Systems and methods for tethered wind turbines
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- an airborne body extending horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point, wherein the body is at least partially filled with a gas and includes;
an inflatable envelope at least partially filled with the gas, anda net structure substantially surrounding and constraining the inflatable envelope;
two or more vanes airborne with the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis, are operable to cause rotation about the axis, each vane comprising a horizontal blade panel attached to and extending along the body;
one or more tethers coupled to anchor the body to a third point;
one or more electrical generators airborne with the body to convert rotational energy produced by the rotation about the axis into electrical energy; and
a structure to adjust the volume associated with the inflatable envelope, the structure including at least one of;
(i) a pair of balloonets, each balloonet being located at substantially opposite sides of the axis, (ii) a center balloonet located within the inflatable envelope and substantially at a center point between the first and second points, or (iii) at least one structure to provide expandable tension for the inflatable envelope along the axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to some embodiments, an airborne body extends horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point. The body may be, for example, at least partially filled with a gas. Two or more vanes may be provided airborne with the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis, are operable to cause rotation about the axis. Moreover, one or more tethers may be coupled to anchor the body to a third point, and one or more electrical generators may be airborne with the body to convert rotational energy produced by the rotation about the axis into electrical energy. According to some embodiments, each vane comprises a horizontal blade panel attached to and extending along the body.
73 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an airborne body extending horizontally along an axis between a first point and a second point, wherein the body is at least partially filled with a gas and includes; an inflatable envelope at least partially filled with the gas, and a net structure substantially surrounding and constraining the inflatable envelope; two or more vanes airborne with the body such that the vanes, when acted upon by a wind force perpendicular to the axis, are operable to cause rotation about the axis, each vane comprising a horizontal blade panel attached to and extending along the body; one or more tethers coupled to anchor the body to a third point; one or more electrical generators airborne with the body to convert rotational energy produced by the rotation about the axis into electrical energy; and a structure to adjust the volume associated with the inflatable envelope, the structure including at least one of;
(i) a pair of balloonets, each balloonet being located at substantially opposite sides of the axis, (ii) a center balloonet located within the inflatable envelope and substantially at a center point between the first and second points, or (iii) at least one structure to provide expandable tension for the inflatable envelope along the axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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11. The system of clam 9, wherein the surface comprises an active surface.
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20. The system of clam 15, wherein the surface comprises an active surface.
Specification