Airborne wind turbine electricity generating system
First Claim
1. An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy, comprising:
- a turbine section comprising;
a shaft;
at least first and second turbines rotatably mounted to said shaft and arranged to rotate independently of one another and in opposite directions about said shaft when subjected to a same wind; and
at least first and second generators respectively coupled to said at least first and second turbines and arranged to convert rotation of said first and second turbines into electricity, said generators being mounted so as to be fixed relative to said shaft, the magnitude of electricity generation by said generators being related to a torque induced on said shaft by said generators responsive to rotation of said turbines relative to said shaft;
a lifting system coupled to said turbine section for generating a lifting force to cause said turbine section to be airborne at a desired altitude;
an anchoring section arranged to anchor said turbine section relative to the ground; and
said turbines having aerodynamic characteristics which provide in combination with the effect of the electricity generation by said generators a situation where a sum of torques acting on said shaft is substantially zero so that said turbine section is angularly stable when airborne;
wherein electricity generated by said generators is conducted to an energy utilization device for usage or to electricity storage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy includes a shaft, at least two turbines rotatably mounted to the shaft and arranged to rotate independent of one another and in opposite directions when subjected to the same wind, and generators which convert rotation of the turbines into electricity. The magnitude of electricity generation by the generators is related to the magnitude of torque induced by the generators on the shaft, and the electricity generation by the generators may be controlled such that torques induced on the shaft by the generators is controlled such that a sum of torques induced on the shaft is substantially zero. A lifting structure generates a lifting force to lift the turbines to a desires altitude, and an anchoring system anchors the turbines relative to the ground. Generated electricity is conducted to users, to electricity storage, or to processing components.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy, comprising:
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a turbine section comprising; a shaft; at least first and second turbines rotatably mounted to said shaft and arranged to rotate independently of one another and in opposite directions about said shaft when subjected to a same wind; and at least first and second generators respectively coupled to said at least first and second turbines and arranged to convert rotation of said first and second turbines into electricity, said generators being mounted so as to be fixed relative to said shaft, the magnitude of electricity generation by said generators being related to a torque induced on said shaft by said generators responsive to rotation of said turbines relative to said shaft; a lifting system coupled to said turbine section for generating a lifting force to cause said turbine section to be airborne at a desired altitude; an anchoring section arranged to anchor said turbine section relative to the ground; and said turbines having aerodynamic characteristics which provide in combination with the effect of the electricity generation by said generators a situation where a sum of torques acting on said shaft is substantially zero so that said turbine section is angularly stable when airborne; wherein electricity generated by said generators is conducted to an energy utilization device for usage or to electricity storage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy, comprising:
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a turbine section comprising; a shaft; at least first and second turbines rotatably mounted to said shaft and arranged to rotate independently of one another and in opposite directions about said shaft when subjected to a same wind; and at least first and second generators respectively coupled to said at least first and second turbines and arranged to convert rotation of said first and second turbines into electricity, said generators being mounted so as to be fixed relative to said shaft, the magnitude of electricity generation by said generators being related to a torque induced on said shaft by said generators responsive to rotation of said turbines relative to said shaft; a lifting system coupled to said turbine section for generating a lifting force to cause said turbine section to be airborne at a desired altitude; an anchoring section arranged to anchor said turbine section relative to the ground; and said turbines having aerodynamic characteristics which provide in combination with the effect of the electricity generation by said generators a situation where a sum of torques acting on said shaft is substantially zero so that said turbine section is angularly stable when airborne; wherein electricity generated by said generators is conducted to an energy utilization device for usage or to electricity storage.
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24. An airborne system for producing electricity from wind energy, comprising:
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a turbine section comprising; a shaft; at least first and second turbines rotatably mounted to said shaft and arranged to rotate independently of one another and in opposite directions about said shaft when subjected to a same wind; and a generator coupled to said at least first and second turbines and arranged to convert rotation of said first and second turbines into electricity, said generator being mounted so as to be fixed relative to said shaft, the magnitude of electricity generation by said generator being related to a torque induced on said shaft by said generator responsive to rotation of said turbines relative to said shaft; a lifting system coupled to said turbine section for generating a lifting force to cause said turbine section to be airborne at a desired altitude; an anchoring section arranged to anchor said turbine section relative to the ground; and said turbines having aerodynamic characteristics which provide in combination with the effect of the electricity generation by said generator a situation where a sum of torques acting on said shaft is substantially zero so that said turbine section is angularly stable when airborne; wherein electricity generated by said generator is conducted to an energy utilization device for usage or to electricity storage. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification