ROTOR SAIL AND SHIP WITH A ROTOR SAIL

• US 20090217851A1
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magnus Rotor Solar Systems Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magnus Rotor Solar Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Kind, Rolf
• Application Number:
  US12/090,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217851A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/39.300
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/02 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

A rotor sail is provided having a base (2) and a rotary cylinder (3) mounted on the base (2) in a manner permitting rotation about its longitudinal axis designed as the rotor axis (r), and a drive (5) for rotating the rotary cylinder (3). An enclosing outer surface (4) of the rotary cylinder serves as a wind-exposed surface in operation. So that the rotor sail can be operated in a more environmentally friendly manner, it is provided with a photovoltaic system (7) having solar cells (8) to generate electric energy for the drive (5) having an electric motor (6). The solar cells (8) are located in the rotary cylinder (3) and have photoelectrically active layers facing toward the enclosing outer surface (4). The rotary cylinder (3) has a sleeve (9) which is transparent, at least in an area covering the solar cells (8).

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A rotor sail comprising a base (2), a rotary cylinder (3) mounted on the base (2) in a manner permitting rotation about a longitudinal axis of the rotary cylinder, the axis being designed as a rotor axis (r), an enclosing outer surface (4) of the rotary cylinder serving as a wind-exposed surface in operation, a drive (5) having an electric motor (6) for rotating the rotary cylinder (3), and a photovoltaic system (7) having solar cells (8) to generate electric energy for the drive (5), wherein the solar cells (8) are located in the rotary cylinder (3) and have photoelectrically active layers facing toward the enclosing outer surface (4), and wherein the rotary cylinder (3) has a sleeve (9), which is transparent at least in an area covering the solar cells (8).

20. The rotor sail according to claim 19, wherein the solar cells (8) are located on an outer side of a core (11) in the rotary cylinder (3).

21. The rotor sail according to claim 20, wherein the core (11) has a round or polygonal transverse cross-section.

22. The rotor sail according to claim 21, wherein the cross-section is circular.

23. The rotor sail according to claim 21, wherein the core (11) in operating position tapers prismatically or conically upward along a length of the core, and wherein the core (11) has an opening angle (μ

) included between a center axis and a side face (16) of the core.

24. The rotor sail according to claim 23, wherein the core (11) has a form of a truncated pyramid or a truncated cone.

25. The rotor sail according to claim 23, wherein the opening angle (μ

) is variable.

26. The rotor sail according to claim 21, wherein the core (11) is mounted in non-rotating fashion relative to the base (2).

27. The rotor sail according to claim 21, wherein the core (11) is mounted in a manner permitting rotation about its longitudinal axis.

28. The rotor sail according to claim 27, wherein the core (11) is connected to the rotary cylinder (3) in non-rotating fashion.

29. The rotor sail according to claim 19, wherein the solar cells (8) are located on an enclosing inner surface of the rotary cylinder (3).

30. The rotor sail according to claim 19, wherein the solar cells (8) have a form of thin-film solar cells.

31. The rotor sail according to claim 30, wherein the solar cells (8) comprise polymer solar cells.

32. The rotor sail according to claim 19, wherein the drive (5) is located in the base (2).

33. The rotor sail according to claim 19, further comprising a storage device (13) for storing the electric energy generated by the photovoltaic system (7).

34. The rotor sail according to claim 33, wherein the storage device (13) has a storage battery (12).

35. The rotor sail according to claim 19, further comprising a control system (20), provided for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the energy generated by the photovoltaic system (7) and energy generatable by the photovoltaic system (7).

36. A ship having at least one rotor sail according to claim 19, wherein the rotor sail is arranged vertically on the ship in operating position and projects beyond the ship.