AU2010249162A1 - Vertical axis wind turbine utilising vortex generators - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The disclosed primary Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Utilising Vortex Generators is conical like shape device fitted on the perimeter with numerous Wings /1/ mounted in Vertical fashion into incoming wind /Fig - 1 I. On the wings are installed Wedge type Vortex Generators /2/. For improved performance drum like device is started in low wind speed by secondary windmill / Fig -2/ mounted on top of primary turbine. Secondary conical windmill is fitted with ballasted retractable flaps / 1 / automatically closed in higher rotating speeds by the centrifugal force. The Vertical Axis Turbine should be preferably installed on slopes or crests of hills into prevailing winds where wind acceleration on sloped surface of terrain increases efficiency of turbine. FIG-3

Description

AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE UTILISING VORTEX GENERATORS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1 VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE UTILISING VORTEX GENERATORS The present invention relates to the above device in form of conical like shape fitted on the perimeter with numerous Wings installed in Vertical fashion under positive angle of attack into incoming wind. On the wings are mounted Wedge type Vortex Generators which bend air flow over the wings, thus improving 5 wing performance. Ramp & Vane type Vortex Generators can be used also. The idea is based on Autorotation principles similar to those on Autogiros or Gyrocopters, where wing moving into the wind produce forward Thrust and rotates Turbine at several times greater speed than wind itself. 10 The Turbine is operating in efficient Aerodynamic mode and is Self Starting rotation in higher wind regime. For Low wind speed cone shaped Secondary Small Flap equipped windmill Dynamic type device is installed on top of Primary Turbine to start spinning turbine into operational speed. The flaps on the Secondary Windmill are ballasted in such a way that they close in higher rotational speeds by Centrifugal Forces so there is clean flow of wind over the Cone. 15 In order that invention may be better understood and put into practice, Preferred forms are hereinafter described by the way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings /Fig - 1 / which is view of Primary Vertical Axis Turbine equipped with Vertically arranged Wings / 1 / on which are installed Wedge type Vortex Generators / 2 /. The drum like 20 device rotates into the wind on Shaft / 3 / supported on Bearings /4 /. The Secondary Conical Windmill / Fig - 2 / is shown with Flaps / 1 / extended /opened/ by force of wind, into the wind flow and pushing Dynamically windmill of the wind. The flaps are ballasted so in higher rotational speeds, they close themselves by Centrifugal Forces / Fig - 3 / and conical structure is 25 streamlined for incoming wind flow. Lastly / Fig - 4 / shows Vertical Axis Wind Turbine in full operational mode where Flaps / 1 / on Secondary Windmill are closed by Centrifugal Force. The Vertical Axis Wind Turbine should be preferably installed on slopes or crests of hills into prevailing winds where acceleration on slopped surface of 30 terrain increase efficiency of turbine. Turbine low profile by installing it on ground is making device ecologically friendly - bird friendly and producing low noise. While operating and if painted green, it looks a like tree from distance and does not spoil view on terrain as large Horizontal Windmills do .By eliminating ballasted towers needed 35 for horizontal wind turbines, VAWT System is cheaper and though not as efficient as horizontal wind turbines, the above mentioned advantages should benefit system as such.