GB2176850A - An improved wind energy convertor - Google Patents
An improved wind energy convertor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2176850A GB2176850A GB08614768A GB8614768A GB2176850A GB 2176850 A GB2176850 A GB 2176850A GB 08614768 A GB08614768 A GB 08614768A GB 8614768 A GB8614768 A GB 8614768A GB 2176850 A GB2176850 A GB 2176850A
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- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- turbine
- annular body
- wind energy
- wind
- blades
- Prior art date
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- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000011150 reinforced concrete Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 4
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003796 beauty Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D3/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor
- F03D3/04—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels
- F03D3/0427—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels with converging inlets, i.e. the guiding means intercepting an area greater than the effective rotor area
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
- F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03D—WIND MOTORS
- F03D9/00—Adaptations of wind motors for special use; Combinations of wind motors with apparatus driven thereby; Wind motors specially adapted for installation in particular locations
- F03D9/20—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus
- F03D9/25—Wind motors characterised by the driven apparatus the apparatus being an electrical generator
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05B2240/00—Components
- F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
- F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
- F05B2240/916—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure with provision for hoisting onto the structure
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/70—Wind energy
- Y02E10/74—Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Wind Motors (AREA)
Abstract
In a wind energy convertor comprising an upstanding support, a fan 14 and a turbine 10 rotatably mounted about the vertical axis of the support and, above the fan and turbine, an annular body 3 whose upper surface 7 is so shaped as to cause the velocity of the wind blowing against the surface to increase as it passes over the surface, the upstanding support comprises a plurality of upstanding elongate members 1 uniformly spaced around the fan and turbine. The upstanding members may be the legs of a lattice work tower but, preferably, they are vertical columns 1 with respect to which the annular body 3 is so mounted that the annular body, and the turbine 10 and fan 14 carried thereby, can be raised or lowered when required, the vertical columns having associated means 17 for raising and lowering the annular body with respect to the columns and for locking the annular body with respect to the columns when it is in the desired position. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
An improved wind energy convertor This invention relates to apparatus for converting the energy of the wind into mechanical energy for use in the generation of electricity or other source of power and, for convenience, such apparatus will hereinafter be referred to by the generic expression "wind energy convertor".
In the specification of Patent No: 2083564B, there is described and claimed a wind energy convertor comprising an upstanding column; a fan which is supported on the upper end of the column in such a way that the fan is freely rotatable about the axis of the column and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades; a substantially circular turbine which surrounds and is radially spaced from an uppermost part of, and is supported by, and freely rotatable about the axis of, the column, and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending lengthwise with respect to the column; and an annular body which is supported by the column and which is coaxial with and is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential edge of the fan, the upper surface of the annular body being above the fan and being so shaped as to cause the velocity of wind that blows against the surface to increase as it passes over the surface, thereby creating a reduction in air pressure in the circular space bounded by the annular body so that wind blowing against the blades of the turbine and driving the turbine rotatably about the axis of the column is drawn upwardly within the turbine to drive the fan rotatably about the axis of the column in the same rotational direction as the turbine, thereby converting the energy of the wind into rotational mechanical energy.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wind energy convertor which works on the same principle as the wind energy convertor of our aforesaid patent to convert into mechanical energy the energy of a wind blowing in substantially any direction, which can be erected in substantially any weather conditions and which can be of a substantially larger construction than the wind energy convertor of the aforesaid patent.
According to the present invention, the improved wind energy convertor comprises a plurality of upstanding elongate members uniformly spaced around a central vertical axis; a fan which is surrounded by, and directly or indirectly supported by the upper ends of, the upstanding members in such a way that the fan is freely rotatable about said tertical axis and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades; a substantially circular turbine which is surrounded by, and directly or indirectly supported by uppermost parts of, the upstanding members in such a way that the turbine is freely rotatable about said vertical axis and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending lengthwise with respect to the upstanding members; and an annular body which is supported by the upstanding members and which is coaxial with and is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the turbine, the upper surface of the annular body being above the turbine and being so shaped as to cause the velocity of wind that blows against this surface to increase as it passes over the surface, thereby creating a reduction in air pressure in the circular space bounded by the annular body so that wind blowing against the blades of the turbine is drawn upwardly within the turbine and out of said circular space to drive the turbine rotatably about said vertical axis, thereby converting the energy of the wind into rotational mechanical energy.
The plurality of upstanding elongate members may be the legs of a lattice work tower or pylon but, in a preferred embodiment, the plurality of upstanding elongate members are substantially vertical columns on or with respect to which the annular body is slidably or otherwise so mounted that it can be raised or lowered when required; the turbine is carried by and is freely rotatable with respect to the annular body so that it is indirectly supported by the vertical columns; and the vertical columns have associated means for raising or lowering the annular body, and the turbine carried thereby, with respect to the columns and for locking the annular body with respect to the columns when it is in the desired position.The aforesaid preferred embodiment has the important advantage that the annular body, and the turbine carried thereby, can be raised with respect to the columns to the desired position without the use of a heavy crane and, as a consequence, in weather conditions when the use of a crane would be too dangerous and/or the site inaccessible to cranes and other lifting devices.
The lifting means associated with the substantially vertical columns may take any convenient form but preferably each column has at its upper and lower ends pulleys around which at least one hawser connected to the annular body can be drawn by at least one associated motor or other drive means. Each vertical column preferably also carries locking means by which the annular body can be mechanically locked to the column when the annular body is in the desired position.
In some circumstances, at least some of the upstanding elongate members of the improved wind energy convertor may constitute structural members of a building on which the improved wind energy convertor is supported.
The fan and the turbine may be independently freely rotatable about the vertical axis but, preferably, the fan and the turbine are rigidly secured together so that both will rotate at the same speed.
Preferably, to accelerate a larger volume of wind between the blades of the turbine and thereby increase the amount of wind energy available for conversion, the wind energy convertor includes, radially outwardly of and surrounding the turbine, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades which depend from the annular body and extend lengthwise with respect to the columns or other upstanding members and which define, between adjacent blades, a plurality of venturi through which wind is directed on to the blades of the turbine,. the surfaces of the venturi blades being so shaped as to direct the wind on to the blades of the turbine and, at the same time, to shield from the wind the on-coming blades of the turbine, thereby substantially reducing drag on the turbine and enabling the turbine to rotate such that its peripheral velocity preferably does not exceed twice the linear velocity of the wind. Preferably, also, the venturi blades are secured between the annular body and a second annular body which is coaxial with and spaced below the first or upper annular body and which, also, is slidably or otherwise so mounted on the vertical columns that it can be raised or lowered as required.
The radially outer edges of the venturi blades may extend substantially vertically but, preferably, they are inclined radially outwardly in a direction towards the upper end of the convertor.
The upper surface of the first annular body is preferably of such a shape as to encourage accelerated flow of the wind over its surface and, in the preferred embodiment, the angle of inclination of the upper surface to the vertical axis increases smoothly in an upward direction. The accelerated flow of the wind over the upper surface of the first annular body causes an increase in the velocity of wind flowing upwardly through the fan and this increase in velocity of the upwardly flowing wind creates a reduction in air pressure in the space bounded by the turbine, with the result that the inherent resistance of the turbine to the rate of flow of air through the turbine is reduced.
The upstanding elongate members, the annular body positioned above the fan and, when present, the second annular body may be preformed before being assembled together to form the improved wind energy convertor but, in the case of larger wind energy convertors, e.g. having an output of 1 megawatt and above, the upstanding elongate members and these annular bodies preferably are manufactured in situ of reinforced concrete.
In the case of larger wind energy convertors, to provide for free rotatable motion of the fan and the turbine about the vertical axis of the plurality of upstanding elongate members, the fan and the turbine may each have at or near its circumferential edge means engaging in a circular track which is directly or indirectly carried by the first annular body or, when present, the second annular body. For example, the fan may be dependent from, and rotatably mounted to run in, a circular track carried on the undersurface of the first annular body positioned above the fan and the turbine may be rotatably mounted to run in a circular track carried on the upper surface of the second or lower annular body; the fan and the turbine may run on wheels or may be magnetically levitated.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first and second annular bodies, and the fan and turbine carried thereby, are spaced inwardly of the plurality of vertical columns and are suspended from the vertical columns by flexible ties. The improved wind energy convertor of this particular embodiment is especially suitable for use in a multi-unit wind energy convertor complex comprising a multiplicity of mutually spaced vertical columns bounding between them a plurality of mutually spaced vertical axes on each of at least some of which first and second annular bodies, and a fan and turbine carried thereby, are suspended by flexible ties from surrounding vertical columns. In this case the rotational mechanical energy provided by the several units may, if desired, be accumulated.
The mechanical energy obtained by conversion of the energy of the wind may be used in the generation of electricity by means of any convenient and known method.
The mechanical energy obtained by conversion of the energy of the wind alternatively may be employed to produce power to split water (an abundant and free electrolyte) into the gases, hydrogen and oxygen, which can be stored in a readily available form, the hydrogen for use as a non-polluted fuel and the oxygen for a useful or saleable commodity.
Hydrogen can be used to run existing generators to produce electricity with no lead or carbon pollution from the exhaust; it can also be used to power some forms of apparatus, e.g.
cookers, boilers, furnaces and oxy-hydrogen welding apparatus. Additionally, hydrogen and oxygen can feed fuel cells which produce electricity directly without any moving parts.
The improved wind energy convertor of the present invention ensures that both the horizontal and vertical components of the energy of the wind are converted in to rotational mechanical energy without inhibiting to any great extent the natural movement of the wind. Furthermore, the plurality of radially extending blades of the fan and the plurality of longitudinally extending blades of the turbine provide the important advantage that the improved wind energy convertor is self starting, irrespective of the direction of the wind. Additionally, the improved wind energy convertor is pleasing to the eye and can therefore be installed in areas of natural beauty without being any more obtrusive than the conventional sail mill.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of preferred forms of wind energy convertor with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a first preferred form of wind energy convertor drawn on a reduced scale;
Figure 2 is a side view of the first preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 1, shown partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the arrangement for raising and lowering the stator and turbine assembly of the convertor up and down the vertical columns;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the first preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a side view, shown partly in elevation and partly in section, of the stator and turbine assembly of the first preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 1;;
Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side view of a second preferred form of wind energy convertor drawn on a reduced scale;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a third preferred form of wind energy convertor drawn on a reduced scale; and
Figure 7 is a plan view of the third preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 6; Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the first preferred form of wind energy convertor comprises eight vertical columns 1 uniformly spaced around a central vertical axis and, slidably mounted on the columns, a stator 2 comprising an upper annular body 3 and a lower annular body 4 which are interconnected by eight circumferentially spaced blades 5 lying in vertical radial planes.The stator 2 surrounds a circular turbine 10 which is supported by the upper annular body 3 and lower annular body 4 in such a way that the turbine is freely rotatable about said central vertical axis and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades 11 extending lengthwise with respect to the columns 1. Positioned between the upper end of the turbine 10 and the upper annular body 3 is a fan 14 which is rigidly secured to the turbine and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades 15.
As will be seen on referring to Figure 2, the stator 2 is slidably mounted on the vertical columns 1 and can be raised or lowered with respect to the columns by means of hawsers
17, one hawser being associated with each column. Each hawser 1 7 is connected at one of its ends to the upper annular body 3, passes over a pulley 18 at the upper end of its associated column 1 and downwardly around a pulley 19 at the lower end of its associated column to a motor (not shown) by means of which the stator 2 and the turbine 10 and fan 14 carried thereby, can be raised or lowered with respect to the columns. Locking means (not shown) is provided for locking stator 2 with respect to the columns 1 when the stator is in its operating position.
The upper surface 7 of the upper annular body 3 is so shaped as to cause the velocity of wind that blows against this surface to increase as it passes over the surface, thereby creating a reduction in air pressure in the circular space 8 bounded by the annular body.
The vertical blades 5 define, between adjacent blades, a plurality of venturi 6 through which wind is directed on to the blades 11 of the turbine 10. The surfaces of the venturi blades 5 are so shaped as to direct the wind on to the blades 11 of the turbine 10 and, at the same time, to shield from the wind the downwind blades of the turbine. The undersurface 20 of the upper annular body 3 and the upper surface 21 of the lower annular body 4 are also so shaped as to assist in directing and accelerating the wind through the venturi 6 on to the blades 11 of the turbine 10.
Each of the turbine blades 11 has a transverse cross-sectional shape of substantially aerofoil form and is pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis passing through the blade. A torsion bar 12 which extends along the vertical pivotal axis of each turbine blade 11 and which is fixed at each of its ends serves as a means of restraining the turbine blade against pivotal movement about its vertical pivotal axis.
Wind blowing against the blades 11 of the turbine 10 will drive the turbine rotatably about said central vertical axis in an anticlockwise direction. Since the velocity of wind blowing against the uppermost surface 7 of the upper annular body 3 is caused to increase as it passes over the surface, a reduction in air pressure is created in the circular space 8 and consequently the velocity of the wind flowing upwardly through the turbine 10 and the circular space will increase. The increase in velocity of wind flowing upwardly creates a reduction in air pressure in the annular space bounded by the turbine 10 with the result that the inherent resistance of the turbine to rotation about said central vertical axis is also reduced.The amount of wind energy available for conversion is further increased by the venturi 6 because wind flowing through these openings is accelerated and directed on to the pivotable turbine blades 11 in such a way as to assist in driving the turbine 10 in an anti-clockwise direction, the blades 5 defining the venturi shielding from the wind the oncoming blades 11 of the turbine, thereby substantially reducing drag on the turbine and enabling the turbine to rotate at a higher linear velocity than that of the wind.
As the velocity of the wind directed on to the pivotable turbine blades 11 gradually increases, each of the blades is caused to pivot about its vertical axis in an anti-clockwise direction against the action of the restraining torsion bar 12 from an initial start position, in which the major chord of the blade lies at an angle of +30 to a tangent of the circle passing through the vertical pivotal axes of the blades 11 to a normal running position in which the major chord of the blade lies at an angle of +5 to said tangent, where the blade is restrained by the torsion bar.In the event of the velocity of the wind reaching or exceeding a maximum acceptable value e.g. gale force, causing the turbine 10 to rotate at a speed above a desired predetermined value, the additional centrifugal force on each of the turbine blades 11 causes the blade to pivot further about its vertical axis against the action of its associated restraining torsion bar 12 until the major chord of the turbine blade lies in a "feathering" position at an angle of -15" to said tangent, at about which position aerodynamic spoiling will occur thus limiting any further increase of speed above a predetermined maximum value irrespective of the velocity of the wind.
The upper annular body 3 may be made of reinforced concrete and may have inlet and outlet ports (not shown) connected by pipework to a pump by which water or other fluid can be pumped into or out of the annular body which can be used for the storage of water or other fluid.
The assembly of stator 32, turbine 40 and fan (not shown) of the second preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 5 is of substantially identical construction to the assembly of stator 2, turbine 10 and fan 14 of the first preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 1 but, in this case, the assembly is permanently secured to the upper part of a lattice work tower 31.
In the third preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figures 6 and 7, the assembly of stator 52, turbine 60 and fan (not shown) is of substantially identical construction to the assembly of the first preferred form of wind energy convertor shown in Figure 1 but, in this case, the assembly of stator 52, turbine 60 and fan is spaced inwardly of a plurality of vertical columns 51 and is suspended from the vertical columns by a plurality of flexible ties 53. Guy ropes 54 extend between the upper part of each vertical column 51 and a ground anchor (not shown).
The wind energy convertor illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is especially suitable for use in a muiti-unit wind energy convertor complex comprising a multiplicity of mutually spaced vertical columns bounding between them a
plurality of mutually spaced vertical axes on each of at least some of which an assembly of stator, turbine and fan is suspended by flexible ties from surrounding vertical columns, the rotational mechanical energy provided by the several assemblies being accumulated.
The wind energy convertors illustrated in
Figures 1 to 4, 5 and 6 and 7 may each include an electric generator carried by the wind energy convertor at a position intermediate of the upper and lower ends of the convertor.
Claims (18)
1. A wind energy convertor comprising a plurality of upstanding elongate members uniformly spaced around a central vertical axis; a fan which is surrounded by, and directly or indirectly supported by the upper ends of, the upstanding members in such a way that the fan is freely rotatable about said vertical axis -and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending blades; a substantially circular turbine which is surrounded by, and directly or indirectly supported by uppermost parts of, the upstanding members in such a way that the turbine is freely rotatable about said vertical axis and which comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades extending lengthwise with respect to the upstanding members; and an annular body which is supported by the upstanding members and which is coaxial with and is positioned adjacent to the outer circumferential edge of the fan, the upper surface of the annular body being above the fan and being so shaped as to cause the velocity of wind that blows against the surface to increase as it passes over the surface, thereby creating a reduction in air pressure in the circular space bounded by the annular body so that wind blowing against the blades of the turbine and driving the turbine rotatably about said vertical axis is drawn upwardly within the turbine to drive the fan rotatably about said vertical axis in the same rotational direction as the turbine, thereby converting the energy of the wind into rotational mechanical energy.
2. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 1, wherein the fan and the turbine are rigidly secured together so that both will rotate at the same speed.
3. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 1 or 2, wherein the upstanding elongate members are substantially vertical columns on or with respect to which the annular body is slidably or otherwise so mounted that it can be raised or lowered when required; the fan and turbine are carried by and are freely rotatable with respect to the annular body so that they are indirectly supported by the vertical columns; and the vertical columns have associated means for raising or lowering the annular body, and the fan and turbine carried thereby, with respect to the columns and for locking the annular body with respect to the columns when it is in the desired position.
4. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 3, wherein each column has at its upper and lower ends pulleys around which at least one hawser connected to the annular body can be drawn by at least one associated motor or other drive means for raising or lowering the annular body, and the fan and turbine carried thereby.
5. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 3 or 4, wherein each vertical column carries locking means by which the annular body can be mechanically locked to the column when the annular body is in the desired position.
6. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of upstanding elongate members are the legs of a lattice work tower or pylon.
7. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some of the upstanding elongate members constitute structural members of a building on which the wind energy convertor is supported.
8. A wind energy convertor as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the upper surface of the annular body is of such a shape as to encourage accelerated flow of the wind over its surface.
9. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 8, wherein the angle of inclination of the upper surface of the annular body to the vertical axis increases smoothly in an upward direction.
10. A wind energy convertor as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the wind energy convertor includes, radially outwardly of and surrounding the turbine, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades which depend from the annular body and extend lengthwise with respect to the columns or other upstanding members and which define, between adjacent blades, a plurality of venturi through which wind is directed on to the blades of the turbine, the surfaces of the venturi blades being so shaped as to direct the wind on to the blades of the turbine and, at the same time, to shield from the wind the on-coming blades of the turbine.
11. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 10, wherein the venturi blades are secured between the annular body and a second annular body which is coaxial with and spaced
below the first annular body.
12. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 10 or 11, wherein the radially outer
edges of the venturi blades are inclined radi
ally outwardly in a direction towards the upper
end of the convertor.
13. A wind energy convertor as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the
upstanding elongate members, the first annular
body, and, when present, the second annular
body are manufactured in situ of reinforced
concrete.
14. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 11, wherein, to provide for free rotata
ble motion of the fan and the turbine about the vertical axis of the plurality of upstanding elongate members, the fan and the turbine has at or near its circumferential edge means engaging in a circular track which is directly or indirectly carried by the first annular body or the second annular body.
15. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 14, wherein the fan is dependent from, and rotatably mounted to run in, a circular track carried on the undersurface of the first annular body positioned above the fan and the turbine is rotatably mounted to run in a circular track carried on the upper surface of the second annular body.
16. A wind energy convertor as claimed in
Claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind energy convertor includes, radially outwardly of and surrounding the turbine, a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades which extend lengthwise with respect to the vertical columns or other upstanding members and are secured between the annular body and a second annular body which is coaxial with and spaced below the first annular body and which define, between adjacent blades, a plurality of venturi through which wind is directed on to the blades of the turbine, the surfaces of the venturi blades being so shaped as to direct the wind on to the blades of the turbine and, at the same time, to shield from the wind the on-coming blades of the turbine and wherein the first and second annular bodies, and the fan and the turbine carried thereby, are spaced inwardly of the plurality of elongate members and are suspended from the elongate members by flexible ties.
17. A multi-unit wind energy convertor complex comprising a multiplicity of wind energy convertors as claimed in Claim 16, the rotational mechanical energy provided by the several units being accumulated.
18. A wind energy convertor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in any one of Figures 1 to 4, 5, and 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB858515324A GB8515324D0 (en) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-06-17 | Wind energy convertor |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8614768D0 GB8614768D0 (en) | 1986-07-23 |
| GB2176850A true GB2176850A (en) | 1987-01-07 |
Family
ID=10580869
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB858515324A Pending GB8515324D0 (en) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-06-17 | Wind energy convertor |
| GB08614768A Withdrawn GB2176850A (en) | 1985-06-17 | 1986-06-17 | An improved wind energy convertor |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB858515324A Pending GB8515324D0 (en) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-06-17 | Wind energy convertor |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6238879A (en) |
| GB (2) | GB8515324D0 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA864490B (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2185289A (en) * | 1986-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | Mewburn Crook Co Ltd | Wind energy convertor |
| GB2199377A (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1988-07-06 | Mewburn Crook Co Ltd | Wind energy convertor |
| GB2269859A (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1994-02-23 | Clive Murray Coker | Vertical axis wind turbine. |
| GB2293414A (en) * | 1994-09-22 | 1996-03-27 | Lai Yu Ming | Wind-driven ventilating fan |
| WO2002046619A2 (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2002-06-13 | Arup (Pvt) Ltd | Fan assembly |
| WO2015014982A1 (en) * | 2013-08-01 | 2015-02-05 | Rolf Dieter Mohl | Turbine device and production and use thereof |
| DE102019107880A1 (en) | 2018-03-28 | 2019-10-02 | Frank Kwiatkowski | Device for generating electrical energy by utilizing wind power |
| GB2601764A (en) * | 2020-12-09 | 2022-06-15 | Coulson Neil | Energy extraction system and method of use |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR100939803B1 (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2010-02-02 | (주)그린파워텍 | Small Wind Powered Generator |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB169733A (en) * | 1919-06-14 | 1921-09-30 | Joseph Escaffre | Improvements in or relating to wind motors |
| GB225475A (en) * | 1924-06-20 | 1924-12-04 | John Tydings | Improvements in wind motors |
| GB647929A (en) * | 1948-09-13 | 1950-12-28 | William James Heppell | Improvements in and relating to wind motors |
| US4137009A (en) * | 1976-11-05 | 1979-01-30 | Board Of Regents University Of Nevada System | Pivoted blade barrel rotor wind turbine |
| GB2083564A (en) * | 1980-09-09 | 1982-03-24 | Mewburn Crook Anthony James Se | An Improved Wind Energy Convertor |
-
1985
- 1985-06-17 GB GB858515324A patent/GB8515324D0/en active Pending
-
1986
- 1986-06-16 ZA ZA864490A patent/ZA864490B/en unknown
- 1986-06-17 JP JP61139395A patent/JPS6238879A/en active Pending
- 1986-06-17 GB GB08614768A patent/GB2176850A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB169733A (en) * | 1919-06-14 | 1921-09-30 | Joseph Escaffre | Improvements in or relating to wind motors |
| GB225475A (en) * | 1924-06-20 | 1924-12-04 | John Tydings | Improvements in wind motors |
| GB647929A (en) * | 1948-09-13 | 1950-12-28 | William James Heppell | Improvements in and relating to wind motors |
| US4137009A (en) * | 1976-11-05 | 1979-01-30 | Board Of Regents University Of Nevada System | Pivoted blade barrel rotor wind turbine |
| GB2083564A (en) * | 1980-09-09 | 1982-03-24 | Mewburn Crook Anthony James Se | An Improved Wind Energy Convertor |
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2185289A (en) * | 1986-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | Mewburn Crook Co Ltd | Wind energy convertor |
| GB2199377A (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1988-07-06 | Mewburn Crook Co Ltd | Wind energy convertor |
| GB2199377B (en) * | 1986-11-04 | 1991-06-05 | Mewburn Crook Co Ltd | A wind energy convertor |
| GB2269859A (en) * | 1992-08-20 | 1994-02-23 | Clive Murray Coker | Vertical axis wind turbine. |
| GB2293414A (en) * | 1994-09-22 | 1996-03-27 | Lai Yu Ming | Wind-driven ventilating fan |
| WO2002046619A2 (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2002-06-13 | Arup (Pvt) Ltd | Fan assembly |
| WO2002046619A3 (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2003-02-13 | Arup Pvt Ltd | Fan assembly |
| WO2015014982A1 (en) * | 2013-08-01 | 2015-02-05 | Rolf Dieter Mohl | Turbine device and production and use thereof |
| DE102019107880A1 (en) | 2018-03-28 | 2019-10-02 | Frank Kwiatkowski | Device for generating electrical energy by utilizing wind power |
| DE102019107880B4 (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2020-12-10 | Frank Kwiatkowski | Device for generating electrical energy by using wind power |
| GB2601764A (en) * | 2020-12-09 | 2022-06-15 | Coulson Neil | Energy extraction system and method of use |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6238879A (en) | 1987-02-19 |
| GB8614768D0 (en) | 1986-07-23 |
| ZA864490B (en) | 1987-02-25 |
| GB8515324D0 (en) | 1985-07-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |