Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSITIONING WIND TURBINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1) Field of the invention.
[0002] A wind turbine, both land-based and offshore, that can be easily
erected
from a generally horizontal position for maintenance, safety and transport to
a generally
vertical position in operation.
[0003] 2) Description of Related Art.
[0004] The development of wind-energy in the U.S. has ramped up in recent
years,
especially with a renewed focus on renewable energy. There has also been
increased
interest in off shore wind turbines as winds generated over large bodies of
water,
particularly over an ocean, are not confronted with mountains, buildings, and
the
vegetation of the land masses that tend to slow the velocity of winds. The
turbulence of
wind is usually less over water than over land. This may be because there is a
greater
temperature variance between different altitudes over land than over a body of
water,
apparently, because sunlight is absorbed further into water than into land,
and for
comparable conditions, the surfaces of land become warmer and radiates more
heat than
the surfaces of water. Also, some of the largest cities of the world are
positioned adjacent
to large bodies of water such as adjacent oceans and seas where wind
velocities are not
slowed and are less turbulent near the water surface and are more predictable.
[0005] Another advantage of the wind turbine placed on bodies of water is
that the
less turbulent winds at the surface of the water allow the turbine wheel to be
supported
lower and closer to the surface of the water. This tends to reduce the expense
of having
a tall tower as usually required for land mounted wind turbines. Accordingly,
it would be
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desirable to locate wind turbines on bodies of water spaced relatively close
to a land mass
where there is a need for electricity. Also, it would be desirable to produce
wind turbines
with a means for reducing the longitudinal force applied by the turbine wheel
to the tower
or other vertical support of the wind turbine.
[0006] According to one study, however, offshore wind turbines built
according to
traditional standards used for land-based systems and using designs may not be
able to
withstand the gusts of a category 5 hurricane and thereby pose a risk of
personal and
property damage. Further, the potential damage to the wind turbine from one
storm can
dramatically reduce the financial viability of an offshore project. Further,
current designs
do not handle veer which is the measure of the change of wind across a
vertical span.
The strain on the blades can be too great creating damage to the blades and
hub.
[0007] One study predicts that offshore turbines will face hurricane wind
gusts in
excess of 223 miles per hour but can only withstand gusts of 156 miles per
hour. The
problem seems to stem from the fact that offshore turbine designs find its
origin in Europe,
where hurricane conditions are essentially nonexistent. While the land-based
system may
not face these wind forces, it would be advantage to have a wind turbine
system that
could be lowered in the event of these damaging winds or storms.
[0008] Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a wind turbine that
could be
placed in a generally horizontal position with fairly little effort when a
damaging wind or
storms are anticipated.
[0009] An additional issue with wind turbine using conventional designs
is that
maintenance of the wind turbine is challenging. Over the lifetime of a wind
turbine, it is
inevitable that large components, including rotor blades, generators,
transformers, and
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gearboxes, will need to be repaired or replaced through wear or damage. With
some
designs, these components are over one hundred (100) feet in the air. The
problems are
magnified when the wind turbine is offshore, and the components are one
hundred feet
over the ocean and must be accessed through floating barges, cranes, or other
watercraft. In some cases of offshore installations, the components are
removed from the
offshore locations, transported to land, repaired, transported back to the
offshore location
and installed, utilizing a crane to reach the highest components.
[0010] It would be advantageous to have a wind turbine design that is
capable of
being lowered for transportation and repair. It would also be advantageous to
have a wind
turbine where the components can be repaired without having to transport the
turbine or
components to land.
[0011] One effect of having a rotating wind turbine is that there is a
gyroscopic
effect resulting from the rotation energy. This can, among other factors,
create horizontal
deflection so that the wind turbine will rotate away from an optimal angle of
attack. There
have been attempts to reduce or eliminate these forces keeping a wind turbine
facing into
the wind without hub and gearbox stresses. The concepts include controlling
the pitch of
individual blades, to decreasing gyroscopic forces on the rotor when yawing.
This concept
presumes to take advantage of the wind's kinetic energy on the blade to assist
in turning
the turbine into the wind. Such a control feature cyclically alters blade
pitch as the wind
direction changes so as to present different angles of attack between the
blades and wind.
This concept may also eliminate the need for yaw drive motors. Experiments
with this
concept have been conducted on a small scale but continued research and
investments
are needed before this technology reaches large-scale wind turbines.
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[0012] These disadvantages are especially troublesome with offshore wind
turbines. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an offshore wind turbine
that can
counter the gyroscopic effects of the wind turbine without resorting to
thrusters, or other
powered means which necessarily draw power from the system reducing its
overall
output. With these powered attempts, power from the wind turbine is diverted
to thrusters
and cannot be delivered to the power grid or other locations.
[0013] Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an offshore wind
turbine that
can be easily erected and lowered and does not rely upon powered means to
maintain a
proper angle of attack between the wind turbine and the wind direction.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The above can be accomplished by providing a transitioning wind
turbine
comprising: a wind turbine, that can be placed on a barge or land, having a
tower base;
a wind turbine tower hingeably attached to the tower base having a horizontal
position
and a vertical position; a wind turbine attached to the wind turbine tower
having a hub
and an outer perimeter with spokes disposed between the hub and outer
perimeter; a set
of vanes carried by the spokes configured to rotate the outer perimeter in
response to the
movement of atmospheric wind; a generator configured to engage the outer
perimeter of
the wind turbine and convert a rotational energy of the outer perimeter into
power; a lifting
tower having a pivot disposed at a proximal end of the lifting tower and
having an upright
position and a tilted position; a cable attached between the lifting tower and
the wind
turbine tower; and, wherein the lifting tower is configured to transition from
the upright
position to the tilted position as the wind turbine tower transitions between
the horizontal
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position to the vertical position and a cable length between a lifting tower
proximal end
and the wind turbine tower is shortened.
[0015] The transitioning wind turbine can include an installation barge
removable
attachable to the wind turbine barge and configured to support the lifting
tower. A support
standard can be attached to the installation barge or wind turbine barge to
support the
wind turbine tower in the horizontal position. A lifting assembly can be
disposed at the
proximal end of the lifting tower and connected to the cable. A first distance
can be
included between the pivot of the lifting tower and the tower base when the
wind turbine
tower is in the horizontal position and a second distance included between the
pivot of
the lifting tower and the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in the
vertical position,
wherein the first distance is shorter than the second distance. Fastening
means can be
used to secure the wind turbine tower to the tower base when the wind turbine
tower is in
the vertical position. The lifting tower can include a transportation position
wherein the
lifting tower is tilted forward relative to the tower base.
[0016] A wind turbine tower can be hingeably attached to the wind turbine
base
and having a horizontal position and a vertical position. The wind turbine
base can be
land based or offshore. A wind turbine can be attached to the wind turbine
tower; a lifting
tower connected to the wind turbine tower and having an upright position and a
tilted
position; and, wherein the lifting tower is configured to transition from the
upright position
to the tilted position as the wind turbine tower transitions between the
horizontal position
to the vertical position. The lifting tower can also transition forward
relative to the base to
be generally parallel to the wind turbine tower when the wind turbine tower is
in the
horizontal position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The following description of the wind turbine will be better
understood by
reference to the following drawings that are incorporated and made part of the
written
specification:
[0018] Figures 1 through 8 are perspective view of various aspects of the
wind
turbine in the horizontal and vertical position;
[0019] Figures 9 through 12 are perspective view of various aspects of
the wind
turbine including the vanes carried by the spokes;
[0020] Figures 12 and 14 are perspective view of aspects of the wind
turbine
including the generator and generator platform carried by the tower;
[0021] Figures 15A through 15F are side view of aspects of the lifting
assembly;
[0022] Figures 16A through 16D are side views of aspects of the lifting
assembly;
[0023] Figure 16E is a perspective view of aspects of the assembly
including the
lifting assembly;
[0024] Figure 17A is a side view of aspects of barge including the air
foil carried by
the barge;
[0025] Figure 17B is a top view of aspects of the barge including the air
foil carried
by the barge; and,
[0026] Figures 18A through 18D are perspective view of aspects of the
wind
turbine and other components.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The wind turbine and related components are now described more
fully
herein with reference to the drawings in which some embodiments of are shown.
This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully
convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
[0028] Referring to Figure 1, a wind turbine barge 10 can include a tower
base 12
that can be hingeably attached to a tower tube 14 or lattice tower or other
structure. The
tower tube can support a generator platform 16 configured to support a
generator and a
turbine wheel 18. When in the horizontal position, the tower tube hub can be
supported
by the barge at the distal end 20 of the tower tube. In one embodiment, an
installation
barge can be used to transport the wind turbine to its offshore location. The
tower, in its
horizontal position, can extends beyond the wind turbine barge and be
supported by the
installation barge.
[0029] Referring to Figure 2, the tower tube 14 can be attached to the
tower base
12 with tower hinge 22. In one embodiment, the hinge can be placed inward in
relation to
the wind turbine barge as shown so that the tower extends over the wind
turbine barge in
the horizontal position. In one embodiment, the hinge can be placed outward in
relation
so the wind turbine barge so that the tower extends beyond the perimeter of
the wind
turbine barge in the horizontal position and can be supported by a
installation barge. One
or more generators 24 can be attached to the generator platform 16. The
generator
platform can be placed on the inward to outward side of the tower.
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[0030] Referring to Figures 3 through 5, the turbine wheel can include an
axle 26
with an inner set of spokes 28a and an outer set of spokes 28b. The inner and
outer set
of spokes are attached to the hub and to an outer perimeter 30. In the
horizontal position,
the various components of the turbine wheel can be accessed for construction,
repair or
replacement. Further, the horizontal position allows the turbine wheel to be
lowered in the
event of damaging weather. The axle 26 can rest against the wind turbine barge
10 when
in the horizontal position. Further, the barge can be transported, such as by
ship 32, when
in the horizontal position. The tower can also be supported by a standard 100
(Fig. 15A)
so that the axle can extend over the perimeter of the barge, in one
embodiment, when in
the horizontal position.
[0031] Referring to Figures 6 through 8, the tower tube 14 is shown in
the erected
position and secured to the tower base 12. When erected, the wind turbine
barge 10 can
be connected to a buoy 34 with lines 36. In one embodiment, the buoy is
anchored to the
seafloor. The lines allow the barge to rotate about the buoy so that the wind
direction is
into the wind turbine to assist with the proper angle of attack 0 of the wind
direction 40
relative to the plane 38 of the wind turbine wheel. The angle of attack is
about 90 in one
embodiment.
[0032] Referring to Figures 9 through 12, there can be a set of vanes
included in
the wind turbine. Each spoke 42 can carry a sub-set of vanes. The sub-set of
vanes can
include a distal vane 44 that is disposed adjacent to the perimeter. Each vane
can have
a general wing shape 50. The sub set of vanes, having one or more vanes, can
be
disposed along the spoke to generally cover the entire spoke. The vanes can
independently rotating relative to each other along their spoke and are
cooperatively
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associated to have different angles of attack relative to the oncoming wind to
account for
the different wind speeds along the spoke. The vanes can include an upturned
portion
102 at the trailing edge of the vane. The set of vanes can provide a similar
benefit
previously provided with blade twist 46 of conventional blades without the
need for long
blades. The spokes can be attached to a hub flange 48 that rotates about the
axle. The
outer perimeter 30 can have a circular or oval cross section along AA, in one
embodiment.
[0033] Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the tower tube is shown in the
erected
position with the tower tube affixed to the tower base. The generator platform
can support
one or more generators 24. The generators can include a generator wheel 52
that can
engage with the outer perimeter 30 so that when the outer perimeter rotates,
the
generator wheel rotates causing the generator to provide power such as
electricity. In one
embodiment, the generator wheel can have a concave outer surface that can
engage with
the outer perimeter having a circular or oval cross section. Fastening means
104 can be
used to secure the tower to the tower base. Fastening means can include bolts,
nuts,
welds, screws, latches, snaps, clamps, rivets, and the like.
[0034] Referring to Figures 15A through 15F, the tower tube 14 can be
hingeably
attached to the tower base 12. One or more lifting towers 54 can be pivotally
attached to
the barge at pivot 56. A cable 58 can be attached to a winch, block and tackle
or other
lifting assembly 60 that can be attached to the distal end of the one or more
lifting towers.
The cable can be attached at or near the generator platform 16. When the
lifting assembly
retracts the cable, the tower tube is pulled in a direction 62 and the lifting
towers transition
rearward. In one embodiment, the cable stays generally perpendicular to the
tower tube
when the tower tube is being raised. When the tower is in the erected position
for
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operations, the lifting tubes rest on a stop 64 that can be attached to the
tower base or
otherwise carried by the barge (as shown by 66) to prevent the lifting tubes
from over
rotating.
[0035] When the tower tube is in the horizontal position, the cable can
be let-out
enough to allow the lifting tubes to be positioned forward for transportation
so that the
tower tube and lifting tubes are generally in a horizontal configuration as
shown in Figure
15D. In one embodiment, the lifting tower can slide along the barge so that
the cable is
maintained generally perpendicular to the tower tube during the lifting of the
tower tube.
The distance between the tower base, or a wind turbine attachment point, and
the lifting
tube can increase as the tower tube is raised as shown by 68a (horizontal
tower tube)
and 68b (raised tower tube). The attachment point can be where the wind
turbine tower
attaches to the barge or a land-based foundation, the tower base or other
support.
[0036] In one embodiment, the pivot of the lifting tubes maintains the
cable
generally perpendicular to the tower tube. The top of the lifting tubes can be
constantly
moving when the tower tube is being raised so that they are moving toward the
tower
tube. The cable(s) between the lifting tubes and the tower tube stay
perpendicular
between the tower tube and the lifting assembly as the lifting tubes move at
an angle to
the tower tube. Once the tower tube is raised, the lifting tubes, and cables,
can stay in
place. The tower tube can then be bolted to the tower base. To lower the tower
tube, the
weight of the tower tube and wind turbine will start the lowering process to
the barge
where the lifting tubes will be generally vertical and the tower tube
generally horizontal.
The lifting tubes can then be placed rearwards until they reach about 20 to
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embodiment. The lifting tubes can rest on stops that are attached to the tower
base or
otherwise carried by the barge.
[0037] Referring to Figures 16A through 16E, one embodiment of a lifting
system
is shown. The wind turbine tower 14 is hingeably attached to the tower base
12. The lifting
tower 54 can be pivotally attached to the barge and have cables 58 attached to
the tower
such as with ah pulley between the cable and the top of the lifting tube. A
lifting assembly
60 can cause the cable to retract. As the cable retracts, the tower is lifted
toward a vertical
direction. The lifting tubes can rotate rearwards in a direction 70.
[0038] The lifting tubes can be hinged to the barge deck where they can
be located
on each side of the wind turbine tube about 40 feet, in one embodiment, from
where the
main tube hinges (standing vertical just below the generator platform when the
wind
turbine is laid down). The cable can travel down to the tower tube so that
when the wind
turbine is raised, the cable is perpendicular to the tower tube. The lifting
tubes can include
a block and tackle that extend out past the tower tube and can be disposed at
an angle
so that when the wind turbine is in the horizontal position, the lifting tubes
are vertical.
When the cable is let out, the lifting tubes can rotate toward the stern of
the barge until
they are in a shipping position.
[0039] Referring to Figures 17A and 17B, one embodiment is shown with an
air foil
72 attached to the stern of the barge. When the wind turbine rotates, the
gyroscopic effect
tends to rotate the wind turbine out of the optimal angle of attack in
relationship to the
wind direction 40. Placing the air foil on the stern provides for the air foil
to bias the barge
in the opposite direction of the rotation caused by gyroscopic effect without
the need for
thrusters. When the gyroscopic force tends to rotate the barge and wind
turbine in a
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direction shown as 74, the wind also biases the air foil 110 to be positioned
in line with
the wind along path 76 which in turn tends to move the barge in a direction 78
thereby
counteracting the gyroscopic effect. Referring to Figures 18A and 18C, the
wind turbine
can be land-based. Referring to Figure 18D, the offshore wind turbine can
include a pair
of air foils 110a and 110b carried by the barge.
[0040] The design of the assembly has multiple benefits and features
including:
removal of the conventional gearbox, removal of the conventional yaw bearing,
removal
of the conventional electrical slip rings, removal of the conventional large
single length
blades and thus reducing blade fatigue, simple blade / vane replacement,
removal of the
blade pitch system, the ability to mount the wind turbine on the barge without
an ocean
floor support structure, simple barge anchoring system, no specialized setup
ships, the
ability to conduct assembly on land or at docks, the ability to assemble in a
horizontal
position, the ability to perform maintenance at dock, the provide hurricane
avoidance
which can reduce insurance costs, removal of oil, eliminating the risk of oil
burning / fires,
removal of fiberglass nacelle that can also burn, simplistic raising and
lowering of the wind
turbine, reduction of the detrimental effects of wheel / rim inertia, increase
in the diameter
of the wind turbine wheel due to use of a set of vanes, removal of stern
thrusters, can be
located relative close to reverse osmosis equipment, and the placement of
electrical
equipment below deck. With the elimination of the top most expensive and most
complicated components (e.g. gearbox, yaw drive, blade pitch system,
electrical slip
rings, large blades, sea floor structure, setup ships) the ongoing maintenance
will be a
fraction of the effort, complexity and costs of conventional offshore wind
turbine systems.
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[0041] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the
foregoing
description sets forth in detail, preferred embodiments of the present
assembly,
modifications, additions, and changes might be made thereto without departing
from the
spirit and scope of the assembly, as set forth in the following claims.
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