WO2005002041A1

WO2005002041A1 - Wind power generator

Info

Publication number: WO2005002041A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/009062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nobuo Tobi
Original assignee: Yugen Kaisha Dc Create Engineering; Yugen Kaisha Act Engineering
Priority date: 2003-06-27
Filing date: 2004-06-21
Publication date: 2005-01-06
Also published as: JP2005020920A; JP3577073B1

Abstract

A novel technique enabling smooth start of blade wheels of a wind power generator for generating electric power by using the rotation of the blade wheels caused by a wind force. In a wind power generator (10), starting torque of propeller-type blade wheels (24, 26) is controlled using axial force occurring in the blade wheels. The control is made such that starting torque which the blade wheels need to overcome in order to change themselves from a stop state to a rotating state is, in a weak wind condition where a wind force is less than a predetermined value, less than starting torque expected in a strong wing condition where wind force is greater than the predetermined value. The starting torque control is performed by changing air gaps between rotors and stators of generators (36, 38).

Description

Technical field .

The present invention relates to a wind turbine generator that generates electric power by utilizing the rotation of a wind turbine by wind power, and more particularly to a technique for controlling a starting torque of a wind turbine.

Ming background art book

BACKGROUND ART A wind turbine generator that generates electric power by utilizing the rotation of a windmill by wind power is already known (see, for example, JP-A-2000-60096 and JP-A-2000-125408).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-60096 discloses an example of a wind power generator that can be called a stationary type that is installed and used on the ground or on a fixed object (for example, real estate) on the ground. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-125408 discloses an example of a wind power generation device that can be called a mobile type mounted on a mobile body including a vehicle. Disclosure of the invention

Generally, this type of wind turbine, whether stationary or mobile, is difficult to use in an environment where the wind turbine is rotating forever.

For example, if a stationary wind turbine is used, it is unlikely that it will occur constantly, as long as the natural phenomenon of natural wind is used, and the wind blows and stops irregularly. I do. On the other hand, a mobile wind power generator can be used in a mode in which natural wind is used to generate power when the mobile body on which it is mounted is stopped, but it can be used as a stationary wind power generator. Unlike the wind power generation device of the above, it can be used in a mode in which power is generated by utilizing wind generated in the moving body as the moving body moves relative to the atmosphere. The wind generated on the moving object due to the relative movement can be recognized as a relative wind or an artificial wind to distinguish it from natural wind.

Therefore, in this mobile wind power generator, when a moving object is moving and there is a relative wind, wind power can be generated without depending on natural wind. However, in this case, since the relative wind power depends on the moving speed of the moving object, if the moving speed decreases, the wind force tends to decrease accordingly. In addition, depending on the moving object, the stop and the movement are repeated, and accordingly, the relative wind stops and blows repeatedly.

Therefore, when using any of the wind turbines, there is a phase of transition from the stopped state of the wind turbine to the rotating state, that is, the start of the wind turbine.

In order for the wind turbine to start, it is necessary to overcome the rotational resistance, for example, the inertia of the wind turbine and the rotating body rotating therewith, the sliding resistance of these rotating elements, the magnetic force of the generator, etc. In addition, it is necessary to apply a starting torque large enough to overcome the rotational resistance. This starting torque is generally generated by wind power in the case of a wind power generator, so that a certain amount of wind is required to start a wind turbine.

Therefore, regardless of whether it is a stationary type or a mobile type, it is desirable to take special measures to smoothly start the wind turbine in the wind power generator.

In response to this demand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-60096 discloses a stationary wind power generator, in which the arrangement of the stator coil and the permanent magnet of the rotor is devised. A mechanism for dispersing the magnetic attraction force in the above, thereby smoothly starting the windmill is disclosed. Further, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-125408 does not disclose a mechanism for smooth start-up of a windmill in a mobile wind power generator, and even discloses such a problem. Not.

In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel technology for smooth start-up of a wind turbine in a wind turbine generator that generates power using the rotation of a wind turbine by wind power. Things.

The following aspects are obtained by the present invention. Each mode is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and if necessary, the other sections are cited in a format that cites the number. This is to facilitate understanding of some of the technical features described in this specification and some of the combinations thereof, and the technical features and the combinations thereof described in the present specification have the following aspects. It should not be construed as limited.

(1) A wind power generator that generates power using wind power,

A propeller-type wind turbine rotated by wind power about a wind turbine axis generally parallel to the wind direction;

A generator that generates power by rotating the windmill,

Based on the axial force generated in the wind turbine by the wind in a direction parallel to the axis of the wind turbine, the starting torque required for the wind turbine to overcome in order for the wind turbine to transition from the stopped state to the rotating state, A torque control mechanism for controlling, in a weak wind state in which the wind power is equal to or less than a set value, to be smaller than a starting torque assumed in a strong wind state larger than the set value

Including wind power generators.

In this device, the starting torque required for the wind turbine to overcome in order for the wind turbine to transition from the stopped state to the rotating state is reduced in a weak wind condition where the wind force is less than the set value. Thus, the starting torque is controlled to be smaller than the starting torque assumed in a strong wind state larger than the set value.

Therefore, according to this device, the windmill can be started smoothly in a weak wind state.

By the way, when the windmill is of a propeller type, when the windmill receives wind power from the front, the wind power is mainly converted to rotational force by the windmill, but at the same time it is also converted to axial force. This axial force is small in a weak wind condition and large in a strong wind condition.

By utilizing such a relationship between the axial force and the wind force, in the device according to the present mode, the above-described starting torque is controlled by the axial force.

In other words, according to this device, in a weak wind state, the wind turbine is started by reducing the starting torque, which the wind power should overcome, out of the rotational force and the axial force converted by the wind turbine, by the axial force. It has been smoothed, and thus the start of the wind turbine is performed using both the rotational force and the axial force.

The device according to this section can be configured as a stationary type or a mobile type. In addition, when configured as a mobile type, for example, the device can be mounted on the roof of a passenger car, mounted on the roof of a freight vehicle, or mounted on the roof of a railway vehicle.

Furthermore, when the device according to this section is configured as a mobile type, it is not possible to use the device to generate power using relative wind only when the moving body on which it is mounted is moving. It is not indispensable, and can be used to generate electricity using natural wind when the moving object is stopped.

(2) The generator is A stator,

A rotor that rotates with the wind turbine, faces the stator with an air gap therebetween, and is relatively rotatable with respect to the stator around a common generator axis.

And the torque control mechanism supports the rotor so as to be relatively movable with respect to the stator in the axial direction of the generator axis, and adjusts the axial position of the rotor by the axial force. However, the air gap is changed so as to be larger in the weak wind condition than in the strong wind condition. The wind according to the above mode (1), the present inventor has obtained the following findings as a result of research on a generator. Obtained. That is,

—Reducing the air gap between the rotor and the stator in the generator increases the magnetic force between the rotor and the stator, which increases the starting torque of the rotor and increases the power generation efficiency. Conversely, if the air gap is increased, the magnetic force between the rotor and the stator is reduced, which leads to the finding that the starting torque of the rotor is reduced, while the power generation efficiency is reduced. . Furthermore, by paying attention to this phenomenon, the present inventor can change the starting torque of the wind turbine by changing the air gap in a wind turbine generator equipped with such a generator. I also learned that there is. Further, the inventor has noticed that the air gap changes when the rotor is moved in the axial direction with respect to the stator.

Based on the findings of the inventor described above, in the device according to this section, the rotor is supported so as to be movable relative to the stator in the axial direction, and the axial position of the rotor is determined by the axial force of the windmill. Thus, the air gap is changed to be larger in a weak wind state than in a strong wind state. The generator according to this section is designed so that the stator has a coil and the rotor has a magnet for generating power jointly with the coil, or conversely, the rotor has a coil and the stator has However, it is possible to design in a form having a magnet for generating power in cooperation with the coil.

(3) The rotor and the stator have a pair of peripheral surfaces facing each other across the air gap coaxially with the generator axis, and at least one of the pair of peripheral surfaces is the generator shaft. The wind turbine generator according to item (2), having a continuous or discontinuous slope with respect to the line.

In general, assuming an inclined surface inclined with respect to a certain axis and an orthogonal straight line (radial straight line) which is a straight line orthogonal to the axis, and moving the inclined surface in parallel along the axis. Then, the intersection of the inclined plane and the orthogonal straight line moves on the orthogonal straight line with the parallel movement of the inclined plane. This is the effect of the ramp that converts axial motion into radial motion.

Specifically, it is assumed that a parallel plane B extending parallel to an axis A and an inclined plane C inclined at an angle to the axis A overlap each other in one radial direction of the axis A. I do. In this situation, when one of the parallel plane B and the inclined plane C is moved along the axis A with respect to the other, at a certain position on the axis A, the parallel plane B and the inclined plane C The radial distance between them varies. This change occurs equally for all positions on the axis A. In addition, this change can occur for combinations of inclined surfaces.

Applying this fact to the relationship between the rotor and the stator, if at least one of the peripheral surfaces of the rotor and the stator is inclined with respect to their axial direction, the radius between the rotor and the stator can be reduced. The directional distance varies with the axial position of the rotor, and the air gap between them also varies. By utilizing such a fact, in the device according to this section, at least one of the pair of peripheral surfaces where the rotor and the stator face each other with the air gap therebetween is continuous or discontinuous with respect to the generator axis. It is assumed that it has a typical inclined surface.

(4) The torque control mechanism is an elastic member provided between a stationary member and the rotor, and is elastically deformed by the axial force, thereby increasing the magnitude of the axial force and the axial direction of the rotor. The wind turbine generator according to any one of (2) and (3), including one that defines a relationship with a relative position.

In this device, an elastic member is provided between the stationary member and the rotor, and the elastic member is elastically deformed by the axial force, whereby the relationship between the magnitude of the axial force and the relative axial position of the rotor is increased. Is stipulated.

Therefore, according to this device, it is easy to appropriately associate the wind power and the air gap with each other for controlling the wind turbine starting torque.

(5) Further, a clutch connecting the windmill and the rotor to each other, the shaft being divided into two parts in the axial direction thereof, and the torque control mechanism being interposed between the two parts. The wind power generator according to claim 1, wherein the axial force disconnects the two parts from each other in the weak wind state and switches the two parts to each other in the strong wind state. apparatus.

According to this device, by controlling the transmission state of the rotational force between the windmill and the rotor using the clutch, it is possible to realize the control of the windmill starting torque.

Furthermore, according to this device, it is possible to switch the connection / disconnection state of the clutch by utilizing the axial force of the wind turbine.

(6) In order to generate power using wind power, the windmill axis is generally parallel to the wind direction. A propeller-type wind turbine that is rotated around by wind force, and a generator that generates electric power by rotating the wind turbine, and the generator is opposed to the stator with a stator and an air gap interposed therebetween. A wind power generator having a stator and a rotor rotating about the common generator axis relative to the rotor and with the windmill,

The rotor is relatively movable with respect to the stator in an axial direction of the generator axis, and the axial force generated in the wind turbine by the wind power in a direction parallel to the wind turbine axis causes the rotor to rotate. A wind power generation device including an air gap control mechanism for controlling an axial position to be larger in a strong wind state in which the air gap is smaller than a set value in a weak wind state where the wind force is equal to or smaller than the set value. -According to this device, it is possible to realize basically the same operation and effect according to basically the same principle as the wind power generation device according to the above (2).

(7) The wind power generator is mounted on a moving body, and includes an air duct that takes in wind generated relative to the moving body from the inlet with the movement thereof and discharges the wind from the outlet, In addition, the wind turbine according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the wind turbine is arranged in the air duct.

Since this device is used by being mounted on a mobile object, it can generate power without depending on natural wind as long as the mobile object moves.

By the way, the direction of the wind generated in the moving object as the moving object moves does not change relatively to the traveling direction of the moving object, and is always constant. Therefore, even if the air duct is mounted on the moving body and the direction of the air flow taken into it is fixed relative to the moving body, the air duct can effectively use the wind generated by the movement of the moving body . Based on such knowledge, the device according to this section is mounted on a moving body and equipped with a duct that actively takes in the wind generated by the movement and guides it to the generator. It has been.

(8) The wind turbine according to the item (7), wherein a plurality of the wind turbines are arranged in the air duct from the upstream side to the downstream side thereof, and the generator is provided for each wind turbine. Wind power equipment.

According to this device, by arranging a plurality of wind turbines in series in the air duct, the same air taken into the air duct is rotated by at least one upstream wind turbine and at least one downstream wind turbine. It can be used for both

Therefore, according to this device, it is easy to increase the total power generation by the same air-air.

(9) The flow path area in the air duct is larger at the position of the wind turbine located on the upstream side of the plurality of wind turbines than at the position of the wind turbine located on the downstream side. A wind power generator according to the item.

According to this device, the wind that has passed through the wind turbine located on the upstream side in the air duct is sent to the downstream side having a smaller flow area than that position, accelerated, and guided to the wind turbine located on the downstream side .

(10) The wind turbine generator according to (9), wherein the windmill located on the upstream side has a larger diameter than the windmill located on the downstream side.

(11) The outer diameter of the wind turbine is larger than the diameter of a projected circle when a portion of the flow path in the air duct where the wind turbine is located is projected along the flow path, and The air duct has an annular groove for accommodating a portion of the outer peripheral end of the windmill located outside the projection circle in a portion forming the flow path, The wind power generator according to any one of (7) to (10), which is coaxial with the wind power generator. According to this device, when the air duct is projected along the flow path of the air duct, no gap is required between a portion of the air duct forming the flow path and the outer peripheral end of the wind turbine.

Therefore, according to this device, it is easier to generate power by effectively utilizing the air taken into the air duct than when using the device to generate power in the presence of such a gap. Become.

(12) The wind turbine generator according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the wind turbine generator is detachably mounted on the moving body.

The wind turbine generator according to any one of the above (1) to (11), for example, can not be expected to operate effectively in a strong wind for a long period of time, so that effective continuous power generation cannot be expected. The user may want to temporarily remove the mobile. In addition, the user may wish to use the same wind turbine on another vehicle.

In view of these possibilities, the device according to this section is detachably mounted on a moving body. Therefore, according to this device, the usability of the wind power generator is improved. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a wind turbine generator 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention mounted on an automobile 12.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the appearance of the wind power generator 10 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the wind turbine generator 10 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view showing the wind turbine generator 10 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram conceptually showing an electric system of the wind power generator 10 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the generator 36 of the wind power generator 10 of FIG. 1 in detail. Figure 7 shows the relationship between the relative wind speed and the rotation speed of the generator rotor.The generator air gap is fixed to the same value as the minimum value of the wind power generator 10 and its air gap in Figure 1. It is a graph which represents notionally about the usual wind power generator compared with each other conceptually.

Fig. 8 shows the relationship between the size of the air gap 70 between the rotor 62 and the stator 60 of the generator 36 in Fig. 1 and the magnitude of the magnetic force acting between the rotor 62 and the stator 60. 7 is a graph showing experimental results for confirming the following.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining some usage examples of the electric energy stored by the wind power generator 10 of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partial side sectional view showing wind power generator 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing a part of air duct 152 in the wind turbine generator according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial side sectional view showing a wind turbine generator 204 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, some of the more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a wind power generator 10 for mounting on a moving object according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted on an automobile 12. Indicated by This wind power generator 10 is the mobile wind power generator described above. The car 12 is an example of the above-described moving object.

The wind power generator 10 is detachably mounted on a roof 14 of an automobile 12. The wind power generator 10 is designed to generate electric power by using a relative wind generated relatively to the automobile 12 as the automobile 12 travels.

For example, the wind power generator 10 is attached to the roof 14 magnetically using a magnet that attracts the roof 14 or a fastener that fastens the wind power generator 10 to the roof is used. It can be done mechanically.

This wind power generator 10 is shown in a front view in FIG. 3 and in a partial side sectional view in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the wind turbine generator 10 has a housing 16. The housing 16 is provided with an air duct 18 for taking in the relative wind.

As shown in FIG. 4, the air duct 18 is provided with a cylindrical passage 20 extending in the front-rear direction of the automobile 12, that is, in the direction (wind direction) from the upstream side to the downstream side of the relative wind. Although this passage 20 basically extends straight and has the same circular cross section, in the present embodiment, the passage area in the passage 20 is locally formed at the entrance 22 of the passage 20. Is gradually reduced from upstream to downstream, so that relative wind acceleration is realized.

As shown in FIG. 4, two propeller-type wind turbines 24 and 26 having the same diameter are arranged in series in the air duct 18. Each of the wind turbines 24, 26 is configured such that a plurality of blades 32, 34 extend radially outward from a hub 28, 30 located at the center thereof. Each of the windmills 24 and 26 is arranged coaxially with the air duct 18. As shown in FIG. 4, generators 36 and 38 are coaxially connected to the wind turbines 24 and 26, respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the windmills 24 and 26 is an upwind type. Each of the generators 36 and 38 is supported at a fixed position by a housing 16 via a support (not shown). The structure of each of the generators 36 and 38 will be described later in detail.

FIG. 5 conceptually shows a block diagram of an electric system of the wind power generator 10. In this electric system, two generators 36 and 38 are electrically connected to a battery 44 via a controller 40 and a regulator 42. Since each of the generators 36 and 38 is designed to generate an AC current by a relative wind, the controller 40 has a function of converting the generated AC current to a DC current. On the other hand, the regulator 42 has a function of adjusting the supply voltage and the supply current from the controller 40 to the battery 44.

Therefore, according to this electric system, the electric power generated by each of the generators 36 and 38 is stored in the battery 44 through appropriate processing by the controller 40 and the regulator 42.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, housings 16 are also formed with housings 46 and 48, in which the controller 40, the regulator 42 and the electric storage 44 described above are housed. In the present embodiment, the storage battery 44 houses a plurality of storage batteries independently of each other and in a state where the storage batteries can be separated from the storage battery 44. As a result, the user of the wind power generator 10 can take out the required number of storage batteries from the housings 46 and 48 as appropriate and use it outside the automobile 12.

Here, the structure of the generators 36, 38 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. However, since the structures of the two generators 36 and 38 are common to each other, only one generator 36 will be representatively described. As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 6, the generator 36 includes an entire housing 50. The whole housing 50 is divided into two divided housings 52, 54 both having a bottomed cylindrical shape in the direction of the rotation axis of the generator 36. Of the split housings 52, 54, the one located on the front side (left side in the figure) of the generator 36 is the front split housing 52, and the one located on the rear side (right side in the figure) is the rear split. These are referred to as housings 54 respectively.

The front split housing 52 and the rear split housing 54 are screwed to each other with their openings facing each other. Thus, the entire housing 50 is configured to have a space inside.

A stator 60 having a coil (not shown) and a rotor 62 that is rotated relatively and coaxially with the stator 60 are arranged in the overall housing 50 configured as described above. Both stator 60 and rotor 62 are arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of generator 36.

In the present embodiment, the rotor 62 has a hollow portion 64, and the stator 60 is disposed in the hollow portion 64. The rotor 62 is arranged outside the stator 60, and, as a result, the generator 36 employs the outer rotor system. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an air gap 70 is formed between the outer peripheral surface 66 of the stator 60 and the inner peripheral surface 68 of the rotor 62.

Stator 60 includes a base end 72 and a working portion 74. Stator 60 is fixed to rear split housing 54 at the base end 72 using bolts 76. The outer peripheral surface 66 of the working portion 74, that is, the surface facing the rotor 62 has a tapered shape whose diameter continuously increases from the front side to the rear side of the generator 36. That is, the stator 60 is opposed to the rotor 62 on its continuous tapered outer peripheral surface 66. On the other hand, the rotor 62 also includes a base end portion 78 and a working portion 80. A shaft 82 is coaxially fixed to the proximal end 78, and a windmill 24 is coaxially fixed to a distal end 84 of the shaft 82 at its hub 28. Therefore, if the windmill 24 rotates, the rotor 62 will be rotated accordingly.

The inner peripheral surface 68 of the working portion 80 of the rotor 62, that is, the surface facing the stator 60 has a tapered shape that generally complements the outer peripheral surface 66 of the stator 60. Specifically, the inner peripheral surface 68 of the action portion 80 has a tapered shape whose diameter continuously increases from the front side to the rear side of the generator 36.

A plurality of permanent magnets 86 are fixed to the inner peripheral surface 68 of the rotor 62 configured as described above at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. In the generator 36, the permanent magnets 86 are opposed to the coils of the stator 60 with an air gap 70 therebetween, and as a result, the relative displacement between the permanent magnets 86 and the coils is reduced. This will generate electricity. That is, the generator 36 employs a brushless system.

Inside the entire housing 50, an axial force transmitting member 88 and a retainer 90, both of which are hollow, are further arranged. The axial force transmitting member 88 and the retainer 90 are arranged in series in that order in a direction from the front side to the rear side of the generator 36.

The axial force transmitting member 88 supports the rotor 62 for relative rotation through an appropriate number (two in FIG. 6) of radial bearings (examples of bearings) 92. On the other hand, the axial force transmitting member 88 is fitted to the entire housing 50 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. Accordingly, the rotor 62 can not only rotate relative to the stator 60 but also move relative to the axial direction.

The retainer 90 is also fitted to the entire housing 50 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. An elastic member 94 is disposed between the retainer 90 and the entire housing 50. The elastic member 94 constantly urges the axial force transmitting member 88 toward the front side of the generator 36 via the retainer 90. On the other hand, the axial movement of the rotor 62 is performed integrally with the axial force transmitting member 88.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the forward limit of the axial force transmitting member 88 and the rotor 62 is limited to the axial force transmitting member 88 (an example of a member that moves integrally with the rotor 62). It is defined by abutting a rearward-facing stopper 96 formed on the housing 50. Even at this forward limit, the elastic member 94 urges the rotor 62 with a constant load. That is, the initial load of the elastic member 94 is set to a value larger than zero.

One example of the elastic member 94 is formed by arranging a plurality of coil springs parallel to the rotation axis of the generator 36 along a circumference coaxial with the rotation axis. Another example is a coil spring that extends helically along a cylindrical surface that is coaxial with its axis of rotation. Yet another example is a disc spring coaxial with its axis of rotation.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the retreat limit of the axial force transmitting member 88 and the rotor 62 is a retainer 90 (an example of a member that moves integrally with the rotor 62). It is defined by contacting the forward stop 98 formed at zero.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the generator 36 is provided with a protector 100 that covers the entire housing 50 from the outside. The protector 100 is fixed to the entire housing 50 by an appropriate number of bolts 102. This protector 100 has a waterproof function for the generator 36.

It should be noted that the elastic member 94 is an example of a relationship defining mechanism that defines the relationship between the axial force of the rotor 62 and the amount of axial movement, that is, the size of the air gap 70. this The relationship defining mechanism, for example, defines the relationship between the axial force and the amount of axial movement as a linear or non-linear relationship, or moves the axial direction when the axial force exceeds a certain value. It is possible to specify that the amount does not change.

Next, the operation of the generator 36 will be described.

In this generator 36, if attention is paid to the rotor 62, the elastic member 94 constantly applies a forward axial force toward the front side of the generator 36, while the windmill 24 receives relative wind. As a result, a rearward axial force toward the rear side of the generator 36 is applied.

To explain the mechanism of generating this backward axial force, as described above, the wind turbine 24 is of a propeller type, and the wind of the relative wind parallel to the rotation axis of the wind turbine 24 is generated by the wind turbine 24. It converts the rotational force into the rotational force and the axial force. The axial force generated in the wind turbine 24 by this action is transmitted to the rotor 62 of the generator 36 via the shaft 82.

The rearward axial force generated in the rotor 62 by such a mechanism is transmitted to the retainer 90 by the axial force transmitting member 88, and further, the elastic member 94 is opposed to the elastic force by the retainer 90. It is transmitted in the direction.

The windmill 24 does not receive any relative wind because the car 12 is stopped, or the relative wind is weak because the running speed of the windmill 12 is low. In this case, the rearward axial force cannot overcome the forward axial force. In this state, the rotor 62 is at the forward limit, as shown in FIG. In this state, the air gap 70 is the largest, and thus the magnetic force acting between the stator 60 and the rotor 62 is the smallest. As a result, the starting torque of the port 62 of the generator 36, that is, the starting torque of the windmill 24 is minimized. Wind force of relative wind received by windmill 2 4 as the traveling speed of car 1 2 increases Increases, the backward axial force increases accordingly. The forward axial force does not change. Therefore, as the wind power increases, the magnitude of the backward axial force approaches the forward axial force, and the backward axial force eventually overcomes the forward axial force. Then, the rotor 62, the axial force transmitting member 88, and the retainer 90 retreat integrally with each other against the elastic force of the elastic member 94, and eventually reach the retreat limit.

In other words, when the axial force (rearward axial force) generated on the rotor 62 by the wind force overcomes the initial load (forward axial force) of the elastic member 94, the rotor 62 starts to retreat. Thus, the retreat timing of the rotor 62 is determined by the initial load (set load) of the elastic member 94 as described above.

FIG. 6B shows a state in which the generator 36 and the rotor 62 are at the retreat limit. In this state, the air gap 70 is minimum, and thus the magnetic force acting between the stator 60 and the rotor 62 is maximum. As a result, the starting torque of the rotor 62 of the generator 36, that is, the starting torque of the windmill 24 is maximized. Generally, the starting torque of the rotor 62 decreases as the air gap 70 increases. Therefore, when the air gap 70 is maximum, the starting torque of the rotor 62 is smaller than when the air gap 70 is minimum.

FIG. 7 shows that the relationship between the relative wind speed and the rotation speed of the rotor 62 is the same as the minimum value of the air gap 70 in the wind power generator 10 according to the present embodiment and the present embodiment. This is conceptually represented in a graph in contrast to a conventional wind power generator with a fixed air gap.

By the way, when any of the wind power generators is mounted on the automobile 12 and used, the traveling speed of the motor vehicle 12 (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle speed”) changes with time, and the relative wind It is necessary to assume a transient situation where the wind speed changes. Therefore, in Fig. 7, the vehicle 12 is accelerated from a stationary state at a constant acceleration. A transient situation is assumed. In such a transient situation, it is important to consider a response delay of the rotation speed of the rotor 62 to a change in the wind speed.

In the present embodiment, when the rotational torque acting on the windmill 24 due to the relative wind overcomes the first starting torque corresponding to the maximum air gap 70, the windmill 24 is started. In FIG. 7, the wind speed at this time is represented as the starting wind speed VST. In the present embodiment, when the rotor speed is moved from the forward limit to the reverse limit by the axial force of the windmill 24 as a result of the increase of the vehicle speed and the wind speed due to the increase of the wind speed, the air gap 70 becomes minimum. After that, regular power generation by the generator 36 is started. FIG. 7 shows the wind speed at this time as a cut-in wind speed V C1.

On the other hand, in the case of a normal wind power generator, the rotational torque acting on the windmill by the relative wind overcomes the second starting torque (greater than the first starting torque) corresponding to the smallest air gap. , The windmill starts. In FIG. 7, the wind speed at this time is represented as the starting wind speed VST ′, which is higher than the starting wind speed VST in the present embodiment.

In a normal wind power generator, the rotation speed of the rotor increases as the vehicle speed increases and the wind speed increases.However, the wind turbine starts up later in the present embodiment, and the wind turbine and the wind turbine rotate integrally therewith. Due to the response delay caused by inertia, sliding resistance, and the like of the element, the time at which the rotation speed of the rotor reaches a value required for normal power generation by the generator is later than in the present embodiment. For a normal wind power generator, the wind speed at the start of regular power generation by the generator is shown in FIG. 7 as a cut-in wind speed V C I ′, which is also higher than the cut-in wind speed V C I in the present embodiment.

Assuming a situation where the relative wind is completely steady, the cut-in wind speed VCI It depends on the wind speed of the relative wind, but in a transient situation, the rotation speed of the rotor cannot respond quickly to changes in the wind speed. Regular power generation cannot be started early. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the wind turbine 24 is started early, that is, smoothly, so that the power generation by the generator 36 can be started early. As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the air gap 70 of the generators 36, 38 is reduced by utilizing the axial force generated in the wind turbines 24, 26 by the relative wind. It is changed to be larger in a weak wind condition than in a strong wind condition. As a result, the wind turbines 24 and 26 can be started smoothly in a weak wind condition.

In addition, as mentioned above, in the present embodiment, the generators 36, 38 adopt the outer rotor system. In the case of employing the outer rotor system, a plurality of permanent magnets are required for the outer dimensions of the generator, compared with the case of employing the inner rotor system in which the rotor 62 rotates inside the stator 60. It is easy to increase the diameter of the circumferences arranged side by side. As their diameter increases, the overall surface area of the permanent magnets also increases, and the magnetic force that the permanent magnets can act on the stator coils increases.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is easy to improve the power generation efficiency of the generators 36 and 38 by employing the outer rotor method.

In general, the higher the power generation efficiency of a generator, the larger the starting torque. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, by adopting the technology that makes the air gap variable, it becomes easy to achieve both a reduction in the starting torque in a weak wind state and an improvement in the power generation efficiency in a strong wind state. .

The inventor considered that the size of the air gap 70 in the generators 36, 38 and the permanent magnet An experiment was conducted to confirm the relationship with the magnitude of the magnetic force of 86.

In this experiment, an experimental permanent magnet used in place of the permanent magnet 86 in the generators 36, 38 was used, and a movable member used in place of the stator 60 was used.

Specifically, in this experiment, the space between the permanent magnet for the experiment and the movable member attracted by the permanent magnet in a state where the permanent magnet for the experiment is held in a fixed position is regarded as an air gap. The size of the air gap was sequentially changed. Furthermore, for each value of the air gap, the force at which the movable member was attracted by the permanent magnet was measured as the magnetic force.

Figure 8 shows the results of the experiment in a graph. The horizontal axis of this graph shows the size of the air gap, while the vertical axis shows the magnitude of the magnetic force. However, the magnetic force is shown as a percentage calculated based on the magnetic force when the air gap is 0.075 mm. An air gap of 0.075 mm is considered to be an air gap sufficiently close to 0, and the magnetic force at that time is considered to be a magnetic force sufficiently close to its maximum value.

As is apparent from this graph, if the air gap is changed in a range between about 0.1 mm and about 0.9 mm, the magnetic force changes significantly. According to these experimental results, when designing the generators 36 and 38, it is understood that the order of the required moving distance of the rotor 62 does not deviate from a practical range. Another problem is that the required moving distance of the rotor 62 is extremely small, making the production of the generators 36, 38 difficult with accuracy. The problem of excessive enlargement of 6, 38 does not occur.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a typical relationship between the owner of the wind turbine generator 10 and its use. For example, if the owner of the wind power generator 10 is an individual and the individual generates power using the wind power generator 10 by himself, as shown in the upper part of FIG. It is possible that the electricity stored in the battery 44 (used in the sense of electrical energy) may be used personally or at home, or sold to a third party.

The owner of the wind power generator 10 is a transport company as a business entity, and the transport company mounts the wind power generator 10 on a freight vehicle as an automobile and generates power during transportation. May be done. In this case, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9, the transport company may use the electric power stored in the battery 44 for the transport company or sell it to a third party.

The owner of the wind turbine generator 10 is a railway company as a business entity, and the railway company mounts the wind turbine generator 10 on a railway vehicle as a mobile unit to generate power during operation. In some cases. In this case, as shown in the middle section of FIG. 9, the railway company uses the electric power stored in the battery 44 for traveling of the railway vehicle, or for other purposes in the railway vehicle. Or sell it to a third party.

In addition, the owner of the wind turbine generator 10 is a road management company as an entity, and the road management company gives a driver using a road (for example, an expressway) managed by the road management company. The power generator 10 may be rented out, and the driver may mount the wind power generator 10 on the vehicle 12 as a moving body and generate power while traveling. In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 9, the road management company removes the rented wind power generator 10 from the car after the driver finishes driving, and stores the wind power generator 10 in its battery 44. Could be used for the road management company or sold to third parties. In this case, the road management company The cost of receiving electricity generated by a road user may be, for example, a discount on road usage fees (eg, highway tolls) that the road user must pay. Although several specific applications of the wind power generator 10 have been described above, these are only examples of applications using the wind power generator 10, and various other applications are considered. Can be

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, among the generators 36 and 38, the taper outer peripheral surface 66 of the stator 60, the taper inner peripheral surface 68 of the rotor 62, and the rotor 6 2 and a shaft force transmitting member 88 supporting the stator 60 so as to be movable relative to the stator 60 in the axial direction. And an example of the “airgap control mechanism” in the above item (6).

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, this embodiment is different from the first embodiment with respect to the air duct and the wind turbine, and the other elements are common to the first embodiment.Therefore, the air duct and the wind turbine will be described in detail, and the common elements will be described. The detailed description is omitted by quoting using the same reference numerals or names.

In the first embodiment, the flow passage area of the passage 20 in the air duct 18 is the same from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the outer diameters of the wind turbines 24 and 26 are the same as those of the wind turbine 24 located upstream. The same applies to the wind turbine 26 located downstream.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the flow passage area of the passage in the air duct is different between the upstream side and the downstream side. In addition, the outer diameter of the wind turbine is different between upstream and downstream.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a large diameter portion 122 is formed in the passage 120 on the upstream side thereof, and a small diameter portion 124 is formed in the downstream side thereof. Along with this, upstream A large-diameter wind turbine 126 is arranged on the side, and a small-diameter wind turbine 128 is arranged on the downstream side.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the wind that has passed through the windmill 126 located upstream in the air duct 130 is a weaker wind than before passing, but the weaker wind has a larger flow area than that position. After being accelerated by being fed to the narrow downstream side and the wind power is at least partially recovered, it is guided to the wind turbine 128 located downstream.

Further, in the present embodiment, by reducing the size of the wind turbine 128 located on the downstream side to a small diameter, it is possible to realize high-speed rotation of the rotor 62 of the generator 38 even in a weak wind. It is easy to improve the power generation efficiency of the machine 38.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, this embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in terms of the air duct and the wind turbine, and the other elements are common to the first and second embodiments. Therefore, the air duct and the wind turbine will be described in detail, and the common elements will be described. Are referred to using the same reference numerals or names, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the first and second embodiments, the outer diameter of the wind turbine is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the passages 20 and 120 in the air ducts 18 and 130. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the outer diameter of the wind turbine 150 is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the passage 154 in the air duct 152.

However, in the present embodiment, an annular groove 158 is formed at a position facing the windmill 150 locally on the inner peripheral surface 156 of the passage 154 in the air duct 155. . The diameter of the circumference surrounded by the bottom surface 160 of the groove 158 is set to be large enough to leave a gap between the tip of the blade 162 of the windmill 150. Furthermore, the width of the groove 158 is the width of the blade 162 when the blade 162 is projected in a direction parallel to its rotational plane. The projection width is set in consideration of the distance that the windmill 150 can move in the axial direction. The broken line in FIG. 11 indicates that the rotor 62 of the generator 36 is at the retreat limit.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the air duct 15 2 is projected along the flow path of the air duct 15, air leaks between the tip of the blade 16 2 of the wind turbine 150 and the passage 15 4. Since there is no need to provide a gap that allows air to flow, power can be generated by effectively utilizing the air taken into the air ducts 152.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the gap between the tip of the blade 162 of the windmill 150 and the passage 1554 in the air duct 152 does not need to be so precise, the windmill The production and attachment of the air duct 15 and the air duct 15 2 become easy. Next, a wind power generator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. However, since this embodiment has many elements in common with the first embodiment, detailed descriptions of the common elements will be omitted by using the same names or reference numerals, and different elements will be omitted. This will be described in detail.

In the first embodiment, an air gap 70 between the rotor 62 and the stator 60 of the generators 36, 38 is formed by the air gap 70 of the rotor 62 in order to make the start of the wind turbines 24, 26 smooth. It is changed by the axial force.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, smooth start-up of the wind turbine is realized irrespective of the generator. Specifically, a clutch is provided between the windmill and the rotor, and the clutch is connected and disconnected by the axial force of the windmill, so that the start of the windmill is smoothly performed.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, a shaft 185 connecting the windmill 180 and the rotor 184 of the generator 18 to each other is divided into two. It is divided into a windmill-side shaft 186 and a generator-side shaft 188. Latch 190 is installed.

The clutch 190 has a hollow housing 192, and a pair of engaging members 1994 and 1995 are opposed to each other in the housing 1992. The pair of engaging members 194 and 195 are prevented from rotating relative to each other in the engaged state where they are engaged with each other, while being allowed to rotate in the separated state where they are separated from each other. That is, the engaged state is the connected state of the clutch 190, and the disengaged state is the disconnected state of the clutch 190.

One of the pair of engaging members 1 94 and 1 95 is prevented from moving in the axial direction relative to the housing 19 2. And one of the windmill-side shafts 186 (the generator-side shaft 188 in the example of FIG. 12). On the other hand, the other engaging member 1995 is capable of both relative rotation and axial movement with respect to the housing 1992, and the generator-side shaft 18 and the windmill-side shaft 18 (In the example of FIG. 12, it is the windmill-side shaft 186).

An axial force transmitting member 196 is mounted on the windmill shaft 186 (an example of a member that moves axially together with the windmill 180) in a state where relative axial movement is prevented. I have. An elastic member 198 is disposed between the axial force transmitting member 196 and the housing 192 in a state where the pair of engaging members 194, 195 are always urged in a direction to separate them from each other. ing.

In the present embodiment, the generator 18 2 has a normal structure. Specifically, the stator 202 and the rotor 184 are disposed in the nosing 200 so as to be relatively rotatable. In the present embodiment, the rotor 184 is disposed inside the stator 202. A rotating inner rotor system is employed. In this generator 182, the rotor 184 is axially displaced relative to the stator 202. Movement is blocked.

In the wind turbine generator 204 according to the present embodiment, when an axial force is generated in the windmill 180, the axial force is transmitted to the elastic portion via the windmill-side shaft 186 and the shaft power transmission member 196. The pair of engaging members 194 and 195 are transmitted to the member 198 in a direction approaching each other. In a state where the axial force cannot overcome the initial load of the elastic member 198, that is, in a state where the relative wind is weak, as shown in FIG. 194 and 195 are in the separated state.

In this disengaged state, the clutch 190 is disconnected, and the engaging member 194 connected to the windmill shaft 186 is engaged with the engaging member 194 connected to the generator shaft 188. Rotation relative to 5 is allowed. Therefore, the starting torque of the windmill 180 does not need to depend on the generator 182, and the start of the windmill 180 is smoothed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the windmill 180 and the generator 1802 are disconnected from each other in a weak wind state, and the spinning of the windmill 180 is allowed. It has been smoothed.

On the other hand, when the axial force of the windmill 150 overcomes the initial load of the elastic member 198, the pair of engaging members 194, 195 resist the elastic force of the elastic member 198. Approach each other and eventually engage with each other. Due to this engagement, the clutch 190 is shifted from the disconnected state to the connected state. As a result, the windmill 180 and the generator 182 are connected to each other, and the starting torque of the windmill 180 is reduced by the generator 18 2 and the torque of the windmill 180 is transmitted to the generator 182 to generate power.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the starting torque of the windmill 180 is controlled by controlling the transmission state of the rotational force between the windmill 180 and the rotor 180 using the clutch 190. Is done. Further, according to the present embodiment, the connection / disconnection of the clutch 190 is switched mechanically and automatically by utilizing the axial force of the windmill 180.

As is apparent from the above description, in the present embodiment, the clutch 190 constitutes an example of the “torque control mechanism” in the above (1) and an example of the “clutch” in the above section (5). It is composed.

As described above, some embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the embodiments described in the section of [Disclosure of the Invention]. The present invention can be implemented in other forms with various modifications and improvements.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A wind power generator that generates power using wind power,

A generator that generates power by the rotation of the windmill,

On the basis of the axial force generated in the windmill by the wind in a direction parallel to the axis of the windmill, a starting tonnolek that the windmill needs to overcome in order for the windmill to transition from a stopped state to a rotating state, A torque control mechanism for controlling the starting torque to be smaller than an assumed starting torque in a strong wind state larger than the set value in a weak wind state where the wind force is equal to or smaller than a set value

Including wind power generators.

2. The generator is

A stator,

And the torque control mechanism supports the rotor so as to be relatively movable with respect to the stator in the axial direction of the generator axis, and adjusts the axial position of the rotor by the axial force. The wind power generator according to claim 1, wherein the air gap is changed so as to be larger in the weak wind state than in the strong wind state.

3. The rotor and stator face each other across the air gap 3. The generator according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of peripheral surfaces coaxial with the generator axis, and at least one of the pair of peripheral surfaces having a continuous or discontinuous inclined surface with respect to the generator axis. A wind power generator according to the item.

4. In order to generate power using wind power, a propeller-type wind turbine that is rotated by wind power around a wind turbine axis that is generally parallel to the wind direction, and a generator that generates power by rotating the wind turbine And a generator facing the stator with a stator and an air gap therebetween, the generator being common to the stator and relative to the rotor with respect to an axis, and the windmill A wind power generator having:

An axial force generated in the wind turbine by the wind force in a direction parallel to the wind turbine axis, the rotor being relatively movable with respect to the stator in the axial direction of the generator axis; A wind power generator that includes an air gap control mechanism that controls the axial position of the rotor so that the air gap is larger in a strong wind state that is larger than the set value in a weak wind state where the wind force is equal to or smaller than the set value. Equipment.