Improvements for a non-rotating wind energy generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201646-A1
Application number	US-201414911016-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Apr 15, 2011
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for a non-rotating wind energy generator. The control system can comprise a sensor that senses at least one of: an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator, a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator. Additionally, the control system can comprise a damper that applies a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.

First claim

1 . A control system for a non-rotating wind energy generator, comprising:
a sensor that senses at least one of:
an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator,
a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator,
a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and
a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator; and
a damper that applies a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper increases the damping force based at least in part on a first sensor input.

3 . The control system of claim 2 , wherein the damper decreases the damping force based at least in part on a second sensor input.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the damper increases the damping force when the amplitude is above a first threshold; and the damper decreases the damping force when the amplitude is below a second threshold.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the damper applies a maximum damping force when the amplitude is above a maximum threshold until the amplitude is below a minimum threshold.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper waits a predetermined time before changing the damping force.

7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein applying the damping force comprises applying a load to the linear alternator system.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , comprising a controller that receives an input from the sensor and sends a control instruction to the damper, wherein the damping force is based in part on the control instruction.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , comprising:
a battery charge controller that controls charging of a battery, wherein the sensor determines a charge level of the battery.

10 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises at least one of a variable resistor and a transistor that applies a variable resistance to the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator to control the damping force.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a transistor and a variable resistor that each apply a variable resistance to the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator to control the damping force.

12 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the damper controls the damping force based in part on a pulse-width modulation signal.

13 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one optical sensor.

14 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:
a first at least one sensor that determines whether the amplitude is above a first threshold; and a second at least one sensor that determines whether the amplitude is above a second threshold.

15 . A method of controlling a non-rotating wind energy generator, the method comprising:
determining at least one of:
an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator,
a power output of a linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator,

a voltage output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator, and
a current output of the linear alternator system of the non-rotating wind energy generator; and
applying a damping force to the bluff body based in part on at least one of the amplitude, the voltage output, the current output, and the power output.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising increasing the damping force based at least in part on a first sensor measurement.

17 . The control system of claim 16 , comprising decreasing the damping force based at least in part on a second sensor measurement.

18 . The method of claim 15 , comprising at least one of:
increasing a damping force when an amplitude of oscillation of a bluff body of the non-rotating wind energy generator is above a first threshold; and decreasing a damping force when the amplitude is below a second threshold.

19 . The method of claim 15 , comprising waiting a predetermined time before changing the damping force.

20 . The method of claim 15 , comprising:
charging a battery using the non-rotating wind energy generator; controlling a charging rate of the battery; and determining a charge level of the battery.

21 . The method of claim 15 , comprising controlling the damping force based in part on varying a resistance of a variable resistor.

22 . The method of claim 15 , comprising controlling the damping force based in part on a pulse-width modulation signal.

23 . A non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus, comprising:
a flat spring bluff body assembly operable to initiate and sustain oscillatory motion in response to wind energy, wherein the flat spring bluff body assembly comprises one or more pairs of parallel flat springs; and a linear alternator system operable to generate electrical energy via the motion of the suspended bluff body.

24 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of claim 23 ,
wherein the flat spring bluff body assembly comprises:
a frame movably supporting at least one beam;
wherein the one or more flat springs attach the beam to the frame;
wherein the linear alternator system comprises:
at least one electromagnetic coil attached to one of the beam or the frame;
at least one magnet attached to one of the frame or the beam; and
wherein motion of the beam when exposed to wind causes the at least one electromagnetic coil to pass the at least one magnet.

25 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of claim 23 , comprising:
one or more additional beams; one or more additional flat springs; wherein the one or more additional flat springs attach the one or more additional beams to the frame.

26 . A non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus, comprising:
a suspended bluff body operable to initiate and sustain oscillatory motion in response to wind energy, wherein the suspended bluff body has at least one of the following cross-sectional profiles:
an ellipse with a depth to height ratio between 8/16 and 14/16;
a rectangle with a depth to height ratio greater than 0 and less than 1;
a multiple D-shape with a first beam oriented in an opposing direction to a second beam, wherein the depth to height ratio of each beam is between 1/4 and 3/4;
a multiple D-shape with a first beam oriented in a same direction as a second beam, wherein the depth to height ratio of each beam is between 1/4 and 3/4;
a biconvex shape with a depth to height ratio between 8/16 and 14/16;
a diamond shape with a depth to height ratio between 4/10 and 7/10; and
a rounded rectangle with a depth to height ratio greater than 1/2 and less than 1; and
a linear alternator system operable to generate electrical energy via the motion of the suspended bluff body.

27 . The non-rotating wind energy generating apparatus of claim 26 ,
wherein the suspended bluff body comprises: a frame movably supporting at least one beam; one or more first springs; one or more second springs; wherein the one or more first springs attach a first portion of the frame to a first portion of the beam and the one or more second springs attac

Assignees

• Univ Northeastern

Inventors

• Olsen Thomas Richard
• Phillips Jesse C
• Papadopoulos Jeremy J M
• Allien Nicolas D
• St Jean David

Classifications

• F03D9/002

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F03D7/00 Primary

  Controlling wind motors  (supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00) · CPC title

• F03D5/06 Primary

  the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D9/25

  the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) · CPC title