The invention relates to a wind turbine-type device for utilizing the energy contained in an air flow, which is equipped with an internal rotating cylinder, which has rotating vanes supplied with air and serves to drive the power generator.
Such devices are known. DE 19623055 A1 describes a wind power plant with an internal rotating cylinder with rotating vanes, which is surrounded by an external stationary guiding cylinder with guiding blades. The wind power plant is positioned into the wind such that the oncoming air flow hits the guiding blades diagonally to the rotor axis. These guide the oncoming air to the rotating vanes of the rotating cylinder and set it in motion. The purpose of the guiding blades surrounding the guiding vanes of the rotating cylinder is to guide the air to the rotating vanes at the most constant possible air flow angle.
In the case of the known devices, all air that does not directly hit the even cylinder curvature flows off unused.
The object of the invention is to improve a device of the known type such that the air flow oncoming laterally of the cylinder curvature, which up until now flows away laterally unused, is also used to drive the rotating cylinders. If possible, air oncoming even in the shadow behind the turbine arrangement should thereby be captured.
The set object is achieved according to the invention with two embodiment variants, as described in greater detail in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims or are described below.
The first embodiment variant comprises a wind turbine-type device for utilizing the energy contained in an air flow, with a cylindrical wind turbine, which is equipped
If the rotating vanes have a helical shape, the helix can be mirrored e.g. in the area of the middle of the rotor axis on a mirror plane at a 90° angle to the rotor axis in order to also divert the wind (proportionately) in both directions of the axis, upwards and downwards in the case of the first vertical embodiment and to both sides according to the second horizontal embodiment.
According to one embodiment, the distance between the capturing vane ends from capturing vane to capturing vane is calculated with the help of parallel lines to the approach direction through the capturing vane tips smaller from front to back, with the exception of the final capturing vane.
This embodiment is primarily provided for operation with a vertically positioned axis. The air oncoming laterally of the wind turbine is also captured by the capturing vanes arranged further back in the approach direction and projecting further and further and is fed to the rotating vanes of the rotating cylinder. The wind is thus better utilized.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that—as seen from the approach direction—even more elongated final capturing vanes are located behind the capturing vanes, which with their projecting end edges are located the furthest behind, preferably at least partially in the wind shadow behind the full guiding cylinder width, where the guiding cylinder width in the curvature becomes smaller again, in terms of area and elongation. These final capturing vanes ensure further capturing of laterally flowing air.
According to one embodiment, at least one, and in the case of a symmetrical design both, of the forward-projecting tips of a final capturing vane project over the approached transverse axis, which runs through the rotor axis and is positioned at a right angle to the wind direction, while a total of at least two subsequent capturing vanes preferably do not do this.
The final capturing vanes each have in particular forward-projecting tips (i.e. against the direction of the wind), the tip(s) of which project over the tip of the respective next capturing vane, if applicable even over that of the second next capturing vane towards the front.
The final capturing vanes have in particular capturing vane angles (angles between line 1 and 2), respectively in relation to a line segment from outer end edge of the capturing vane to the inner end edge (line 1) of the capturing vane and inner end edge of the capturing vane to the rotor axis (line 2) of preferably 70 to 90°, in the case of an asymmetrical construction of 60 to 90° on the one side and 100 to 135° on the other side, while the immediately following capturing vane, if applicable also the immediately following and the next following capturing vane, have capturing vane angles between 115 to 160°, in the case of an asymmetrical construction on the one side from 80 to 135° (on the capturing side) and on the other side from 135 to 180° (on the non-capturing side). In the case of an asymmetrical construction, the capturing vanes are longer on average on the capturing side of the rotating vanes.
The capturing side is the side of the device, where the direction of rotation of the rotating vanes corresponds with the wind direction. The non-capturing side of the capturing vanes is the side of the device where the direction of rotation of the rotating vanes runs against the wind direction.
The further the capturing vanes and the final capturing vanes are arranged over the largest lateral elongation of the guiding cylinder in the wind shadow towards the back, that is in the case of a guiding cylinder width becoming smaller again, the larger the captured air quantity. The construction should thus be designed such that the captured air is distributed as evenly as possible across all approached guiding blades.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that—seen in the approach direction—the inner end edges of the final capturing vanes are located approximately at a width angle of the guiding cylinder of 250 to 350° or the final capturing vanes are even aligned parallel to each other.
It is provided according to a further embodiment that the final capturing vanes are provided with aligning surfaces bent outwards on their outsides, whereby the final capturing vanes take over the function of an aligning vane. A special aligning vane can be omitted according to one design. However, one or more aligning vanes have generally proven to be advantageous.
According to a further design of the invention, air deflectors are provided, which protect the area above and, if applicable, also below the device (above and, if applicable, also below the rotor axis) like a kind of a cap open to the side facing away from the wind, wherein the cap aligns itself with the wind, e.g. in that it is carried along by the wind capturing vanes.
The second embodiment variant comprises a cylindrical wind turbine-type device for utilizing the energy contained in an air flow, which is equipped
wherein the capturing vanes in the approach direction are staggered from front to back and end in a more laterally projecting manner from vane to vane and are designed in a stationary manner,
This embodiment variant is provided in particular for operation with an almost horizontally running axis; it is suitable for installation on a roof ridge. In this case as well, the air approaching laterally of the wind turbine is captured by the capturing vanes located further back in the approach direction and is directed over the guiding blades to the rotating vanes of the rotating cylinder. The wind is better utilized.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that the capturing vanes have a constant projection in the area covered by the air guiding combs. An air loss between the capturing vanes and the air guiding combs is thus prevented.
It is provided according to a further embodiment of the invention that the air guiding combs are designed such that they in the case of a low approaching air flow automatically pivot back into a vertical position by means of return mechanisms and in the case of an air flow that is becoming stronger pivot towards the back in that they are pushed by the air flow. The return mechanisms can be realized with a spring balancing device or just with counterweights.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that the maximum deviation of the air guiding combs towards the back is measured at 220 to 300°. In this case as well, air that hits them in the wind shadow in the area of the guiding cylinder width that is becoming smaller again can still be captured.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that, at approximately half the length of the cylindrical wind turbine, a collar extends around it. With this collar, the oncoming air, which does not hit exactly diagonally but rather at an angle to the axis of the wind turbine, is captured as best as possible and utilized for drive.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that the outer collar edge and the outer lying edges of the air guiding combs are provided at the same distance from the turbine axis.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that the cross-section of the collar corresponds with the cross-section of a drop, the tip of which points towards the rotor axis. The collar has an acceleration function for the air hitting it and thus further improves its entering into the rotating cylinder.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that a stationary, roof-like air capturing comb is provided above the upper air guiding comb. This air capturing comb captures the air collected between it and the air guiding combs and diverts it into the guiding cylinder and the rotating cylinder.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that end covers are located on the head sides of the wind turbine, which are provided with sloped slits in the direction of the rotating direction of the rotating cylinder, which extend between the rotor axis (3) and the outer edge of the turbine. These slits also serve to collect a diagonally oncoming air flow and to direct it to the rotor cylinder.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that air flowing in through the slits from the head side hits the guiding blades and the first third of the rotating vanes, wherein the full admission of the air to the rotating vanes is inhibited by means of a check plate covering the rotating cylinder.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that a connection line between the outer end edges and the inner end edges of the rotating vanes of the rotating cylinder, which the approaching air hits, with the connection line to the rotor axis includes angles between c1 equaling −20° and c2 equaling +30°. This means that the inner end edge can be pivoted to an angle c1 becoming 0 c1 up to the middle line, where it falls on the middle line. However, the inner end edges with increasing angle c2 can be placed further to the right to an end edge point on the connection line pivoted to the right.
The inner neighboring end edges of the rotating vanes—seen from the rotor axis 3—lie apart at an angle d between 5° to 35°.
The outer end surfaces of the guiding blades with the intended connection line to the rotor axis include angles between el equaling −30° and e2 equaling +65°.
The inner lying air outlet edges of the guiding blades—seen from the rotor axis—lie apart at an angle f from 5° to 35°.
The inner lying air outlet edges and the outer lying air inlet edges of the capturing vanes—measured from the rotor axis—lie apart at an angle h from 5° to 35°.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that it is designed as a module for multiple arrangements in a row. The modules are thereby provided with their own generator in blocks.
It is provided according to a further design of the invention that an interconnected block consists of 4 to 6 modules, which are set to their own generator.
As the height increases, the flow conditions of the air also change. By combining several modules into blocks, economical operation can be achieved.
The invention is explained in greater detail based on the drawing. In the figures:
a shows an enlarged view pulled out of
b shows an enlarged view pulled out of
The device according to the invention is realized with two operating forms of wind turbines shown in the drawings.
The first variant 1 of the devices according to the invention is shown in
All air guiding cylinders 2a, 4a and 5a are grouped around the rotor axis 3 of the device. The guiding blades 4 associated with the guiding cylinder 4a are shown below the rotating vanes 2 of the rotating cylinder 2a shown above.
The capturing cylinder 5a with capturing vanes 5 is shown again with a larger diameter under the guiding blades 4 associated with the guiding cylinder 4a. This capturing cylinder with its capturing vanes 5 has one distinctive feature: it is pivotable and aligns itself in the oncoming air flow such that the capturing vanes 5 on both sides of the rotor axis 3 set themselves to the same position against the air flow.
While the outer edges 6a of all rotating vanes 2 on one hand and the outer edges 7 of all guiding blades 4 on the other hand in sets all have the same distances from the rotor axis 3, the outer end edges 8 of the capturing vanes 5 all have different distances of the rotor axis 3. Namely, the capturing vanes 5 end staggered in the approach direction from front to back and project further laterally from capturing vane 5,1 to capturing vane 5,2 etc. so that capturing vanes 5 capture subflows 5,12, 5,23 etc. of the oncoming air flow associated therewith and divert them to the guiding blades 4 and rotating vanes 2. The subflows are described more clearly in
In
The final capturing vanes 5,6 have a greater depth T in approach direction A so that the aligning surfaces 9 in approach direction A do not end free but are rather incorporated into the final capturing vanes 5,6. The back sides 5r are curved inward such that they facilitate a negative pressure formation on the back side 28 of the device 1. Negative pressure on the back side 28 accelerates the flowing away of the air and thus simultaneously a better air flow rate.
The outer end edges 8 of the capturing vanes 5 always project from approach side A to the right and left more laterally staggered from front to back from capturing vane 5 to capturing vane 5 so that the capturing vanes 5 capture the subflows 5,12; 5,23; 5,34; 5,45; 5,56 of the oncoming airflow associated therewith and divert them to the guiding blades 4 and the guiding vanes 2. The width of the subflows 5,12 through 5,56 can be changed for an optimal utilization of the air flow. Capturing vanes 5M are provided between the capturing vanes 5 lengthening from capturing vane 5 to capturing vane 5, which do not lengthen continuously. Shorter and longer capturing vanes 5 and 5M alternate.
The capturing vanes 5,4; 5,5; 5,6 continuously lengthening from capturing vane 5 to capturing vane 5 are partially bent against approach direction A in order to better capture air.
This separation and guiding of subflows applies to both variants of the device according to the invention.
The shapes of the rotating vanes and their arrangement with respect to each other are significant for all turbines. For the wind turbine according to the invention, and namely in both variants, special angle positions are thus preferred.
This means that the inner end edge 6 can be pivoted up to an angle c1 becoming 0 up to middle line 11, where it falls on the middle line 11. However, the inner end edge 6 with increasing angle c2 can be placed even further right to an end edge point 6′ on the connection line 6b pivoted further to the right.
The inner neighboring end edges 6 of the rotating vanes 2 lie apart—seen from rotor axis 3—at an angle d between 5° and 35°.
As the enlarged view according to
The inner lying air outlet edges 12 of the guiding blades 4 lie apart—seen from rotor axis 3—at an angle f from 5° to 35°.
The inner lying air outlet edges 16 and the outer lying air inlet edges 17 of capturing vanes 5 lie apart—measured from rotor axis 3—at an angle h from 5° to 35°.
On the top and bottom, the capturing vanes 5K have the same length and end at the same distance from the rotor axis 3. The plate-like air capturing combs 22 and 23 are arranged in a pivotable manner around the rotor axis 3; they set themselves in vertical positions that are unloaded or only slightly impacted by the air flow. This can be seen in
The oncoming air flow hits the cylinder curvature 36 of the wind turbine 20 from below over the roof ridge 21. The air capturing comb 22 thereby supports the introduction of the air into the guiding cylinder 4a and the rotating cylinder 2a. On the top, the air flow is captured by the air capturing comb 23 and the upper air guiding comb 24. During pivoting, the air capturing comb 23 runs along below the roof-shaped air guiding comb 24.
It can be that the air does not hit more or less diagonal to the axial position of the device but rather sloped. In order to also be able to capture as much air as possible in this case, the collar 26 is provided in the middle 25 of the wind turbine 20. As can be seen in
The outer collar edge 33 and the outer lying edges 34 of the air guiding combs 22 and 23 are provided at the same distance from the rotor axis 3.
When the approach direction of the wind turns and the wind thus hits in a sloped manner to the rotor axis direction, the collar 26 and the respective end cover 30 capture the wind. These end covers 30 are provided with sloped slits 31 in the direction of rotation of the rotor, which extend between rotor axis 3 and the outer turbine edge 32.
The air flowing in through the slits 31 from the head side 29 hits the guiding blades 4 and the first third of the rotating vanes. As shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2009 040 467.8 | Sep 2009 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/DE10/01056 | 9/8/2010 | WO | 00 | 3/8/2012 |