Augmented wind power generation system using continuously variable transmission and methd of operation

• US 20080284170A1
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: V3 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: V3 Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Cory, Kenneth D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,679,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/15 for wind-driven turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/06 Control effected upon clutch or other mechanical power transmission means and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind power generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules that are shaped to accelerate wind passing between them. At least one of the modules includes a rotor assembly, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly, and an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT. The electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy. A sensor may be mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly or the electrical generator and electrically coupled to a controller. The controller may control the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities.

Claims

1. A wind power generating system, comprising a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules shaped to accelerate wind passing through the modules, wherein a first one of the plurality of modules comprises:

a rotor assembly;

a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly; and

an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT,

wherein the electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality of modules further comprises:

a sensor mechanically coupled to one of the rotor assembly and the electrical generator; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and to the CVT,

wherein the controller is capable of controlling the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further capable of controlling the CVT to prevent rotation of the electrical generator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the rotor assembly further comprises a pitch control mechanism electrically coupled to the controller and the controller is further capable of controlling a pitch of the rotor assembly according to the signal received from the sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality of modules is substantially circularly symmetrical about a vertical axis and the rotor assembly is capable of motion within the module along a circular path concentric with the axis of symmetry of the module.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a tower, wherein the rotor assembly, CVT and electrical generator are mounted on a platform and the platform is rotatably mounted to the tower.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first one of the plurality of modules further comprises a second rotor assembly, CVT and electrical generator mounted on the platform.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the platform is capable of rotating from a first position to a second position, wherein the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the second position is greater than the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the first position.

9. A method of generating electrical power from wind, for use with a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules, the method comprising:

transmitting mechanical energy from a rotor assembly mounted in one of the plurality of modules to an electrical generator through a transmission having an input mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly and an output; and

varying the ratio of the rotational speed of the transmission input to the rotational speed of the transmission output over a continuous range of values,

generating electrical energy with an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the transmission output.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sensing a rotational speed of one of the transmission input and the transmission output,

wherein varying the ratio further comprises varying the ratio according to the sensed rotational speed such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational speeds.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising preventing transmission of mechanical energy from the rotor assembly to the rotating electrical generator according to the sensed rotational speed.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising controlling a pitch of the rotor assembly according to the sensed rotational speed.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the one of the plurality of modules is substantially circularly symmetrical about a vertical axis and the method further comprises moving the rotor assembly within the module along a circular path concentric with the axis of symmetry of the module.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rotor assembly and electrical generator are mounted on a platform, the method further comprising rotating the platform about a tower from a first position to a second position, wherein the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the second position is greater than the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the first position.

15. A wind power generating apparatus, comprising:

a rotor assembly;

a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly; and

an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT,

wherein the electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a sensor mechanically coupled to one of the rotor assembly and the electrical generator; and

a controller electrically coupled to the sensor and to the CVT,

wherein the controller is capable of controlling the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is further capable of controlling the CVT to prevent rotation of the electrical generator.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rotor assembly further comprises a pitch control mechanism electrically coupled to the controller and the controller is further capable of controlling a pitch of the rotor assembly according to the signal received from the sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second rotor assembly, CVT and electrical generator.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second rotor assembly, CVT and electrical generator are capable of moving from a first position to a second position, wherein the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the second position is greater than the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator in the first position.