Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wind turbine which has a blade structure for increasing efficiency in wind turbines used in renewable energy.

Background of the Invention

The systems converting the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy first, and then to the electrical energy are called wind turbines. The wind turbines are mainly comprised of blade rotating with wind energy, a shaft rotating upon the rotation of the blades, and generator converting the rotary movement occurring in the shaft into electric energy.

The wind turbines are divided into two, namely horizontal axis and vertical axis according to their rotary axis. The rotary axis in horizontal axis wind turbines is parallel to the wind direction, and the blades are vertical to the wind direction. In vertical axis wind turbines, turbine shaft is perpendicular and it is vertical to the coming direction. There is no need to rotate the turbine in wind direction; therefore steering system is not needed.

The blades located in coming direction of the wind in vertical axis wind turbines transfer load on the shaft in rotary direction of the shaft, whereas upon the rotation of the shaft the blades in the back create effect that will prevent the shaft from rotating. One side of the vertical axis wind turbines moves in wind direction, and the other side moves in opposite direction of the wind. There is resistance on both sides. Since there is more resistance on one side and less resistance on the other side, the shaft to which the blades are connected makes the rotary movement. The rear blades create a blockage effect with the effect of the wind coming since they are fixed on the frames they are located upon the rotary movement of the shaft. The created wind effect vertically hits on the rear blades, and creates a resistance force thereon, and prevents the wind turbines from operating efficiently. In United States Patent Document no US8177481B2, an application known in the state of the art, the blades have the ability to rotate in a horizontal axis in order to reduce the resistance generated on the blades of the wind turbine. In the formed system, the blades realize an opening and closing movement around a horizontal shaft. However, the blade weights prevent the opening of the blades in blade opening movements with the horizontal axis formed in the present invention, and an efficient rotary movement cannot be realized due to the weight effect on the blades located at the back.

The Problems Solved with the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide an innovative wind turbine which enables to prevent the resistance created as a result of the wind hitting on the rear blades in the vertical axis wind turbines. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an innovative wind turbine which enables the rear blades in the vertical axis wind turbines to be prevented from being affected by the wind by the rear blades realizing opening and closing movement on the frame. A further objective of the present invention is to provide an innovative wind turbine which enables to reduce the noise generated in the wind turbine by means of the flexible blade structure.

Detailed Description of the Invention An innovative wind turbine developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein:

Figure 1 is the front view of the force distributions occurring in the previous technique in the vertical axis wind turbines.

Figure 2 is the perspective view of state of the inventive innovative wind turbine before operation.

Figure 3 is the perspective view of blade movements of the inventive innovative wind turbine occurring during its operation.

Figure 4 is the front view of blade connection way of the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 5 is the perspective view of the twisted frame application of the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 6 is the top view of the twisted frame application of the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 7 is the perspective view of the locations of the cords in the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 8 is the perspective view of the cord connection in twisted frame application of the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 9 is the perspective view of connection arrangement of the blade in the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 10 is the perspective view of the cover placement in twisted frame application of the inventive innovative wind turbine.

Figure 11 is the top view of the frame placed on top of each other in the inventive innovative wind turbine.

The components given in the figures are individually numbered where the numbers refer to the following. 1. Vertical wind turbine

2. Vertical shaft 3. Frame

4. Blade

5. Hinge

6. Blade shaft

7. Cord

8. Cord clamp

9. Support pin

10. Blade holder

11. Blade clamp

12. Cover

A vertical wind turbine (1), which enables to reduce the resistance forces in use of wind energy used in renewable energy, essentially comprises

at least one vertical shaft (2) which extends vertically from the ground surface and which can freely rotate around its own axis,

at least one frame (3) which is located on the vertical shaft (2) and which pas preferably a rectangular form,

at least one blade (4) which is located on the frame (3) such that it will cover the frame (3), and which enables the vertical shaft (2) to which the frame (3) is connected to be rotated as a result of the incoming wind hitting thereon,

at least one hinge (5) which enables the blade (4) to make opening movement in order to take position for being less affected by the wind force upon the wind makes effect on the blade (4) in opposite direction of the vertical shaft (2), the movable part of which is located on edge of the blade

(4) close to the vertical shaft (2), the fixed part of which is located on edge of the frame (3) parallel to the vertical shaft (2).

The inventive vertical wind turbine (1) is comprised of at least one vertical shaft (2) which is located vertical to the ground surface and enables force transmission in order to convert mechanical energy into the electric energy, frame (3) which is located on the vertical shaft (2) and preferably perpendicular to each other, blade (4) which is located on each one of the frames (3) and converts wind energy into mechanical energy, and at least one hinge (5) which is located between the blade (4) and the frame (3) and enables the blades (4) to make opening and closing movements about a vertical axis.

The inventive vertical wind turbine (1) is a type of vertical axis turbine, maximum efficiency is provided when the wind comes perpendicularly on the blade (4), while electric energy is generated via a generator connected to the vertical shaft (2) upon the transfer of the rotary movement occurring on the blades (4) onto the vertical shaft (2). There are preferably four frames (3) on the vertical shaft which are on the same horizontal alignment and have preferably ninety degrees between them, and there are blades (4) on the frame (3). The driving force generated on the blade (4) as a result of the wind coming on the blades (4) is transferred on the frame (3), and the frame (3) rotates the vertical shaft (2) to which it is connected. In order to prevent the wind from making effect on the blade (4) in opposite direction of the rotary direction of the shaft (the problem mentioned in figure 1) and the wind to make effect on the blades (4) only in rotary direction of the vertical shaft (2), a hinge (5) mechanism to which the blades (4) are connected is provided.

The hinge mechanism (5) present in the inventive vertical wind turbine (1) enables the blades (4) located on the frame (3) to make hinge (5) centered rotary movement. In case the wind makes effect on the blade (4) in opposite direction of the rotary direction of the shaft, the blades (4) make hinge (5) axial rotary movement (opening movement) with the wind force, and it is enabled that the wind makes minimum effect on the blade (4) (blade (4) takes position parallel to the coming direction of the wind). As the blade (4) making opening movement comes to the position that will rotate in rotary movement of the vertical shaft (2) again, the blade (4) makes a hinge (5) centered closing movement with the wind force, and transfer force in direction where the vertical shaft (2) rotates. In one embodiment of the invention, the dimensional edge length of the blades (4) parallel to the vertical shaft (2) is longer than the dimensional edge length of the frame (3) vertical to the vertical shaft (2). In this way, the blade (4) stops upon contacting the frame (3) after 180 degree rotation. Similarly, by means of the dimensional edge length of the blade (4) being longer than the dimensional edge length of the frame (3), the blade (4) contacts the frame (3) upon wind force for rotating the vertical shaft (2) comes on the blade (4), and it abuts on the frame (3), thereby enabling the wind force to be transferred efficiently on the shaft.

Instead of the hinge (5) mechanism used in one embodiment of the invention, at least one vertical axis blade shaft (6) placed on the frame (3) is used. The blade shaft (6) is located on the frame (3) such that it will be parallel to the vertical shaft, and it can freely rotate around its own axis on the frame (3) to which it is connected. The blade (4) is fixed on the blade shaft (4) present in the vertical axis on the frame (3), the blade (4) rotates the blade shaft (6) to which it is connected with the wind force coming thereon, and it can perform opening and closing movement. In case the wind makes effect on the blade (4) in opposite direction of the rotary direction of the shaft, the blades (4) make blade shaft (6) axial rotary movement (opening movement) with the wind force, and it is enabled that the wind makes minimum effect on the blade (4) (blade (4) takes position parallel to the coming direction of the wind). As the blade (4) making opening movement comes to the position that will rotate in rotary movement of the vertical shaft (2) again, the blade (4) makes a blade shaft (6) centered closing movement with the wind force, and transfer force in direction where the vertical shaft (2) rotates.

In one embodiment of the invention, in order to attach the blade (4) on the frame (3) in a freely rotating way, there are

at least one blade holder (10) which surrounds a certain part or all of the circumference of the blades (4), and which provides support for the blades

(4), at least one blade clamp (11) which is located on the blade holder (10), which is in a form such that it will grab the vertical rods on the frame (3), and which enables the blade holder (10) surrounding the blade (4) to be connected on the frame (3) such that it can rotate freely about a vertical axis.

In one embodiment of the invention, the blades (4) are flexible. The flexible blades (4) perform flexing movement during contact occurring at the time when they end opening and closing movement, and they minimize the noise occurring due to contact, and thus the noises generated on the vertical wind turbine (1) are reduced.

In one embodiment of the invention, the blades (4) are comprised of plastic material. The weight of the vertical wind turbine (1) is reduced with the formed plastic structure, and it is enabled that the vertical wind turbine (1) works more efficiently. Furthermore, the formed plastic blades (4) are simpler and more economical relative to the metal blades (4).

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a cord (7) on the frame (3) perpendicular to the blade shaft (6). The blades (4) hit on the cord (7) during the rotary movement, and the rotation angles of the blades (4) are limited. By means of using cord (7) during stopping the rotary movement of the blades (4), the friction force is minimized due to the cord (7) being thin, and the vertical wind turbine (1) is enabled to work more efficiently. In one embodiment of the invention, the frame (3) has a twisted structure. The frame (3) has twisted form in at least one side such that it will more benefit from the wind. The twisting application is preferably on two parts of the frame (3), and they have reverse angle relative to each other (figure 6). In order to fix the cords (7) on the twisted frame (3) with the formed twisted frame (3), there are

- at least one cord clamp (8) which is placed on the frame (3) and which is in form of an engagement slot with a space therein, at least one support pin (9) which is attached onto the frame (3) by passing through the cord clamp (8) and which enables the cord (7) to be attached thereon. In one embodiment of the invention, there is at least one cover (12) which supports the twisted frame (3), enables to provide more efficiency from the wind hitting on the blade (4), and which is located preferably on lower and upper parts of the frame (3) along the twisting angles of the twisted frame (3). In one embodiment of the invention, the frames (3) are placed on the same vertical shaft (2) such that they will be one under another. There are a first level comprised of four frames (3) perpendicular to each other and a secondary four frames (3) on the lower part of the present four frames (3) on the same vertical shaft (2). There is preferably a 45 degree turning angle between the frames (3) belong to different levels one under another comprised of primary level and secondary level. By means of the primary level and the secondary level being on the same vertical shaft (2) with 45 degree angle horizontally, the moments applied by the frame (3) weights are balanced and the frame weights balance the vertical wind turbine (1).