Motor assisted power generation system

• US 9,617,979 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airgenesis LLC
• Original Assignee: Airgenesis LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Danny J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VIET P
• Application Number:
  US14/528,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 290 44, 290 55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/025 coaxially arranged
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/22 Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/40 Transmission of power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The inventive technology described herein generally relates to the field of power generation. More specifically, methods and apparatus for a motor assisted power generation system utilizing a motor, coupled to a rotatable drive shaft which may further be connected to a generator such that the motor driven rotation of the drive shaft may generate electrical output. Certain embodiments may allow for a dual, wind or motor assisted power generation. For example, a drive shaft may be coupled with, for example, a wind responsive turbine and may generate an electrical output according to the amount of wind captured and transmitted to a corresponding generator or set of generators. Under low or no wind conditions, a motor may be coupled to the drive shaft and cause it to rotate allowing power generation to continue despite the lack of wind capture. Under high or adequate wind conditions, the motor may be decoupled allowing generation of an electrical output without motor assistance. In still additional embodiments, the inventive technology may include a motor that has been converted to operate on natural gas, or other combustible fuel or waste products. The invention may be placed adjacent to a source of, for example waste natural gas and may use such waste streams to generate an electrical output, in some instances in conjunction with a variable coupler drive.

Claims

1. A motor assisted wind turbine system comprising:

a wind responsive dual-rotor turbine having at least one front rotor and at least one aft rotor with;

said front rotor being positioned at a pitch of 4.64°

degrees;

said aft rotor being positioned at a pitch of 3.73°

degrees; and

said aft rotor being positioned at a clock angle of 29.7°

degrees in relation to said front rotor;

at least one motor responsive to a motor drive shaft;

at least one secondary drive shaft connected to said motor drive shaft through a drive coupler and responsive to at least one drive shaft coupler;

at least one rotatable drive shaft responsive to said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine and said at least one drive shaft coupler;

at least one generator responsive to said rotatable drive shaft such that the rotational movement of said rotatable drive shaft generated by innervation of said motor and/or wind capture by said wind responsive turbine generates an electrical output; and

at least one drive de-coupler connecting said secondary drive shaft and said drive shaft coupler wherein said drive de-coupler may be engaged and/or disengaged in response to at least one output parameter thereby stopping and/or allowing transmission of rotational energy from said motor to said rotatable drive shaft.

2. A motor assisted wind turbine system as described in claim 1 wherein said drive coupler comprises at least one clutch.

3. A motor assisted wind turbine system as described in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft coupler comprises at least one drive shaft coupler selected from the group consisting of:

a pinion and ring gear;

a planetary gear; and

a compound gear.

4. A motor assisted wind turbine system as described in claim 1 and further comprising at least one drive shaft support bearing.

5. A motor assisted wind turbine system as described in claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a motor selected from the group consisting of:

a diesel motor;

a diesel motor converted to run on natural gas; and

a natural gas motor.

6. A motor assisted variable coupler drive power generation system comprising:

a wind responsive dual-rotor turbine having at least one front rotor and at least one aft rotor with;

said front rotor being positioned at a pitch of 4.64°

degrees;

said aft rotor being positioned at a pitch of 3.73°

degrees; and

said aft rotor being positioned at a clock angle of 29.7°

degrees in relation to said front rotor;

at least one motor responsive to a motor drive shaft;

at least one secondary drive shaft connected to said motor drive shaft through a drive coupler;

at least one drive shaft coupler responsive to said secondary drive shaft;

at least one rotatable drive shaft responsive to said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine and said drive shaft coupler;

at least one rotatable platen connected to said rotatable drive shaft;

at least one generator responsive to a generator drive shaft;

at least one gyrator element adjustably coupled to said generator drive shaft;

at least one non-rotational gyrator support element securing said gyrator element to at least one coupler drive shaft track spanning said rotatable platen such that said gyrator element is adjustable along said rotatable platen'"'"'s surface;

at least one load engagement device responsive to a coupler controller so as to load and/or un-load said gyrator element onto the surface of said rotatable platen in response to at least one output parameter; and

at least one gyrator position calibrator to which said coupler drive shaft track is responsive and responsive to said coupler controller so as to dynamically adjust said gyrator element adjustably coupled to at least one generator drive shaft along the surface of said rotatable platen in response to at least one output parameter.

7. A motor assisted variable coupler drive power generation system as described in claim 6 wherein said drive coupler comprises at least one clutch.

8. A motor assisted variable coupler drive power generation system as described in claim 6 wherein said drive shaft coupler comprises at least one drive shaft coupler selected from the group consisting of:

a pinion and ring gear;

a planetary gear; and

a compound gear.

9. A motor assisted variable coupler drive power generation system as described in claim 6 and further comprising at least one drive shaft support bearing.

10. A motor assisted variable coupler drive power generation system as described in claim 6 and further comprising at least one drive de-coupler connecting said secondary drive shaft and said drive shaft coupler wherein said drive de-coupler may be engaged and/or disengaged in response to at least one output parameter thereby stopping and/or allowing transmission of rotational energy from said motor to said rotatable drive shaft.

11. A wind power generation system optimized to capture wind energy comprising:

a wind responsive dual-rotor turbine having at least one front rotor and at least one aft rotor;

said front rotor being positioned at a pitch of 4.64°

degrees;

said aft rotor being positioned at a pitch of 3.73°

degrees; and

said aft rotor being positioned at a clock angle of 29.7°

degrees in relation to said front rotor;

at least one rotatable drive shaft coupled with said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine; and

at least one generator coupled to said rotatable drive shaft such that the rotational movement of said rotatable drive shaft generated by innervation of the wind capture by said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine generates an electrical output.

12. A wind power generation system optimized to capture wind energy as described in claim 11 wherein said rotatable drive shaft coupled with said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine comprises a rotatable drive shaft coupled with said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine through a gear hub.

13. A wind power generation system optimized to capture wind energy as described in claim 11 wherein said electrical output comprises an electrical output of at least 2000 kW or more at 3 RPM'"'"'s of said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine.

14. A method of optimizing the wind capture of a dual-rotor turbine comprising the steps of:

establishing a wind responsive dual-rotor turbine having at least one front rotor and at least one aft rotor;

positioning said front rotor at a first pitch of 4.64°

degrees;

positioning said aft rotor at a second pitch between 3.73°

degrees;

positioning said aft rotor at a first clock angle of 29.7°

degrees in relation to said front rotor;

capturing wind energy with said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine causing said front rotor and said aft rotor to rotate;

transferring said rotational energy to a coupled drive shaft;

innervating at least one generator coupled with said drive shaft;

generating an electrical output.

15. A method of optimizing the wind capture of a dual-rotor turbine as described in claim 14 wherein said step of innervating at least one generator coupled with said drive shaft comprises:

slideably coupling at least one gyrator element to a generator drive shaft coupled with said generator;

securing said gyrator element to a non-rotational gyrator support element;

adjustably securing said non-rotational gyrator support element to least one drive shaft track;

rotating at least one rotational movement element coupled with said drive shaft;

loading said gyrator element onto the surface of said rotational movement element;

activating at least one gyrator position calibrator, to which said gyrator element is responsive, adjusting said gyrator element across the surface of said rotational movement element in response to an output parameter;

innervating said generators coupled to said generator drive-shaft.

16. A method of optimizing the wind capture of a dual-rotor turbine as described in claim 14 wherein said step of generating an electrical output comprises the step of generating an electrical output of at least 2000 kW or more at 3 RPM'"'"'s of said wind responsive dual-rotor turbine.