Vertical Wind Turbine Sail Pitching for Pressure-Loss Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines lack the ability to automatically adjust their sails according to wind conditions, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage due to abrupt movements or loss of air pressure.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine with a sail system that includes a positioner with a shaft assembly and side assemblies, allowing sails to adjust their pitch based on wind conditions and rotational speed, featuring a spiral hex shaft and sleeve mechanism, dampeners, and a stability bar to maintain stability and prevent damage during air pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed positioned sails are used, then the structure is simple, but the turbine cannot adapt to varying wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sail positioning by allowing the sails to rotate about a vertical axis and adjust their pitch angle automatically in response to wind conditions. The sails transition between thrust position (optimized for wind capture) and rest position (closed for protection), enabling the system to adapt to varying wind speeds and directions without requiring complex manual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine system performs self-regulation through automatic sail positioning based on wind conditions and rotational speed. The sails self-adjust their pitch and orientation without external intervention, using the natural forces of wind and centrifugal force to determine their position, thereby reducing the need for complex control systems while maintaining adaptability.
2Productivity
If sails automatically adjust pitch based on rotational speed, then energy capture is optimized, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the rotational speed of the turbine directly influences the sail pitch adjustment. As the turbine rotates faster, centrifugal force increases, automatically causing the sails to close to a rest position. This feedback loop ensures optimal energy capture across varying wind conditions while using the turbine's own operational parameters to control the positioning mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in physical parameters, specifically centrifugal force generated by rotational speed, to control sail positioning. As rotational speed increases, the centrifugal force increases, automatically adjusting the sail pitch from thrust to rest position. This parameter-based control eliminates the need for complex electronic or mechanical control systems while maintaining high energy capture efficiency.
3Power
If the turbine operates at high rotational speed, then power generation increases, but the risk of damage from air pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary protective action by automatically closing the sails to a rest position when high rotational speed is detected, before air pressure loss can cause damage. This preemptive measure ensures that the sails are in a protected state during high-power operation, preventing damage while maintaining the ability to generate high power when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing a protected rest position for the sails that can be activated before damage occurs. When air pressure loss is detected or high rotational speed is achieved, the sails automatically transition to a closed, protected position, cushioning against potential damage from wind forces or pressure loss while allowing high power generation during normal operation.
4Productivity
If the sails are in thrust position, then wind energy capture is maximized, but the turbine is more vulnerable to damage during air pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic positioning where the sails can transition between thrust position (for maximum energy capture) and rest position (for protection). This dynamic capability allows the system to optimize energy capture during stable conditions while rapidly transitioning to a protected state when harmful conditions such as air pressure loss are detected, thereby reducing vulnerability to damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from air pressure sensors and rotational speed measurements to automatically adjust sail positioning. When air pressure loss or excessive rotational speed is detected, the feedback mechanism triggers automatic closure of the sails to a rest position, reducing vulnerability to damage while maintaining high productivity during normal operational conditions.
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 system enhances efficiency by optimizing sail positioning for varying wind conditions and automatically protects the turbine from damage by closing sails in case of air pressure loss, ensuring safe operation and maximizing energy capture.
Implementation Method 1
Adjustment can be made by rotating the two ends of the shaft assembly via rotation of a spiral hex shaft within a spiral hex sleeve
Implementation Method 2
The air system has a compressor, a tank, lines, dampeners and regulators
Implementation Method 3
The air system has a compressor, a tank, lines, dampeners and regulators
Implementation Method 4
The lower face of a sail is raised in the thrust position to be driven by the wind, and the lower face of a sail is lowered in a rest position
Data Source
AI summary
A windmill having a vertical wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine has a housing, a frame, a base, an air system and a sail system. The air system has a compressor, a tank, lines, dampeners and regulators. The sail assembly has a positioner comprised of a shaft assembly and two side assemblies. Each side assembly has arms that are movable relative to each other to adjust the pitch of the first sail relative to the second sail. Adjustment can be made by rotating the two ends of the shaft assembly via rotation of a spiral hex shaft within a spiral hex sleeve. The arms move in relation to the turbine rotational speed to adjust the pitch of the sails. The turbine changes to a closed-fault state (no pitch in sails) if there is an air pressure loss in the air system.