Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Self-Aligning Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wind power generation technologies, including both horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines, face issues such as high visual impact, noise pollution, mechanical fatigue, resonance frequencies, and the need for motorization to overcome breakaway torque, as well as being sensitive to wind direction and speed variations, which affect their installation and performance.

Innovation Solution

A vertical axis wind turbine design featuring a rotor assembly with curved vertical blades mounted on a rotatable housing, equipped with a wind vane and rollers to self-align with wind direction, reducing load on supporting structures and enhancing mechanical reliability, and incorporating a power takeoff mechanism to generate electricity or mechanical power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If horizontal axis wind turbines are installed at high locations to capture wind, then wind power recovery is improved, but visual impact and harm to wildlife increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind power recoveryVSAvoidvisual impact and harm to wildlife

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional horizontal axis design by采用垂直轴布局，使风力发电机可以低位安装而不损失发电效率，从而解决了高位安装带来的视觉冲击和生态危害问题

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

将传统的水平轴线设计转变为垂直轴线设计，改变了风力发电机的空间维度布局，使其能够在低位有效捕捉风能，避免了高位安装的不利影响

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If wind turbines operate at high speed to generate power, then productivity is improved, but noise pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidnoise pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

叶片采用弧形设计，这种曲面结构能够更平滑地引导气流，减少湍流和涡流的产生，从而在保证发电效率的同时降低运行噪音

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

风轮机设计为自启动能力，利用风的自然作用即可启动旋转，无需额外的启动装置，实现了低功耗、低噪音的启动方式

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If vertical axis wind turbines are designed to capture wind, then adaptability to wind direction is improved, but mechanical fatigue and resonance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind direction adaptabilityVSAvoidmechanical fatigue and resonance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

将转子组装分为多个独立的垂直叶片，每个叶片独立承受风载，通过分段设计分散了机械应力，减少了整体结构的疲劳累积

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

垂直轴设计使叶片在整个旋转过程中持续受到风力作用，避免了水平轴设计中叶片周期性进出风区导致的扭矩波动和共振问题

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If wind turbines are designed with high breakaway torque capability, then reliability in varying wind conditions is improved, but motorization requirements increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance in varying wind conditionsVSAvoidmotorization requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

风轮机设计为自启动能力，利用风的自然作用即可启动旋转，无需额外的启动装置，实现了低功耗、低噪音的启动方式，同时保持了在不同风况下的可靠性

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

采用可调节的叶片角度设计，使叶片能够根据风速动态调整攻角，在不同风况下都能保持最优的气动效率，无需复杂的电机化控制系统

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 design results in a self-starting, low-visual-impact, low-noise wind turbine that operates effectively across varying wind conditions, reducing mechanical fatigue and resonance, and is less vulnerable to extreme wind changes, while being economical and environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

Wind contacting the vertical blades produces thrust on the vertical blades. Thrust on the vertical blades causes the rotor assembly to rotate.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic lift and drag: Aerofoil

Implementation Method 2

A vertical axis wind turbine design featuring a rotor assembly with curved vertical blades mounted on a rotatable housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWind power: Wind Power

Implementation Method 3

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine which operates as a large gyroscope to hold itself in a vertical position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope effect: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 4

Attached to the side of the housing is a wind vane. Attached to the bottom side of the housing are rollers. The wind vane, in combination with the rollers, act to rotate the housing to a position that will permit the wind to act upon the exposed vertical blades.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic alignment: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS7744345B1Wind power generator

Publication Date: 2010.06.29 POHRIBNAK VICTOR E

AI summary

A vertical axis wind turbine provides a rotor assembly which rotates on bearing assemblies affixed to a rotor shaft supported by a base, the rotor assembly having vertical blades mounted between top and bottom plates, and power takeoff means to provide power by direct mechanical linkage or to drive an electrical generator. The rotor assembly is partially enclosed by a housing. Attached to the side of the housing is a wind vane. Attached to the bottom side of the housing are rollers. The wind vane, in combination with the rollers, act to rotate the housing to a position that will permit the wind to act upon the exposed vertical blades.