GB2471272A

GB2471272A - Vertical axis magnus effect wind turbine

Info

Publication number: GB2471272A
Application number: GB0910640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Martin Redcliffe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-22
Filing date: 2009-06-22
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: GB0910640D0

Abstract

A vertical axis wind powered turbine which uses one or more rotating cylinders 1 and the 'Magnus effect' to provide a motive force for the purpose of power generation. The device includes a rotating portion with a bearing housing 2, 3 which is used to support one or more rotating cylinders 1. The rotating portion may be attached to the drive shaft of a generator 6 which is in turn attached to a stationary platform 7. Rotating spheres may be used instead of cylinders. The turbine may be mounted on a vehicle such as a ship and may be used to drive generator, a ship's drive mechanism, a ship's propeller, a pump or a gearbox. The rotating cylinders may be driven by electrical power, gearing from the rotation of the turbine, or by aerofoil blades mounted thereon.

Description

Page 1 Magnus Effect Vertical Axis Wind Turbine This invention relates to a device to extract energy from a flow of air by the use of one or more vertically mounted rotating cylinders, which are driven by electric motors.

Wind turbines are used to convert the energy available from the wind into electrical energy; they use blades of an aerofoil cross section to produce lift forces which turn a generator.

However, the high rotational speeds needed with a bladed wind turbine lead to a noise disturbance making bladed wind turbines controversial when mounted on or near residential buildings. Also horizontally mounted wind turbines experience a loss in efficiency because of wind turbulence caused by surrounding structures and trees. To overcome these problems the present invention proposes the use of cylinders which rotate along their vertical axis, this causes a localised reduction in wind speed on one side of the cylinder and a localised increase in wind speed on the other, these changes in wind speed results in a reduction in pressure on one side of the cylinder and an increase on the other, creating lift, this is called the Magnus effect'. The lift force created by each cylinder is then converted into a torque force acting on the same plane, and the same rotational direction as the cylinders.

The use of the Magnus effect' increase the power of the turbine meaning that it is possible to power the turbine with no gear box and the turbine will be able to operate at much lower speeds, because of this it will be quieter. The increase in power means that the turbine can be made much smaller to provide the same power output of a conventional turbine, minimising any visual disturbance.

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Shows an example of how the rotating cylinders are positioned to provide power to drive a generator.

Figure 2 Shows a plan view of the rotating cylinders and indicating the wind direction and the direction of rotation of the cylinders.

Figure 3 Shows alternative central colunm designs Figure 4 Shows an alternative drive mechanism for rotating the cylinders or spheres.

Figure 5 Shows another alternative drive mechanism for the rotating cylinders or spheres.

Figure 6 Shows an alternative rotational drive device in the form of rotating spheres.

In figure 1 the rotating cylinders, 1 are mounted on a shaft between the lower bearing housing, 2 and the upper bearing housing, 3 the cylinders are powered by electric motors, 4. The upper and lower bearing houses are connected together by a central column, 5. The lower bearing housing is free to rotate driving the Generator, 6. As wind passes over the rotating cylinders, lift is created by the Magnus effect' as described above, and the upper, and lower bearing houses rotate together driving the generator via a shaft. The generator is mounted to a plate, 7 which remains stationary.

The rotating cylinders may be attached via a bearing or the cylinders shafts could be located in a suitably sized orifice.

The electrical motor that powers the turbine will have a battery backup, when the turbine wind speed sensor, 8 senses the correct wind speed it will send power to the motors which will turn the cylinders on battery power, thus starting the turbine. When the turbine is running the motors will be powered by the generator, and the battery will be recharged.

Page 2 The upper and lower bearing houses may be shaped in a more aerodynamic way, or with the use of suitable lower bearings the upper bearing housing may be negated altogether. The central bearing housing support colunm will shield the rotating cylinders as they return on the lea-side of the wind turbine, thus preventing them from creating an opposing lift force and slowing the turbine. The central column could also be shaped in such a way as to aid the rotation of the turbine.

In figure 2 the direction of rotation of the cylinders, 1 are shown, and the wind direction is shown, 9. The lower bearing housing, 2 will rotate in a clockwise direction.

In figure 3 alternative central column designs, 5 are shown in relation to the rotating cylinders, 1.

In figure 4 an alternative drive mechanisms for the cylinders is shown include a sun, 10 and planet, 11 gearing system, so that the cylinders, 1 are powered by the rotation of the bearing housings, 2.

Via a shaft, 12 held in a bearing, 13. The sun gear is held stationary on a plate, 7.

In figure 5 an alternative driving system for the rotating cylinders is shown, incorporating a helical wind turbine blade, 14 running around each cylinder, 1.

In figure 6 an alternative to rotating cylinders is shown in the form of rotating spheres, 15.

Claims

Page 3 Claims 1. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising of one or more vertically mounted rotating cylinders, which are used to drive a generator and create electrical power, in which the rotating cylinders are powered by electric motors.
2. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising of one or more vertically mounted rotating cylinders, which are used to drive a generator and create electrical power, in which the rotating cylinders are driven by a gearing system from the rotation of the wind turbine.
3. A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising of one or more vertically mounted rotatthg cylinders, which are used to drive a generator and create electrical power, in which the rotating cylinders are driven by aerofoil section blades mounted to the cylinders.
4. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the wind turbine is mounted to a stationary base.
5. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the wind turbine is mounted to a pole or column
6. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, or 3 in which the wind turbine is mounted to a ship or other vehicle.
7. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 in which the wind turbine is used to drive a propeller or other ships drive mechanism instead of generating electricity.
8. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 in which the wind turbine is used to drive a pump for the purpose of creating pressure or moving a liquid, instead of generating electricity.
9. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 in which the wind turbine is used to drive a gearbox.
10. A vertical axis wind turbine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or in which rotating spheres are used to power the wind turbine, instead of cylinders.