阅读说明：本技术 风力涡轮机装置 (Wind turbine installation ) 是由 贾尔斯·罗德韦 库尔特·约阿希姆 于 2016-11-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种风力涡轮机装置,该风力涡轮机装置包括：叶片部分(6)；发电机(8),该发电机包括具有多个线圈(20)的定子(12)和具有多个磁体(22)的转子(10),转子(10)连接至叶片部分(6)。包括轴(114)的定子(12)也被描述过,轴(114)具有通过绝缘体(38)彼此分开的第一端子部分(34)和第二端子部分(36),第一端子部分(34)和第二端子部分(36)电连接至线圈(20)；其中轴(114)由设在第一导电轨道(4b’)和第二导电轨道(4b”)中的开口(40’、40”)接收,以便支撑发电机(8)和叶片部分(6),并且使得第一端子部分(34)和第二端子部分(36)分别电耦合至第一导电轨道(4b’)和第二导电轨道(4b”),以运送来自线圈(20)的电流。(A wind turbine arrangement, the wind turbine arrangement comprising: a blade portion (6); a generator (8) comprising a stator (12) having a plurality of coils (20) and a rotor (10) having a plurality of magnets (22), the rotor (10) being connected to the blade portion (6). A stator (12) is also described that includes a shaft (114), the shaft (114) having a first terminal portion (34) and a second terminal portion (36) separated from each other by an insulator (38), the first terminal portion (34) and the second terminal portion (36) being electrically connected to the coil (20); wherein the shaft (114) is received by openings (40', 40 ") provided in the first and second conductive tracks (4b ', 4 b") so as to support the generator (8) and the blade portion (6) and such that the first and second terminal portions (34, 36) are electrically coupled to the first and second conductive tracks (4b ', 4b "), respectively, to carry electrical current from the coil (20).)

1. A wind turbine arrangement comprising:

a blade portion;

a generator comprising a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets, the rotor being connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and rotation of the rotor generates an electric current within the coils;

wherein the stator includes a shaft having a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion separated from each other by an insulator, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion being electrically connected to the coil;

wherein the shaft is received by openings provided in the first and second electrically conductive tracks so as to support the generator and the blade portion, and such that the first and second terminal portions are electrically coupled to the first and second electrically conductive tracks, respectively, to carry electrical current from the coil.

2. The wind turbine arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the holes in the first and second electrically conductive tracks have a cross section complementary to the first and second terminal portions.

3. The wind turbine arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first terminal portion is formed by a pin and the second terminal portion is formed by a sleeve surrounding the pin; wherein the pin protrudes from the sleeve such that when the sleeve is received by the first electrically conductive track, the pin is received by the second electrically conductive track.

4. The wind turbine assembly of claim 3, wherein the pin and the sleeve are concentric.

5. The wind turbine arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sleeve has a first diameter and the pin has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; wherein the openings of the first and second rails are sized to receive the first and second diameters, respectively.

6. The wind turbine arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first rail and/or the second rail is provided with a holding member having or defining a hole dimensioned to receive the first terminal portion or the second terminal portion, wherein the holding member is configured to be aligned with the rail such that the terminal portion is received by the hole of the holding member and the opening in the rail, and wherein the holding member is translatable relative to the rail so as to pull the terminal portion against the rail, thereby mechanically connecting the stator to the rail.

7. The wind turbine assembly of claim 6, wherein the first rail and/or the second rail are tubular defining a cavity extending therethrough, and wherein the retaining member is received within the cavity.

8. The wind turbine arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the outer profile of the retaining member is sized and/or shaped to ensure that the hole of the retaining member is aligned with the opening in the rail.

9. The wind turbine arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the outer contour of the retaining member substantially corresponds to the inner contour of the cavity.

10. The wind turbine assembly of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the retaining member is secured to the rail by a threaded fastener that translates the retaining member relative to the rail as the threaded fastener rotates.

11. A wind turbine arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the blade section and the generator form a turbine module, and wherein the arrangement comprises a plurality of said modules.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to wind turbine arrangements and in particular, but not exclusively, to wind turbine arrangements comprising a plurality of turbine modules.

Background

It is known to arrange a plurality of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) modules within a frame to form a wind fence; see, for example, uk patent No. 2476126. Figure 1 shows such an arrangement. As shown, the frame 1 is formed of upper and lower structural rails 3a, 3b and left and right side members 5a, 5b to form a rectangular frame. A plurality of wind turbine modules 7a-7d (four shown) are located within the frame 1 and are spaced apart from each other along the width of the frame 1. The modules 7a-7d are fixed at either end to the rails 3a of the upper structure and the rails 3b of the lower structure. Each module 7a-7d comprises a blade portion 9 and a generator 11 coupled thereto.

Fig. 2 and 3 show an exemplary axial flux generator 11 in more detail. As shown, the generator 11 includes a rotor 13 and a stator 15. The rotor 13 is formed by the housing of the generator 11, which is connected to the blade portion 9 for rotation therewith. In contrast, the stator 15 is formed by a shaft 17 fixed to the lower rail 3 b. The rotor 13 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 17 by an upper bearing 21a and a lower bearing 21 b. The shaft 17 carries a disc 19, which disc 19 has a plurality of coils 23 arranged in a circle. The rotor 13 carries a plurality of permanent magnets 25. The permanent magnets 25 are arranged in upper and lower circles corresponding to the circles of the coils 23. The coil 23 is sandwiched between upper and lower sets of magnets 25 with a small gap therebetween that allows the magnets 25 to move freely relative to the coil 23.

Rotation of the blade portion 9 in response to wind forces causes rotation of the rotor 13. Movement of the magnet 25 relative to the coil 23 induces a current in the coil 23 that can be utilized as useful power.

As described above, the rotor 13 is supported by the pair of bearings 21a, 21b maintaining alignment between the rotor 13 and the stator 15, so that the distance between the coil 23 and the magnet 25 can be minimized, thereby improving efficiency. Although this arrangement solves the problem of axial misalignment between the rotor 13 and the stator 15, in order for the blade section 9 and the rotor 13 to rotate freely, the centre of the bearing supporting the upper end of the blade section 9 (at the upper track 3 a) must lie on the axis defined by the centres of the two bearings 21a, 21b within the generator 11. With this arrangement, sufficient alignment must be achieved in manufacturing/assembly and under all weather conditions during operation to avoid the risk of at least some of these bearings being too tight, thus reducing system power output and possibly causing excessive bearing wear or overheating. Achieving and maintaining such alignment may result in excessive demands on frame stiffness, blade stiffness, and/or a substantially common central shaft running along the entire height of the module, all with significant associated cost and weight increases.

A flexible coupling between the blade portion 9 and the rotor 13 may be introduced to allow the rotational axis of the blade portion 9 to be slightly offset from the rotational axis of the generator 11 without damaging either element. However, such an arrangement causes a new problem of generating a high torque (perpendicular to the rotation axis) on the lower rail 3b supporting the generator 11.

Furthermore, in order to carry the generated current away from the coil 23, it is necessary that the shaft 17 is hollow so that suitable wiring can pass through the shaft 17. However, as mentioned above, the shaft 17 carries the weight of the generator 11 and must withstand the loads in operation. As a result, such shafts are typically constructed of relatively high strength steel in order to impart their necessary strength and stiffness.

It would be desirable to provide an improved arrangement which addresses some or all of the problems associated with the prior art arrangements described above.

Disclosure of Invention

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a wind turbine arrangement comprising: a blade portion; a generator comprising a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets, the rotor being connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and rotation of the rotor generates an electric current within the coils; wherein the blade portion is connected to the rotor by a yoke extending around the generator, and the blade portion is connected to a base of the rotor such that the magnets of the rotor and the coils of the stator are arranged between the blade portion and the connection between the yoke and the rotor.

The stator may include a shaft received by the support track.

The connection between the yoke and the rotor may be arranged between the support track and the magnets and coils.

The rotor may be rotatably mounted on the stator by a bearing, and the connection between the yoke and the rotor may be formed around the bearing.

The yoke may be flexible so as to allow the rotational axes of the blade portions and the rotor to be offset from one another.

The yoke may be connected to the blade portion and/or the rotor via a flexible coupling so as to allow the rotational axis of the blade portion and the rotational axis of the rotor to be offset from each other.

The yoke may be connected to the blade portion and/or the generator by a quick release mechanism.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind turbine arrangement comprising: a blade portion; a generator including a stator having a plurality of coils and a rotor having a plurality of magnets; the rotor is connected to the blade portion such that rotation of the blade portion and rotation of the rotor generate an electrical current within the coil; wherein the stator includes a shaft having a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion separated from each other by an insulator, the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion being electrically connected to the coil; wherein the shaft is received by openings provided in the first and second electrically conductive tracks so as to support the generator and the blade portion, and such that the first and second terminal portions are electrically coupled to the first and second electrically conductive tracks, respectively, to carry electrical current from the coil.

The apertures in the first and second conductive tracks may have a complementary cross-section to the first and second terminal portions.

The first terminal portion may be formed by a pin, and the second terminal portion may be formed by a sleeve surrounding the pin. The pin may protrude from the sleeve such that when the sleeve is received by the first electrically conductive track, the pin is received by the second electrically conductive track.

The pin and the sleeve may be concentric.

The sleeve may have a first diameter and the pin may have a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The openings of the first and second rails may be sized to receive the first and second diameters, respectively.

The first track and/or the second track may be provided with a retention feature having or defining an aperture sized to receive the first terminal portion or the second terminal portion. The retention member may be configured to align with the track such that the terminal portion is received by the aperture of the retention member and the opening in the track, and wherein the retention member is translatable relative to the track to draw the terminal portion against the track to mechanically connect the stator to the track.

The first rail and/or the second rail may be tubular, defining a cavity extending therethrough, and the retention member may be received within the cavity.

The outer profile of the retaining member may be sized and/or shaped to ensure that the aperture of the retaining member is aligned with the opening in the track.

The outer profile of the retaining member may generally correspond to the inner profile of the cavity (although it may fit fairly loosely within the inner profile of the cavity).

The retaining member may be secured to the track by a threaded fastener that translates the retaining member relative to the track as the threaded fastener is rotated.

The blade section and the generator may form a turbine module, and the apparatus may comprise a plurality of said modules.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art wind fence;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a prior art generator;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the generator of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine module according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine module according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wind turbine module of FIG. 4 showing a yoke arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wind turbine module of FIG. 4 after engagement with the lower rail;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a generator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shaft of the generator;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the generator prior to engagement with a pair of conductive tracks;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a pair of generators engaged with a conductive track; and

fig. 13 is an exploded view showing the mechanical connection between the generator and the conductive tracks.

Detailed Description

Fig. 4 shows a wind turbine module 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. In a similar manner to that shown in fig. 1, the module 2 may be one of a plurality of similar modules arranged in a frame comprising an upper rail 4a and a lower rail 4 b.

The module 2 is connected at its upper end to the upper rail 4a and at its lower end to the lower rail 4 b. The module 2 comprises a blade part 6 and a generator 8. The generator 8 is an axial flux generator comprising a rotor 10 and a stator 12. The rotor 10 is formed by the housing of the generator 8, which is connected to the blade section 6 for rotation therewith. In contrast, the stator 12 is formed by a shaft 14 fixed to the lower rail 4 b. The rotor 10 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 14 by an upper bearing 16a and a lower bearing 16 b. The shaft 14 carries a disc 18 having a plurality of coils 20 arranged in a circle. The rotor 10 carries a plurality of permanent magnets 22. The permanent magnets 22 are arranged in upper and lower circles corresponding to the circles of the coils 20. The coil 20 is sandwiched between upper and lower sets of magnets 22 with a small gap therebetween that allows the magnets 22 to move freely relative to the coil 20.

The blade portion 6 is connected to the rotor 10 by a yoke 24, the yoke 24 extending from the blade portion 6 to the underside of the rotor 10. Specifically, yoke 24 is connected to rotor 10 about lower bearing 16 b. The yoke 24 is thus connected to the rotor 10 below the disc 18 of the stator 12 and its coils 20 and below the magnets 22 of the rotor 10 itself.

Yoke 24 allows the connection to rotor 10 to be lowered closer to lower track 4b than prior art arrangements in which the blade portions are directly connected to the rotor (i.e., rigidly or flexibly connected to the top of the rotor). The distance x between the coupling point of the track 4b and the neutral axis of the track 4b is minimized. This reduces the leverage of wind loads on the track 4b via the rotor 10 or shaft 14 and thus minimizes misalignment between the rotational axis of the blade portion 6 and the rotational axis of the rotor 10 at a given wind load.

Further, as shown in fig. 5, the height of the generator 8 has no effect on the distance x, so that a stacked stator configuration can be used without increasing leverage.

It will be appreciated that the structure of the yoke 24 may take various forms, so long as it places the coupling point below the disc 18 of the stator 12 and its coils 20 and below the magnets 22 of the rotor 10 itself. However, fig. 6 and 7 illustrate an exemplary yoke 24.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, yoke 24 is formed as a metal strip that is connected at either end to the base of blade portion 6 such that the metal strip extends across the span of blade portion 6 (i.e., the width of blade portion 6 when aligned with the frame). Between each end, the band is bent from the blade portion 6 to form a central portion 26. The central portion 26 is spaced from the blade portion 6a distance sufficient to receive the generator 8. The central portion 26 includes an aperture that is received around a hub 28, the hub 28 being formed at the base of the housing of the rotor 10. The diameter of the bore in the central portion 26 of the yoke 24 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the hub 28 so that it fits loosely around the hub 28. The central portion 26 is retained on the hub 28 by a lower collar 30 connected to the distal end of the hub 28. A plurality of resilient washers 32 are arranged on the upper side of the central portion 26 between the central portion 26 and the lower radial surface of the rotor 10 and on the lower side between the central portion 26 and the collar 30. The resilient washer 32 provides a flexible coupling between the blade portion 6 and the rotor 10, allowing their orientation to be varied under wind load. Similar flexibility may be provided using other forms of flexible mounting such as O-rings, springs, flexible struts or stays. Yoke 24 may also be formed from a flexible material (e.g., a polymer, glass reinforced composite, or aluminum or steel plate) and/or an articulated joint may be provided within yoke 24 itself to provide flexibility.

Yoke 24 may be removable from blade portion 6 and/or rotor 10 using conventional bolts or quick release fasteners. This may allow the blade portion 6 and/or the generator 8 to be easily removed for maintenance or replacement. Alternatively, the entire module 2 may be removed using a suitable bracket attached to the frame.

Illustratively, an axial flux generator configured to match the output of a turbine having a swept area of 0.75 square meters is mounted in a frame of rectangular section aluminum tubes having outer cross-sectional dimensions of 50mm by 25 mm. The top of the generator has a height of 65mm above the neutral axis of the frame components, thus corresponding to the minimum distance of a conventional coupling arrangement. In contrast, by using the yoke 24 described previously, the blade section 6 can be attached between the generator and the lower rail 4b, 9mm from the surface of the beam or <22mm from its neutral axis, corresponding to a reduction in torque (and hence a tendency to twist) on the box-section frame member of approximately 66%.

An embodiment of the shaft will now be described with reference to fig. 8 to 13. The shaft 114 shown therein may be used with the yoke arrangement previously described or may be used with a conventional module.

The shaft 114 includes a center pin or rod 34 and an outer sleeve 36, with the center pin 34 disposed within the outer sleeve 36 (see FIG. 10).

The center pin 34 is cylindrical and substantially solid along its length. The outer sleeve 36 is tubular and has an inner diameter sized to receive the center pin 34 such that the center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36 are concentrically disposed. As shown, the center pin 34 has a longer axial length than the outer sleeve 36 such that a portion of the center pin 34 extends out of the outer sleeve 36. The center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36 (or at least a portion thereof) are both formed of a conductive metal. For example, a medium/high strength aluminum alloy may be used, but other shaft materials may be used, including but not limited to copper, brass, or steel.

Disposed between the center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36 is an insulating layer 38. The insulating layer 38 may be a separate tubular element disposed between the center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36, or may be a layer formed on (or between) one (or both) of the center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36. The insulation layer 38 extends at least along the axial length of the outer sleeve 36 and electrically insulates the center pin 34 from the outer sleeve 36. The insulating layer 38 may be a reinforced thermoplastic or reinforced thermoset material, such as a fiber reinforced epoxy material, with the three elements bonded together, such as with an epoxy adhesive, to form a composite unit.

A center pin 34 and an outer sleeve 36 are connected to either end of the coil 20 to form a connector terminal. The center pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36 may be directly connected to the coil 20 to provide an AC output or indirectly connected to the coil 20 via a rectifier circuit to provide a DC output. In the case of using a DC output, the connector terminals form a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

As shown in fig. 11, the lower rail 4b is divided into a first (upper) lower rail 4b' and a second (lower) rail 4b ″. Each track 4b', 4b "is formed by a hollow electrically conductive structural box beam. The rails 4b', 4b "may be mechanically connected to each other with electrically insulated connectors (not shown).

The first lower track 4b 'is provided with a plurality of holes 40' (two are shown but any number may be provided to match the number of modules 2) spaced along its length. In practice, each aperture 40' is formed as a pair of coaxial apertures in the upper and lower walls of the beam structure. The bore 40' has an inner diameter sized to receive (i.e., slightly larger than) the outer sleeve 36 of the shaft 114. Similarly, the second track 4b "is provided with a plurality of holes 40" spaced along its length and sized to receive the center pin 34. Thus, the holes 40 "of the second track 4 b" have a smaller diameter than the holes 40'.

The holes 40 'of the first track 4b' and the holes 40 "of the second track 4 b" are coaxial. Thus, as shown in fig. 12, when the shaft 114 is received by the lower tracks 4b ', 4b ", the centre pin 34 passes through one of the holes 40' in the first track 4b ' and is subsequently received by the corresponding hole 40" in the second track 4b ", at which point the outer sleeve 36 is received by the hole 40' of the first track 4b '. The outer sleeve 36 contacts the first track 4b' and the center pin 34 contacts the second track 4b "to make an electrical connection therewith. The first track 4b' and the second track 4b "are thus able to carry the current generated in the generator 8 to where the shaft 114 is connected.

As depicted, shaft 114 is solid along its length. Thus, shaft 114 is stronger than conventional shafts, which must be hollow to allow wiring to pass through. The shaft 114 may thus be made of a lighter material, such as aluminum.

Figure 13 shows an arrangement which can be used to facilitate electrical connection and provide mechanical connection between the shaft 114 and the rails 4b', 4b ". In particular, as shown, the blocks 42 (holding members) may be arranged within the tracks 4b', 4b ". The cross section of the block 42 corresponds to the cross section of the rails 4b', 4b ", and is thus in this example of rectangular parallelepiped shape. The blocks 42 are dimensioned slightly smaller than the inner cavity of the rails 4b', 4b ", so that they are loosely placed in the cavity.

The block 42 is provided with holes 44', 44 ", the holes 44', 44" corresponding to the holes 40', 40 "of the respective tracks 4b', 4 b". A pair of threaded holes 46 are provided in each block 42. Threaded holes 46 are provided on the front (or rear) surface of the block 42 such that they are perpendicular to the holes 44', 44 ". Complementary holes 48', 48 "are provided in the front face of the rails 4b', 4 b" so that threaded fasteners 50 (bolts, etc.) may be passed through the holes 48', 48 "and received by the threaded holes 46 of the block 42, the holes 44', 44" of the block 42 being aligned with the holes 40', 40 "of the rails 4b', 4 b". As previously described, the block 42 is loose within the tracks 4b ', 4b "such that the threaded fastener pulls the block 42 towards the front surface of the tracks 4b', 4 b". This action locks the central pin 34 and the outer sleeve 36 of the shaft 114 against the rails 4b ', 4b "(between one wall of the holes 44', 44" in the block 42 and the opposite wall of the holes 40', 40 "in the rails 4b', 4 b"), forming a strong mechanical and electrical connection. The block 42 may be electrically conductive to further facilitate electrical connection between the shaft 114 and the rails 4b', 4b ".

The shaft 114 may be secured using a different form of retaining member. For example, the bolts may pass through the walls of the tracks 4b', 4b "into holes in the shaft 114 or simply against the outer surface of the shaft 114.

From an electrical point of view, the construction of the shaft 114 described above, including two mutually isolated conductors, will serve to carry single phase AC from a suitably designed stator to an external conductive clamping/support mechanism, for example of the type described above. Alternatively, the same design shaft may be used to carry DC, for example from a rectifier within the generator.

Other variations of the above-described shaft design may be used, for example, a support structure constructed from 5-layer shafts of alternating concentric conductors and insulating layers to carry three-phase AC includes, for example, three conductive tracks one on top of the other with corresponding holes to receive 3 mutually isolated conductive concentric tubes/cylinders of such shafts.

Multiple generators may feed DC or AC current (if properly synchronized) into the lower track which serves as a bus to transmit power.

This frame of the device can be supplied and installed before any modules 2 are assembled. The design of the shaft 114 allows filling such a frame with wind turbine modules 2 in a very fast and efficient manner without any wiring connections between the generator 8 and any other parts of the system and without wiring being required within or along the frame.

The cross-section of the shaft 114 and its constituent elements need not be circular. For example, the shaft 114 may have a square cross-section that may prevent the shaft 114 from rotating. Further, while the two conductors of the shaft 114 have been described as being located one within the other, it should be understood that other arrangements may be used where the conductors (terminal portions) are provided in other locations but still isolated from each other. For example, the conductors may each have a complementary semi-circular cross-section. Further, the center pin 34 may have the same outer diameter as the outer sleeve 36 on the portion extending below the sleeve 36 (e.g., with an insulating material ring or air gap between the radial surface of the center pin 34 and the radial surface of the sleeve 36). The holes in each track 4b', 4b "may thus have the same diameter.

Further, although the previously described aspects are particularly advantageous for installations comprising a plurality of wind turbine modules, they may also be used with installations comprising a single turbine.

The above description has focused on axial flux generators; however, it should be understood that these concepts may also be extended to radial flux generators. Further, the generator need not be located at the bottom of the module, but may be located at the top of the module or at either end of the generator. Furthermore, the wind turbine module may be arranged such that the blade sections have a rotation axis which is oriented horizontally but perpendicular to the wind direction, such that the generator is on either or both sides. As a result, references to relative positions (e.g., "below," etc.) should be construed accordingly.

To avoid unnecessary repetition of explanation and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described as pertaining only to one or more aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that features described as relating to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention where technically possible.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be modified or adapted without departing from the scope of the present invention.