receiving wings
Implementation Method 6
a weathercock stabilizing mechanism is arranged behind the base blade coaxially with the base blade, the weathercock stabilizing mechanism being constituted of a cylindrical body which is formed of a thin sheet material and has a front portion thereof closed, and a plurality of cross wind receiving wings which are continuously formed on a rear end of the cylindrical body
Implementation Method 7
A propeller windmill design featuring a two-wing base blade with a corrugated shape
Implementation Method 8
mounted on an rotary input shaft of the power generator
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a small-sized propeller windmill which can efficiently generate power even when a wing speed is low, has no possibility that the windmill is broken even when a strong wind blows, can stably ensure a weathercock direction of a base blade, and can suppress an environmental burden, in such a propeller windmill, the blade having a corrugated wing shape is supported in a cantilever manner by way of an elastic body, and the blade and the elastic body are made of paper or plastic. Further, to stably ensure the weathercock. direction of the base blade, a weathercock stabilizing mechanism is arranged behind the base blade.