Wind Turbine Thermal Storage Eliminates Gearbox and Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind power generation systems face challenges with complex and costly electric power storage systems, large-sized and heavy nacelles, and maintenance issues due to speed up gears, while solar thermal systems require large heat accumulators for night-time power generation.

Innovation Solution

An electric power generation system utilizing a wind turbine to rotate a conductor within a magnetic field, inducing heat in a transfer medium which is then converted into electrical energy, eliminating the need for electric power storage and reducing nacelle size and weight by using a heat accumulator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wind power generation system is provided with an electric power storage system to store unstable electric power, then the output can be smoothed, but the system becomes complicated and electric power loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electric power storage system with a thermal energy storage system. Instead of using batteries or capacitors to store electrical energy, the invention converts unstable wind power into thermal energy and stores it in a heat storage medium, thereby simplifying the system while maintaining output stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a heat storage medium as an intermediary between the wind turbine and the electric power generator. The heat storage medium absorbs thermal energy when wind power is abundant and releases it when needed, acting as a buffer that smooths output without requiring complex electrical storage systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a large-sized wind power generation system is constructed to reduce electric power generation costs, then the power generation capacity increases, but the nacelle becomes huge and heavy requiring sea-based construction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation capacityVSAvoidnacelle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the speed up gear mechanism from the nacelle by directly connecting the wind turbine rotor to the electric power generator. This substitution of the mechanical gear system with a direct-drive configuration significantly reduces the nacelle's weight and complexity while maintaining power generation capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Speed

If a speed up gear is provided in the nacelle to accelerate rotational speed, then the generator can operate at required speed, but the gear box causes maintenance troubles and reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational speedVSAvoidmaintenance reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the speed up gear mechanism from the nacelle entirely. By eliminating the gear box, the invention eliminates the source of maintenance troubles and reliability issues associated with mechanical gears, while still achieving the required rotational speed through direct connection of the turbine to the generator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If solar thermal power generation uses a tower system to collect solar heat, then electric power can be generated, but a large-scale heat accumulator is required for night-time power generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation capabilityVSAvoidheat accumulator size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using wind power (available at night) instead of solar power (unavailable at night) to drive the thermal energy storage system. This allows the heat accumulator to be smaller since it only needs to store energy for a shorter duration, and enables night-time power generation when wind is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 night-time power generation with a smaller heat accumulator, eliminates the need for electric power storage systems, and simplifies maintenance by avoiding gear box issues, while reducing nacelle weight and size.

Implementation Method 1

a conductor (20) rotating as the wind turbine (10) rotates; a magnetic field generator (40) generating a magnetic field in which the conductor (20) rotates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a heat transfer medium (30) receiving heat from the conductor (20) rotated in the magnetic field and thus heated through induction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9370050B2Electric power generation system

Publication Date: 2016.06.14 SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

An electric power generation system includes a wind turbine, a conductor rotating as the wind turbine rotates, a heat transfer medium vessel, a magnetic field generator, a heat accumulator, and an electric power generation unit. The magnetic field generator is operated to generate a magnetic field and therein the conductor is rotated and thus heated through induction, and the conductor's heat is transmitted to the water in the heat transfer medium vessel to generate steam which is in turn supplied to a steam turbine and thus drives an electric power generator to generate electric power.