WO2017046330A1

WO2017046330A1 - Vertical-axis wind turbine and methods for assembly and disassembly

Info

Publication number: WO2017046330A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/071968
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric SILVERT; Christophe LAPONCHE
Original assignee: Nenuphar
Priority date: 2015-09-17
Filing date: 2016-09-16
Publication date: 2017-03-23
Also published as: FR3041388A1; FR3041388B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vertical-axis wind turbine which includes a rotor mounting (40) suitable for being added and attached to a wind-turbine supporting structure, a wind-turbine rotor (4) rotatably mounted on the rotor mounting (40) via an assembly for guiding in rotation (18) supported by the rotor mounting (40), a converter assembly (20) for converting the rotation of the rotor into electricity, the converter assembly being supported by the wind-turbine rotor (40) or by a rotary part of the assembly for guiding in rotation (18) by being arranged under the rotor mounting (40), and a torque take-up device (47) suitable for blocking the rotation of the stator of the generator (41) relative to the mounting of the rotor (40).

Description

Vertical axis wind turbine and methods of assembly and disassembly

The present invention relates to the field of vertical axis wind turbines (designated in English by the acronym VAWT for "Vertical Axis Wind Turbine").

A vertical axis wind turbine has a rotor rotatably mounted about a substantially vertical axis of rotation and having blades designed to drive the rotor in rotation under the action of wind.

The rotor is coupled to a generator assembly to convert the rotation of the rotor into energy. The generator assembly comprises for example an electricity generator having an input shaft coupled to the rotor, directly or optionally via a gearbox.

The generator assembly may for example be arranged at the top of the mast or the support structure of the wind turbine, under the rotor. However, mounting the wind turbine requires mounting the generator assembly at the top of the mast. In addition, it is sometimes necessary to carry out maintenance or repair operations of the generator assembly.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a wind turbine with a vertical axis making it possible to facilitate the assembly operations (in particular the integration of the equipment ensuring the functions of rotor rotation guidance and energy production), repair and maintenance. maintenance of the wind turbine.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a vertical axis wind turbine comprising a rotor support adapted to be attached and fixed on a wind turbine support structure, a wind rotor designed to rotate under the action of the wind, the wind rotor being disposed above the rotor support being rotatably mounted on the rotor support about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, through a rotational guide assembly carried by the rotor support, a set of conversion for converting the rotation of the rotor into electricity, the conversion assembly being carried by the rotor or by a rotating part of the rotation guide assembly, being disposed under the rotor support, the conversion assembly comprising a electric generator comprising the rotor of the generator connected in rotation with the wind rotor and the stator of the generator, and a torque recovery device adapted to lock the stator of the generator in rotation by means of port to the rotor support.

The wind turbine optionally includes one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:

- The hub of the rotor has a height less than twice its outer diameter overall; - The hub of the wind rotor is hollow and the rotating guide assembly is at least partly received within the hub of the wind rotor, in particular fully received inside the hub;

the conversion assembly comprises an interposed multiplier torque transmission device, and the rotor of the generator is rotatably coupled to the wind rotor by means of the multiplier torque transmission device;

the wind rotor comprises a hub, blades and pairs of arms connecting the blades to the hub, each pair of arms carrying a respective blade, each pair of arms comprising a lower arm and an upper arm extending radially from the hub to the hub; pale diverging from each other;

the blades are of variable pitch, each blade being connected to at least one of the arms of the pair of arms carrying this blade, in particular to each arm of the pair of arms, by an articulated connection allowing rotation around a primary axis; cushioning;

the articulated connection allowing rotation about a primary wedging axis also has at least one rotation about a secondary axis forming a non-zero angle with the primary axis, in particular two secondary axes forming a non-zero angle between them; ;

it comprises a support structure having a mast, the rotor support being attached and fixed on an upper end of the mast;

The invention also relates to a method of mounting the vertical axis wind turbine, comprising mounting the rotation guide assembly and the conversion assembly on the rotor support, and then mounting the assembly formed by the rotor support, the rotational guide assembly and the conversion assembly, at the upper end of a mast of a support structure.

The invention also relates to a method of dismounting the vertical axis wind turbine, comprising the separation of the conversion assembly and the rotating part of the rotating guide assembly or the wind rotor, and the descent of the conversion assembly using a hoist disposed within the wind rotor, and preferably with a guiding device disposed between the support structure and the conversion assembly.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a vertical axis wind turbine; - Figure 2 is a top view of an arm-blade connection between a blade and an arm of a wind rotor of the wind turbine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the wind rotor hub of the wind turbine of Figures 1 and 2, also illustrating a rotational guide assembly of the wind turbine rotor and a conversion assembly coupled to the wind rotor; and

- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating a variant.

The vertical axis wind turbine 2 of Figure 1 comprises a wind rotor 4 carried by a support structure 6, the wind turbine rotor 4 being mounted through a guide assembly 18 in rotation on the support structure 6 , so as to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of rotation A.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "up" and "down" refer to the vertical direction of the axis of rotation A of the rotor. 4 of the wind turbine 2.

The support structure 6 is floating. Thus, the wind turbine 2 is floating and can be installed on a body of water, for example at sea or on a lake. The support structure 6 is preferably anchored to the bottom of the body of water.

The support structure 6 comprises a floating structure 8 and a mast 10 carried by the floating structure 8. The floating structure 8 is here represented schematically by a float type "buoy-pencil". In practice, it may comprise several floats spaced to provide greater stability by being interconnected by beams or spacers, the support structure being further possibly stiffened by the implementation of braces.

The wind rotor 4 is adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation A under the action of the wind. The wind rotor 4 comprises a hub 12 and several blades 14 distributed angularly, preferably uniformly, about the axis of rotation A of the rotor 4.

The blades 14 are elongated and profiled aerodynamically in cross section. Each blade 14 is able to generate lift. Each blade 14 has a wing profile and has a lower surface and an upper surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge.

Preferably, each blade 14 extends rectilinearly along its length. This facilitates the manufacture of the blades 14.

Each blade 14 is carried by a pair of arms 16 connecting this blade 14 to the hub

12. Each blade 14 is carried by a pair of arms 16 dedicated to the blade 14. The arms 16 of each pair of arms 16 carry a single blade 14. Each pair of arms 16 comprises an upper arm 16 and a lower arm 16. Each arm 16 is here substantially rectilinear.

The two arms 16 of each pair of arms 16 diverge vertically from one another from the hub 12 to the blade 14 carried by these arms 16. The inner ends of the arms 16 connected to the hub 12 are closer to each other than the outer ends of the arms 16 connected to the blade 14 carried by these arms 16. In the example illustrated, the upper arm 16 extends obliquely upwards and the arm 16 lower extends obliquely downwards relative to the horizontal.

The wind rotor 4 here comprises two blades 14 diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of rotation A of the wind rotor 4. In a variant, the wind rotor 4 comprises at least three blades, for example exactly three blades distributed at 120 ° around the wind turbine. rotation axis A of the wind rotor 4 or four blades distributed at 90 ° around the axis of rotation A of the wind rotor 4.

The hub 12 is "compact". Preferably, as shown in Figure 1, it has a height (taken along the axis of rotation A) less than twice its outer diameter overall. Preferably, the ratio of the height of the hub 12 to the height of the blades (taken between a lower horizontal plane PHI passing through the lower ends of the blades 14 and upper horizontal plane PHM passing through the upper ends of the blades 14) is between 3 and 15%, and preferably less than 10%.

Thus, the wind rotor 4 having a compact hub 12 and two blades 14 each carried by a pair of diverging arms 16 has a general shape in "X" conferred by the two pairs of arms 16. The arms 16 of each pair of arms 16 join the hub 12 being substantially contiguous or concurrent.

The hub 12 is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the mast 10 by means of a rotation guide assembly 18 taking up the axial forces and the radial forces relative to the axis of rotation A, as well as the moment of overturning. the wind rotor 4 with respect to the mast 10.

The rotational guide assembly 18 is located at the upper end 10A of the mast 10. In particular, the rotational guide assembly 18 is received within the hub 12. The rotational guide assembly 18 is for example an orientation ring.

The wind turbine comprises an electrical conversion assembly coupled to the wind rotor 4 to convert the rotation of the wind rotor 4 into electrical energy.

In Figure 1, each blade 14 extends substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor 4. The blades 14 are substantially vertical.

As a variant, each blade extends obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation A, the direction of extension of the blade being coplanar or not with the axis of rotation A. In general, a blade extending obliquely by relative to the axis of rotation A, extends so that: - In view along a tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction passing through the middle of the blade, the blade is at a non-zero angle with the axis of rotation A, preferably an angle between -10 ° and + 10 °; and or

in view in a radial direction passing through the middle of the blade, the blade makes a non-zero angle with the axis of rotation A, preferably an angle of between -30 ° and

+ 30 °.

The middle of a blade is the equidistant point of the ends of the blade in the direction of the length. The radial and tangential directions are considered with respect to the axis of rotation A. A radial direction is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and passes through the axis of rotation A A tangential direction is orthogonal to the axis of rotation A.

Preferably, the arms 16 of each pair of arms 16 are connected to the blade 14 which they carry at a distance from the ends of the blade 14.

The length LA of the lower end portion 14A of each blade 14 located between the arm-blade connection 24 linking the lower arm 16 to the blade 14 and the lower end of the blade 14 is preferably between 15% and 35%. % of the total length of the blade 14 taken between its lower and upper ends, in particular between 25% and 35% for a rotor with vertical blades 14.

The length LB of the upper end portion 14B of each blade 14 located between the arm-blade connection 24 linking the upper arm 16 to the blade 14 and the upper end 14B of the blade 14 is preferably between 15% and 35% of the total length of the blade 14 taken between its lower and upper ends, in particular between 15% and 30% for a rotor with vertical blades 14.

The arms 16 are rigidly connected to the hub 12. The arms 16 are stationary relative to the hub 12.

Optionally, the blades 14 are variable pitch.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each blade 14 is connected to each arm 16 which carries it via an articulated arm-blade connection 24 allowing a rotation of the blade 14 with respect to the arm 16 about an axis of rotation. primary, or C timing axis, extending substantially in the direction of extension of the blade 14, so as to change the pitch angle of the blade.

The angle of wedging is the angle, in a horizontal plane located at the level of the wedging system (plane of Figure 3), between the rope of the blade 14, which is the straight segment connecting the leading edge 14C and the trailing edge 14D of the blade 14 seen in section, and the tangent of the trajectory described by the axis C in the horizontal plane considered. The axis C is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation A (in particular in the variant of Figure 1) or slightly oblique with respect to the axis of rotation if the blades 14 are oblique with respect to the axis rotation A.

The wind turbine 2 comprises a wedging control device 26 associated with each blade 14, to control the rotation of the blade 14 around its axis C with respect to the arms 16 carrying the blade 14, that is to say control the angle of adjustment of this blade 14.

The stall control device 26 comprises at least one actuator 28 arranged to rotate the blade 14 about the stall axis C relative to the arm 16 carrying the blade 14, when actuated. The actuator 28 is for example a hydraulic jack, an electric jack or an electric motor possibly associated with a speed reducer. The actuator 28 illustrated in FIG. 2 is an electric jack.

The wedging control device 26 comprises an actuator 28 between each arm 16 carrying a blade 14 and this blade 14. In a variant, it comprises an actuator 28 arranged between only one of the two arms 16 carrying the blade 14 and this blade 14.

Preferably, at least one of the arm-blade connections 24 connecting each blade 14 to an arm 16, and preferably to each arm-blade connection 24 connecting each blade 14 to an arm 16, allows a rotation about at least one axis secondary rotation making a non-zero angle with the setting axis C.

The arm-blade connection 24 illustrated in FIG. 2 allows a rotation around the stall axis C as well as a rotation around a first secondary rotation axis B1, here substantially collinear with the arm 16, and a rotation around it a second secondary axis of rotation B2, substantially horizontal and tangential to the axis of rotation A of the wind rotor 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the arm-blade connection 24 comprises a base 30 mounted at the outer end of the arm being freely pivotable relative to the arm 16 about the first secondary rotation axis B1, a blade support 32 mounted on the base 30 being freely pivotable relative to the base 30 about the second secondary axis of rotation B2, the blade 14 being connected to the blade support 32 by being pivotable around the axis of adjustment C. The actuator 28 is arranged to the blade support 32 and to the blade 14 to control the orientation of the blade 14 relative to the blade support 30 around the timing axis C.

The provision of an arm-blade connection 24 allowing rotation around at least one secondary axis of rotation forming a non-zero angle with the stall axis C makes it possible to release the stresses between the arm 16 and the blade 14, and therefore to reduce the constraints 14, the arm 16 and the arm-blade connection 24. It is thus possible to design and produce a blade 14, arms 16 and arm-blade connections 24 lighter.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the wind rotor 4 comprises beams 34, each beam 34 connecting the hub 12 to a connection point of a respective blade 14, the connection point being situated between the arm-blade connections 24 connecting this hub. blade 14 to the arms 16 carrying the blade 14. Each beam 34 is connected to the corresponding blade 14 and the hub 12 by hinges 36 allowing at least one degree of freedom in rotation, preferably a ball joint. The beam 34 is adapted to take tensile and compressive forces.

The beams 34 make it possible to limit the bending stresses in the blades 14 by providing an intermediate point of attachment between the arm-blade links 24. The articulated links 36 avoid generating additional stresses in the blades 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wind turbine 2 comprises an annular rotor support 40 placed on the upper end of the mast 10 and fixed thereto, for example by bolting. The rotor support 40 carries the wind rotor 4 through the rotating guide assembly 18. The wind rotor 4 and the rotating guide assembly 18 are carried entirely by the rotor support 40. The assembly rotation guide 18 is adapted to support the horizontal and vertical forces and the moments of overturning about horizontal axes of the wind rotor 4 and to transmit them on the rotor support 40.

The rotation guide assembly 18 comprises a fixed ring 18A fixed on the rotor support 40 and a movable ring 18B carrying the wind rotor 4, the movable ring 18B being rotatable relative to the fixed ring 18A about the axis of rotation. rotation A, being guided in rotation by one or more rows of rolling elements (balls, rollers, needles ...) arranged to take up the horizontal forces, the vertical forces and the moments around horizontal axes. The rotation guide assembly 18 is of the type of orientation ring.

The conversion assembly 20 is carried, directly or indirectly via a transition piece, by a rotating part of the rotation guide assembly 18, here directly the movable ring 18B, being suspended on the rotation guide assembly, and being located wholly or partially under the rotor support 40. The weight of the conversion assembly 20 is taken up by the rotor support 40 via the rotational guide assembly 18.

The wind rotor 4 is mounted, directly or indirectly via a transition piece, on a rotating part of the rotating guide assembly 18B. A single transition piece may be used to mount the conversion assembly 20 and the hub 12 of the wind rotor 4 to the rotating part of the rotational guide assembly 18B.

The conversion unit 20 has an electric generator 41 comprising a generator rotor 42 rotatably connected to the wind rotor 4 and a generator stator 44.

The stator of the generator 44 is carried on the movable ring 18 by means of a bearing 46 allowing the relative rotation of the mobile ring 18B and the stator of the generator 44 around the axis of rotation A. The bearing 46, which is preferably a rolling bearing, is adapted to support the weight of the generator 20. The weight of the generator 2 is thus transferred to the rotor support 40 via the rotation guide assembly 18.

The wind turbine 2 comprises a torque recovery device 47 adapted to lock the stator of the generator 44 in rotation with respect to the rotor support 40. The torque recovery device 46 is here connected to the stator of the generator 44 and to the rotor support 40. The torque recovery device is adapted to prohibit a rotation of the stator of the generator 44 relative to the rotor support 40, preferably while allowing a horizontal clearance and / or a vertical clearance of the stator of the generator 44 relative to the support In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the torque recovery device 47 is a hydraulic device.

The hub 12 is mounted above the rotor support 40. The hub 12 of the wind rotor 4 is placed and fixed, for example by bolting, on the movable ring 18B. The hub 12 here has a hollow central portion 48 and cylindrical ends 50 for fixing the arms 16 carrying the blades 14. The hub 12 is placed on the rotor support 40 via the rotational guiding assembly 18 of FIG. so that the hub 12, and more particularly the central portion 48 covers the rotor support 40 and the rotating guide assembly 18. The rotational guiding assembly 18 is advantageously completely received in the hub 12, more particularly in the central part 48.

The conversion assembly 20 is disposed below the rotor support 40 by being suspended under the rotating guide assembly 18. The conversion assembly 20 is suspended from the movable ring 18B through a central passage 40A rotor support 40 which is annular. The conversion assembly 20 carried by the movable ring 18B rigidly fixed on the wind rotor 4 follows the horizontal and vertical movements of the wind rotor 4 and the pivoting of the wind rotor around horizontal axes.

The conversion assembly 20 here comprises a torque transmission device 54, the rotor of the generator 42 being connected in rotation to the wind rotor 4 by means of a torque transmission device 54. The torque transmission device 54 is a multiplier: the output rotational speed (ie that of the rotor of the generator 42) and strictly greater than the input rotational speed (ie that of the wind rotor 4).

The torque transmission device 54 comprises a rotating intermediate piece 52 rigidly fixed to the movable ring 18B, the intermediate piece 52 supporting the stator of the generator 44 via the bearing 46. The intermediate piece 52 is here in the form of a tubular sleeve centered on the axis of rotation A. The intermediate piece 52 extends axially through the central passage 40A to connect the movable ring 18B located above the rotor support 40 to the stator of the generator 44, located below the support rotor 40.

The intermediate part 52 forms a rotating casing of the torque transmission device 54.

The torque transmission device 54 comprises a transmission shaft 56 fast with the rotor of the generator 42 and an epicyclic gear train 58 which rotatably couples the transmission shaft 56 to the wind rotor 4.

The epicyclic gear train 58 is more specifically disposed between the transmission shaft 56 and the intermediate part 52. The epicyclic gear train 58 comprises a central gear 58A carried by the transmission shaft 56 meshing with wheels satellite gear 58B carried by a carrier 59 connected to the stator of the generator 44 so as to be stationary in rotation about the axis of rotation A, and a ring gear 58C carried by the intermediate piece 52 on an inner surface thereof this.

In Figure 3, the torque transmission device 54 is shown with a single multiplication ratio, defined by a gear train (the epicyclic gear train 58). Optionally, the transmission device comprises several multiplication ratios, for example three, preferably each defined by a respective gear train.

The stator of the generator 44 is rigidly fixed to the planet carrier 59, which is rotatably mounted on the intermediate part 52 via the bearing 46. Thus, the generator 20 is carried by the torque transmission device 54, which is carried by the movable ring 18B.

In operation, the wind rotor 4 rotates about the axis of rotation A under the action of the wind, and rotates the rotor of the generator 42, also around the axis of rotation A, here via the device The intermediate piece 52 rotates together with the wind rotor 4, and rotates the rotor of the generator 42 via the epicyclic gear train 58. The stator of the generator 44 is held fixed in rotation around the rotor. rotation axis A by the device torque recovery 47. Thus, the rotor of the generator 42 rotates relative to the stator of the generator 44, and the generator 20 produces electricity.

Due to the movements of the floating structure 6 due to the swell and / or currents and due to the aerodynamic thrust experienced by the rotor, horizontal forces, vertical and moments around horizontal axes are taken up by the rotor support 40, which can cause slight horizontal and vertical movements and slight swiveling around horizontal axes of the wind rotor relative to the rotor support 40 and the mast 10.

The generator 20 carried by the movable ring 18B rigidly fixed to the hub 12 of the wind rotor 4 follows the movements of the wind rotor 4 with respect to the rotor support 40 and / or the mast 10. Thus, the rotor of the generator 42 and the stator of the rotor generator 44 remain correctly aligned with each other during operation, despite the movements and deformations of the rotor support 40 and / or the mast 10 under the effect of the forces applied by the wind rotor 4. This is favorable for the proper functioning of the generator 44, and in particular for the proper operation of the bearings of the torque transmission device 54, the generator 20 and the bearing 46.

Optionally, the hub 12 is equipped with a lifting device 60 for lifting the conversion unit 20 along the mast 10 to mount at the top of the mast 10 or down at the bottom of the mast 10. The lifting device 60 is for example a winch comprising cables 62 that can be wound or unwound on a drum 64.

Thus, to carry out maintenance or exchange operations of the conversion assembly 20, it is possible to hook the conversion assembly 20 to the lifting device 60, to disconnect the conversion assembly 20 from the wind rotor 4 for example by dismounting the intermediate piece 52 of the movable ring 18B and dismounting the torque recovery device 47, then lowering the conversion assembly 20 along the mast 10.

Optionally, the wind turbine 2 comprises a guiding device 66 for guiding the conversion unit 20 vertically inside the mast 10. The guiding device 66 comprises, for example, rails 68 extending along the mast 10, the conversion assembly comprising guide members 70 sliding along rails 68 in order to allow the raising and lowering of the conversion assembly 20 inside the mast 10 without the risk of collisions with the inner walls of the mast 10, case of movements of the floating support structure 6.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the conversion assembly 20 is carried by a rotating part (movable ring 18B) of the rotation guiding assembly 18, here by via a rotating intermediate piece 52 rigidly fixed to the rotating part (movable ring 18B) and rotating the stator of the generator 44.

Alternatively, it is possible to fix the intermediate piece 52 on the hub 12 of the wind rotor 4 directly on the hub 12, by bolting, or indirectly, for example by means of a transition piece extending axially between the intermediate piece 52 and the hub 12, the transition piece being fixed rigidly on the one hand to the intermediate piece 52, and secondly to the hub 12.

In Figure 4, the intermediate piece 52 is fixed to the hub 12 via a transition piece 72 in the form of a tubular spacer. The intermediate piece 52 is fixed on the transition piece 72, which is fixed on the hub 12.

In a variant, the transition piece 72 is omitted, and the intermediate piece 52 is fixed directly on the hub 12.

In another variant, the hub 12 is not fixed to the rotating ring 18B directly, but is fixed on the rotating ring 18B indirectly via the transition piece 72. The transition piece 72 is fixed on the ring 18B, and the hub 12 is fixed on the transition piece 72, and the intermediate piece 52 is fixed on the transition piece 72.

In the different embodiments and variants, the provision of the rotor support 40 makes it easier to assemble the wind turbine 2. A mounting method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing the rotor support 40;

(b) securing the rotational guide assembly 18 to the rotor support 40;

(c) suspending the conversion assembly 20 on the rotational guide assembly 18; and

(d) securing the support piece 40, on which the rotating guide assembly 18 and the conversion assembly 20 have been installed, at the upper end of the mast 10.

Steps (b) and (c) are performed before step (d), and before the hub 12 is installed on the guide assembly 18. Step (c) is performed before the hub 12 is installed on the guide assembly 18 or vice versa in the cases where this is possible or necessary, for example when the generator is not suspended directly on the rotating guide assembly 18, but, directly or indirectly, on the hub 12.

Thus, the steps (a) to (c) can be performed in a workshop with suitable means to reduce the time and cost of assembly, and the easy and fast assembly of the wind rotor 4 at the upper end of the structure of support 6 is obtained by assembling, at first, the rotor support 40 which carries the rotation guide assembly 18 and the generator 20, and if necessary a transmission device 54 interposed between the generator 20, and in a second time, the wind rotor 4, comprising the hub 12, the arms 16 and the blades 14, which were previously assembled. It is possible to assemble these elements to make sets of a mass that can be handled as an integral unit and mount at the top of the support structure without having to perform subsequent assembly operations.

The rotor support 40 of annular shape and the generator 20 carried under the rotor support 40 allow disassembly of the generator 20 and a descent of the generator 20 along the mast 10, for example by means of a winch.

Moreover, the wind turbine 2 has a reduced mass because the wind rotor 4 is guided in rotation by a rotation guide assembly 18 entirely carried by the rotor support 40 fixed at the top of the mast 10 and adapted to take up the forces horizontal, the vertical forces and moments around horizontal axis, the wind turbine 2 being devoid of shaft extending inside the mast 10.

The transmission device 54 multiplier allows a reduction in mass by allowing to use a smaller generator because rotating faster and taking a lower torque.

Claims

1. Vertical axis wind turbine comprising:

a rotor support (40) adapted to be attached and fixed on a wind turbine support structure (6);

- A wind rotor (4) designed to rotate under the action of wind, the wind rotor being disposed above the rotor support (40) being rotatably mounted on the rotor support (40) about an axis substantially vertical rotation (A) through a rotational guide assembly carried (18) by the rotor support (40);

a conversion assembly (20) for converting the rotation of the rotor into electricity, the conversion assembly being carried by the wind rotor (40) or a rotating part of the rotating guide assembly (18), being arranged under the rotor support (40), the conversion assembly comprising an electric generator (41) comprising the generator rotor rotatably connected to the wind rotor (4) and the stator of the generator; and

- A torque recovery device (47) adapted to lock the stator of the generator in rotation relative to the rotor support.

2. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the hub (12) of the rotor has a height less than twice its outer diameter overall.

A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the hub (12) of the wind rotor is hollow and the rotational guide assembly (18) is at least partly received within the hub. (12) of the wind rotor, in particular fully received inside the hub (12).

A vertical axis wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion assembly (20) comprises an interposed multiplier torque transmission device (54), and the generator rotor is rotatably coupled to the wind rotor. via the multiplier torque transmission device.

A vertical axis wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wind rotor (4) comprises a hub, blades (14) and pairs of arms (16) connecting the blades to the hub, each pair of arms carrying a respective blade, each pair of arms comprising a lower arm and an upper arm extending radially from the hub to the blade diverging from each other.

6. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the blades (14) are variable pitch, each blade (14) being connected to at least one of the arms (16) of the pair of arms carrying the blade, in particular to each arm of the pair of arms, by an articulated connection (24) allowing a rotation about a primary axis of wedging.

7. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the articulated connection (24) allowing a rotation about a primary axis of wedging further has at least one rotation about a secondary axis (B1, B2) making a non-zero angle with the primary axis, including two secondary axes forming a non-zero angle between them.

A vertical axis wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a support structure (6) having a mast, the rotor support being attached and fixed to an upper end of the mast.

A method of mounting a vertical axis wind turbine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising mounting the rotation guide assembly (18) and the conversion assembly (20) on the rotor support. (40), then mounting the assembly formed by the rotor support, the rotation guide assembly (18) and the conversion assembly (20) at the upper end of a mast (10). a support structure (6).

10. - A method of disassembling a vertical axis wind turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising detaching the conversion assembly (20) and the rotating part of the rotating guide assembly ( 18) or the wind rotor (40), and lowering the conversion assembly (20) with a hoist (60) disposed within the wind rotor (4), and preferably using a guiding device (66) disposed between the support structure and the conversion assembly.