AIRBORNE STABILIZED WIND TURBINES SYSTEM

• US 20100066095A1
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moshe Meller
• Original Assignee: Moshe Meller
• Inventors: MELLER, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 7,723,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/917 attached to cables
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/921 kept aloft due to aerodynamic effects
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/922 kept aloft due to buoyancy effects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy includes a shaft, wind turbines rotatably mounted to the shaft and arranged to rotate independently in opposite directions when subjected to the same wind, and generators arranged to convert rotation of the turbines into electricity. A lifting section includes combination of kites and lighter than air balloons, generating a lifting force that caused the system being airborne at desire altitude. The center of gravity of the system is lower than the center of lift of the system; when the turbines of the system exposed to wind and start to rotate, torques are inducing on the shaft of the system these torques are balancing each other and the remaining deferential torque being balanced by returning torque that is generated by the angular deviation of the center of gravity from it'"'"'s lowest position, the magnitude of this returning torque, increasing as the angular deviation increased, until the system reach angular stability; electricity is generating and conducted through tether to an anchoring section for usage.

Claims

1. An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy, comprising:

a turbine section comprising;

a shaft;

at least one turbine rotatably mounted to the shaft so as to rotate relative to the shaft when exposed to wind;

at least one generator coupled to the at least one turbine, and arranged to convert rotation of the at least one turbine into electricity;

wherein the at least one generator is mounted so as to be fixed relative to the shaft;

a lifting section comprising;

at least one sealed inflatable body containing lighter than air gas and coupled to the turbine section, wherein the lifting force that the at least one sealed inflatable body generates, causes the airborne system to be airborne at a desired altitude;

wherein the turbine section and the lifting section are constructed such that the center of gravity of the airborne system is vertically lower than the center of lift of the airborne system, and wherein the airborne system angularly positions itself such that the center of gravity of the airborne system is approximately in the lowest possible point relative to the center of lift, while the at least one turbine is not rotating;

an anchoring section connecting the airborne system to an anchoring base to anchor the airborne system relative to the earth, wherein the anchoring section includes a tether; and

a conductor connected to the turbine section to conduct electricity from the at least one generator for usage or for energy storage;

wherein when the at least one turbine is exposed to wind, the turbine rotates and induces a rotational torque on the turbine section that causes the airborne system to deviate angularly from the position where the center of gravity is at the lowest possible point relative to the center of lift, and a returning torque acts on the turbine section;

wherein the returning torque increases while the system angular deviation is increasing, until the returning torque is substantially equal to the torque induced by the at least one turbine on the shaft, and the airborne system becomes angularly stable.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the turbine section comprises at least two turbines that are rotatably mounted to the shaft, and the at least two turbines rotate freely relative to each other in opposite directions when exposed to a same wind;

wherein when the at least two turbines are in a rest position, the center of gravity of the system is in the lowest possible position relative to the center of lift of the system, and wherein when the at least two turbines are exposed to wind and rotate in opposite directions they induce rotational torques on the shaft of the airborne system in opposite directions, and the opposite torques balance each other; and

wherein when the airborne system is rolling angularly by the action of the differential of the two opposite torques, and

wherein the angular deviation of the system from said rest position causes a returning torque that increases with an increasing angular deviation from the rest position, until the returning torque balances said differential torque, and the airborne system becomes angularly stable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting section of the airborne system comprises at least two sealed inflatable bodies containing lighter than air gas, and the at least two inflatable bodies are mounted to the turbine section, one on a front side and the other on a rear side of the turbine section, causing the airborne system to be airborne at a desired altitude.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchoring section comprises a winch mounted to the anchoring base and which controls the length of said tether, thereby controlling the operational altitude of the airborne system.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electricity transformation unit that collects the electricity generated by said at least one generator, and unifies the collected electricity to one output at a desired voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lifting section has an aerodynamic configuration that generates a lifting force when exposed to a wind in addition to the lifting force generated by said lighter than air gas.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said conductor is arranged at least partially alongside said tether.