System and methodology for a wind turbine

• US 9,856,858 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hover Energy, LLC
• Original Assignee: Regenedyne, LLC
• Inventors: Mazur, Ed
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/854,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 290 44, 290 55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/005 the axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/062 characterised by their construction elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/10 Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/28 the apparatus being a pump or a compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/511 with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/941 which is a land vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/31 Wind motors in general F03D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 32/0431 with bearings for axial load combined with bearings for radial load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 39/066 with opposing permanent magnets repelling each other
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/09 with magnetic bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 : Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 : Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A wind turbine having discrete sets of magnets on the turbine support and the turbine rotor, creating repelling forces and spaces therebetween. The reduction of friction between the turbine rotor and the turbine support allows for an increase in energy production and scale of the wind turbines.

Claims

1. A wind turbine, comprising:

a turbine support having a lower portion and a vertical portion;

said lower portion of said turbine support aligned along and extending horizontally outward from a core axis, an upper surface of said lower portion having first magnet means positioned thereon aligned along said core axis;

said vertical portion of said turbine support being cylindrically shaped and having second magnet means positioned thereon aligned along said core axis;

a turbine rotor having a central portion and a lower portion;

said central portion of said turbine rotor configured to concentrically receive said vertical portion of said turbine support therein, said vertical portion being radially inside said central portion, said turbine rotor aligned about said core axis and rotatable thereabout, and having third magnet means positioned on said central portion along said core axis, said third magnet means aligned opposing said second magnet means, the opposition creating and maintaining a first space therebetween;

said lower portion of said turbine rotor aligned along and extending outward from said core axis, a lower surface of said lower portion having fourth magnet means positioned thereon aligned along said core axis, said fourth magnet means aligned opposing said first magnet means, the opposition creating and maintaining a second space therebetween;

a plurality of blades coupled to said turbine rotor; and

at least one generator configured to generate electric power from the movement of said turbine rotor.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine rotor covers said vertical portion of said turbine support.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine rotor does not cover said vertical portion of said turbine support.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein said turbine support further comprises an upper portion aligned along and extending outward from said core axis, said upper portion extending radially over said turbine rotor.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine rotor is integrally connected to said plurality of blades.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said turbine rotor is configured about said core axis in a non-circular pattern.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said turbine support and said turbine rotor extend substantially equally from said core axis.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said turbine support and said turbine rotor extend unequally from said core axis.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said vertical portion of said turbine support is substantially solid.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said vertical portion of said turbine support has an interior portion.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 10, wherein said interior portion comprises an access way, and, further comprising:

a transportation device within said interior portion.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 11, wherein said transportation device is selected from the group consisting of an elevator, a cable elevator, a hydraulic elevator, a magnetic elevator, a stairway, a spiral stairway, an escalator, a ladder, a rope, a fireman pole, a spiral elevator, a trailer and combinations thereof.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said wind turbine has a roof portion thereof with equipment thereon, said equipment selected from the group consisting of an observation deck, a helipad, a crane and combinations thereof.

14. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector, said connector securing said turbine rotor to said vertical portion of said turbine support.

15. The wind turbine according to claim 14, wherein said connector is a pin-type connector, said turbine rotor rotating thereabout.

16. The wind turbine according to claim 14, wherein said connector is configured to govern the upward movement of said turbine rotor caused by levitation.

17. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing substantially within said first space.

18. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said first and fourth magnet means comprise levitation magnets that provide repulsive forces to lift said turbine rotor off said turbine support, creating said first space.

19. The wind turbine according to claim 18, wherein said first and fourth magnet means further comprise stabilization magnets.

20. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said first and fourth magnet means provide repulsive forces to lift said turbine rotor off said turbine support, said repulsive forces in excess of the gravitational forces present.

21. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said first and fourth magnet means provide repulsive forces to partially lift said turbine rotor off said turbine support, said repulsive forces being less than the gravitational forces present.

22. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said second and third magnet means comprise stabilization magnets.

23. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said first, second, third and fourth magnet means are magnets selected from the group consisting of permanent magnets, electromagnets, permanent rare earth magnets, samarium cobalt magnet materials, neodymium magnet materials, ferromagnetic materials, permanent magnetic materials, magnetic wires, and combinations thereof.

24. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein portions of said turbine rotor and said turbine support are magnetized.

25. The wind turbine according to claim 24, wherein said turbine rotor and said turbine support are magnetized.

26. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of blades are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin metal, poly-carbon, fabric, synthetic and combinations thereof.

27. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of blades are affixed in a static position on said wind turbine.

28. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein plurality of blades are moveably attached to said wind turbine.

29. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a generator gear.

30. The wind turbine according to claim 29, wherein said generator gear is selected from the group consisting of a traditional gear, a transmission gear, a magnetic gear and combinations thereof.

31. The wind turbine according to claim 29, wherein said generator gear and a portion of said turbine rotor proximate thereto are magnetized.

32. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of generators disposed proximate said turbine rotor, said generators disposed at positions selected from the group consisting of along the perimeter of the turbine rotor, above said turbine rotor along said core axis, below said turbine rotor along said core axis, and combinations thereof.

33. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein at least one generator is selected from the group consisting of electric generators, motors, linear generators, linear synchronous generators and combinations thereof.

34. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the energy generated by said at least generator is utilized in a manner selected from the group consisting of (1) feeding to a power grid attached to said wind turbine, (2) storage in batteries, (3) storage in compressed air, (4) storage in a flywheel, (5) storage in a magnetically levitated flywheel, (6) storage in hydraulic accumulators, (7) storage in capacitors, (8) storage in super capacitors, and combinations thereof.

35. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one sensor located proximate said wind turbine,

wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of wind director detectors, wind strength detectors, turbine rotational speed detectors, and combinations thereof.

36. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one controller, said controller being wired and/or wireless; and

at least one actuator for controlling said wind turbine via said at least one controller.

37. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one wind compressor for channeling wind to said wind turbine.

38. The wind turbine according to claim 37, wherein said at least one wind compressor is selected from the group consisting of sails, railroad cars, trailer truck bodies, a structure, and combinations thereof.

39. The wind turbine according to claim 37, further comprising:

at least one transporter moveably coupled to at least one of said wind compressors; and

at least one pathway along which at least one of said transporters move.

40. A method for generating electricity, comprising:

lifting a vertical turbine rotor off of a turbine support using a first plurality of opposed said lifting creating a first space between the vertical turbine rotor and the turbine support;

aligning said vertical turbine rotor along a core axis using a second plurality of opposed magnets, said aligning creating a second space between the vertical turbine rotor and the turbine support;

engaging one or more blades coupled to the vertical turbine rotor with wind;

rotating the vertical turbine rotor relative to the turbine support as the one or more blades engage the wind; and

converting the mechanical energy of the moving vertical turbine rotor into electric power using a generator.

41. A wind turbine comprising:

a turbine support, said turbine support comprising a base and a substantially cylindrical vertical member;

a turbine rotor, said turbine rotor comprising a receiving portion to receive said substantially cylindrical vertical member therein, and a circular portion thereabout;

first magnet means disposed in opposition along aid base and along said circular portion, forming a first space therebetween;

second magnet means disposed in opposition along said substantially cylindrical vertical member and within said receiving portion, forming a second space therebetween;

at least one blade connected to said turbine rotor; and

energy conversion means to convert the motion of said turbine rotor into another form of energy.