Roof-Mounted Wind Turbine for Electric Vehicle Battery Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for harnessing wind energy to charge electric vehicle batteries are limited in efficiency and complexity, making them unsuitable for consumer automotive vehicles and requiring advanced technical knowledge for installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an internal wind turbine mounted on the vehicle's roof for harvesting wind energy while in motion and an external wind turbine for charging while stationary, designed to be easily serviceable and adaptable for various electric vehicles, with features such as weighted turbine blades for stability and a cup anemometer-like external design for efficient energy capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a wind turbine system is installed on an electric vehicle to harvest wind energy for battery charging, then the driving range and energy efficiency are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of installation/maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine system is divided into separate modular components including the turbine assembly, generator, mounting brackets, and electrical connections. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured, tested, and replaced, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining energy harvesting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine system is designed with universal mounting brackets and standardized electrical connectors that can be adapted to different vehicle models and roof configurations. This multi-functionality approach allows the same basic design to serve multiple vehicle types without requiring custom-engineered solutions for each application.
2Use of energy by moving object
If specialized wind energy harvesting devices are used in electric vehicles, then energy efficiency improves, but ease of manufacture and accessibility to consumers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine components are designed using inexpensive, easily manufacturable materials such as standard aluminum extrusions for mounting brackets, off-the-shelf permanent magnet generators, and conventional composite or plastic turbine blades. This approach prioritizes cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacture over maximum durability, making the system accessible to consumer vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter adjustments in turbine blade pitch, generator magnetic strength, and mounting bracket configurations to optimize performance for different vehicle types and wind conditions. This flexibility enables a single basic design to be manufactured at scale while accommodating various application requirements.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a wind turbine system is added to an electric vehicle, then the driving range is extended through wind energy harvesting, but the vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine system is designed to be a removable accessory that can be easily installed and removed from the vehicle roof. The mounting brackets use simple clamp or bolt-on attachments rather than permanent welding or bonding, allowing the system to be taken off when not needed to minimize added weight, while still providing extended driving range when installed.
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 efficient harvesting of wind energy for battery charging without requiring high technical expertise, suitable for a wide range of electric vehicles, and allows for easy maintenance and operation.
Implementation Method 1
harnessing wind energy to help maintain some of the charge in the electric storage battery
Implementation Method 2
The generator uses compressed air and a high voltage battery to generate electricity to power the DC motors
Implementation Method 3
features such as weighted turbine blades for stability
Data Source
AI summary
A system for harnessing wind energy to charge the electric storage battery of a vehicle, whether the vehicle is parked or in motion. While the vehicle is being driven, a roof-mounted, internal wind turbine harnesses wind energy and causes rotation of the shaft of an electric generator mounted to an interior surface of the roof. For charging the battery while the vehicle is parked, an external wind turbine is storable in the vehicle when not in use and attaches to the internal wind turbine. Cups of the kind used in cup anemometers are attached to radial arms that extend from an external shaft of the external wind turbine and catch ambient wind currents while the vehicle is parked, causing the external shaft and the generator shaft to rotate.