Split Collar Wind Turbine for Existing Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines have a significant physical impact on landscapes, are costly to install, and require extensive infrastructure, making them inefficient and aesthetically undesirable, especially in densely populated areas, and pose risks to bird populations.
Innovation Solution
A split collar mountable wind turbine that can be retrofitted onto existing structures like light poles, power poles, and communication towers, utilizing a cylindrical design with arcuate elements and off-axis generators, allowing for reduced installation costs and minimized interference with the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional wind turbines use tall masts with large propeller blades, then they can capture higher wind forces to generate electricity, but they create large physical footprints, block views, increase installation costs, and pose dangers to bird populations
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine is divided into two separate collars (first collar and second collar) that can be independently mounted on existing structures. This segmentation allows the turbine to be assembled from modular components that can be attached to various existing infrastructure elements, reducing the need for tall masts and large land footprints while maintaining electricity generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine components are designed to nest around existing structures, with the first and second collars concentrically mounted on the same vertical axis of an existing structure. This nesting approach allows the turbine to utilize existing infrastructure (light poles, power poles, water towers, traffic light arms, communications towers) rather than requiring new tall mast installations, thereby reducing physical impact on landscapes
2Power
If conventional wind turbines are installed on tall masts, then they can access stronger winds, but maintenance and repair become difficult due to high placement
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine is segmented into modular collars and blade assemblies that can be independently accessed and serviced. The first collar can be removed and repositioned to allow maintenance of the second collar and blade assembly, enabling easy access to all components without requiring specialized high-altitude maintenance equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine design allows dynamic reconfiguration of components during maintenance. The first collar can be temporarily removed or repositioned to provide access to the second collar and blade assembly, then reinstalled after maintenance is complete. This dynamic adjustment of component positions facilitates easy maintenance while maintaining the turbine's operational configuration
3Power
If conventional wind turbines require dedicated mast structures and land plots, then they can generate electricity, but installation costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine design is universal and can be mounted on multiple types of existing structures including light poles, power poles, water towers, traffic light arms, and communications towers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated mast structures and land plots, allowing the turbine to utilize existing infrastructure and significantly reducing installation costs
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine is divided into modular collars that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The first collar includes a first vertical flange and the second collar includes a second vertical flange, allowing the components to be separately manufactured and then assembled on existing structures. This modular segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity and installation costs compared to building complete tall mast structures
4Power
If conventional propeller type wind turbines rotate perpendicular to wind direction, then they can maximize power capture, but expensive mechanisms are required to rotate the propeller or adjust blade angle
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the entire propeller assembly or adjusting blade angles to face the wind, this invention inverts the approach by using fixed blades that capture wind from any direction. The horizontal and vertical blade configurations work together to capture wind forces regardless of direction, eliminating the need for expensive orientation adjustment mechanisms while maintaining power capture efficiency
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 solution enables cost-effective generation of renewable energy with reduced physical impact, utilizing existing infrastructure and minimizing the complexity of turbine orientation, while providing power to associated devices or the electrical grid.
Implementation Method 1
two pair of off-axis electrical generators each generator having rotating gears, said rotating gears are driven by rotation of said fan blade housing ring about an axis, which turns the generators in order for the generators to produce electricity
Data Source
AI summary
A split collar mountable turbine that can be assembled in two separate halves and adapted to be attached circumferentially around existing structures. Top and bottom attachment rings each comprise first and second arcuate elements adapted to interconnect circumferentially about an axis to form two rings. A fan blade housing ring comprising first and second arcuate elements, adapted to interface into complimentary slots within the top and bottom rings, and also adapted to interconnect circumferentially about an axis to form a fan blade housing ring and is received in complimentary slots. The fan blade housing ring moves in tracks located in the top and bottom rings. Located within the fan blade housing are two pair of off-axis electrical generators driven by rotation of said fan blade housing to produce electricity.