Windpower Generator Pivotable Vanes Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind energy generators face significant drag issues due to the orientation of blades, which inhibits free rotation and reduces efficiency, as existing systems rely solely on wind direction without utilizing gravity to adjust blade orientation, making it difficult to minimize drag without complex and expensive mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A windpower generator design featuring arms with pivotable vanes that adjust their orientation by a combination of wind and gravity, allowing some vanes to present a full surface to the wind while others create a space to minimize drag, utilizing a horizontal shaft and airfoil-shaped vanes to optimize energy capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If blades are mounted to face the wind directly, then energy capture is maximized, but drag increases and inhibits free rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vanes movable rather than fixed. Each vane is mounted on an arm that allows it to pivot and change orientation during rotation. This dynamic adjustment enables the vanes to optimize their angle relative to the wind, capturing energy effectively when positioned favorably while minimizing drag when positioned adversely, thus resolving the contradiction between energy capture and drag reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The windpower generator is segmented into multiple independent arms with individually movable vanes rather than a single rigid structure. This segmentation allows each vane to independently adjust its orientation based on local wind conditions and position in the rotation cycle, enabling some vanes to capture wind energy while others minimize drag, thereby resolving the contradiction at the component level.
2Productivity
If blade orientation is adjusted to minimize drag, then rotation efficiency improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vanes are designed to automatically adjust their orientation through self-service mechanisms without requiring external control systems. The movable mounting allows vanes to naturally pivot in response to wind pressure and gravitational forces, self-regulating their orientation to optimize performance. This eliminates the need for complex control mechanisms, sensors, or actuators, thereby achieving drag reduction and improved rotation efficiency without increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical mounting structure between the arm and the vane that facilitates automatic orientation adjustment. This intermediary component acts as a pivot point that allows the vane to freely adjust its angle while remaining attached to the rotating arm, enabling passive adaptation to wind conditions without complex control systems.
3Force
If all blades face the wind simultaneously, then maximum force is applied, but drag from opposing blades inhibits rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic positioning of vanes on independently rotating arms allows them to be distributed at different orientations during the rotation cycle. Rather than all vanes facing the wind simultaneously, the system maintains a dynamic configuration where vanes are staggered in angle, ensuring that when some vanes capture wind force, others are positioned to minimize opposing drag, thus resolving the force-drag contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the windpower generator into multiple arms with independently oriented vanes, the system distributes the wind force application across different spatial positions and angles. This segmentation prevents all vanes from simultaneously facing the wind, instead creating a phased arrangement where force application and drag minimization are distributed across the rotation cycle, improving overall rotational efficiency.
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 solution effectively reduces drag and enhances energy production by allowing wind to flow freely between vanes, optimizing power generation while maintaining reliability and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
vanes thereon which pivot by action of gravity and wind
Implementation Method 2
pivot by action of gravity and wind
Implementation Method 3
airfoil-shaped vanes to optimize energy capture
Data Source
AI summary
A windpower generator apparatus has a horizontal shaft, a first arm extending outwardly of the shaft, a second arm extending outwardly of the shaft in spaced relationship to the first arm, a third arm extending outwardly of the shaft in spaced radial relationship to the first and second arms, a first plurality of vanes pivotally affixed to a first arm, a second plurality of vanes pivotally affixed to said second arm, a third plurality of vanes pivotally affixed to said third arm, and a generator cooperative with the shaft for producing electrical energy relative to a rotation of the shaft. Each of the vanes is movable between a first position aligned with the arm and a second position extending transverse to the arm. The vanes are movable between the first and second positions by actions of gravity during the rotation of the shaft.