VERTICAL-AXIS WIND TURBINE WITH FLETTNER ROTORS

• US 20150204305A1
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: House Of Inventors Sp. Zo.o.
• Original Assignee: House Of Inventors Sp. Zo.o.
• Inventors: Wasilewski, Jerzy Boleslaw
• Granted Patent: US 10,184,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/007 using the Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction

Abstract

A wind turbine of a VAWT type (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine) having axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the wind direction, with Flettner rotors (7) having axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the turbine, said Flettner rotors (7) arranged in a rotary body of the turbine, the turbine having an inner cylinder (6) situated between the Flettner rotors (7), said inner cylinder (6) rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary body and Flettner rotors (7). The cylinder (6) is situated at a distance from the rotors (7) such that its rotary motion causes an increase of a pressure difference on sides of the rotors (7), resulting from the Magnus effect.

Claims

1. A vertical axis wind turbine having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the wind direction, with Flettner rotors having axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the turbine, said Flettner rotors being arranged in a rotary body of the turbine, the turbine having an inner cylinder situated between the Flettner rotors, said inner cylinder being rotatable in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary body and Flettner rotors, wherein the inner cylinder is situated at a distance (A) from the rotors such that the rotary motion of the inner cylinder causes an increase of a pressure difference on sides of the rotors, resulting from the Magnus effect.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the distance (A) between the surfaces of the rotor and of the inner cylinder on a line (z) perpendicularly connecting their axes of rotation ensures a non-laminar air flow between the surfaces of the rotor and of the inner cylinder on the line (z) during the motion of the rotor from a line tangent to the wind direction (t) to a line perpendicular to the wind direction (p), wherein tangent line (t) and the perpendicular line (p) intersect the axis of rotation of the rotary body.

3. The turbine according to claim 2, wherein the distance (A) has a length from 0.005 to 0.05 of the length of the diameter of the rotor.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder has openings covered by flaps, which can open towards the inside of the cylinder at the moment of moving through an area of a higher pressure by the surface of the cylinder.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder is rotatable with a speed adjustable such that its circumferential speed is substantially equal to the circumferential speed of the Flettner rotors.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein in its base there is situated a substantially non-moving stationary wheel having a rotation axis common with the rotary body, controlling the gears of the drive of the Flettner rotors and of the inner cylinder.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein each of the Flettner rotors is driven through a transmission by a stationary wheel, using its apparent movement with respect to the rotary body.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the inner cylinder is driven through a transmission by a stationary wheel, using its apparent movement with respect to the rotary body.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the turbine can be started by inducing rotation of the inner cylinder.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the turbine can be started by inducing rotation of the stationary wheel.