GB2286637A - Support apparatus for wind turbines and electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine which comprises a plurality of vertically aligned blades 1 mounted on rotor arms 3 for rotation about a generally vertical axis is supported from an annular structure secured to the outer circumference of a pylon 2 or the like carrying one or more high tension cables. The rotor arms include at their radially innermost ends tracking means which cooperate with complementary tracking means of the annular support structure to enable the rotor arms and blades to rotate about the support apparatus under the influence of wind pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR WIND TURBINES AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT This invention relates to support apparatus for electrical equipment and wind turbines. More especially the invention concerns pylons on which are mounted one or more wind turbines having rotors mounted for rotation about horizontal or vertical axes and one or more supports for electricity transmission lines or one or more lighting units.

Vertical axis wind turbines have fixed geometry blades and enjoy several advantages over more conventional wind turbines having variable geometry blades, these including eliminating the need for a yaw control system and lower design and manufacturing costs.

Several designs of vertical axis wind turbines are known and have been employed to generate electricity.

These known machines have been mounted on specially designed and built towers and include either a gear box and power generator mounted within the structure of the respective tower or in a plant room located at the tower base with a connecting drive shaft to the rotor arm of the turbine. Existing wind turbines are relatively expensive to construct largely due to the high civil engineering cost of the tower. As larger and more powerful wind turbines are developed, so more expensive towers will need to be built to support them. Furthermore the power output of such known wind turbines is limited.

Electricity transmission lines are conventionally supported on pylons and one object of this invention is to provide apparatus capable not only of supporting electricity transmission lines but also one or more wind turbines.

Another object of the invention is to provide lighting columns for use on, for example, main roads capable also of supporting one or more vertical axis wind turbines.

Accordingly, the present invention provides in one aspect support apparatus for one or more high tension electricity transmission lines and at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of rotatable blades supported from a structure secured to the support apparatus.

In another aspect, the invention provides support apparatus for one or more high tension electricity transmission lines and at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of vertically aligned blades mounted on rotor arms for rotation about a generally vertical axis, the rotor arms being supported from a structure secured to the outer circumference of the support apparatus, and including at their radially innermost ends tracking means which cooperate with complementary tracking means of the annular support structure to enable the rotor arms and blades to rotate about the support apparatus under the influence of wind pressure.

The support apparatus preferably comprises a pylon fabricated from angled steel into a lattice tower, tubular steel, pre-cast concrete sections, slip formed concrete, carbon fibres or the like.

The or each wind turbine may comprise a single module secured around the circumference of the pylon either above or below the supports for high tension transmission lines.

Each wind turbine may consist of a segmental framework manufactured from a high strength material such as steel, this framework being attached onto or around the circumference of the pylon. Rotor arms and blades of the or each wind turbine may be carried by a ring mounted for rotation about the tower circumference. The ring may be supported on rollers, bearings or the like forming parts of a track carried by the framework. On the inside of the rotor arm ring may be secured a gear ring located around the whole circumference of the rotor arm ring. The drive for the or each gear box and generator may be taken from the gear ring. Power may be extracted from the turbine via one or more generators or alternators.

The exterior of the framework may be enclosed with a cladding material to protect the assembly and to provide a smooth rounded surface which offers less wind resistance.

The generators may be of varying power outputs and may be mounted in diagonally opposed pairs to enable the power output to be kept at its optimum by engaging or disengaging individual generator sets from the main drive as the wind speed varies. Using this type of power control a speed related brake may not be necessary; however, a parking brake may be required to allow maintenance work to be carried out. It is envisaged that this method of clutching and declutching could be controlled automatically via a wind speed indicator and a small computer. They may also be taken out of drive for repair and planned maintenance. In an alternative arrangement, an alternator may be provided.

The framework and the drive ring may be fixed via shock absorbing rubber blocks or the like depending on the predicted lateral forces to be exerted in the pylon.

The rotor arms and/or blades may be designed and manufactured using existing technology. Alternatively, due to their size they may be produced as a lattice framework from a relatively light weight alloy, carbon fibre Or similar material. The rotor arms and/or blades may be produced in sections for ease of erection and tensioning cables maybe employed to assist their assembly.

Tensioning cables may be employed to enhance rigidity of the structure. Alternatively, suspension guys maybe used via a strut mounted close to the turbine unit. Indeed any conventional means of support may be used. The rotor arms and or blades may also be clad with aluminium, fibre glass, fabric or similar material to increase their resistance to damage due for example, to inclement weather.

Means may be provided to feather the blades.

In another aspect, the invention provides support apparatus for one or more lighting units and at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of vertically aligned blades mounted on rotor arms for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support apparatus.

The or each wind turbine is preferably connected through an alternator to a battery which operates to supply electricity to the or each lighting unit. Means connected to a mains supply through a switching transformer may be provided either to supplement or replace power supplied by the battery.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way -of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the sole Figure is a side view of apparatus in accordance with a first aspect of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated a pair of vertically aligned blades 1 are caused to rotate about a vertical axis around a pylon 2 by the wind. The pylon may be fabricated or constructed from angled steel into a lattice tower, tubular steel, pre-cast concrete sections, slipformed concrete, carbon fibres or the like. The height of the pylon will vary depending on local conditions and requirement. The blades 1 are supported on rotor arms 3 forming part of a turbine module 4. The rotor arms 3 and blades l are preferably manufactured from a light weight material such as carbon fibre tube. Tensioning cables may be run along the inside of the frame to provide enhanced rigidity. The blades may be attached to the respective rotor arm by hinged flanges to allow the blades to be folded downwardly under the respective arm during erection.

A power house is shown at 5.

Positioned on the pylon and below the wind turbines are two outwardly extending arms 6 including insulated supports 7 for high tension transmission lines. Thus, the pylons support both the wind turbine 4 and high tension transmission lines supported from the insulators 7.

As shown, the wind turbine 4 is positioned above the transmission line support arms 6. Alternatively, the wind turbine may be positioned below the arms 6 or, if more than one turbine is provided, one above and one below the support arms 6. The pylon 2 may support only one or more than two (possibly six) support arms 6.

In an illustrateA embodiment, lighting columns to be found along the central reservations of main roads and motorways may provide supporting structures for one or more vertical axis wind turbines. These turbines may be of limited diameter thereby confining their radial extent to the central reservation in which the lighting columns are situated. The turbines are connected through alternators to charge a 6, 12 or 24 volt battery (or indeed any battery of different voltage) to provide electrical power for the lighting units supported by the pylons. The lighting units may also be selectively connected through transformers and automatic switching devices to a mains supply.

It is to be understood that the embodiment described and illustrated is merely exemplary of vertical axis wind turbine units in accordance with the invention and that modifications can be made there to without departing from the true scope of the invention. Thus, whereas the units disclosed include a pair of blades, units including more than two blades can be employed. Thus a unit may include two pairs of blades, the blades of each pair being positioned are opposite the other.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for supporting one or more high tension electricity transmission lines, said apparatus also supporting at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of rotatable blades supported from a structure secured to the supporting apparatus.

2. Apparatus for supporting one or more high tension electricity transmission lines and at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of vertically aligned blades mounted on rotor arms for rotation about a generally vertical axis, the rotor arms being supported from a structure secured to the outer circumference of the support apparatus, and including at their radially innermost ends tracking means which cooperate with complementary tracking means of the annular support structure to enable the rotor arms and blades to rotate about the support apparatus under the influence of wind pressure.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a pylon fabricated from angled steel into a lattice tower or tubular steel or pre-cast concrete sections or slip formed concrete or carbon fibres.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the or each wind turbine comprises a single module secured around the circumference of the pylon either above or below the supports for high tension transmission lines.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each wind turbine comprises a segmental framework attached onto or around the circumference of the pylon.

6. Support apparatus for one or more lighting units and at least one wind turbine which comprises a plurality of vertically aligned blades mounted on rotor arms for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the or each wind turbine is connected through an alternator to a battery which operates to supply electricity to the or each lighting unit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein means connected to a mains supply through a switching transformer is provided either to supplement or replace power supplied by the battery.

9. Apparatus substantially as herein described and as described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.