Systems and methods for deployment of wind turbines

• US 8,275,489 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy J. Devine
• Original Assignee: Timothy J. Devine
• Inventors: Devine, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnes-Bullock, Crystal J
• Application Number:
  US12/488,482
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/287, 700/291, 700295-297, 290/1.R, 290/7, 290/43, 290/44, 290/54, 290/55, 307/43, 307/69, 307/80, 307/82, 307/84, 415/2.1, 415/4.2, 416/1, 416/9, 416/23, 416/36, 416/40, 416/132.B, 416/147, 702182-184
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/257 the wind motor being part of a wind farm
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines

Abstract

Systems and methods for generation and distribution of commercial wind power are provided. In one embodiment, a deployment method centers on the commercial deployment of small sized wind turbines that use existing power poles or similar structures to place the wind turbines high above the tree lines and in a clean air flow regime. This deployment can be free of any land needs, and can generate substantial electrical energy without any new poles in the sky line. Each wind turbine can provide power directly to the power grid at the point of generation for usage close to the point of generation. The power produced by each wind turbine can be metered at the wind turbine, or the point of generation.

Claims

1. A wind power generation system comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart wind turbines mounted on existing power grid structures and integrally connected with an existing power grid to deliver wind generated electrical energy to the power grid, each of the wind turbines comprising a metering device for providing and collecting information about the wind turbine'"'"'s electrical power generation, and a data transfer device to transfer data from each meter to a central data collection area, wherein the transfer data comprises data about each turbine'"'"'s serial number and kilowatt hours transferred.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of turbines comprises turbines with outputs in the range of 0.1 to 10 kW.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of turbines comprises turbines with outputs in the range of 3 to 15 kW.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind turbines comprises both vertical and horizontal wind turbines.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind turbines comprises at least one wind turbine with variable pitch blades.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind turbines comprises both commercially available and custom-built wind turbines.

7. The system of claim 1, The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind turbines are spaced apart between approximately 1.5 and 3 times the diameters of the blades from side to side, and at lengths of approximately 7 to 13 times the diameter of the blades downwind from one another.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the turbines comprises power conditioning equipment including an oscillator synchronized with the existing power grid.

9. A method of generating electricity comprising:

mounting a plurality of wind turbines on existing power poles;

integrally connecting the wind turbines with an existing power grid, such that power conditioning equipment within each turbine matches the power and frequency of the power wires at each power pole, and electricity generated by each turbine can be integrated into the existing power grid;

monitoring each wind turbine and collecting data on each wind turbine'"'"'s performance;

transferring the collected data to a central location; and

making adjustments to the plurality of wind turbines in response to the remote monitoring,

wherein mounting comprises spacing apart the wind turbines based on factors including but not limited to blade diameter of each wind turbine, surface of the land in which the wind turbine is mounted, the approximate location of other wind turbines, surface conditions of the land, the angle of the wind, wind turbulence, wind gusts, wind variations, and mounting height.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of turbines as a whole produce between 2 and 10,000 MW of power output.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the collection of data comprises bringing a communication receiver within 200 yards of each meter and transferring data from each meter to the communication receiver via short range radio communication.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the collection of data comprises collecting information about each turbine'"'"'s serial number and kilowatt hours transferred.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the collection of data further comprises collecting data on temperature, wind speed, wind direction, vibration, and bearing temperature of each wind turbine in the system.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring the collected data comprises sending the data through satellite communications to the central location.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring the collected data comprises using infrared transmission.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring the collected data comprises using carrier wave transmission.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring the collected data comprises sending the data through a modem device to the central location.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the plurality of wind turbines comprises replacing or repairing a wind turbine based on data collected from the wind turbine.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein mounting comprises using a split ring device to mount each turbine to a power pole.

20. A method of generating electricity comprising:

mounting a plurality of wind turbines on existing power poles;

integrally connecting the wind turbines with an existing power grid, such that power conditioning equipment within each turbine matches the power and frequency of the power wires at each power pole, and electricity generated by each turbine can be integrated into the existing power grid;

monitoring each wind turbine and collecting data on each wind turbine'"'"'s performance;

transferring the collected data to a central location; and

making adjustments to the plurality of wind turbines in response to the remote monitoring, wherein the collection of data comprises collecting information about each turbine'"'"'s serial number and kilowatt hours transferred.