GB2570642A

GB2570642A - Turbine blade

Info

Publication number: GB2570642A
Application number: GB1801072.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mcloughlin Stephen; John Galt Harvey; Bryn Kettlety Robert
Original assignee: Windward Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: WINDWARD ENGINEERING LIMITED
Priority date: 2018-01-23
Filing date: 2018-01-23
Publication date: 2019-08-07
Also published as: GB201801072D0

Abstract

A turbine rotor is disclosed. The turbine rotor comprises a pair of non-electrically conducting opposing circular plates 12,13 spaced apart by blades 11. The ends 12,13 rotate about a common axis X-X. At least one of the plates may support an array of magnets (14, Figure 2B), spaced around the axis and at the periphery of the plate. The blades may be formed by 3d printing and the rotor may be secured in a housing 20. The turbine rotor is used to form part of an electricity generator, in particular one that is wind powered. Coils 24 are disposed on an end 21 of the casing 20, opposite the magnets. In use, rotation of the blades induces a current in the coils. The coils can be wired to create multiple phases of electricity.

Description

The invention relates to a turbine blade, especially wind turbine blades.

According to the present invention there is provided a turbine blade having a pair of opposing circular plates which rotate on a common axis, said plates being spaced apart by blades, and wherein said circular plates are formed of non-electrically conductive material.

Preferably at least one of said circular plates supports an array of magnets. Preferably the magnets are radially spaced around said axis. Preferably the magnets are adjacent the periphery on the circular plate.

Preferably at least the blades are formed by 3D printing.

Preferably the opposing plates are secured to and rotate in a housing which may be circular or polygonal.

Preferably the turbine blade forms part of a novel turbine to generate electricity as described and claimed in co-pending patent application no. , the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the components the turbine blade as part of a turbine,

Figure 2A shows a plan view of coils on end plates of the turbine

Figure 2B shows a plan view of magnets on a rotating member circular plate,

Figure 2C shows a schematic cross section view of two adjacent coils and three magnets, and

Figure 3 shows an assembled view of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a turbine 1 for generating electricity.

Turbine 1 has a turbine blade 10 according to the invention, and a casing 20.

Rotating turbine blade 10 of the invention has six (or other number) blades 11 radially spaced in a circular array which are supported for rotation about an axis X-X between a pair of circular plates 12,13. Plates 12,13 have end faces 12A,13A. As shown in Figure 2B, plate end face 12A supports an array of forty eight magnets 14. Magnets 14 may be on the surface of end face 12A or embedded in it. Magnets 14 are radially spaced equally about the axis X and lie adjacent the periphery of circular plate 12. Plates 12,13 are made of non-electrically conductive material

Casing 20 has a pair of spaced octagonal (or other sided polygon shape or circular) end plates 21,22 with axis X-X passing through their centre. End plate 21 opposes circular plate 12, with its face 21A facing end face 12A of circular plate 12. End plate 22 opposes circular plate 13, with its face 22A facing end face 13A of circular plate 13.

As shown in Figure 1 and 2A, end plate face 21A supports an array of thirty six coils 24. Coils 24 may be on the surface of end plate face 21A or embedded in it. Coils 24 are radially spaced equally about the axis X-X and lie adjacent the periphery of hexagonal end plate 21.

End plates 21,22 of casing 20 are spaced apart by six elongate spacers 25. Spacers 25 each have slots 25 A to engage with projections 2 IB and 22B on the octagonal edges of end plates 21,22.

The end plates may be octagonal with elongate spacers between hexagonal end plates edges. Preferably six spacers are provided to create an octagonal elongate casing with an air inlet and air outlet in the gaps between the six spacers. Casing has two missing spacers to create a wind flow “IN” gap A and a wind flow “OUT’ gap B, whereby die turbine blades can be rotated by the wind.

In use rotation of the rotating member induces current in the coils.

Ideally the casing is also made of non-ferrous material. The use of non-ferrous material results in zero field flux draw towards the coils.

It is envisaged that at least the blades could be made of plastic (e.g. by a 3D printing process) and the remaining parts of the turbine blade and its casing formed from sheet material such as plywood or plastics sheet material. This makes the turbine blade and its casing very economical to produce. Alternatively the entire turbine blade (apart from the magnets) could be made from 3D printing.

Although 48 magnets are shown with 36 coils, the number of coils and magnets could be different. It has been found beneficial however that there are four magnets for every three coils. The coils are preferably elongate with two straight side edges with semi-circular ends. The width of magnet is preferably not greater than the width of the coils between the two straight edges.

As shown in Figure 2C there is shown a schematic cross section view of two adjacent coils 24 each with first and second straight side edges 24A,24B, and three magnets 14A,14B,14C passing over the coils. It will be seen that the circumferential spacing of magnets 14 with respect to the coils 24 is such that when one magnet is positioned over a coil, the adjacent magnet is positioned over a space between coils. Also the circumferential spacing between adjacent magnets is such that in rotation when one magnet 14C is positioned over the second longitudinal side edge 24B of a coil, the adjacent magnet 14B is positioned over the space between coils, and the next adjacent magnet 14A is just passing over the first longitudinal side edge 24A of the adjacent coil.

Preferably the coils are wired to create two or more phases of electricity generation. Preferably three phases.

It is envisaged that the turbine 1 incorporating the turbine blade 10 of the invention may conveniently be positioned along the top edge of a solar photovoltaic panel (e.g. in a solar farm) with the turbine benefitting from wind which is accelerated over the top of the solar panel.

Although the housing in the drawing is shown as polygonal, the housing could be circular with an air entry and exit defined as a percentage of the circumference. The notion behind this is that if the interior surface has a circumference, internal drag caused by eddying of the wind within the interior of the turbine housing will be minimized, thereby increasing turbine efficiency. Since the components may be 3D printed, the circular design can easily be achieved cheaply using this manufacturing process.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example the turbine blade could be used in a design of turbine other than that shown described above and shown in the drawings.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A turbine blade having a pair of opposing circular plates which rotate on a common axis, said plates being spaced apart by blades, and wherein said circular plates are formed of nonelectrically conductive material.

2. A turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said circular plates supports an array of magnets.

3. A turbine blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the magnets are radially spaced around said axis.

4. A turbine blade according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the magnets are adjacent the periphery of the circular plate.

5. A turbine blade according to any preceding claim, wherein at least the blades are formed by 3D printing.

6. A turbine blade according to any preceding claim, wherein the opposing plates are secured to and rotate in a housing which may be polygonal or circular.