Toroidal Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Warped Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horizontal axis wind turbines face limitations in service life due to gearbox reliability, have a narrow operational wind speed range, and are prone to damage from high winds, while existing vertical axis designs lack efficiency and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A vertically mounted shaft connected to an epicyclic gear transmission with unique warped aerofoil turbine blades that capture wind energy over a wider range of speeds, allowing for silent operation and efficient torque transfer to devices like generators, and a toroidal wind turbine design that captures wind energy with a high torque, low rpm, and minimal maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a gearbox is used in horizontal axis wind turbines to step up rotational speed, then electricity generation efficiency is improved, but service life is reduced due to gearbox reliability limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gearbox from the wind turbine system entirely. The vertical axis turbine design generates electricity directly at lower rotational speeds, eliminating the need for speed-increasing gearing and thereby removing the reliability limitation imposed by gearbox failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by operating the turbine at lower rotational speeds without a gearbox. The vertical axis design and direct-drive generator configuration allow efficient electricity generation at reduced RPM, fundamentally altering the speed parameter from which the system operates.
2Power
If horizontal axis wind turbines operate at high rotational speeds for efficient electricity generation, then power output is improved, but operational wind speed range is limited requiring braking or locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotational speed parameter to operate at lower RPM without requiring braking or locking mechanisms. The vertical axis turbine design maintains efficient power generation across a broader range of wind speeds by operating continuously at optimized lower speeds, eliminating the need for protective braking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic system that can continuously operate across varying wind conditions without mechanical braking. The vertical axis configuration allows the turbine to adapt to changing wind speeds dynamically, maintaining operation throughout a wider range of conditions rather than requiring fixed-speed operation with protective locking mechanisms.
3Power
If horizontal axis wind turbines are scaled up to increase power generation capacity, then electricity production is improved, but mass management issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a modular vertical axis turbine design where components can be segmented and assembled in a compact configuration. This segmentation allows for easier mass management and transportation compared to large-scale horizontal axis turbines, as the modular structure can be disassembled and reconfigured more efficiently.
4Ease of manufacture
If vertical axis wind turbines are designed with traditional blade configurations, then manufacturing is simplified, but energy capture efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates curved or warped blade configurations in the vertical axis turbine design. These curved surfaces optimize aerodynamic performance and wind energy capture efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through modern forming techniques, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing ease of manufacture.
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 extends the operational wind speed range, increases energy capture efficiency, reduces noise and maintenance, and allows for self-sufficiency in power generation with a scalable and cost-effective design capable of operating in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
Each blade is flexible to move in response to wind and has a top, bottom, leading edge, and trailing edge wherein the leading edge is in the shape of an airfoil
Implementation Method 2
A vertical axis wind turbine having a plurality of blades spaced from a rotatable around a rotor shaft vertical to the ground
Implementation Method 3
A vertically mounted shaft connected to an epicyclic gear transmission
Implementation Method 4
The rotor shaft turns relatively slowly in comparison with the required speed for efficient electricity generation. Therefore, the rotor shaft is generally coupled to a transmission system including gearing to step up the output rotational speed
Data Source
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AI summary
A toroidal vertical axis wind turbine apparatus (10) has a shaft (14) vertically mounted in a support (12) providing for rotation of the vertically mounted shaft (14) about its longitudinal axis, and a plurality of vertically oriented elongate turbine blades (16), each vertically oriented elongate turbine blade (16) having a length and a width, and a length- wise warp which extends along at least a substantial part of the length of the turbine blade (16), wherein each vertically oriented elongate turbine blade (16) is mounted upon the vertically mounted shaft (14) by support arms (18) such that the vertically oriented elongate turbine blades (16) are mutually spaced and outwardly spaced from the vertically mounted shaft (14) such that when contacted by wind, the plurality of vertically oriented elongate turbine blades (16) move around a toroidal path and cause axial rotation of the vertically mounted shaft.