WO2013189503A2

WO2013189503A2 - High altitude maglev vertical-axis wind turbine system (ham-vawt)

Info

Publication number: WO2013189503A2
Application number: PCT/EG2012/000021
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nazar Mohamed HASSAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-20
Filing date: 2012-06-20
Publication date: 2013-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-20
Also published as: WO2013189503A3; DE112012006563T5; CN104768846B; CN104768846A

Description

HIGH ALTITUDE MAGLEV VERTICAL- AXIS WIND

TURBINE SYSTEM (HAM-VAWT)

I. TECHNICAL FIELD:

[0001] This invention relates to the production of electric power, or other useful work, from wind energy using vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT).

II. BACKGROUND ART;

[0002] In a vertical-axis wind turbine, energy from natural wind rotates the turbine blades, which are supported on a vertical axis, and convert it to electric power, or other useful work. With such a system, the performance of any aerodynamic blade (airfoil) is poor at low wind speeds and the blades may stall at low rotational speeds. The installation of any wind turbine system is hence geographically restricted and limited to places where satisfactory wind regimes exist. This is because any wind turbine requires a steady wind speed to efficiently produce electric power at a constant frequency of 50/60 Hz. In the case where a coil-field generator is used with the VAWT, 30% of the produced electric power is usually lost in self-exciting the electric generator or else a permanent-magnet generator is alternatively used. The permanent-magnet generator on the other hand brings to the VAWT system the disadvantages of a relatively higher total system weight and higher system cost. In the Maglev VAWT design, permanent magnets are used to magnetically levitate the turbine system vertically on a rotor shaft, serving as an efficient replacement for ball bearings used on the conventional wind turbine.

[0003] Examples of wind turbines as shown in the prior art and/or machines with analogous concepts are given in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2634177, 3140850, 3719377, and 4494008, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0004] The present invention provides improvement over the maglev vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) of the prior art. The High Altitude Maglev (HAM) VAWT system of the present invention comprises a Helium lift vehicle to continuously align the VAWT system to the optimal altitudes where its design wind speed exists. The present invention also comprises a smaller VAWT to externally excite the coil-field of the electric generator of the principal VAWT to reduce the power loss that usually occurs in synchronous generators. To avoid their possible demagnetization, the permanent magnets used to implement the maglev portion of the design are also replaced by coil fields excited by a current supplied by the smaller VAWT. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention provides an altitude self-aligning efficient wind energy harnessing device that judiciously places the VAWT in the optimal wind regimes at any geographical location ensuring its operation at maximum efficiency at all times.

III.DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION:

In a first embodiment, the High Altitude Maglev Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (HAM-VAWT) system of the present invention comprises one or two maglev VAWTs permanently fixed to the structure of a helium air vehicle, which also carries within its structure a weather station that controls the elevation of the VAWT system, through continuous monitoring and recording of all weather-related indicators (e.g. ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed, etc.). Data from the weather station will command the helium air vehicle to either ascend or descend to self-align itself into the optimal wind regime where the VAWT design wind speed exists. Wind flowing into the (7) principal (larger) VAWT will rotate its blades to effectively produce the intended rated electric power. The system of the present invention is designed so it may be remotely operated.

In another embodiment, each maglev VAWT system comprises two magnetically levitated (maglev) VAWTs that connected together through their bottom generator covers. The two VAWTs are fitted with coil-field synchronous generators instead of permanent magnets to avoid their relatively heavier overall weight and possible long-term demagnetization. This modification allowed the reduction of the weight of an equivalent system by about two-thirds. This is a pre-requisite of the system of the present invention as it possesses the further object of providing the maximum installed power capacity within the allowed payload that the helium lift vehicle could carry. The (8) smaller VAWT has the object of exciting all the coil fields within both generators, including the coil fields supplying the maglev effect. The (7) larger VAWT is the principal wind generator producing the rated electric power intended by the system of the present invention. The VAWT system is contained inside a (6) metal box-frame that is securely fastened to the helium lift vehicle. The metal box-frame maybe fitted with four wind interceptors to guide larger amount of wind into the blades for more power generation. Each VAWT system of the current invention has been designed with an installed capacity of 250kW and a total weight of about 2100 kg, and is connected to an (9) electrical cable to transmit the electric power output to the intended consumer at the ground level. A (10) wire rope parallel to the electric cable is also used to secure the VAWT system to a specific location on the ground, where a landing bay for the system is constructed.

In another embodiment, the helium lift vehicle has a spherical lightweight metal structure of a total weight of about 750 kg. The structure consists of 3 circular carbon-fiber trusses that are tied to each other at both vertices and at an angle of 120° to each other. Each (1 1) circular truss is further supported internally by a (12) hexagon structure to improve the structure overall rigidity. All the individual elements of the carbon-fiber trusses have a triangular arrangement and are fastened together by knot plates that carefully spaced within the structure. The (1) outside envelope is a polyester tear-proof fabric that has been covered with a nano-based layer to make it weather-proof, i.e. rain, and light and heat from the sun will not affect its durability. At the core of the circular metal structure, two semi-spherical (13) helium bags have been placed, which give the system of the present invention it ability for ascending/descending and easy maneuverability.

The helium lift vehicle maybe fitted with two propellers with a swivel angle of up to 120 degrees and (2) a rudder and two (3) elevators to enable the possible ascend/descend and maneuverability of the system of the present invention. Each (4) propeller maybe operated by either an HOkW electric motor or a strong 150-hp aircraft engine. The total volume of the helium bags will decide on the maximum take-off load that the helium lift vehicle will be able to carry. For a VAWT system of 250kW installed capacity, the helium semi-spheres will have a diameter of about 20 meters, while a 500kW VAWT system will require a helium sphere with a 24.5 meters diameter. The 500 kW VAWT system is basically two 250kW VAWT systems properly secured under the spherical structure with the necessary space between them.

In another embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a (5) weather station that has the primary object of controlling the elevation of the system of the current invention, through continuous monitoring and recording of all weather- related indicators (e.g. ambient temperature, air pressure, wind speed, etc.) using the latest digital sensors and data loggers. Data from the weather station will command the helium air vehicle to either ascend or descend to self-align itself within the optimal wind regime where the VAWT design wind speed exists. The present invention therefore has the primary object of producing electric power, or other useful work, from wind energy using vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) system(s).

The invention has the further object of providing an improved device for harnessing wind energy, which may be erected with the minimal construction lead time and without the need for year(s) of long wind measuring and/or analysis.

The invention has the further object of providing an improved device for harnessing wind energy by self-aligning the VAWT system at the relevant altitude, where the optimal wind regime exists to ensure its operation at maximum efficiency at all times.

The invention has the further object of providing a weather station at high altitudes to monitor the weather system, and where a natural disaster alert system could also be setup.

The invention has the further object of improving on the effectiveness and efficiency of a maglev vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) system regardless of how weak the windTegime is at any given geographical location.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS :

FIG. (1) provides a 3D representation of the High Altitude Maglev VAWT (HAM- VAWT) of the present invention with a cut-away perspective view showing the plurality of the arrangement of spherical metal structure and helium bags inside the spherical envelope.

FIG. (2) provides a 3D bottom view of the system of the present invention, illustrating the possibility of having two 250kW VAWT systems installed under the weather station cabin.

FIG. (3)) provides a cut-away perspective view of the two electric synchronous generators (both the exciter and the principal generators), together with the coil- fields providing the maglev effect.

Claims

CLAIMS THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A High Altitude Maglev(HAM) Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) System comprising:

a) A first member having one or two maglev VAWT system(s), where each system is fitted with two maglev VAWTs connected together through their bottom generator covers, as a means to convert wind energy into electric energy and/or useful work;

b) A second member having a remotely-controlled spherical helium air vehicle having a plurality of metal triangular trusses in the form of circular and hexagonal structures fastened together, as an effective means to carry and align the VAWT system of 1(a) to the optimal altitudes where its design wind speed exists;

c) A third member having a weather station, as a means to control the elevation of the system of the current invention, and continuously guide the helium lift vehicle into the required optimal altitude;

2. The High Altitude Maglev Vertical- Axis Wind Turbine system of claim 1,

wherein the small VAWT output is used to excite the generator of the principal (larger) VAWT, to generate the rated electric power of the system of the preset invention.

3. The High Altitude Maglev Vertical- Axis Wind Turbine of claim 1, further

comprising two helium bags to allow the support of a total payload equivalent to the weight of up to two VAWT systems.

4. The High Altitude Maglev Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine system of claim 1, fitted with a rudder, elevators, and two aircraft engines to enable the possible ascend/descend and maneuverability of the system of the present invention to the required altitudes.

5. The maglev VAWT system of claim 1 (a), fitted with coil fields instead of

permanent to provide the maglev effects for both wind generators.