WIND POWER GENERATOR

A wind power generator is disclosed. The wind power generator includes a wind rotor, a fluid coupling, and a rotary electric machine. The wind rotor is disposed to be rotatable. The fluid coupling includes an impeller receiving a torque inputted thereto from the wind rotor, and a turbine receiving the torque transmitted thereto from the impeller through a hydraulic fluid. The rotary electric machine is configured to generate electricity by the torque transmitted thereto from the turbine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-094929 filed Jun. 7, 2021. The entire contents of that application are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wind power generator.

BACKGROUND ART

A wind power generator or wind turbine is configured to generate electricity by utilizing rotation of a wind rotor or pinwheel. The wind rotor can be classified into a horizontal-axis type or a vertical-axis type. For example, Japan Laid-open Patent Application Publication No. 2020-051288 discloses a wind power generator that employs a Darrieus wind rotor classified as the vertical-axis wind rotor. The Darrieus wind rotor is of a vertical-axis lift type and has a merit of outputting a high power of electricity.

The wind power generator has been demanded to reduce a torque required to start rotating the wind rotor thereof. Especially, the Darrieus wind rotor described above requires a large torque to start rotating; this results in a drawback of poor starting performance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wind power generator enabling enhancement in starting performance.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A wind power generator according to an aspect of the present invention includes a wind rotor, a fluid coupling, and a rotary electric machine. The wind rotor is disposed to be rotatable. The fluid coupling includes an impeller receiving a torque inputted thereto from the wind rotor and a turbine receiving the torque transmitted thereto from the impeller through a hydraulic fluid. The rotary electric machine is configured to be capable of generating electricity by the torque transmitted thereto from the turbine.

According to this configuration, the wind rotor is connected to the impeller of the fluid coupling; hence, a torque for starting rotation of the wind rotor can be made small in magnitude. As a result, the wind power generator can be enhanced in starting performance.

Preferably, the fluid coupling includes a first stator disposed between the impeller and the turbine.

Preferably, the fluid coupling includes an input shaft extending downward from the wind rotor. The input shaft is coupled to the impeller in a state of penetrating the turbine. The impeller is disposed below the turbine.

Preferably, the fluid coupling includes a cover fixed to the turbine. The cover forms an outer shell of the fluid coupling in cooperation with the turbine. The cover outputs the torque inputted thereto from the turbine to the rotary electric machine.

Preferably, the impeller is disposed below the turbine. The cover is disposed below the impeller. The impeller is disposed inside the outer shell.

Preferably, the fluid coupling includes a clutch. The clutch is attached to the impeller. The clutch is configured to transmit the torque inputted thereto from the impeller to the cover.

Preferably, the clutch is of a centrifugal type.

Preferably, the wind power generator further includes a first transmission. The first transmission is configured to change a speed of rotation inputted thereto from the wind rotor and transmit the rotation changed in speed to the fluid coupling.

Preferably, the first transmission is configured to reduce the speed of the rotation inputted thereto from the wind rotor and transmit the rotation reduced in speed to the fluid coupling.

Preferably, the wind power generator further includes a second transmission. The second transmission is configured to change the speed of the rotation inputted thereto from the fluid coupling and transmit the rotation changed in speed to the rotary electric machine.

Preferably, the wind rotor is of a vertical-axis lift type.

Overall, according to the present invention, the wind power generator can be enhanced in starting performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A wind power generator or wind turbine according to a preferred embodiment will be hereinafter explained with reference to drawings. It should be noted that in the following explanation, the term “axial direction” refers to an extending direction of a rotational axis O of a torque converter. On the other hand, the term “radial direction” refers to a radial direction of an imaginary circle about the rotational axis O.

As shown inFIG.1, a wind power generator or wind turbine100includes a wind rotor or pinwheel2, a torque converter3(exemplary fluid coupling), and a rotary electric machine4. Besides, the wind power generator100includes a first casing5and a tubular member6.

The wind rotor2is disposed to be rotatable. The wind rotor2has a rotational axis arranged coaxial to the rotational axis O of the torque converter3. The rotational axis of the wind rotor2extends in a vertical direction. In other words, the wind rotor2is of a vertical-axis type.

The wind rotor2includes a support body21and a plurality of blades22. The support body21supports the plural blades22. The support body21has a rodlike shape and extends coaxial to the rotational axis O.

The plural blades22are supported by the support body21. The blades22are of a lift type. In other words, the wind rotor2according to the present preferred embodiment is of a vertical-axis lift type. It should be noted that the wind rotor2according to the present preferred embodiment is of a Darrieus type.

The first casing5is disposed below the wind rotor2. The first casing5accommodates the torque converter3. The first casing5includes a top plate52provided with a through hole51.

The tubular member6is disposed inside the first casing5. The tubular member6extends downward from the top plate52of the first casing5. The tubular member6is fixed to the top plate52. The tubular member6is disposed to be non-rotatable. The tubular member6has a cylindrical shape. The inner space of the tubular member6communicates with the through hole51. The tubular member6penetrates a turbine hub333(to be described).

The torque converter3is disposed below the wind rotor2. The torque converter3is disposed between the wind rotor2and the rotary electric machine4. The torque converter3is disposed inside the first casing5.

The torque converter3is configured to amplify a torque outputted from the wind rotor2and output the amplified torque to the rotary electric machine4. The torque converter3is disposed to be rotatable. The rotational axis O of the torque converter3extends in the vertical direction. The torque converter3includes an input shaft31, an impeller32, a turbine33, a first stator34, a cover35, a clutch36, and an output shaft37.

The input shaft31extends downward from the wind rotor2. It should be noted that the input shaft31may be provided as a single member integrated with the support body21of the wind turbine2. The input shaft31is a component to which the torque outputted from the wind rotor2is inputted. The input shaft31extends to penetrate the turbine33. When described in detail, the input shaft31penetrates the through hole51of the first casing5and extends inside the tubular member6. Besides, the input shaft31is joined to the impeller32.

The impeller32is a component to which the torque outputted from the wind rotor2is inputted. When described in detail, the impeller32is a component to which the torque outputted from the wind rotor2is inputted through the input shaft31. The impeller32is fixed to the input shaft31. The impeller32is rotated unitarily with the input shaft31. The impeller32is disposed below the turbine33.

The impeller32includes an impeller shell321and a plurality of impeller blades322. The plural impeller blades322are attached to the inner surface of the impeller shell321.

The impeller shell321is fixed to the input shaft31. For example, the input shaft31may be fixed to the impeller shell321by spline coupling or alternatively by welding or so forth.

The turbine33is disposed opposite to the impeller32. When described in detail, the turbine33is axially opposed to the impeller32. The turbine33is disposed above the impeller32. The turbine33is a component to which the torque is transmitted from the impeller32through hydraulic fluid (e.g., hydraulic oil).

The turbine33includes a turbine shell331, a plurality of turbine blades332, and a turbine hub333. The plural turbine blades332are fixed to the inner surface of the turbine shell331.

The turbine hub333is fixed to the inner peripheral end of the turbine shell331. For example, the turbine hub333is fixed to the turbine shell331by at least one rivet. The turbine hub333may be provided as a different member separated from the turbine shell331, or alternatively, may be provided as a single member integrated with the turbine shell331.

The turbine hub333may be supported by the tubular member6through a bearing or so forth.

The first stator34is configured to regulate the flow of the hydraulic oil returning from the turbine33to the impeller32. The first stator34is rotatable about the rotational axis O. For example, the first stator34is supported by the tubular member6through a one-way clutch101. The first stator34is disposed axially between the impeller32and the turbine33.

The cover35is fixed to the turbine33and is unitarily rotated therewith. The cover35outputs the torque, inputted thereto from the turbine33, to the rotary electric machine4.

The cover35is disposed below the impeller32. In other words, the turbine33, the impeller32, and the cover35are disposed in this order from above. It should be noted that the first stator34is disposed between the turbine33and the impeller32. Besides, the clutch36is disposed between the impeller32and the cover35.

The cover35composes an outer shell of the torque converter3in cooperation with the turbine33. The impeller32is disposed inside the outer shell composed of the cover35and the turbine33.

The outer shell, composed of the cover35and the turbine33, is not provided with any hole facing downward. Because of this, the hydraulic fluid, supplied to the interior of the outer shell, can be prevented from leaking downward.

The clutch36is attached to the impeller32and is unitarily rotated therewith. The clutch36is configured to transmit the torque, inputted thereto from the impeller32, to the cover35. When described in detail, the clutch36transmits the torque, inputted thereto from the impeller32, to the cover35when the rotational speed of the impeller32becomes a predetermined value or greater. By contrast, the clutch36blocks transmission of the torque from the impeller32to the cover35when the rotational speed ofthe impeller32becomes less than the predetermined value. In this case, the torque, outputted from the impeller32, is transmitted to the turbine33and the cover35through the hydraulic fluid. It should be noted that the clutch36is, for instance, a centrifugal clutch.

The output shaft37is configured to output the torque, inputted thereto from the cover35, to the rotary electric machine4. The output shaft37is unitarily rotated with the cover35. The output shaft37is fixed to the cover35. For example, the output shaft37may be fixed to the cover35by spline coupling, or alternatively, by welding or so forth.

The rotary electric machine4is a component to which the torque, outputted from the wind rotor2, is transmitted through the torque converter3. The rotary electric machine4is configured to be capable of generating electricity by the torque inputted thereto from the turbine33of the torque converter3. When described in detail, the torque is transmitted from the turbine33and the cover35to the rotary electric machine4through the output shaft37.

The rotary electric machine4is usable not only as an electric power generator but also as an electric motor. The rotary electric machine4includes a second casing41, a second stator42, and a rotor43. In the present preferred embodiment, the rotary electric machine4is of a so-called inner rotor type.

The second casing41is non-rotatable, while being fixed to the earth, a building, or so forth. The second casing41accommodates the second stator42and the rotor43. The second casing41may be provided as a single member integrated with the first casing5. A partition7is provided between the first casing5and the second casing41to divide the casings5and41from each other. The partition7includes a through hole71. The through hole71is penetrated by the output shaft37.

The second stator42is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the second casing41. The second stator42is non-rotatable. The second stator42includes a stator core421and a coil422. The stator core421is formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel plates. The coil422is wound about the stator core421. When described in detail, the coil422is wound about teeth of the stator core421.

The rotor43is disposed to be rotatable. It should be noted that the rotational axis of the rotor43is arranged coaxial with the rotational axis O of the torque converter3. The rotor43is disposed radially inside the second stator42.

The rotor43is attached to the output shaft37. The rotor43is unitarily rotated with the output shaft37.

In the wind power generator100according to the present preferred embodiment, the wind rotor2is coupled to the impeller32of the torque converter3. Because of this, as shown inFIG.2, a torque required for starting rotation of the wind rotor2can be made small in magnitude. It should be noted thatFIG.2is a chart showing a relation between the rotational speed of the wind rotor2and a rotational load torque.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention has been explained above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and a variety of changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the wind power generator100is configured to include the torque converter3. However, the configuration of the wind power generator100is not limited to this. For example, the wind power generator100may include a type of fluid coupling without the first stator34instead of the torque converter3.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the wind rotor2is provided as the Darrieus wind rotor. However, the wind rotor2is not limited to the Darrieus wind rotor and may be another wind rotor classified into the vertical-axis lift type. Alternatively, the wind rotor2may be of a vertical-axis drag type, a horizontal-axis lift type, or a horizontal-axis drag type.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the wind power generator100is configured to include the clutch36, but alternatively, may be configured not to include the clutch36.

As shown inFIG.3, the wind power generator100may further include a first transmission8. The first transmission8is configured to change the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the wind rotor2and transmit the rotation changed in speed to the torque converter3. For example, the first transmission8reduces the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the wind rotor2and transmit the rotation reduced in speed to the torque converter3. Accordingly, the torque converter3can be inhibited from rotating at a high speed. It should be noted that the first transmission8may increase the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the wind rotor2and transmit the rotation increased in speed to the torque converter3. Moreover, or alternatively, the first transmission8may be disposed inside the first casing5.

As shown inFIG.4, the wind power generator100may further include a second transmission9. The second transmission9is disposed inside the first casing5. It should be noted that the second transmission9may be disposed inside the second casing41.

The second transmission9is configured to change the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the torque converter3and transmit the rotation changed in speed to the rotary electric machine4. For example, the second transmission9increases the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the torque converter3and transmits the rotation increased in speed to the rotary electric machine4. It should be noted that the second transmission9may reduce the speed of rotation inputted thereto from the torque converter3and transmit the rotation reduced in speed to the rotary electric machine4.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST