WO2009008634A2

WO2009008634A2 - Turbine construction for wind power generator

Info

Publication number: WO2009008634A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hong No Kim
Original assignee: Hong No Kim
Priority date: 2007-07-06
Filing date: 2008-07-04
Publication date: 2009-01-15
Also published as: WO2009008634A3; KR100874277B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a turbine for a wind power generator. The wind power generator is installed in a vertical shaft 10 to convert a kinetic energy into an electrical energy. The turbine includes a plurality of turbines 20 installed at regular intervals of identical degrees with a support member 15 interposed in-between. An auxiliary lift means is formed in a streamlined inner face 21 and outer face 22 respectively of the turbine 20. The auxiliary lift means includes an inner opening 31 and an outer opening 32 in the inner face 21 and the outer face 22 respectively of the turbine 20 so as to have different sizes and be adjacent to each other, and an operation plate 40 interposed between the inner opening 31 and the outer opening 32 so as to produce momentum of wind. A turbine structure of the wind power generator having a simplified structure is provided, which induces a change in the lift force against fluctuation in the wind velocity to thereby leading to a smooth initial start and thereafter maintaining a constant velocity. Thus, a stable generation can be achieved.

Description

TURBINE CONSTRUCTION FOR WIND POWER GENERATOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a wind power generator, and more particularly to a turbine structure of the wind power generator, which induces a change in the lift force against fluctuation in the wind velocity to thereby leading to a smooth initial start and thereafter maintaining a constant velocity. Background Art

[2] Due to unstable demand and supply for traditional energy and worldwide regulations to harmful environment, each country has made serious efforts in securing new energy sources. According to relevant laws and regulations, new reproduction energy means "a reproducible energy including conversion of conventional fossil fuel, sun light, water, terrestrial heat, precipitation, life organism," and is categorized into eleven areas in total including eight areas of reproduction energy and three areas of new energy.

[3] In a wind power generator, the kinetic energy of wind acting on the turbine or vane thereof is amplified into a mechanical rotational force in a gear box and then converted into an electrical energy. Thereafter, the inverter converts the direct current into an alternating current, which is supplied to the consumers. Among these wind power generators, a vertical shaft generator is favorable under the environment where the wind direction keeps changing, but disadvantageous in that the driving efficient is low at a lower wind velocity.

[4] For example, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0387339 disclosed a vertical shaft windmill structure for wind power generators. In this technique, the wind blowing towards the front side of the windmill is collected and guided into one side of the front face of the windmill. The wind collides with the vanes of the windmill to rotate the windmill. Simultaneously, the wind blowing towards the upper front of the windmill is collected and collided with the front face of the other vane in the rear side of the windmill to thereby rotate the windmill and thus increase the rotational efficiency of the windmill. Korean Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-0037622 discloses a vertical shaft wind power generator, which includes a central rotational tower having a blade fixed thereto in almost vertical direction. The blade rotates and moves in radial direction with respect to the central tower. The radial movement of the blade is automatically and instantaneously controlled to optimize the entire performance of the wind power generator.

[5] The above structure can expect controlling of the generated electric power within a certain range, depending upon the intensity of wind, and strengthening of safety. However, this structure does not cover the entire range of from low wind velocity to high wind velocity. In addition, this structure results in a heavy and coarse construction of the facility, thereby adversely affecting the energy efficiency thereof.

[6] Prior art references

[7] Reference 1 : Korean Utility Model Registration No. 0387339

[8] Reference 2: Korean Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-0037622

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a turbine structure of the wind power generator, which has a simplified design and induces a change in the lift force against fluctuation in the wind velocity to thereby leading to a smooth initial start and thereafter maintaining a constant velocity. Technical Solution

[10] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a turbine for a wind power generator. The wind power generator is installed in a vertical shaft to convert a kinetic energy into an electrical energy. The turbine comprises: a plurality of turbines installed at regular intervals of identical degrees with a support member interposed in- between; and an auxiliary lift means formed in a streamlined inner face and outer face respectively of the turbine.

[11] In an embodiment, the auxiliary lift means includes an inner opening and an outer opening in the inner face and the outer face respectively of the turbine so as to have different sizes and be adjacent to each other, and an operation plate interposed between the inner opening and the outer opening so as to produce momentum of wind.

[12] In an embodiment, the operation plate is formed in a slant or non-symmetrical fashion with respect to the inner face and the outer face.

Advantageous Effects

[13] As described above, the present invention can provide a turbine structure of the wind power generator, which has a simplified structure and induces a change in the lift force against fluctuation in the wind velocity to thereby leading to a smooth initial start and thereafter maintaining a constant velocity. Thus, a stable generation can be achieved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating major components of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention;

[16] FIGS. 2 and 3 are frontal elevations illustrating exemplary embodiment of the wind power generator;

[17] FIGS. 4 to 6 are enlarged views showing a turbine of the wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention;

[18] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the turbine of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention;

[19] FIG. 8 is a plan view explaining operations of the wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[20] FIG. 9 illustrates installation of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention.

[21 ] <Description of major reference characters>

[22] 10: Vertical shaft 15: Support member

[23] 20: Turbine 31: Inner opening

[24] 32: Outer opening 35: Branched member

[25] 40: Operation plate 53: Generator

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[26] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[27] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating major components of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are frontal elevations illustrating exemplary embodiment of the wind power generator. FIGS. 4 to 6 are enlarged views showing a turbine of the wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the turbine of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view explaining operations of the wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 illustrates installation of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention.

[28] The wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention is installed in a vertical shaft 10 to convert the kinetic energy of wind into an electrical energy. Although not illustrated, the vertical shaft 10 is coupled with a gear box, a generating facility and the like. Considering the generation efficiency of electrical energy (cost per unit electrical power), the wind power generator of the invention is designed to output the maximum electrical power at a wind velocity of about 12m/s (30knots or 33 mph), but also configured to smoothly operate at a lower wind velocity.

[29] According to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of turbines 20 is installed in the vertical shaft 10 by means of a support member 15 formed in-between. The turbines 20 are installed at identical intervals of degrees. The turbine 20 is provided with an auxiliary lift means on the streamlined inner face 21 and outer face 22 thereof respectively. The turbines 20 is illustrated as there turbines being arranged at angular intervals of 120 degrees, but not limited thereto. The respective turbines 20 are connected to the vertical shaft 10 using at least two support members 15. This turbine 20 has a hollow streamlined cross-section, like airplane wings. The inner face 21 and outer face 22 may be integrally formed or separately formed. Assuming that the turbine 20 lies on a horizontal plane, the angle of the turbine 20 that it forms with the horizontal line at both ends thereof is in a range of 30 to 40 degrees, preferably, 35 degrees.

[30] Here, according to an embodiment of the invention, the turbine 20 is provided at its inner face 21 and outer face 22 respectively with an auxiliary lift means. When the wind blows towards the wind power generator, a lift force and a drag force occur in the turbine 20. Part of the combined force of the lift and drag forces is converted into a rotational force, and another part thereof acts as a bending moment, which has nothing to do with rotational force. In this embodiment, the wind power generator is configured such that the lift force is increases at a lower wind velocity.

[31] In the auxiliary lift means, an inner opening 31 and an outer opening 32 are formed in the inner face 21 and the outer face 22 of the turbine 20 respectively so a to be placed adjacent to each other. The inner and outer openings have different sizes from each other. Interposed between the inner and outer openings 31 and 32 is an operation plate 40 capable of generating a wind momentum. The inner opening 31 is formed in the inner face 21 of the turbine 20 so as to be biased towards the thinner side of the streamlined turbine 20. The outer opening 32 is formed in the outer face 22 of the turbine 20 in the same manner so as to be adjacent to the inner opening 31. The inner and outer openings 31 and 32 facing each other form a functional element. Such functional element may be formed in both ends of the turbine 20, or an additional one may be formed in the middle of the turbine 20. The operation plate 40 is formed in such a way that it is biased towards the thicker side of the streamlined turbine 20 so to become adjacent to the functional element. Further details on the auxiliary lift means will be described hereinafter. According to an embodiment of the invention, it is desirable to use a curved turbine 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2, but a straight turbine 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employed. In both of the above cases, the inner and outer opening 31 and 32 and the operation plate 40, which form an auxiliary lift means, are formed in the same manner.

[32] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, detailed structure of the inner and outer openings 31 and

32 formed in the turbine 20 will be explained. The support member 15 is connected to the inner face 21 of the turbine 20. Thus, the inner opening 31 is formed to have a smaller size, while the outer opening 32 of the outer face 22 is formed so as to have a size larger than the inner opening 31. Accordingly, a branched member 35 occurs in the streamlined turbine 20 towards the thinner side thereof. This branched member may be easily deformed when a high wind velocity is applied thereto. Thus, a separate rib (not shown) is provided inside of the branched member 35 for reinforcement, or the branched member may be omitted as illustrated in FIG. 5b. The operation plate 40 may be formed by inserting a separate member (not shown), or by bending part of the turbine 20 plate, as illustrated.

[33] Further, in this embodiment, the operation plate 40 is formed so as to be slant or nonsymmetrical with respect to the inner face 21 and the outer face 22.

[34] As clearly illustrated in FIG. 9, which will be mentioned hereinafter, the inclined structured of the operation plate 40 means that it is bent no less than 90 degrees. The non- symmetrical structure of the operation plate 40 means that it is curved not to be parallel with the lengthwise direction of the turbine 20. Due to these structural features, the momentum of wind can be utilized smoothly in a non-impact fashion at a higher wind velocity, and simultaneously the drag force can be mitigated at a higher wind velocity.

[35] FIG. 8 is a plan view explaining operations of the wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention.

[36] When the wind starts to blow, a lift force is produced by the air flow in the inner and outer openings 31 and 32 of the turbine 20 and in the inner and outer faces 21 and 22 of the streamlined turbine 20. The lift force is combined with a drag force acting in the same direction as the wind. One divisional force of the combined force is converted into a rotational force that rotates the turbine 20. However, the other divisional force thereof acts perpendicularly regardless of rotation of the turbine 20. Thus, weaker parts, such as in particular the branched member 35 and the like, may be failed, so precautious counter-measures are required.

[37] Preferably, the size, number and shape of the inner opening 31, the outer opening 32 and the operation plate 40, which form an auxiliary lift means, are experimentally determined since they are co-related with the dimension of the turbine 20.

[38] On the other hand, in order to minimize impact that may occur in the turbine 20 at a high wind velocity, a power control is employed to give up energy beyond the designed range. For example, when the wind velocity reaches more than a predetermined value, a design factor can be introduced to cause a real velocity phenomenon so as to rapidly reduce the rotational force.

[39] FIG. 9 illustrates installation of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention.

[40] First, a connection rod 51 and a brake device 51 are fixedly installed in a post 50 of 5 to 8 m in sequence. Then, a generator 53 is installed consecutively, and the vertical shaft 10 and the turbine 20 of the invention are mounted on top of the generator 53. Therefore, if the turbine 20 in the upper end of the post 50 begins to rotate by air flow, the turbine 20 rotates slowly and then is accelerated. Details on the rotational operation process are previously explained and thus will not be repeated again. Industrial Applicability

[41] As described above, the present invention can provide a turbine structure of the wind power generator, which has a simplified structure and induces a change in the lift force against fluctuation in the wind velocity to thereby leading to a smooth initial start and thereafter maintaining a constant velocity. Thus, a stable generation can be achieved.

[42] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

[1] A turbine for a wind power generator, the wind power generator being installed in a vertical shaft 10 to convert a kinetic energy into an electrical energy, the turbine comprising: a plurality of turbines 20 installed at regular intervals of identical degrees with a support member 15 interposed in-between; and an auxiliary lift means formed in a streamlined inner face 21 and outer face 22 respectively of the turbine 20.

[2] The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary lift means includes an inner opening 31 and an outer opening 32 in the inner face 21 and the outer face 22 respectively of the turbine 20 so as to have different sizes and be adjacent to each other, and an operation plate 40 interposed between the inner opening 31 and the outer opening 32 so as to produce momentum of wind.

[3] The turbine according to claim 2, wherein the operation plate 40 is formed in a slant or non- symmetrical fashion with respect to the inner face 21 and the outer face 22.