Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Adjustable Blade Radius
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical axis turbines often fail to self-start in soft breezes or gentle winds and do not maintain optimal blade orientation for efficient energy generation, and they lack protection from high winds for components like solar panels.
Innovation Solution
A vertical axis wind turbine generator with a solar panel mounted on the shaft, a control unit, and actuating means to move rotating members and blades, ensuring self-sustaining operation and optimal blade positioning, using connecting members with curved and straight profiles to maintain aerodynamic profiles and reduce turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vertical axis turbines use fixed blade orientation, then structural simplicity is maintained, but they fail to self-start in soft breezes and cannot maintain optimal blade orientation for efficient energy generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the blade orientation adjustable rather than fixed. The blades can dynamically change their angle relative to the shaft, allowing them to optimize their position for energy capture in varying wind conditions while maintaining the ability to self-start in soft breezes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of blade orientation angle from fixed to variable. By allowing the blade angle to be adjusted, the system can optimize energy generation efficiency across different wind speeds and directions, resolving the contradiction between fixed simplicity and dynamic efficiency.
2Productivity
If blades are positioned further from the shaft, then energy harvesting efficiency increases, but load on the gear arrangement and structural stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the blade distance from the shaft dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the system to optimize the balance between energy harvesting efficiency (requiring larger radius) and structural load capacity (requiring smaller radius) based on operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of blade radial position from fixed to variable. By adjusting the distance of blades from the shaft, the system can optimize energy capture while managing structural stresses and gear loads, resolving the contradiction between productivity and strength requirements.
3Productivity
If solar panels are mounted on the shaft, then dual energy generation is achieved, but protection from high winds becomes a challenge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the solar panel position adjustable rather than fixed. The solar panels can be repositioned or retracted in response to high wind conditions, allowing the system to maintain dual energy generation capability while protecting the solar panels from wind damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the blade positioning mechanism as an intermediary to protect solar panels. By adjusting blade positions and orientations, the system can shield the solar panels from direct wind exposure while maintaining their mounting on the shaft for dual energy generation.
4Ease of operation
If actuating means are added to move rotating members and blades, then self-starting capability and optimal positioning are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the actuating means to be driven by the turbine's own operation. The actuating mechanism uses the rotational motion or energy from the turbine itself to adjust blade positions and orientations, enabling self-starting capability and optimal positioning without requiring external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the actuating function with the existing rotational mechanism. By combining the energy generation function with the blade positioning function in an integrated system, the patent reduces overall complexity while achieving self-starting capability and optimal blade orientation.
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
Enables earlier energy generation, self-starting capability, and protection of components from high winds by optimizing blade positioning and airflow, enhancing energy harvesting efficiency and reducing load on the gear arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
A solar panel mounted on the shaft and connected to the control unit is arranged to provide the actuating means with power to move the first and/or second rotating members towards or away from one another and/or to provide the generator with power to start rotation of the blades
Implementation Method 2
a vertical axis wind turbine generator comprising a support stand, a shaft having a first end, a second end and an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the generator; a first rotating member coupled to a portion at the first end of the shaft, a second rotating member coupled to the support stand
Data Source
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AI summary
A vertical axis wind turbine generator comprises a support stand (11), a shaft (41) defining the longitudinal direction and axis (19) of the generator. Two rotating members (12, 13) are coupled to the support stand (11) and the upper end of the shaft (41) enabling them to rotate about said axis (19). Two or more blades (14, 24, 34) having two free ends (15, 16) are connected with connecting members (17 and 18) with the two rotating members (12, 13), wherein movement of the first and/or second rotating members (12, 13) towards or away from one another causes the blades (14, 24, 34) to move further from, or closer to, the shaft (41).