U.S. patent application number 11/713938 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for systems for distributed energy resources.
Invention is credited to Paul Harvey Hartman.
Application Number | 20080008588 11/713938 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37804361 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080008588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hartman; Paul Harvey |
January 10, 2008 |
Systems for distributed energy resources
Abstract
A new design of vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed based on
a dome structure using dome struts as blades that work in concert
to produce rotational motion. The stability and low cost of the new
design allows the turbine to function in low wind speed regimes as
well as high speed winds that would be encountered in off-shore
wind installations. The large stresses and structural requirements
of mounting large horizontal axis wind turbines, particularly
off-shore, are avoided with the new system. A new energy
distribution system is proposed that will capture abundant
off-shore wind energy, store it aboard a generator/delivery ship in
the form of Hydrogen gas, and deliver it to an existing shore based
power plant to produce electricity using a conventional gas
turbine. Alternatively, the Hydrogen can be used to produce methane
from coal using known processes to add natural gas to pipelines in
areas that would normally be consuming the material. Both
applications, and the direct production of heat by the new
turbines, would stabilize our national energy grid while reducing
CO2 emissions.
Inventors: |
Hartman; Paul Harvey;
(Chardon, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul Hartman
11631 Cherry Hollow Drive
Chardon
OH
44024
US
|
Family ID: |
37804361 |
Appl. No.: |
11/713938 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11210068 |
Aug 23, 2005 |
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11713938 |
Mar 5, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
416/132B |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 10/30 20130101;
F05B 2240/931 20130101; Y02T 70/5254 20130101; F03D 3/00 20130101;
Y02T 90/40 20130101; Y02E 10/726 20130101; Y02P 70/50 20151101;
Y02T 70/58 20130101; Y02P 70/523 20151101; Y02T 70/5236 20130101;
B63H 9/02 20130101; B63J 3/04 20130101; Y02E 10/72 20130101; Y02E
10/721 20130101; Y02E 10/74 20130101; Y02T 90/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/132.00B |
International
Class: |
B63H 1/06 20060101
B63H001/06 |
Claims
1) An energy capture and distribution system comprising; a wind
energy resource; a self-starting vertical axis wind turbine means
for converting said wind energy resource into rotational power,
said self-starting vertical axis wind turbine means mounted on a
ship and connected by means of a mast to electrical generation
means for the production of electrical power, said electrical power
connected to a plurality of water electrolysis cells with the
capability to produce Hydrogen gas, said ship also having storage
means for compressing and containing said Hydrogen gas for a
prolonged period of time, propulsive means for moving between the
location of said wind energy resource and a shore based
infrastructure facility and unloading means for delivering said
Hydrogen gas to said infrastructure facility.
2) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said infrastructure
facility comprises an electrical power plant connected to an
electrical power grid.
3) The energy system of claim 2, wherein said electrical power
plant includes a turbine generator capable of using either methane
or Hydrogen or a mixture of the two to produce electricity.
4) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said infrastructure
facility comprises a chemical process plant capable of
hydrogenating coal or high molecular weight hydrocarbons to produce
methane and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons.
5) The energy system of claim 4, further including a connected
natural gas pipeline for the distribution of said methane.
6) The energy system of claim 1, further including a gearing system
between said self-starting vertical axis wind turbine means and
said electrical generation means; thereby supplying higher speed
rotational power to said electrical generation means.
7) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said self-starting
vertical axis wind turbine means comprises; a tower; said mast
engaging said tower and adapted to rotate about a generally
vertical axis; and a wind turbine having a plurality of struts,
said struts elongated in a first direction and transverse to said
direction of elongation having a constant cross section adapted to
capture said wind energy resource and having lengths to conform to
a largely spherical dome framework design; said struts attached to
one another at hubs according to said framework design by means of
a hub connection system; with the assembly of said struts and said
hub connection system forming a dome framework with a largely
spherical shape having an equatorial plane and poles normal to said
equatorial plane, with polar struts aligned toward said poles
engaging coupler means; said coupler means having the capability to
position said turbine on said mast and the capability to lock said
turbine to said mast and transmit mechanical rotation initiated by
said turbine to said mast
8) The wind turbine means of claim 7, wherein said constant cross
section comprises an elliptical tube with the major axis of said
elliptical tube oriented roughly tangential to said largely
spherical shape, said elliptical tube having an internal elliptical
surface adapted to engage said hub connector system and said strut
comprising a structural strut, and A blade strut, comprising said
structural strut and further including two integral transition
sections emerging from the ends of the minor axis of said
elliptical tube, with said transition sections joining spaced apart
from said minor axis into a blade section, said blade strut having
a roughly aerodynamic shape at its exterior and having said
internal elliptical surface at its interior.
9) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said energy capture and
distribution system has more than one vertical axis wind turbine
means for converting said wind energy resource into rotational
power.
10) The energy system of claim 9, wherein said vertical axis wind
turbine means comprises a propulsive means for said ship.
11) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said electrical
generation means supplies a bank of storage batteries for storage
of electricity and said water electrolysis cells are not used.
12) The energy system of claim 11, wherein said bank of storage
batteries supplies an electric propulsion system on board said
ship.
13) The energy system of claim 1, wherein a purified water store is
contained on said ship and said purified water store is connected
through a plurality of supply lines to said plurality of water
electrolysis cells; whereby an even buoyancy and weight
distribution is maintained and the need to pre-process saline or
contaminant containing water on board ship is avoided.
14) An energy capture and distribution system comprising; a wind
energy resource; a self-starting vertical axis wind turbine means
for converting said wind energy resource into rotational power,
said vertical axis wind turbine means mounted on a tower and
mechanically connected by means of a mast to heat generation means
for the conversion of said rotational power to heat, a thermal
storage tank having heat exchange surface means for the transfer of
said heat to a thermal storage media, and heating/ventilating means
for the utilization of said heat within a structure; whereby, the
combustion of non-renewable resources is offset by the use of said
wind energy resource to thermally condition the space within said
structure or thermally condition process fluids within said
structure.
15) The energy system of claim 14, wherein said heat exchange
surface means comprises a heat exchange jacket fitted to the
outside of a liquid storage tank.
16) The energy system of claim 14, wherein said thermal storage
tank comprises a portion of said tower.
17) The energy system of claim 15, wherein said thermal storage
media is water.
18) The energy system of claim 16, wherein said thermal storage
media is rocks.
19) The energy system of claim 16, wherein said thermal storage
media is aluminum.
20) The energy system of claim 17, wherein said heating/ventilating
means include a water source heat pump, said heat pump providing a
flow of conditioned supply air to said structure.
21) The energy system of claim 16, wherein said heating/ventilating
means include heat transfer means for directly moving said heat
from said thermal storage media to said structure.
22) The energy system of claim 14, wherein said self-starting
vertical axis wind turbine means comprises; a tower; said mast
engaging said tower and adapted to rotate about a generally
vertical axis; and a wind turbine having a plurality of struts,
said struts elongated in a first direction and transverse to said
direction of elongation having a constant cross section adapted to
capture said wind energy and having lengths to conform to a largely
spherical dome framework design; said struts attached to one
another at hubs according to said framework design by means of a
hub connection system; with the assembly of said struts and said
hub connection system forming a dome framework with a largely
spherical shape having an equatorial plane and poles normal to said
equatorial plane, with polar struts aligned toward said poles
engaging coupler means; said coupler means having the capability to
position said turbine on said mast and the capability to lock said
turbine to said mast and transmit mechanical rotation initiated by
said turbine to said mast.
23) The vertical axis wind turbine means of claim 22, wherein said
constant cross section comprises an elliptical tube with the major
axis of said elliptical tube oriented roughly tangential to said
largely spherical shape, said elliptical tube having an internal
elliptical surface adapted to engage said hub connector system and
said strut comprising a structural strut, and A blade strut,
comprising said structural strut and further including two integral
transition sections emerging from the ends of the minor axis of
said elliptical tube, with said transition sections joining spaced
apart from said minor axis into a blade section, said blade strut
having a roughly aerodynamic shape at its exterior and having said
internal elliptical surface at its interior.
24) The energy system of claim 14, wherein said heat generation
means comprises a shear type fluid friction device containing a
viscous fluid and having at least one exterior extended surface
means for transferring said heat to a working fluid, said working
fluid connected in a fluid flow channel to said thermal storage
tank.
25) The energy system of claim 14, wherein said heat generation
means comprises a high pressure fluid pump connected to a working
fluid contained in a closed circulation loop, said closed
circulation loop further including a section of small diameter
tubing; whereby said rotational power is converted to heat in the
passage of said working fluid through said section of small
diameter tubing.
26) The heat generation means of claim 24, wherein said shear type
fluid friction device has at least one disk contained between an
upper housing and a lower housing with a specific gap between said
disk and each of said housings, with said viscous fluid occupying
each of said specific gaps, with said at least one disk connected
mechanically to rotate in concert with said mast and said upper and
lower housings fixed in position relative to said tower, said at
least one disk, said upper housing and said lower housing each
being concentric about an axis of rotation of said at least one
disk and said upper housing and said lower housing being roughly
congruent to said at least one disk, with said upper housing and
said lower housing each having exterior surfaces and interior
surfaces, said interior surfaces being adjacent to said specific
gap and with at least one of said exterior surfaces comprising said
exterior extended surface means, said specific gap having a width,
said at least one disk having an outer diameter, said viscous fluid
having a viscosity and said wind resource having a speed, such that
a fluid friction means based on said width, said outer diameter,
said viscosity and said speed has the capability to track an output
of said heat in concert with an input of said wind resource;
whereby said shear type fluid friction device can increase a
thermal load in proportion to a high wind speed, eliminating much
of the need for a furling or braking mechanism in the system.
Description
[0001] This is a divisional application by Paul Hartman, (US
Citizen), Chardon, Ohio to co-pending application Ser. No.
11/210,068 filed Aug. 23, 2005. This application is for equipment
to provide distributed energy resources to offset the use of
non-renewable fuels in the public power supply.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to wind turbines and energy systems,
specifically to vertical axis machines and systems that have the
capability to supply public energy needs in combination with
existing infrastructure and equipment.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Large horizontal axis wind turbines have the lion's share of
the current land based market. They also constitute the planning
for off shore installations of very large (up to 5 MW) turbines.
While many high value wind sites lie in mountain passes such as
Tehachapi in California and Guadalupe in Texas they are limited in
frequency and access to the grid. A host of attractive sites are
found in the Great Plains, (called the `Saudi Arabia` of wind), but
lie a considerable distance from major population areas.
[0006] Just off shore of major population centers on the Atlantic,
Gulf Coast, Pacific and Great Lakes lie wind energy resources that
dwarf on-shore wind energy available by factors of up to 5:1.
Recent DOE inquiries have focused on tall towers for islands to
capture this resource. The difficulties of the Nantucket Shoals
project, general use of the shoreline as a recreational/tourist
resource and valid `not in my back yard` sentiments of the public
demonstrate the limitations of this direction of development.
Another difficulty is integrating and connecting the variable
off-shore wind resource to existing shore-based power plants that
are the ties to the distribution grid.
[0007] As turbines get larger, the large moment of inertia in the
three-blade horizontal axis design requires ever heavier composite
cross-sections. Fiberglass thickness now reaches close to three
inches for 1.5 to 2.5 MW production machines. The strength to
weight properties of composites will limit the turbine size in the
same way the size of dinosaurs was limited by the properties of
bone. A planned developmental 5 MW turbine for off-shore
installation in Germany will have 18 ton blades, even considering
some use of high cost carbon fiber reinforcement. Production scale
machines are now so large that they need to be rotated whenever
they pass below bridges.
[0008] Thinking in land based terms of ever larger turbines is not
particularly useful within an ocean context where average wind
energy can go from 500 W/m2 to 1000 W/m2 by moving slightly further
off shore. The top-heavy design of horizontal axis mills and
transmission to shore increases the cost of off shore installations
by a factor of at least three over comparable land installations.
Island installations have a more reasonable cost but are not
scaleable in the sense that there are few opportunities
available.
[0009] Within this context, Heronemous, (US App#2003/0168864) and
Pflantz, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,600) have proposed gigantic, buoyed,
off shore platforms for horizontal axis turbines to produce public
power. Both are unique in generating hydrogen through electrolysis
and utilizing heat to desalinate water; an important need in many
areas. The former also features systems on the platform to produce
methane, ammonia and liquid Hydrogen for transport by tender ship
to shore. Placing large chemical production platforms off shore
would seem to be more costly than placing them on land, and to
invite the possibility of chemical spills in the aquatic
environment. Working with liquid Hydrogen is just barely handled
safely by NASA at the present time.
[0010] In addition to the limitations described above, the fixed
position of the platforms, the ungainly array of multiple
horizontal axis wind turbines and the turbulence experienced in
large storms present the challenge of catastrophic failure such as
that of the Putnam 1.5 MW installation in Vermont during WW II.
[0011] Also, from the perspective of public services, Bird, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,083,382, presents a land based energy system using wind
for water pumping to create a hydrostatic head for wind powered
water purification. Most recently, a corporation formed around the
work of Lackner et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,430) has worked on the
pollution free production of public electricity from coal. The work
has been focused on the use of oil shale and is quite far from
producing a viable public power system.
[0012] The first step of the Lackner process, however, (the
hydrogenation of coal to produce methane), is a viable technology
developed between the 1930's and 1960's (e.g. Schroeder U.S. Pat.
No. 3,152,063). Implementation of the later technology, would go a
long way towards the realistic goal of stabilizing global CO2 at
500 ppm (Browne), and could do so in a much shorter period of time
and with-better assurance of public safety than use of a totally
Hydrogen based economy.
[0013] Earlier, Lawson-Tancred, (U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,010) developed
an integrated horizontal axis system for producing heat and/or
electricity based on hydraulic pumps to drive electric generators
which in turn generate heat for storage or smaller amounts of
electricity for on-site usage. Disadvantages of this approach were
that heat could have produced directly from the fluid power and
that the small scale of the installation could not effectively
compete with utility based supply costs. In targeting direct
production of heat, much of the cost and complexity of a wind
system is reduced, allowing wind to more effectively compete in
areas of modest wind energy resources.
[0014] In terms of ocean-based technology, Flettner (U.S. Pat. No.
1,674,169 & Foreign Patents) sailed a large Magnus effect
powered ship across the Atlantic in 1925. Reducing weight on the
top of the mast, a stable shipboard system was produced. In the
1980's Bergeson repeated this work retrofitting ships between 81
and 560 feet long with Magnus rotors, saving between 23 and 11% on
fuel usage, (Gilmore).
[0015] These efforts did not put forward a systems approach to
supplying public energy needs. Few designs have been put forward to
collect off shore energy resources and deliver them by ship to
shore based energy production and distribution infrastructure. The
ability to do so also affords the opportunity to move to safe haven
in the event of massive storms. It allows for scaleable and mobile
systems that can respond to changing needs while also moving the
production system for the most part out of everyone's `back
yard`.
[0016] The original Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine design
(U.S. Pat. No. 1,835,018) had the advantages of moving the mass of
the generator to the bottom, reducing overall weight of the
structure, being omni-directional and having a relatively high tip
speed ratio and efficiency. One early limitation was that it was
not self-starting.
[0017] Original designs were formed from Aluminum extrusions with
more potential for damaging deformation than composites. Recently,
Wallace et al, (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,499,904 and 5,375,324), developed
a composite Darrieus blade produced through the lower cost
pultrusion process. This process addresses a potential problem of
conventional horizontal axis blades; mold form/lay up process can
leave potential voids and hidden defects formed in the heavy wall
polymerization process.
[0018] Wallace still uses conventional troposkein Darrieus geometry
and has many of the limitations outlined for it. Wallace proposes
bending into the troposkein geometry from a straight geometry on
site, avoiding the transport problems outlined above, but perhaps
creating others.
[0019] Another limitation in the Darrieus design was the lack of
pitch control. Modifications to the original curved blade by Drees,
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,367), Seki, (U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,253) and
others resolved the perceived needs for a self-starting machine
with pitch control. Despite the advantages of vertical axis wind
machines, they did not perform well in applications directly linked
to the grid and are no longer produced in the US. This may have
been related to speed regulation, to structural weakness in the
rectangular geometry of the cylindrical straight blade arrays or to
a standardization on horizontal axis machines.
[0020] Additional references are included on forms PTO/SB/08 A
& B, (attached).
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the current
invention are: [0022] a) To provide a robust design for a vertical
axis wind turbine or windmill that is capable of operation in a
variety of wind regimes; Such as that of a ship mounted device to
capture high powered off-shore wind energy resources and economical
land based installations in areas having modest wind energy
resources, [0023] b) To provide an energy production and delivery
system capable of harvesting abundant off shore wind resources and
delivering them in economically and technically useful forms to
existing on-shore energy generation, distribution and use
infrastructure, [0024] c) To provide an energy production and
delivery system capable of reducing hydrocarbon fuel usage and
associated greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of shore based
energy applications in areas with modest wind resources, and [0025]
d) To provide a system that is scaleable and that can be
implemented in a relatively short period of time in order to;
relieve growing energy demand, improve energy independence and the
environment.
[0026] Further objects and advantages will become apparent from
examination of the specifications, drawings and claims of the
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The invention consists of a robust vertical axis
windmill/turbine design based on dome structure spars as blade
supports and blades. It can either be ship mounted or land based
and operate in low (windmill) to very high (wind turbine) wind
speed regimes. Driven devices for heat and electricity generation
allow for production of site/district heating and Hydrogen for
energy storage aboard a generator ship for delivery to shore based
facilities. Integrated downstream equipment can use the Hydrogen
for substitution or supplement of natural gas in conventional gas
turbine electrical generation or production of natural gas for
heating and transportation needs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a land based vertical axis
wind turbine (VAWT) coupled to the heating system of a
building.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross section through a blade strut making up
the VAWT.
[0030] FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of a first style of hub
connector
[0031] FIG. 4 is an isometric drawing of a second style of hub
connector
[0032] FIG. 5 is an exploded assembly drawing of a turbine to mast
coupler unit
[0033] FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly drawing of a fluid friction
thermal generator
[0034] FIG. 7 is an isometric drawing of a ship based energy
capture and delivery system
[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating wind turbine function
[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic/layout of dome--turbine geometry
[0037] FIG. 10 is a cross section of mechanical components in the
ship based system of FIG. 7
[0038] FIG. 11 is a cross section of the generator/Hydrogen storage
components of the system
[0039] FIG. 12 is a process flow diagram of the energy capture and
distribution system
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Wind Turbine and Heating Systems
[0040] 1. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a wind
energy resource 134 turns a novel vertical axis wind turbine 21
driving a thermal generator 30 to supply heat to a conventional
heat pump system 45 for a commercial, industrial or agricultural
building, (not shown). In areas of modest wind energy resources, an
integrated wind heating system 46; allows for economical
competition with the rising cost of natural gas, and the freeing of
natural gas supply to uses such as electrical generation and
transportation.
[0041] 2. Turbine 21 is made up of a dome structure assembled from
structural struts 22 and blade struts 23. (FIG. 1) The blade struts
23 all have leading edges 65 that are oriented in the same
circumferential direction to reinforce rotation 100, (clockwise
from above) of the turbine. The dome structure illustrated has
octahedral symmetry with what is termed a three-frequency
breakdown, (i.e.; each spherical segment is divided into three
equal sections between the pole and the equator and each quarter of
the equator is divided into three equal sections.)
[0042] 3. Structural struts 22 are used wherever the component is
roughly parallel to the equator of the dome. Blade struts 23 are
used wherever there is a projection of the component on a meridian
plane which can be used to generate lift and rotation of the
turbine. The turbine is attached to a central mast 25 at an upper
coupler 24B and a lower coupler 24A. Mast 25 passes into a
segmented tower 26 and is supported by an upper bearing 27A and a
lower bearing 27B. Tower 26 has internal platforms 28 and 29, which
serve to stabilize the structure and delineate work areas within
the structure. Thermal generator 30 is supported on platform 29 and
mechanically driven by mast 25. Segmented tower 26 is preferably
constructed through the methods and materials of U.S. Pat. No.
6,959,520 to Hartman.
[0043] 4. Thermal generator 30 is shown in FIG. 6 as a shear type
fluid friction device working on a contained viscous fluid 116.
Heat is transmitted through an upper enclosure 104A and a lower
enclosure 104B to a surface of extended fins 112 which heat a flow
of supply air 31A which is sent to a standard HVAC system 45. A
flow of return air 31B comes from system 45 and is reheated by the
thermal generator.
[0044] 5. An acceptable alternative to the thermal generator
illustrated is a high pressure fluid pump driven by turbine 21
which generates heat passing the circulating fluid through a small
diameter heat exchange coil, (not shown). In the case of heating
for a greenhouse or other less critical application, the lower
portion of tower 26 can be optionally used to contain a thermal
storage medium 43 for subsequent supply to the application. Flow 3
1A would then be directed through the medium for heat storage
within the tower. Some preferred materials for the medium would be
rocks and aluminum metal, (because of the high specific heat
capacity).
[0045] 6. A schematic of HVAC system 45 is bounded by fence line
42, and would likely be contained within the commercial or
industrial building served by the system. Thermal storage tank 32
contains water 47 as the primary heat transfer medium and is fitted
with a heat exchange jacket 33. Flow 31A passes through jacket 33
before returning to the thermal generator.
[0046] 7. Water 47 is supplied to a circulation pump 34 which in
turn supplies heated water to the coil of a water source heat pump
36 and then returns the water to tank 32. Heat pump 36 receives a
flow 39A of return air 37 from the building, conditions it and
circulates a flow 39B of supply air 38 to the building.
[0047] 8. An alternate source 40 of supply flow 35A could be used
by heat pump 36 and returned (flow 35B) to the alternate source 41
for reconditioning. A preferred alternate source for summer cooling
would be a geothermal loop. Preferred alternate sources for heating
would be a natural gas heated or solar heated loops.
[0048] 9. In this dome design layout, (FIG. 9), three lengths of
struts are required. Equatorial struts 141 have a length of 0.259
times turbine diameter. Central struts 142 have a length of 0.325
times the diameter. Corner struts 143 have a length of 0.353 times
the diameter. (36) equatorial struts, (48) central struts and (24)
corner struts are used in the illustrated turbine.
[0049] 10. It is not desired to limit the invention to the
particular dome geometry illustrated, as any dome geometry could be
used to implement the invention on virtually any scale desired.
Dome geometry is useful in distributing dynamic and static stress
throughout turbine 21 as opposed to the massive centrifugal force
normally borne by the blade root/nacelle connection of typical
three-blade horizontal axis wind turbines.
[0050] 11. FIG. 2 is a cross section through a blade strut 23A
showing both the structure of blade struts and structural struts.
An elliptical tube 50 is integrally produced with transition
sections 51A and 51B, which later join to form a blade section 52.
It will later be shown that some deflection of the blade section,
(indicated by arrow 54), is desirable in operation. This can be
controlled through adjustment of the blade materials, the thickness
53 of the blade section, or as shown in FIG. 4, through engineering
the nature of a hub connection 144 (FIG. 9) between struts.
[0051] 12. Dashed line 56 shows how a structural strut 22A would be
produced as a matching elliptical tube with the transition sections
and blade section omitted from the construction. Both the blade
strut 23A and the optional structural strut 22A have an internal
surface 55 and an assembly adhesive 57 which are used for mounting
end connections. (FIGS. 3, 4, 9). The preferred material for both
types of struts is a flexible fiberglass reinforced thermoset
plastic. Alternatives are carbon reinforced plastic, chopped fiber
reinforced thermoplastics, and metal extrusions.
[0052] 13. Beyond the mast couplers 24A and 24B, turbine 21 is
assembled at a number of six strut hubs 144 and four strut hubs
145. (FIG. 1) FIG. 3 shows a rigid hub connector 58 composed of a
metal tube 59 and a bar section 61. Bar section 61 is joined tube
59 by a near adapter 60A at the viewer end and a far adapter 60B at
the far end. In each case, the bar section, adapter and tube are
welded together, (welds not numbered). Bar section 61 is bent at
point 62 to allow for a tab section 63 perpendicular to the vertex
of either hub 144 or hub 145, (FIG. 1). Through hole 64 is designed
to accept a conventional fastener, (not shown), which is used to
make up the hub assembly in the field. Outside surface 66 of tube
58 is sized for a sliding fit into internal surface 55. During
manufacture of the struts, through holes 64 can be used to
precisely size the length using reference pins, (not shown), while
adhesive 57 is curing.
[0053] 14. Optionally, tab section 63 would be extended out to
section 68, having a second through hole 69 for connections to
couplers 24, 24A and 24B. Ideally, the length of tube 59 would also
be extended in this case to add strength to structural strut 22A.
As shown in FIG. 5, both through holes would be used to anchor the
struts to the couplers.
[0054] 15. FIG. 4 shows an alterative hub connection system which
allows for flexion of blade struts relative to the fixed position
of the hubs. Elliptical adapter 70 carries two through holes 71A
and 71B. Outside surface 72 is also sized for a sliding fit into
internal surface 55. Ring adapter 73 is formed from light rod or
heavy wire on a four axis spring machine into two arms 74A and 74B
that are congruent with through holes 71A and 71B. Arms 74A and 74B
are bent at point 75 into a plane perpendicular to the vertex of
either hub 144 or hub 145, and rolled into ring section 76, which
functions as the connection point to form the hubs.
[0055] 16. A spool piece 67,(not to scale) is field assembled from
a cap 77 and a plug 78. Cap 77 has internal threading 79 which
matches locking threads 80 on plug 78. Ring sections 76 from the
struts at the field assembled hub (144 or 145) are contained by
flange sections 81 and 82 during assembly. Span wrenches, (not
shown), can engage holes 85 and the outside diameter of the flange
sections for final tightening.
[0056] 17. As an additional locking component, a bolt or eye bolt
83 with threading direction opposite that of locking threads 80 can
be used to engage threads 84 on cap 77 to prevent release during
operation. Eye bolt 83 would be the preferred configuration where a
cable stay (not shown) to prevent turbine rotation would be needed
and as a tether point for securing the trailing edge of a fabric or
film based sail, where sails would be used in conjunction with the
dome turbine.
[0057] 18. The preferred material for ring adapter 73 in cases
involving corrosion (e.g. FIG. 7) would be tempered Titanium. An
acceptable alternative in other applications would be spring steel.
In both cases, the axis of the blade strut could rotate relative to
a fixed hub position during turbine rotation as shown in FIG. 8.
The preferred material for rigid connector 58 would be stainless
steel in corrosive applications. Aluminum or a thermoplastic
material for use with thermoplastic blade struts would be
acceptable alternatives.
Specialized Components
[0058] 19. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate specialized components to
realize the vertical axis wind turbine and the wind heating system
of the present invention.
[0059] 20. Mast 25, shown as 25A in FIG. 5 is preferably produced
as a resin fiber composite in order to confer light weight and
flexure resistance on the turbine 21/tower 26 assembly. Coupler 24
represents couplers 24A, and 24B in FIG. 1 and the turbine to mast
couplings (not numbered) in FIG. 7. The assembly shown in FIG. 5 is
one approach to connecting a rotating member to a composite shaft
without direct use of threaded holes in the composite. It is
roughly based on the many types of compression fittings currently
in use in the plumbing industry.
[0060] 21. Flanges 90A and 90B are the compression members that
form the outside of the assembly. Flange 90A has through holes 96
for passage of assembly bolts 95, (only one shown here), and flange
90B has tapped holes 97 for connection to bolts 95. Spool piece 92
has a through hole for mast 25A, (not shown), and conical ledges 98
at the top and bottom for receipt of compression rings 91A and 91B.
It also has a series of strut flats, illustrated here as 93A and
93B to be used as attachment points for rigid strut connectors as
shown in FIG. 3. In the particular example illustrated spool piece
92 has four strut flats, (the number could easily be adapted to any
desired dome geometry). Tapped holes 94 are provided at each strut
flat for receipt of strut assembly bolts, (not shown) passing
through holes 64 and 69 in the field assembly of turbine 21 to mast
25, mast 25A, or mast 25B (FIG. 7). Flats 93A and 93B can be
countersunk to allow for better registration of struts and to
relieve shearing stress on these strut assembly bolts. Spool piece
92 is preferably made from metal, aluminum for non-corrosive
applications or corrosion resistant steel for corrosive
applications. Both flanges 90 and spool piece 92 can be easily
produced on multi-spindle machining centers.
[0061] 22. After assembly of coupler 24 using bolts 95, flanges 90A
and 90B urge rings 91A and 91B into locking contact with mast 25A
as the rings are deflected by conical ledges 98. A choice of hard
composites as the material for rings 91 would result in a tight
connection to the mast. This might be desirable in upper coupler
24B, as this might not be often removed.
[0062] 23. Softer thermoplastic as the material choice for rings 91
might be desirable in order to have a more easily loosened coupler.
Turbine 21 could then be lowered on mast 25 after removal of lower
structural struts 22 attached to coupler 24A, thus allowing for
repair and maintenance of turbine 21 closer to the ground. In the
reverse of this operation, turbine 21 could be assembled around
tower 26, using the tower as a sort of scaffolding, then attached
using coupler 24B to mast 25. The final operation in assembly would
be raising mast 25 from inside the tower, (not shown), and
assembling lower structural struts 22 to coupler 24A. In this
manner, a very large wind turbine might be assembled with a minimum
of heavy crane equipment.
[0063] 24. Earlier methods of composite assembly used direct
insertion of metal fasteners through the composite, resulting in
ultimate failure either due to wearing and subsequent cracking of
the composite parts.
[0064] 25. FIG. 6 is an assembly drawing of thermal generator 30
from FIG. 1. It provides a dedicated assembly for generating fluid
friction heat that cuts the cost of conventional electrical
systems. It also represents a unique driven device for a wind
turbine in the sense that the load is automatically increased in
proportion to the power available in increasing winds. Hollow drive
shaft 102 is secured to friction disc 101 and rotates (arrow 100)
with it. While shown as a single disc in the illustration, the
system could also be realized with multiple discs running off of
the shaft.
[0065] 26. Disc 101 is contained between upper housing 104A and
lower housing 104B, with a specific gap, g, (not shown on the
drawing) between the housing inside surfaces 107 and the face
surfaces 108 of disc 101. Disc projections or roughness 118 are
applied to surfaces 108 and housing projections or roughness 117
are applied to surfaces 107 in order to allow for effective
momentum/heat transfer to working fluid 116 which is filled into
gap g, through the center of shaft 102 during equipment setup.
During manufacture, upper housing 104A is preferably assembled to
lower housing 104B through welding raised flanges 106 of both
housings together. Shaft 102 is held in fixed position relative to
this housing assembly using bearing seal pack 115 mounted in upper
housing 104A.
[0066] 27. During setup of the generator 30A, fluid 116 fills the
lower gap between housing 104B, moves up through periodic holes 109
in disc 101, then displaces the air between disc 101 and upper
housing 104A emerging from a coupling fitting 119 in housing 104A.
Fluid 116 can then be sealed with either a plug (not shown) or a
fluid expansion fitting, (not shown) threaded into fitting 119.
Outer surface 111 of the upper housing and outer surface 110 of the
lower housing carry annular extended surface fins 112 which serve
to facilitate heat transfer to air flow (from storage) 31B.
[0067] 28. The entire assembly is enclosed between a pair of
insulated sheet metal housings 105A and 105B (not shown in drawing)
which serve to direct and contain air flow across outer surfaces
110, 111 and fins 112. In this case, a blower 113 feeds air through
a first stove pipe connection 114A across surface 111. Air emerges
from connection 114B as flow 31C and is fed through a similar set
of connections in lower housing 105B (not shown), then to emerge as
flow 31A returning warmed air to thermal storage.
[0068] 29. Fluid friction wall stress for turbulent flow within a
closed conduit or chamber is generally proportional to velocity
squared, with fluid friction power consumption being proportional
to velocity cubed. As wind power available varies according to wind
velocity cubed, vertical turbine 21's output would track the power
consumed by coupled thermal generator 30, resulting in a largely
self-controlling system without the use of mechanical braking or
feathering.
[0069] 30. Additional design sophistication might be introduced
through allowing starting velocity for turbine 21 to occur at a
laminar flow situation within generator 30, with transition to a
turbulent flow regime occurring at the mid-range of wind speed.
This would allow for capture of more prevalent low wind speeds,
while also protecting from over-speed by power consumption in a
turbulent fluid friction regime.
[0070] 31. Direct drive a a lower cost thermal generator removes
the high costs associated with electrical generators mounted at the
top of conventrional horizontal axis machines, the associated cost
of heavier tower support and electrical power conditioning. It
serves the needs of a large variety of potential customers by
providing heat at a low cost to an established HVAC system serving
a building.
Energy Capture and Distribution System
[0071] 32. FIGS. 7, 9, 11 and 12 illustrate an alternate embodiment
of the invention in the form of a ship based system for capturing
abundant off-shore wind energy 120 and an energy capture and
distribution system 186. A wind energy resource 134 works through
system 186 to supply public needs through an electrical
distribution grid 194 and a natural gas pipeline 193. The completed
systems offer the opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions through the
displacement of coal and gasoline with natural gas and Hydrogen and
to capture abundant off-shore wind energy in an economical fashion
for the general public good.
[0072] 33. FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing of a ship 127 carrying
three wind turbines similar to turbine 21 in FIG. 1. Main turbine
121 is mounted mid-ship with smaller turbines 122 and 123 mounted
forward and aft. Turbines 122 and 123 are illustrated as simple
spheres for drawing simplicity, and are dome--turbines like 21 and
121 in practice. Turbine 121 rotates clockwise from above, (arrow
100) while turbines 122 and 123 rotate counter-clockwise (arrow
103) to give gyroscopic stabilization to the ship, and to more
effectively utilize wind moving between the three turbines, (not
numbered).
[0073] 34. All three turbines are mounted on tubular towers 124,
125 and 126 which in turn are secured to the main deck 176. An
unloading equipment enclosure 132, containing Hydrogen unloading
equipment (not shown) is also mounted on the main deck. Below the
waterline 131, the hull of the ship is modified to include a
nacelle 130, which in turn protects a Hydrogen storage tank 153,
(FIG. 10). The ship's bow 129 and stern 161 extend beyond nacelle
130 to further protect storage tank 153 from collision damage.
[0074] 35. FIG. 10 is a mechanical detail cross section of ship
127. Below the main deck, tower 124 connects with a primary gearing
and generator set 150. Similarly, forward turbine 122 connects with
a secondary generator set 151A and aft turbine 123 connects to a
secondary generator set 151B. Most equipment is mounted on an
equipment deck 159 and a lower deck 160 supports auxiliary tanks
154A, 154B, (other auxiliary tanks not shown) and ship drive
gearing 156. A series of bulkheads 152, separate compartments with
different electrical and chemical functions such as primary
generator 150 and electrolysis bay 162. Electrolysis cells 157 for
electrically splitting water into Hydrogen and Oxygen are mounted
in bay 162 and in a forward bay (not numbered). An example of a
commercially available cell 157 is the Hogen RE from Proton Energy
Systems, distributed by Praxair.
[0075] 36. Alternatively, a forward bay 165 could be used with
conventional storage batteries 166, to store power provided by
generator sets 150, 151A or 151B. This could either be used to
provide utilities for the crew or to provide electric propulsion
(not shown) for the ship. While not a direct objective of the
invention, wind electric propulsion of ships would build on the
proven energy savings demonstrated by Bergeson in the earlier
discussed Flettner rotor work of the 1980's; particularly
considering the small relative area of the Flettner rotors used
compared to the size of wind turbines 121, 122, and 123.
[0076] 37. An optional wind deflector 158 is shown mounted to deck
176. In practice it would serve to increase wind speed to the
turbines by deflecting wind flow upward. It would be constructed
from two halves, hinged to the deck and forming an A frame in use.
The wind deflector would be actuated by hydraulics (not shown) to
serve as a wind deflector at sea and flattened as a loading ramp or
platform in ddck. The flattened wind deflector might also serve as
a heliport platform or personnel platform for transfers on and off
the ship at sea.
[0077] 38. Drive turbine 155 is mounted on equipment deck 159 and
serves a dual function on the ship. Firstly, it is used to propel
the ship off-shore and back to port. Secondly, through the drive
gearing 156, is can be used to power gas compression equipment (not
shown) to take Hydrogen product 170 from electrolysis cells 157 and
pressurize it to 6,000 to 10,000 psi for storage in tank 153. Drive
turbine 155 is configured as a dual fuel unit that could either run
from Hydrogen 170 or liquefied natural gas that could be stored in
one of the auxiliary tanks 154A, or 154B. If desirable from a
economic standpoint, Oxygen 159 might optionally be stored in an
auxiliary tank after compression at the outlet of electrolysis
cells 157. An example of a commercially available electrolysis cell
157 is the `Hogen RE` from Proton Energy Systems.
[0078] 39. FIG. 11 is a cross section showing details of the power
distribution and storage system. Mast 25B is supported by bearing
181 and is attached to gear box 171 by means of a flange adapter,
(not numbered). Gearbox 171 increases rotational speed and
transmits power to primary generator 172. Electrical power from
generator 172 is transmitted via wiring/conduit 180 to power
conditioning equipment 179 and from there to electrolysis bay 162
and various other shipboard requirements. The use of a modern,
synchronus, variable speed generator such as the NW 100/19 from
Northern Power Systems would eliminate the need for gearbox
171.
[0079] 40. Hydrogen gas 170 is supplied by electrolysis cells 157
and stored at high pressure in tank 153, preferably a heavy walled
alloy vessel resistant to hydrogen attack. Tank 153 is protected
from impact damage by nacelle 130 which is an extension of hull
184. Compression plate 173 and gussets 182 further protect tank 153
from damage. Optionally, area 174, between gussets 182, nacelle 130
and tank 153 could be used for purified water feed storage (not
numbered) to supply electrolysis cells 157. This usage would also
balance the weight of lower ship as Hydrogen was being
produced.
[0080] 41. One of the key problems in realizing a Hydrogen energy
economy has been the weight of energy storage for automobiles. In
this application the weight of the Hydrogen storage equipment
applied at keel 175 of ship 127 serves to stabilize the vessel in
the heavy weather it is designed to utilize in the generation of
wind power. The gyroscopic effect of the wind turbines would also
work to stabilize the ship if turbines 122 and 123 were designed to
be counter rotating to turbine 121.
[0081] 42. Like the wind heating system, mast 25B is designed to
have the capability of lowering for repairs to turbine 121. In this
case a passage 25C is provided for the mast through gear box 171
and generator 172 for the mast to be lowered into receiver 183 and
to stop at lower deck 160. In order to provide for repair and
upgrades to the generator and gear train in port, main deck 176 is
perforated in the area of tower 124 which is mounted to an access
plate 177. Plate 177 is secured to a support plate 178 with a
series of bolts, (not shown) and may be removed by a crane in port
to allow for repair and replacement of generator 172 and/or gear
box 171.
[0082] 43. A complete energy capture and distribution system 186 is
displayed schematically in FIG. 12. Wind turbine 121 captures an
off-shore wind energy resource 134 and converts it to electrical
power through generator systems 150 and 151, (A&B). On-board
electrolysis cells 157 produce Hydrogen 170 and Oxygen 159 which
are stored on board and transported by ship 127 to port. Hydrogen
170, (and optionally Oxygen 159) are unloaded at an existing shore
based power plant 190 and burned in a conventional gas turbine, in
combination with natural gas 196. The power plant supplies high
voltage electricity 197 to an existing power grid 194 for public
use.
[0083] 44. Areas with abundant off-shore wind energy resources
having significant populations and industrial base, such as the
Atlantic seaboard, lakes Erie and Ontario, the Gulf Coast and the
West Coast could be provided with significant electrical power.
This would be achieved without large amounts of objectionable,
inefficient (because of low shore based wind speeds), wind turbines
located near the populated areas and also without the very high
cost and potential large storm instability of off-shore
platforms.
[0084] 45. Alternatively, Hydrogen 170 can be provided to a natural
gas synthesis plant 191, operating according to the process of
Schroeder (U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,063) or more recent researchers to
hydrogenate a coal resource 192 to produce methane 195 (CH4, or
natural gas) and other light hydrocarbons. From plant 191, the
methane is fed to a pipeline 193 for public use. From this
perspective, the national energy grid would be stabilized through
providing for sources of natural gas at points that would normally
be users.
Operation and Implementation
[0085] 46. FIGS. 8, 10, 11 and 12 delineate the operational details
of the vertical axis wind turbine and the energy capture and
distribution system.
[0086] 47. Early experiments with a `sail cloth` version of the
dome turbine configuration shown here as turbine 21 and turbine 121
yielded the information shown in FIG. 8. Wind resource 134 coming
from any direction is seen to deflect sails 135 (approaching the
wind source) toward the center of the dome. Conversely, sails 137
moving away from the source are deflected outward from mast 25.
This leads to the conclusion that there is an internal flow 139
moving across the direction of wind resource 134 from what might be
construed as a higher pressure/lower velocity flow at sail 135 to a
lower pressure/higher velocity flow at sail 137.
[0087] 48. In the early sail cloth version, each sail was composed
of polyethylene film wrapped around a strut at it's leading edge
65A, and tethered with string to a hook at a hub opposite to that
leading edge. (not shown). Struts were composed of 1/4'' dowel
material, and the sail cloth version easily held up to test winds
in excess of 45 mph.
[0088] 49. Because the turbine is rotating about mast 25, (arrow
100), internal flow 139 might be taken to imply somewhat of a
Magnus effect was at work. A later experiment with round tubular
struts showed that this vertical axis wind turbine design was
self-starting and would rotate with a wind resource 134 having
neither blade shaped struts nor sail cloth attached to struts. This
appeared to be further confirmation of the Magnus effect at work in
the design, and offer the promise of improved performance with the
blade struts 23, 23A, and 23B shown in the earlier figures. The
self-starting characteristics of the invention overcome the earlier
limitations of Darrieus vertical axis turbines without the complex
mechanical linkages present in the subsequent designs of
cylindrical arrays of straight bladed machines, (e.g. Drees,
Seki).
[0089] 50. In the intermediate positions during turbine rotation,
sails 136 and 138 in the early experiment had intermediate
deflections toward and away from the mast. Designing blade flexure
into the blade section 52 (FIG. 2) and/or the ring adapter 73 (FIG.
4) seems to be an effective way to capitalize of the deflections
and lift forces available at work in the system.
[0090] 51. Based on the preceding information, it is not desired to
limit the invention to a particular blade geometry as the invention
has been utilized with both sail cloth blades and with a dome
structure composed of simple round tubular struts. The blade
geometry illustrated in FIG. 2 may represent, however, a preferred
configuration in terms of turbine aesthetics, ease of assembly,
cost/efficiency and environmental concerns. It is also likely that
the observed performance of a sail cloth version of the invention
utilized the `jib effect` where pressure is reduced on a following
sail by a leading sail (Billings), thereby improving performance of
the following sail.
[0091] 52. A `sail cloth` configuration comprising plastic film
based sails wrapped around struts 122 and tethered at the trailing
edges to eyebolts 183 secured to nearby hubs, (not shown) would be
an economical and highly compactable system for providing power to
explorations on Mars, (using the thin Martian atmosphere to fill
the sails), or the Moon, (using the solar wind of particles and
radiant flux from the sun as the `wind energy resource`).
[0092] 53. Based on known characteristics of Dutch Four Arm
windmills and curved blade Darrieus wind turbines, the new turbine
might be expected to have an optimum tip speed ratio of four times
incident wind velocity and an overall efficiency of about 35%.
[0093] 54. Using typical values for wind energy resources off the
US East Coast, a main turbine diameter 200 ft and a `harvesting
time` of two weeks off-shore; ship 127 could collect about 400,000
kWh of electricity and produce just under 2,000,000 std cubic feet
(SCF) of Hydrogen. At a pressure of about 9000 psig, tank 153 would
have an estimated diameter of 5 feet and a length of 180 feet. One
to three ships could supply the average, (about 500 MW), shore
based power plant 190 for two to four hours. Depending on desired
mix of Hydrogen 170 to natural gas 196 burned in the power plant
turbine, between 100 and 500 ships could sustainably support power
plant 190.
[0094] 55. From an environmental perspective, natural gas 195 emits
14.4 units of carbon per unit of energy, while gasoline (not shown)
emits 19.2 units of carbon and coal 192 emits 25.7 units of carbon.
Displacing natural gas usage with wind heating system 46 would
eliminate carbon (CO2) emissions in the buildings served and free
up use of natural gas to displace coal and it's emissions in
electrical generation and gasoline and it's emissions in the
transportation sector. Within the transportation sector, using
methane to power hybrid automobiles would be a rather easy fix to
improve the already low emissions of this developed technology.
[0095] 56. Replacement of methane and coal in the power generation
sector with Hydrogen through energy conversion and distribution
system 186, would remove present CO2 emissions as it was employed.
Wind heating of green houses would also save significant amounts of
natural gas.
[0096] 57. From an implementation perspective, these approaches to
resolving parts of the energy crisis can draw on established
components and infrastructure: 1) Existing turbine based electrical
power plants. 2) Existing electrolysis equipment 3) Existing
electrical generators 4) Existing pultrusion equipment for the
production of blade struts 23 and structural struts 22, 5) A
variety of coal 192 to methane 195 technologies developed over the
years, and 6) Existing hybrid automobile technology. Energy system
186 could therefore be implemented in a relatively short period of
time.
[0097] 58. In World War II, with a scant technology and economic
base to build on, more than 5500 merchant marine ships were built
in five years .(Tassava). It is not unreasonable to assume that the
inventions described herein could be implemented in a shorter
period of time than an entire Hydrogen ecomony, including a
hydrogen filling station infrastructure. The present inventions not
only represent a practical first step toward energy independence,
but a practical use, with reduced environmental consequences, of
the coal resources available in the US: Methane emits 44% less CO2
than coal and 25% less CO2 than gasoline for the same amount of
energy produced
[0098] 59. Using Hydrogen as an energy transport and storage media
in conjunction with an existing utility infrastructure allows for
an easier social transition to an environmentally friendly system
without establishment of Hydrogen filling stations for automobiles
and saves the expected 15 to 30 year delay in implementing fuel
cell based automobiles.
* * * * *