JP2011027078A - Small wind power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small wind power generator capable of changing the direction of a wind turbine to such a degree that wind power acting on a blade can be sufficiently reduced in a strong wind. <P>SOLUTION: The small wind power generator M is configured so that a wind turbine 2 is rotated by receiving a wind W and a nacelle 3 generates power by the rotation of the wind turbine 2. A rotational speed detection means 5 detects the rotational speed RV of the wind turbine 2. A clutch means 6 provided between the wind turbine 2 and a wind turbine direction changing means 7 transmits the rotation of the wind turbine 2 to the wind turbine direction changing means 7 when the rotational speed RV of the wind turbine 2 is equal to or higher than a reference value, and does not transmit the rotation of the wind turbine 2 to the wind turbine direction changing means 7 when the rotational speed RV of the wind turbine 2 is lower than the reference value. The wind turbine direction changing means 7 is driven by the rotation of the wind turbine 2 to change the direction of the wind turbine 2 in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small wind power generator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small wind power generator that changes the direction of the windmill so that the wind force acting on the blades is reduced when the wind is strong.

  In recent years, wind power generators have attracted attention as power generators that generate electricity using clean natural energy. The wind turbine generator includes a wind turbine having a plurality of blades and a nacelle, the wind turbine receives wind, the wind turbine rotates when wind acts on the blades, and the generator in the nacelle is connected to the rotation shaft of the wind turbine. Is driven to generate electricity.

  In a wind power generator, when the wind force acting on the blades increases in a strong wind, the rotational speed of the windmill increases, the blades break, and the windmill may be damaged. Further, there is a risk that the generator will over-rotate due to an increase in the rotational speed of the windmill and abnormal power generation will occur.

  In order to avoid such a situation, in the large wind power generator, a pitch angle adjusting means for adjusting the pitch angle of the blade, which is composed of a servo motor, a bevel gear mechanism, a speed reducer, and the like, is provided at the base end of the blade, It is known that by adjusting the pitch angle so that the blade is parallel to the wind, the wind speed acting on the blade is reduced to reduce the rotational speed of the windmill.

  As described above, the pitch angle adjusting means is large because it requires a drive source and a pitch angle changing mechanism, and such a pitch angle adjusting means is used for a small wind power generator having a space constraint. It is difficult to provide at the end.

  In Patent Document 1, without using such a pitch angle adjusting means, the struts and branch lines supporting the windmill and the nacelle are made of a material that can be easily bent, and the struts and the branch lines are bent due to the elasticity of the material in a strong wind. There has been proposed a technique for reducing the wind force acting on the blade by changing the direction of the windmill and the nacelle itself.

JP-A-11-270456

  However, in the technique proposed in Patent Document 1, in order to change the direction of the windmill and the nacelle, the material of the support and the branch line needs elasticity, while the support and the support line support the windmill and the nacelle. Therefore, these materials also need a certain degree of rigidity. Therefore, there is a possibility that the direction of the windmill and the nacelle cannot be sufficiently changed by sufficiently utilizing the characteristics of the material of the struts and the branch lines to sufficiently reduce the wind force acting on the blade in a strong wind.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a small wind power generator capable of changing the direction of a windmill so that the wind force acting on a blade can be sufficiently reduced in a strong wind.

  In order to solve the above problems, a small wind turbine generator according to the present invention includes a windmill that receives wind to rotate, a nacelle that generates power by being driven by the rotation of the windmill, and a wind turbine that is driven by the rotation of the windmill. Wind turbine direction changing means for changing the direction in either the vertical direction or the left and right direction, a rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the wind turbine, and a rotational speed provided between the wind turbine and the wind turbine direction changing means. When the rotational speed of the windmill detected by the detection means is equal to or higher than the reference value, the rotation of the windmill is transmitted to the windmill direction changing means, and when the rotational speed of the windmill is less than the reference value, the rotation of the windmill is transmitted to the windmill direction changing means. And a clutch means for preventing the above.

  Here, “the direction of the windmill” means the direction with respect to the wind received by the windmill. The “reference value” means a threshold value of the rotational speed of the windmill, and is the rotational speed of the windmill when the wind speed is about 16 m / sec, specifically about 600 rpm, more preferably about 550 rpm. It is.

  Further, in the small wind power generator according to the present invention, the clutch means has a rotational speed of the windmill detected by the rotational speed detecting means equal to or higher than a reference value, and a duration of the rotational speed equal to or higher than the reference value is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. Sometimes the rotation of the windmill may be transmitted to the windmill direction changing means.

  Here, the “predetermined time” means a threshold value for the duration of the rotation speed equal to or higher than the reference value, and is preferably about 5 seconds.

  In the small wind power generator according to the present invention, the windmill direction changing means may change the direction of the windmill until the windmill is substantially perpendicular to the wind.

  Here, “substantially perpendicular to the wind” means a state in which the windmill is oriented substantially perpendicular to the wind. Specifically, the windmill is inclined at about 80 degrees or more with respect to the wind. Preferably, it is a state inclined at about 85 degrees or more with respect to the wind.

  Moreover, you may provide the locking means which fixes the direction of the windmill which became the substantially perpendicular | vertical state with respect to the wind.

  Here, “being in a substantially vertical state” is not limited to the case in which the state is substantially in a substantially vertical state, but includes the case in which the state is nearly in a vertical state.

  According to the small wind turbine generator of the present invention, the windmill that receives wind to rotate, the nacelle that generates power by being driven by the rotation of the windmill, and the direction of the windmill that is driven by the rotation of the windmill to change the direction of the windmill. Provided between the windmill and the windmill direction changing means, and detected by the rotational speed detecting means. The windmill direction changing means for changing the direction toward one of the directions, the rotational speed detecting means for detecting the rotational speed of the windmill, and the windmill and the windmill direction changing means. Clutch means for transmitting the rotation of the windmill to the windmill direction changing means when the rotation speed of the windmill is equal to or higher than the reference value, and not transmitting the rotation of the windmill to the windmill direction changing means when the rotation speed of the windmill is less than the reference value. It is possible to change the direction of the windmill by utilizing the rotation of the windmill without providing a new drive source, and it is not necessary to provide a new drive source. Applicable to small wind power generator having a constraint are possible.

  Further, the small wind power generator of the present invention does not use the characteristics of the material, but changes the direction of the windmill by the windmill direction changing means, so that the wind force acting on the blades is sufficiently reduced in a strong wind. The direction of the windmill can be changed.

The front view of the small wind power generator which is embodiment of this invention Side view of a small wind power generator according to an embodiment of the present invention Top view of a small wind power generator according to an embodiment of the present invention The aspect figure at the time of the strong wind of the small wind power generator which is embodiment of this invention

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the small wind power generator of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of a small wind power generator M that is an embodiment of the small wind power generator of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the small wind power generator M, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the small wind power generator M. Indicates. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a part is shown in cross section and the inside is shown for easy understanding.

  The small wind power generator M includes a base unit 1, a windmill 2 that receives wind W, a nacelle 3 that generates power by the rotation of the windmill 2, a windmill 2 whose direction has changed, and a lock mechanism 4 that fixes the nacelle 3, a windmill 2 includes a tachometer 5 that detects the rotation speed of the wind turbine 2, a clutch device 6 that transmits the rotation of the windmill 2, and a windmill direction changing mechanism 7 that changes the directions of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 by the transmitted rotation.

  The base unit 1 supports the wind turbine 2, the nacelle 3, and the lock mechanism 4, and is fixedly supported at a stand 11, a substantially U-shaped frame 12 attached above the stand 11, and both ends of the frame 12. And a shaft 13 having a circular cross section.

  As illustrated, the base unit 1 supports the wind turbine 2 and the nacelle 3 with the shaft 13 passing through the nacelle 3, and supports the lock mechanism 4 at the lower part of the frame 12.

  The windmill 2 has a plurality of blades 21 and a rotation shaft 22. The windmill 2 receives the wind W, and the wind force acts on the blade 21, so that the rotation shaft 22 rotates. The pitch angle of the blade 21 is adjusted so that the rotating shaft 22 rotates in the direction R1 in the drawing when wind force acts.

  Here, when the direction of the windmill 2 is such that the blade 21 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 faces the wind W, the wind receiving area of the windmill 2 is maximized, and the wind force acting on the blade 21 is also maximized. Here, the wind receiving area means the area of the windmill 2 in the direction perpendicular to the wind W. If the orientation of the windmill 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is maintained during a strong wind, the rotational speed of the windmill 2 may increase and the blade 21 may break, or the generator 33 (described later) may perform abnormal power generation due to excessive rotation. There is.

  The nacelle 3 generates power by the rotation of the windmill 2. The nacelle 3 itself has bearings 31 provided on both sides so that the nacelle 3 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 13, and a protrusion 32 attached to the rear portion of the nacelle 3. And a generator 33, a drive shaft 34 that drives the generator 33, and a speed increaser 35 that is connected to the drive shaft 34 and accelerates the rotation of the windmill 2 and transmits it to the drive shaft 34.

  The speed-up gear 35 includes a gear 35 a having a large number of teeth connected to the rotary shaft 22 and a gear 35 b having a small number of teeth connected to the drive shaft 34. The nacelle 3 includes a tachometer 5, a clutch device 6, and a windmill direction changing mechanism 7 described later.

  The lock mechanism 4 fixes the nacelle 3 in which the direction of the windmill 2 is changed in a strong wind, and includes a substantially concave holder 41 and a spring 42 that connects the lower portion of the frame 12 and the bottom portion of the holder 41. Is done. The holder 41 forms a substantially concave shape by the protrusion 41a and the protrusion 41b. In this embodiment, the protrusion 41b is higher than the protrusion 41a. The operation of the lock mechanism 4 will be described later.

  The tachometer 5 is connected to the rotation shaft 22 and detects the rotation speed RV of the windmill 2. Specifically, the tachometer 5 detects the number of rotations per minute of the windmill 2. The rotational speed RV of the windmill 2 is sequentially transmitted to the clutch device 6 described later.

  The clutch device 6 transmits the rotation of the windmill 2 to the windmill direction changing mechanism 7 described later based on the rotational speed RV detected by the tachometer 5, and is connected to one end on the opposite side of the drive shaft 34. It is mainly composed of a clutch 61 and an output shaft 62 that rotates by transmission of the electromagnetic clutch 61.

  The rotation of the windmill 2 is always transmitted to the drive shaft 34 via the speed increaser 35. The rotational speed RV detected by the tachometer 5 is sequentially input to a control unit (not shown) of the clutch device 6, and the electromagnetic clutch 61 rotates the drive shaft 34 according to a command from the control unit (not shown) as an output shaft. 62.

  When the detected rotational speed RV is less than the reference value, the clutch device 6 turns off the electromagnetic clutch 61 and does not transmit the rotation of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62, and the rotational speed RV detected by the tachometer 5. Is equal to or greater than the reference value, the electromagnetic clutch 61 is turned on to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62. The reference value of the rotational speed RV is the rotational speed RV of the windmill 2 when the wind speed is about 16 m / sec, specifically about 600 rpm, more preferably about 550 rpm.

  Further, the clutch device can turn on the electromagnetic clutch 61 only when the rotation speed RV equal to or higher than the reference value continues for a predetermined time or more. Thereby, when strong winds, such as a gust of wind, are temporary, it can avoid that the direction of the windmill 2 is changed and power generation of the generator 33 decreases. The specific predetermined time is about 5 seconds.

  In addition, based on the direction information of the windmill 2 from the windmill direction changing mechanism 7, the clutch device 6 turns off the electromagnetic clutch 61 when the change in the direction of the windmill 2 is completed.

  Further, the clutch device 6 is turned off when the direction of the windmill 2 is in an initial state based on the direction information of the windmill 2 from the windmill direction changing mechanism 7, that is, when the direction of the windmill 2 has not started changing. When the direction of the windmill 2 is not in the initial state, that is, when the direction of the windmill 2 is changing or after the change is completed, the shaft lock mechanism built in the electromagnetic clutch 61 is operated to fix the output shaft 62. The output shaft 62 can be rotated without operating the shaft lock mechanism incorporated in the electromagnetic clutch 61.

  The windmill direction changing mechanism 7 changes the directions of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 using the rotation transmitted from the clutch device 6, and is a deceleration connected to the bevel gear 71, the rotating shaft 72, and the clutch device 6. Machine 73. This windmill direction changing mechanism 7 changes the direction of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 until the windmill 2 becomes substantially perpendicular to the wind W in a strong wind. The angle is changed to about 80 degrees or more, preferably about 85 degrees or more.

  The bevel gear 71 includes a bevel gear 71 a having a large number of teeth fixedly supported on the shaft 13 and a bevel gear 71 b having a small number of teeth connected to the rotary shaft 72. The speed reducer 73 includes a gear 73 a having a large number of teeth connected to the rotating shaft 72 and a gear 73 b having a small number of teeth connected to the output shaft 62.

  When the direction of the windmill 2 starts to change and the electromagnetic clutch 61 is in the off state, the windmill direction changing mechanism 7 does not transmit the rotation to the output shaft 62, so that the direction of the windmill 2 remains unchanged. It is to maintain in a state. Further, when the electromagnetic clutch 61 is in the on state, the windmill direction changing mechanism 7 decelerates the rotation of the output shaft 62 by the speed reducer 73 and transmits it to the rotating shaft 72, thereby being connected to the rotating shaft 72. The bevel gear 71b rotates around the bevel gear 71a in the direction R4 in the figure, and the bevel gear 71a is fixedly supported on the shaft 13, so that the nacelle 3 rotatably supported on the shaft 13 by the bearing 31 and The direction of the windmill 2 changes when the windmill 2 rotates about the shaft 13 in the R4 direction in the figure.

  Next, a series of operations of the small wind power generator M will be described. When the windmill 2 receives the wind W and the wind force acts on the blade 21, the rotating shaft 22 rotates in the R1 direction in the drawing. Here, the tachometer 5 detects the rotation speed RV of the rotating shaft 22 and outputs it to the clutch device 6. The rotation of the rotary shaft 22 is transmitted to the drive shaft 34 via the speed increaser 35, the drive shaft 34 rotates in the direction R2 in the figure, and the generator 33 generates power by the rotation of the drive shaft 34.

  When the rotational speed RV of the rotary shaft 22 is less than the reference value, the clutch device 6 does not transmit the rotation of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62 by turning off the electromagnetic clutch 61, and the shaft lock mechanism built in the electromagnetic clutch 61. Is not output to the output shaft 62. Thereby, the windmill direction changing mechanism 7 maintains the current direction of the windmill 2 without changing the direction of the windmill 2.

  When the rotational speed RV of the rotary shaft 22 is equal to or higher than the reference value, the clutch device 6 turns on the electromagnetic clutch 61 and transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62. The rotation of the output shaft 62 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 72 via the speed reducer 73, the rotation shaft 72 rotates in the R3 direction in the drawing, and the bevel gear 71b rotates around the bevel gear 71a in the R4 direction in the drawing. . As the nacelle 3 and the windmill 2 rotate about the shaft 13 in the direction R4 in the figure, the direction of the windmill 2 changes. Needless to say, even if the direction of the windmill 2 changes, the generator 33 continues to generate power as long as the drive shaft 34 rotates.

  FIG. 4 is an aspect diagram of the small wind power generator M during strong winds. In FIG. 4, to facilitate understanding, the internal structure of the nacelle 3 is illustrated, while the frame 12 is not illustrated.

  In FIG. 4, when phase A starts changing the direction of windmill 2, phase B is changing the direction of windmill 2 and before locking starts, phase C is changing the direction of windmill 2 and when locking starts, A situation D is a state in which the direction change of the windmill 2 is completed and the lock is completed.

  Aspect A will be described. In the phase A, the windmill 2 receives the wind W, so that the rotating shaft 22 rotates in the R1 direction in the figure, and the drive shaft 34 rotates in the R2 direction in the figure via the speed increaser 35, thereby generating the generator 33. Drive.

  During strong wind, the clutch device 6 transmits the rotation of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62 by the electromagnetic clutch 61, and the output shaft 62 rotates in the direction R2 in the drawing. The rotation of the output shaft 62 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 72 via the speed reducer 73, and the rotating shaft 72 rotates in the direction R3 in the drawing. When the bevel gear 71b connected to the rotation shaft 72 rotates around the bevel gear 71a, the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 start to rotate in the direction R4 in the drawing around the shaft 13.

  Aspect B will be described. In phase B, when the wind W received by the windmill 2 is strong and the rotational speed RV detected by the tachometer 5 is equal to or higher than a reference value, the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 are arranged so that the windmill 2 faces upward. Rotation is continued in the direction R4 in the figure centering on.

  Here, when the wind W received by the windmill 2 is weak and the rotational speed RV is less than the reference value, the clutch device 6 turns off the electromagnetic clutch 61 and the off-state electromagnetic clutch 61 Since the direction is changing, the output shaft 62 can be rotated without operating the built-in shaft lock mechanism. As a result, the output shaft 62 rotates reversely due to the weight of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3, and the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 return to the state of the phase A. When the direction of the windmill 2 returns to the initial state, that is, before the start of the change, the shaft lock mechanism built in the electromagnetic clutch 61 operates to fix the output shaft 62, and the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 maintain the state of the phase A. .

  Aspect C will be described. In aspect C, the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 continue to rotate in the direction R4 in the drawing around the shaft 13 so that the windmill 2 faces upward, and the windmill 2 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the wind W. When the direction of 2 changes, the protrusion 32 of the nacelle 3 presses the upper surface of the protrusion 41a of the lock mechanism 4, and the lock mechanism 4 starts to operate.

  When the protrusion 32 comes into contact with the upper surface of the protrusion 41a and the nacelle 3 rotates about the shaft 13 in the direction R4 in the figure, the spring 42 is bent and the holder 41 moves downward. In this aspect C, since the nacelle 3 is not locked, the mode when the wind W received by the windmill 2 is weak is the same as in the case of the phase B.

  The situation D will be described. In aspect D, if the nacelle 3 further rotates in the direction R4 around the shaft 13 after the holder 41 starts moving downward in the figure, the protrusion 32 passes through the upper surface of the protrusion 41a, and the concave holder Reach 41 recesses.

  The pressure from the protrusion 32 is lost, the spring 42 is restored, and the holder 41 moves upward. Thereby, the rear part of the nacelle 3 is hold | maintained by protrusion 41a and 41b, and the direction of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 is locked. That is, the lock mechanism 4 operates as a ratchet mechanism by the protrusion 32. When the change in the direction of the windmill 2 is completed and the electromagnetic clutch 61 is turned off, it is possible to avoid the nacelle 3 from continuing to press the protrusion 41b during locking. It is not limited to the above method that the nacelle 3 continues to press the protrusion 41B during locking, and the bevel gear 71b is not provided with teeth and the bevel gear 71b is idled. Correspondence is possible.

  The lock can be released by manually pressing down the holder 41 after the operator visually checks whether the small wind power generator M is damaged by a strong wind. The unlocked windmill 2 and nacelle 3 return to the phase A by reversely rotating around the shaft 13 due to their own weight.

  As described above, the small wind power generator M according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the tachometer 5, the clutch device 6, and the windmill direction changing mechanism 7, so that a windmill is not required without requiring a new drive source. The direction of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 can be sufficiently changed so that the wind receiving area of the windmill 2 is minimized when the wind 2 is strong due to the rotation of 2. Thereby, the wind force acting on the blade 21 is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the blade 21 from being broken due to an increase in the rotation speed and damaging the windmill 2 and the generator 33 from performing abnormal power generation.

  In addition, when the strong wind is temporary by transmitting the drive of the drive shaft 34 to the output shaft 62, the clutch device 6 transmits the drive of the drive shaft 34 only when the rotational speed RV equal to or higher than the reference value of the windmill 2 continues for a predetermined time or more. It is possible to avoid a decrease in power generation by changing the direction of the windmill 2.

  In the present embodiment, the windmill direction changing mechanism 7 has been described as changing the direction of the windmill 2 and the nacelle 3 so that the windmill 2 faces upward in a strong wind. What is necessary is just to change the direction of the windmill 2 so that the wind receiving area of the windmill 2 at the time becomes small, and the direction of the windmill 2 at the time of a strong wind is not limited upward. That is, the direction of the windmill 2 at the time of a strong wind may be downward, and may change to either one of the left-right direction.

  For example, by adjusting the pitch angle of the blade 21 and reversing the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 22, the windmill 2 may be changed to face downward in a strong wind. A new shaft extending in the direction is provided, and the bevel gear 71a is fixedly supported on the new shaft, and the bearing 13 is rotatable with respect to the shaft. It may be changed so as to face one side.

M Small wind turbine generator RV Rotational speed W Wind 2 Windmill 3 Nacelle 4 Lock mechanism 5 Tachometer 6 Clutch device 7 Windmill direction change mechanism

Claims (4)

A windmill that rotates in response to the wind,
A nacelle that is driven by the rotation of the wind turbine to generate power;
Windmill direction changing means that is driven by the rotation of the windmill and changes the direction of the windmill in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction;
Rotation speed detection means for detecting the rotation speed of the windmill;
Provided between the windmill and the windmill direction changing means, and transmitting the rotation of the windmill to the windmill direction changing means when the rotational speed of the windmill detected by the rotational speed detecting means is equal to or higher than a reference value; A small wind power generator comprising: clutch means for preventing the rotation of the windmill from being transmitted to the windmill direction changing means when the rotational speed of the windmill is less than the reference value.   The clutch means rotates the windmill when the rotational speed of the windmill detected by the rotational speed detection means is equal to or greater than the reference value and the duration of the rotational speed above the reference position is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The small wind power generator according to claim 1, wherein the small wind power generator is transmitted to the wind turbine direction changing means.   3. The small wind power generator according to claim 1, wherein the wind turbine direction changing unit is capable of changing a direction of the wind turbine until the wind turbine faces a direction substantially perpendicular to the wind. 4.   The small wind power generator according to claim 3, further comprising a lock unit that fixes a direction of the windmill that is substantially perpendicular to the wind.

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