Wind turbine and energy distribution system

• US 20070048137A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Hartman
• Original Assignee: Paul Hartman
• Inventors: Hartman, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/132.B
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/02 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/04 from power plant other than propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/00 Wind motors with rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor controlling thereof F03D7/06
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/931 which is a vehicle
• 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 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A new design of vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed based on a dome structure using dome struts as blades that work in concert to produce rotational motion. The stability and low cost of the new design allows the turbine to function in low wind speed regimes as well as high speed winds that would be encountered in off-shore wind installations. The large stresses and structural requirements of mounting large horizontal axis wind turbines, particularly off-shore, are avoided with the new system. A new energy distribution system is proposed that will capture abundant off-shore wind energy, store it aboard a generator/delivery ship in the form of Hydrogen gas, and deliver it to an existing shore based power plant to produce electricity using a conventional gas turbine. Alternatively, the Hydrogen can be used to produce methane from coal using known processes to add natural gas to pipelines in areas that would normally be consuming the material. Both applications, and the direct production of heat by the new turbines, would stabilize our national energy grid while reducing CO2 emissions.

Claims

1. ) An energy capture and distribution system comprising;

a wind energy resource;

vertical axis wind turbine means for converting said wind energy resource into rotational power,

said vertical axis wind turbine means mounted on a ship and connected to electrical generation means for the production of electrical power, said electrical power connected to a plurality of water electrolysis cells with the capability to produce Hydrogen gas,

said ship also having storage means for compressing and containing said Hydrogen gas for a prolonged period of time, propulsive means for moving between the location of said wind energy resource and a shore based infrastructure facility and unloading means for delivering said Hydrogen gas to said infrastructure facility.

2. ) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said infrastructure facility comprises an electrical power plant connected to an electrical power grid.

3. ) The energy system of claim 2, where said electrical power plant includes a turbine generator capable of using either methane or Hydrogen or a mixture of the two to produce electricity.

4. ) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said infrastructure facility comprises a chemical process plant capable of hydrogenating coal or high molecular weight hydrocarbons to produce methane and other low molecular weight hydrocarbons.

5. ) The energy system of claim 4, further including a connected natural gas pipeline for the distribution of said methane.

6. ) The energy system of claim 1, further including a gearing system between said vertical axis wind turbine means and said electrical generation means, thereby supplying higher speed rotational power to said electrical generation means.

7. ) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said vertical axis wind turbine means comprises;

a base;

a rotating mast engaging said base and adapted to rotate about a generally vertical axis; and

a wind turbine having a plurality of struts, said struts elongated in a first direction and transverse to said direction of elongation having a constant cross section adapted to capture said wind energy and having lengths to conform to a largely spherical dome framework design;

said struts attached to one another at hubs according to said framework design by means of a hub connection system;

with the assembly of said struts and said hub connection system forming a dome framework with a largely spherical shape having an equatorial plane and poles normal to said equatorial plane,

with polar struts aligned toward said poles engaging coupler means;

said coupler means having the capability to position said turbine on said mast and the capability to lock said turbine to said mast and transmit mechanical rotation initiated by said turbine to said mast

8. ) Vertical axis wind turbine means of claim 7, wherein said constant cross section comprises an elliptical tube with the major axis of said elliptical tube oriented roughly tangential to said largely spherical shape, said elliptical tube having an internal elliptical surface adapted to engage said hub connector system and said strut comprising a structural strut, and

A blade strut, comprising said structural strut and further including two integral transition sections emerging from the ends of the minor axis of said elliptical tube, with said transition sections joining spaced apart from said minor axis into a blade section, said blade strut having a roughly aerodynamic shape at its exterior and having said internal elliptical surface at its interior.

9. ) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said energy capture and distribution system has more than one vertical axis wind turbine means for converting said wind energy resource into rotational power.

10. ) The energy system of claim 9, wherein said vertical axis wind turbine means comprises a propulsive means for said ship.

11. ) The energy system of claim 1, wherein said electrical generation means supplies a bank of storage batteries for storage of electricity and said water electrolysis cells are not used.

12. ) The energy system of claim 11, wherein said bank of storage batteries supplies an electric propulsion system on board said ship.

13. ) An apparatus for conversion of a wind energy resource into rotational power comprising:

a base;

a rotating mast adapted to rotate about a generally vertical axis; and

vertical axis wind turbine for converting said wind energy resource into rotational power,

said vertical axis wind turbine having;

a plurality of struts, said struts elongated in a first direction and transverse to said direction of elongation having a constant cross section adapted to capture said wind energy and having lengths to conform to a largely spherical dome framework design;

said struts attached to one another at hubs according to said framework design by means of a hub connection system and with the assembly of said struts and said hub connection system forming a dome framework with a largely spherical shape having an equatorial plane and poles normal to said equatorial plane,

with polar struts aligned toward said poles engaging coupler means;

said coupler means having the capability to position said turbine on said mast and the capability to lock said turbine to said mast and transmit mechanical rotation initiated by said turbine to said mast

14. ) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said constant cross section comprises an elliptical tube with the major axis of said elliptical tube oriented roughly tangential to said largely spherical shape, said elliptical tube having an internal elliptical surface adapted to engage said hub connector system and said strut comprising a structural strut, and also including;

A blade strut, comprising said structural strut with two integral transition sections emerging from the ends of the minor axis of said elliptical tube and subsequently joining spaced apart from said elliptical tube into a blade section, said blade strut having a roughly aerodynamic shape at its exterior and having said internal elliptical surface at its interior

15. ) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said coupler means comprise;

two outer flanges having a central aperture for through passage of said mast and connector means for tightening said outer flanges about a central spool piece,

a pair of compression rings placed between said outer flanges and said spool piece, said rings each carrying an aperture for passage of said mast and having a conical surface which faces toward said spool piece,

said spool piece being roughly annular in nature, having an inner diameter which allows passage of said mast and an outer cylindrical surface carrying a series of strut flats, said strut flats having engagement means for locking said polar struts to said spool piece,

said coupler means having an unactuated state and an actuated state, wherein said connector means hold said outer flanges to said spool piece and said compression rings hold said wind turbine in locking contact with said mast.

16. ) A wind heating system, wherein the apparatus of claim 13 supplies said rotational power to a thermal generator producing a fluid containing additional heat supplied to a thermal storage tank containing a thermal storage medium.

17. ) The heating system of claim 16, further including a heating plant comprising;

circulating means for moving said thermal storage medium from said thermal storage tank through a working loop and returning said medium to said thermal storage tank,

said working loop comprising at least one heat pump, said at least one heat pump having a coil component for taking said additional heat from said thermal storage medium and also having heat transfer means for moving said additional heat to a process fluid.

18. ) The wind heating system of claim 16, wherein said thermal generator comprises;

at least one rotor disc coupled to a drive shaft engaging said mast;

said at least one rotor disc contained and free to rotate between at least two stationary housings, with there being a discrete gap between each said rotor disc and each of said housings,

with said discrete gap containing a working fluid of sufficient viscosity to provide fluid friction roughly equivalent to said rotational power at a variety of wind resource intensities,

said thermal generator further including frictional means at the surfaces of said at least one disc and said at least two stationary housings, said frictional means enhancing said fluid friction,

extended surface means at the exterior of said at least two housings to enhance heat transfer to said fluid containing additional heat, and insulated housing means to direct the flow of said fluid containing additional heat and to prevent loss of said additional heat to ambient air.

19. ) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of struts are selectively fitted with a flexible sail material, said flexible sail material being secured at a leading edge to said struts and tethered at a trailing edge to hub modifications that are elements of said hub connection system.

20. ) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said apparatus has mast extension means for both lowering said turbine around said base for repair functions and for constructing said turbine around said base and thereafter raising said turbine using said mast to an operational position located above said base.