Abstract:
A wind power system is provided including at least one motor fan having a front face and a rear face. The system also includes a first wind capturing device positioned proximate to the front face. The wind capturing device can be configured to capture wind to create a first pressure proximate to the front face that is greater than a second pressure proximate to the rear face. The pressure difference causes the captured wind to flow across the at least one motor fan from the front face to the rear face.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a wind power system for generating electrical power.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     A typical wind power system includes two or three blades which rotate about an axis. The blades are provided perpendicular to the direction of wind flow, with suitable pitch so that the wind causes the blades to rotate about the axis. The rotational motion of the blades is used to drive a gear box that drives a generator, effectively converting the kinetic energy of the wind to electrical energy.  
         [0005]     Unfortunately, typical wind power systems require large propeller-like blades, which can be inefficient, to the point of being useless. Large blades are generally required to ensure that the blades can be rotated with sufficient speed to overcome the torque inherent in the generator. Inefficiencies are created due to considerable friction in the gear box, which adds to the torque. Thus, during instances of low or moderate wind flow, the wind strength may not be able to overcome the torque.  
         [0006]     The large blades usually cover an expansive area. Thus, the blades within this area can be subject to winds traveling in different directions. For example, wind traveling near one end of the expansive blades can be heading north while wind at the opposite end of the expansive blades can be heading south. The net effect of the different wind directions traveling across different parts of the blades can be to slow or even stop the blades causing the power output to approach zero.  
         [0007]     Each of these factors contributes to the cost of the wind power system, operations, and maintenance, which add considerably to the cost of the power generated.  
         [0008]     What is needed therefore is a wind power generation system, which overcomes the shortcomings of typical wind power generation systems to provide a wind power generation system, which operates in varying wind conditions, in changing wind directions and with increased efficiency.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     The present invention discloses a wind power generation system to operate in various wind conditions and with changing wind directions. The system provides a reliable and effective means for directing air currents into and out of fan motors/generators positioned strategically within the power generation system.  
         [0010]     The system of the present invention operates without requiring large blades and is capable of producing power using kinetic energy from high winds, as well as low and moderate winds.  
         [0011]     Generally, the invention includes a wind capturing device that resembles a sail in performance. The wind capturing device effectively forces captured wind to form a high pressure area on a first side of at least one fan motor/generator. The high pressure air travels across the fan motors to an area of lower pressure at a second side of the at least one fan motor/generator.  
         [0012]     Multiple wind power generation systems can be positioned together to form a large array of power generation systems which form a power unit. In this manner, a large expansive area can be exposed to the wind. As explained in detail below, since each power system in the array operates independent of the other power systems, the direction of wind impinging on the expansive array does not adversely affect the power output.  
         [0013]     In one aspect of the invention, a wind power system is provided including at least one motor fan having a front face and a rear face. The wind power system also includes a first wind capturing device positioned proximate to the front face configured to capture wind and create a first pressure proximate to the front face that is greater than a second pressure proximate to the rear face. The differing pressure causes the captured wind to flow across the at least one motor fan from the front face to the rear face. The wind capturing device includes deformable portions to direct the captured wind and create the first pressure.  
         [0014]     In another aspect of the invention, a wind power system is provided including a first plurality of motor fans horizontally stacked including at least a front motor fan and a rear motor fan. The system also includes a first wind capturing sail positioned proximate to the front motor fan configured to capture wind to create a first pressure proximate to the front motor fan that is greater than a second pressure proximate to the rear motor fan which causes the captured wind to flow across the first plurality of motor fans.  
         [0015]     Advantageously, the power generation system provides a sail-like wind capturing device that is capable of capturing winds of variable velocities and conditions, because the shape of the wind capturing device can be adjusted, similar to the manner of adjusting a wind sail. Since the sail can be sized and shaped to take full advantage of suspected wind conditions in a given application, the size of the power generator can be optimized and made smaller.  
         [0016]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the detailed description of the embodiments set forth below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a simplified illustration of a perspective view of a wind power system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a simplified cross sectional side view of a wind power system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 1C  is a simplified cross sectional side view of an embodiment of the wind power system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 1D  is a simplified front side view of an embodiment of the wind power system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are simplified illustrations of an array of motor fans in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a simplified perspective view of an array of power systems mounted to a wind vane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a simplified perspective view of a multiple array f power systems in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a graph comparing average power as a function of wind strength and wind direction between a typical system and the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are simplified illustration showing a wind power system  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Wind power system  100  includes at least one motor fan  102 , which finctions as an electric drive generator, centered within wind capturing devices  104 .  
         [0026]     The principles of the invention are described in connection with a relatively small power system  100  using any relatively small to medium sized motor fan  102 . Motor fan  102  can be a direct current (DC) generator, or an alternator producing alternating current (AC). In one embodiment, motor fan  102  is a 1 to 100 V DC motor having a capacity to generate between about 0.5 to about 10,000 Watts of electrical power. Motors suitable for use in the present invention are widely known and are available, for example, from McMaster-Carr Supply Company.  
         [0027]     Depending upon the specific use of power system  100 , the current produced can be introduced directly into an existing power grid through the use of synchronizers or stored in an electrical storage device, such as a battery  108 . Optionally, power system  100  can be used to directly drive or power specific pieces of electrical equipment.  
         [0028]     Referring again to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , wind capturing devices  104  can include any device capable of capturing and directing wind into a fixed location. In one embodiment, wind capturing devices  104  are configured as flexible sheets capable of capturing wind in a manner resembling a sail on a sail boat. The flexible sheets may be made of typical sail materials, such as canvass, nylon and the like. The sheet of wind capturing material is positioned on the four sides of motor fan  102  to create a funneling affect. Since wind capturing device  104  is made of wind capturing materials like canvass and nylon, it has a deformability that allows wind capturing device to act similar to a sail on a sail boat when subjected to wind. Thus, like a sail, wind capturing device  104  can be deformed by the wind or by other means to form a shape capable of producing a force coefficient that attempts to maintain as high of a pressure in front of fan motor  102  as possible at all wind velocities.  
         [0029]     The aerodynamic pressure (force per unit of sail area, P 1 ) generated by a sail is proportional to the square of the wind velocity (W 2 ), the force coefficient (C F , determined by shape and sheeting angle), and the air&#39;s density (ρ). The following formula defines these relationships: 
 
Pressure ( P   1 )={fraction (1/2)}ρ C   F   W   2  
 
         [0030]     The total aerodynamic pressure may be split into two components—a lift component which is perpendicular to the flow and a drag component which is in the same direction of the flow. These components are both proportional to the “sheeting” angle. As the sheeting angle decreases, drag increases to a maximum. By controlling the sheeting angle of wind capturing device  104 , pressure P 1  can be maximized at a front face  112  of motor fan  102 .  
         [0031]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A , wind capturing device  104  can be mounted about each side of motor fan  102 . Each wind capturing device  104  can be controlled independently and made to force wind into the front face  112  of fan motor  102  by changing shape or angle. The shape changing ability of wind capturing device  104  can generally be controlled by the wind as is done with a sail or using manual or automatic techniques, which employ the use of pulleys and motors.  
         [0032]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B , in one embodiment, wind W is captured in wind capturing devices  104  and a pressure P 1  is created proximate to front face  112  of motor fan  102 . Since a pressure P 2  exists proximate to a rear face  114  of motor fan  102  which is less than pressure P 1 , wind travels across motor fan  102  to cause the fan blades to turn, thus generating a current in the motor.  
         [0033]     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1C , a second set of wind capturing devices  110  may be mounted about rear face  114  of motor fan  102  in similar fashion to the mounting of wind capturing devices  104  relative to front face  112 .  
         [0034]     In this embodiment, wind captured in wind capturing devices  110  creates a pressure P 3  proximate to rear face  114  of motor fan  102 . Since a pressure P 4  exists proximate to front face  112  of motor fan  102 , which is less than pressure P 3 , wind travels across motor fan  102  to cause the fan blades to turn, thus generating a current in the motor. Accordingly, wind arriving at power generation system  100  from either direction can be used to turn fan motor  102 .  
         [0035]     Referring again to  FIG. 1B , the at least one motor fan  102  can include any number of motor fans horizontally stacked. In one embodiment, motor fan  102  may include at least three horizontally stacked motor fans. The horizontally stacked motor fans include front motor fan  102   a,  a rear motor fan  102   c,  and optionally, one or more middle motor fans  102   b  disposed therebetween. It should be understood that while three motor fans have been shown for purposes of simplicity, the principles of the invention can be used for horizontal stacks containing a plurality of fans interposed between fan motors  102   a  and  102   c.    
         [0036]     In this embodiment, as the wind travels across the front motor fan  102   a  it can be assumed that not all of the wind&#39;s kinetic energy is converted to electrical power. Thus, the wind continues to pass along until it reaches middle motor fan(s)  102   b,  which converts more of the wind&#39;s kinetic energy to electrical energy. Finally, any remaining wind kinetic energy is converted to electrical power, at least in part, by the remaining rear fan motor  102   c.    
         [0037]     Depending upon the amount of power desired to be produced and the location of power system  100 , a plurality of fan motors  102  and a variety of arrangements of fan motors  102  can be used. In one embodiment, the arrangement should be such that the fan motors  102  are arranged side-by-side horizontally as shown in  FIG. 1D .  
         [0038]     In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a vertical stack of, for example, three vertical power systems  100  is mounted along side multiple stacks of three other power systems  100  to form an array  202  of power systems.  
         [0039]     The configuration of power system  100  into an array of multiple power systems ranging from a two side-by-side power system configuration to N×N configurations, allows for a large expansive power unit  300  to be created. The size of power unit  300  is only limited by the power need and space available and therefore can rival any of the largest propeller-type fan structures. However, as the size of power unit  300  is increased, it becomes subject to the possibility that winds may impinge on array  202  from opposing directions as shown in  FIG. 2B . However, array  202  is made of multiple power systems  100 , each of which can receive wind from a front or rear direction. Although, power unit  300  may be expansive, each power system  100  is exposed to only a small portion of the impinging winds. Thus, each power system is more likely to receive wind from only one direction and so can still independently produce electrical power.  
         [0040]     Accordingly, the average power output from power unit  300  can be higher than typical wind power generating systems. As shown in  FIG. 5 , in typical power system generators the total average power is the power generated over time relative to the strength of the wind in a single direction. However, the total power generated by power unit  300  is the average of each individual power system  100  regardless of wind direction. Thus, the average power is the sum of the absolute value of each individual power system.  
         [0041]     Alternatively, each motor fan  102  shown in power system array  202  of  FIG. 2A  can be a front motor fan  102   a  of a horizontally stacked configuration of power systems  100  like that shown in  FIG. 1B , which forms a configuration like that shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0042]     In yet another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a power system  100  or alternatively, an array of power systems  202 , including wind capturing devices  104 , form power unit  300  that can be mounted to wind vane  304  so that power unit  300  can orient itself about a pivot point  306  to the wind direction W as the direction of the wind W changes. The performance of wind vane  304  is well known. The size and shape of wind vane  304  can be determined based on the size of power unit  300 . In one embodiment, an additional wind capturing device  302  may be mounted to the entire power unit  300  to provide additional funneling of wind to power unit  300 .  
         [0043]     Having thus described embodiments of the present invention, it will be evident to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.