Maximally efficient vertical axis wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309863-B2
Application number	US-201313960400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2013
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A maximally efficient vertical axis wind turbine (MEVAWT) includes a rotatable circular frame having upper and lower concentric flat rings or disks which support a plurality of, typically three, four, five or six, pivotable cascades, each including a plurality of fixed, configurable airfoils. The airfoils preferably include a single, pivotable trailing flap and may include lateral extensions. The center and periphery of the lower ring are supported in suitable bearings to facilitate free rotation of the frame. Wind direction and velocity sensors provide data utilized to control drive mechanisms which orient each cascade and the flap of each airfoil to maximize the resultant power produced by the turbine.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising, in combination,
first, upper and second, lower vertically spaced apart circular members,
support means for rotatably supporting said second, lower circular member, and
a plurality of airfoil cascades disposed between said spaced apart circular members, each of said airfoil cascades including a first, upper plate and a second lower plate rotatably mounted in said respective first, upper circular member and said second, lower circular member and including a plurality of parallel, vertically extending airfoils secured between said upper and lower plates, each of said airfoils including a pivotable tail portion.

2. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further including a plurality of permanent magnets rotating with said second, lower circular member and a plurality of stationary electrical coils disposed adjacent said permanent magnets.

3. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further including cables extending between said first, upper circular member and said second, lower circular member.

4. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further including a stationary mounting structure disposed beneath said second, lower circular member and a plurality of bearings between said mounting structure and said second, lower circular member.

5. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further including a plurality of drive motors, each of said drive motors operatively coupled to a respective one of said plurality of airfoil cascades for rotating said airfoil cascades relative to said upper and lower circular members.

6. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 further including a wind direction and wind speed sensing unit.

7. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1 wherein said airfoils include adjustable width extending members that close the space between adjacent airfoils when fully extended.

8. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising, in combination,
a first, upper flat member and a second, lower vertically spaced apart flat member,
support means for rotatably supporting said second, lower flat member, and
a plurality of airfoil cascades disposed between said spaced apart flat members, each of said airfoil cascades including a first, upper plate and a second lower plate rotatably mounted in said respective first, upper flat member and said second, lower flat member, a plurality of parallel, vertically extending airfoils secured between said upper and lower plates, each of said airfoils including a pivotable flap portion and drive means for rotating said airfoil cascade relative to said upper and lower flat members.

9. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 further including a plurality of permanent magnets secured to said second, lower flat member and a plurality of stationary electrical coils disposed adjacent said permanent magnets.

10. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 further including cables extending between said first, upper flat member and said second, lower flat member.

11. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 further including a stationary mounting structure disposed beneath said second, lower flat member and a plurality of bearings between said mounting structure and said second, lower flat member.

12. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 further including a wind direction and wind speed sensing unit.

13. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8 wherein said airfoils include adjustable width extending members that close the space between adjacent airfoils when fully extended.

14. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising, in combination,
a first, upper member and a second, lower member vertically spaced apart from said first, upper member,
support means for rotatably supporting said second, lower member, and
a plurality of airfoil cascades disposed between said spaced apart upper and lower members, each of said airfoil cascades including a first, upper plate and a second lower plate rotatably mounted in said respective first, upper member and said second, lower member, drive means for rotating said airfoil cascades relative to said upper and lower members, a plurality of parallel, vertically extending airfoils secured between said upper and lower plates, each of said airfoils including a pivotable tail portion and means for pivoting said tails of each of said airfoil cascades in unison.

15. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 wherein said drive means for rotating said airfoil cascades includes an electric motor and one of a timing belt, chain and gear set.

16. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 wherein said means for pivoting said tails includes a bi-directional actuator having an output and a linkage extending between said output and each of said pivotable tail portions.

17. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 further including a plurality of permanent magnets secured for rotation with said second, lower member and a plurality of stationary electrical coils disposed adjacent said permanent magnets.

18. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 further including cables extending between said first, upper member and said second, lower member.

19. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 further including a stationary mounting structure disposed beneath said second, lower member and a plurality of bearings between said mounting structure and said second, lower member.

20. The vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14 further including a wind direction and wind speed sensing unit.

Assignees

• Univ Michigan State
• Univ Iowa State Res Found

Inventors

• Foss John F
• Wlezien Richard
• Wang Bingsen

Classifications

• F03D3/005 Primary

  the axis being vertical · CPC title

• F41F1/06

  Mortars (base plates therefor F41A23/54) · CPC title

• F42B12/36

  for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling {; for transmitting information} · CPC title

• A61G17/08

  Urns (columbaria E04H13/00) · CPC title

• F03D7/06

  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor · CPC title