Surface wind power generation array

• US 8,497,595 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Petner, Michael F., Daly, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/618,870
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 290 42- 44, 290 53- 55
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/06 the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/96 as part of a wind turbine farm
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An energy generation system is disclosed, comprising a blade portion, a magnet portion and a coil portion. The blade is an elongated member positioned so as to be subject to ground-level wind forces. The blade is connected to the magnet portion so that the magnet portion oscillates as the blade is moved by the wind forces. The magnet portion may be disposed within the coil portion to induce a current in the windings of the coil portion as the magnet portion reciprocates/oscillates. A plurality of individual blade/magnet/coil combinations may be provided in a modular array to generate electricity independent of wind direction and with minimal wind intensity. A plurality of interconnecting modular arrays may be provided in a grid to supply the desired voltage and amperage levels. The array grid may conform to the local topology of the installation site, thus eliminating the need to level the site. The disclosed system can be made aesthetically pleasing by fabricating it to resemble a field of grass, reeds, wheat, etc., thus allowing it to blend in with the natural landscape.

Claims

1. A system for generating electricity, comprising:

an elongated blade portion having first and second longitudinal ends defining a length of said blade portion greater than its width, the blade portion configured to movably tilt bend or moveably swing with respect to a horizontal plane under the influence of wind motion;

a magnet portion; and

a coil portion;

wherein the blade portion is associated with the magnet portion such that bend or swing movement of the blade portion causes movement of the magnet portion;

wherein the magnet portion induces a current in the coil portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coil portion comprises a plurality of wire windings surrounding a cylindrical core.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the coil portion comprises a plurality of wire windings formed in a hemispherical configuration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the blade portion comprises a plurality of stacked blade elements and a line;

wherein the line is disposed within the plurality of stacked blade elements,

wherein a distal end of the line is engaged with a top element of the plurality of stacked blade elements; and

wherein a proximal end of the line is associated with the magnet portion such that a bending movement of the blade portion causes the line to reciprocate with respect to the blade elements to cause said movement of the magnet portion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the blade portion is substantially rigid;

wherein the blade portion is connected to a gimbal; and

wherein the blade portion has an aerodynamic feature for self-righting the blade when in a near-horizontal position caused by constant or steady wind conditions.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gimbal connected between said blade portion and said magnet portion.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pivoting linkage connecting the blade portion and the magnet portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the blade portion has a cross section selected from the list consisting of cylindrical, oval, and x-shaped.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet portion comprises a neodymium magnet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the blade portion has a surface texture configured to enhance the force applied to the blade portion by an impinging fluid or medium.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a diode rectifier at an output of the coil portion to convert variable AC current from the coil portion to DC.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pulse-width modulation converter at an output of the coil portion to condition a variable AC current from the coil portion to employable AC current.

13. A system for generating electricity, comprising:

a plurality of generators, each generator comprising an elongated blade portion, a magnet portion, and a coil portion;

wherein each blade portion includes first and second longitudinal ends defining a length of said blade portion greater than its width, the blade portion configured to movably tilt bend or moveably swing with respect to a horizontal plane under the influence of wind motion, each blade portion connected to an associated magnet portion such that bend or swing movement of the blade portion causes movement of the magnet portion;

wherein each magnet portion is disposed in relation to an associated coil portion such that movement of the magnet portion induces a current in the coil portion; and

wherein the system further comprises a diode rectifier or a pulse-width modulation converter at an output of the coil portions to either convert AC current to DC current or condition a variable AC current into employable AC current.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each coil portion comprises a plurality of wire windings surrounding a cylindrical core.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein each coil portion comprises a plurality of wire windings formed in a hemispherical configuration.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein each blade portion comprises a plurality of stacked blade elements and a line;

wherein the line is disposed within the plurality of stacked blade elements,

wherein a distal end of the line is engaged with a top element of the plurality of stacked blade elements; and

wherein a proximal end of the line is associated with the associated magnet portion such that a bending movement of the blade portion causes the line to reciprocate with respect to the blade elements to cause said movement of the magnet portion.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein each blade portion is substantially rigid;

wherein the blade portion is connected to a gimbal; and

wherein the blade portion has an aerodynamic feature for self-righting the blade when in a near-horizontal position caused by constant or steady wind conditions.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein each generator further comprises a gimbal connected between one of said blade portions and the associated magnet portion.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising a pivoting linkage connecting each of said blade portions and the associated magnet portion.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein each blade portion has a cross section selected from the list consisting of cylindrical, oval and x-shaped.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein each magnet portion comprises a neodymium magnet.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein each blade portion has a surface texture configured to enhance the force applied to the blade portion by an impinging fluid or medium.

23. A modular array comprising a support frame, an electrical bus, means for connecting to other arrays, and a plurality of the systems of claim 13.

24. The modular array of claim 23, wherein the modular array forms a building block for a plurality of arrays that physically and electrically interconnect to form a grid for generating electricity.

25. The modular array of claim 24, wherein the plurality of arrays comprising the grid conform to a topology of an installation site.