JP2024119009A - Vertical Axis Wind Turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vertical shaft wind power generator configured to comprise functions required as a practical power generator so as to make good use of the advantage that yaw control is not necessary as well as making the vertical shaft wind power generator large in size.SOLUTION: Blades 11 which extend upward and downward in a horizontally rotatable state is fitted at a constant interval horizontally to a round frame 7 which rotates on a strut 4 installed at a tip part of a tower 3, and horizontal angles of the blades 11 are properly held by a blade angle holding device 13, or made free. For electric power generation, the turning force of the round frame 7 generated as wind blows against the blades 11 is transmitted to a drive jacket 5, and a lower end of a main shaft 17 fitted to the drive jacket is coupled to the drive shaft of a power generator 18 so as to rotate the power generator 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vertical axis wind generator suitable for generating electrical power.

With the recent momentum for increasing use of renewable energy, it is expected that the construction of wind turbines on land and offshore will increase in the future.
Currently, propeller-type horizontal axis wind turbines are widely used for wind turbine generators, both on land and offshore. This is due to the practical application of wind turbine blades that utilize the lift force acting on the blades by the wind, applying the propellers and blade airfoil shapes developed in the aircraft field, as well as the results of technological developments up to now, such as pitch control, which changes the angle of the blades according to the wind speed, and yaw control technology, which faces the wind-receiving surface of the wind turbine body into the wind. However, in order to realize these and apply them to products, special technology is required for blade manufacturing, and at the same time, high-value-added parts such as powerful drive units, reliable gears, bearings, etc., which are necessary for yaw control and pitch control, are also required. It is believed that these parts will be a factor in hindering cost reduction for the future increase in size of offshore wind power generation.

In contrast to the above, vertical axis wind turbines, which generate electricity by generating rotational force from the wind generated by multiple blades extending up and down and installed on a horizontal circle centered on a vertical support pole, have the advantage that they are not restricted by wind direction during operation. Therefore, if future technological developments lead to larger vertical axis wind turbines, it is expected that this will lead to lower costs for wind power generators. (See Non-Patent Document 1)
However, in a vertical axis wind turbine, the blades are arranged on a horizontal circumference and the center of each blade is supported by a support column, so it is necessary to simultaneously support thrust and radial loads, and in order to increase the power generation efficiency, it is necessary to efficiently support the load and reduce the friction resistance of the thrust bearing and radial bearing as much as possible.
Furthermore, in order to put wind power generators to practical use, it is necessary to realize unloaded free-spinning operation during strong winds such as typhoons, by cutting off the transmission of wind energy to the generator and maintaining the generator in an unloaded state while preventing damage to the blades and the generator. This technical problem also needed to be solved for vertical axis wind turbines, which basically have blades with a fixed pitch.

Against this background, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which a wind turbine body with attached blades is supported by a central shaft that can rotate horizontally, and a float that supports the weight of the wind turbine body by buoyancy below the central shaft, and a buoyancy chamber for floating the float. It is believed that the configuration in Patent Document 1 can reduce friction in the thrust direction (up and down direction) when the wind turbine body rotates, but it requires a buoyancy chamber and a float in addition to a thrust bearing, which is thought to complicate the structure.

Also, in Patent Document 2, a configuration is proposed in which the blade opening angle automatically changes as the rotation speed of the wind turbine body increases, with the aim of obtaining a constant electrical output in response to changing natural wind speeds, and in the event of strong winds such as a typhoon, the vertical blades become horizontal, thereby suppressing an increase in rotation speed and preventing damage to the blades and generator. However, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, when the blades arranged concentrically rotate horizontally, the blade opening angle is thought to be different when the blades are in an upwind position and when they are in a downwind position, making it difficult to obtain stable rotation.

JP 2022-167479 "Vertical axis wind power generation device" JP 2014-219012 "Floating structure system and floating offshore wind power generation system"

"The Easy Book on Wind Power Generation" B&T Books, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun

The first problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that prevents the wind turbine body from over-rotating and reduces the risk of damage to the blades and generator by using a mechanism that does not fix the blade angle but allows the blades to flutter freely in the wind during strong winds such as typhoons (hereinafter referred to as passive feathering).

The second problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration equipped with a mechanism for maintaining the generator output below a limit value even in strong wind conditions by making some of the blades flutter in the wind through passive feathering as described in paragraph (0008).

The third problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that efficiently supports the downward load caused by the weight of the wind turbine body and the horizontal load caused by wind pressure acting on the wind turbine body, thereby reducing the frictional resistance of the bearings and enabling efficient conversion of wind energy into rotational energy.

The fourth problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that prevents the wind turbine body from rotating even when the blades are exposed to wind when the generator is stopped for inspection, repair, etc., allowing workers to work safely.

The fifth problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that allows workers to safely access the main components of the wind turbine, such as the blades, bearings, generator, and gearbox, during inspection and repair.

The sixth problem that the present invention aims to solve is to propose an embodiment of a combination of devices and control logic for operating a wind turbine generator having the configuration according to the present invention described in paragraphs (0008) and (0009).

The seventh problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that can be installed and operated offshore, in response to the expected increase in the number of offshore wind turbines being installed in the future.

In order to solve the problems (0008) to (0014), the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention is configured as follows.
The wind turbine that this invention addresses is generally known as a vertical axis wind turbine, which has multiple blades extending up and down on a horizontal circumference centered on a vertical support pole, and which catch the wind to generate horizontal rotational force that is then transmitted to the generator drive shaft to generate electricity.
As described in (0003), this type of wind turbine has the advantage of not being restricted by wind direction during operation. However, in order to put it into practical use, it was necessary to solve the technical problems described in (0008) to (0014).

First, in order to solve the first problem described in (0008), the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention is configured as follows.
A round frame is configured to be circular or polygonal on a horizontal plane and is horizontally rotatable around a vertical support pillar, and a plurality of blade bearings are attached at equal pitches in the horizontal direction to the round frame.
The blade bearing is fitted with a blade shaft whose central axis can rotate in the vertical direction, and a blade extending in the vertical direction is attached to the upper and lower ends of each blade shaft. Further, a blade angle holding device that stops the rotation of the blade shaft or releases it without restricting its rotation, and a blade angle meter are attached to each blade shaft.
The above-mentioned round frame, blade bearings, blade shaft, blades, blade angle holding device, and blade angle meter are attached and integrated together and are hereinafter referred to as the wind turbine body.

When wind above a certain speed strikes the wind turbine body, the angle of each blade relative to the round frame is held at a preset angle effective for power generation using a blade angle meter and blade angle holding device. This operation generates a force on the blades that are hit by the wind, and the round frame rotates horizontally due to the combined force of the forces acting on multiple blades. In addition, when it is necessary to stop the rotation of the round frame and shut down the operation of the generator, such as during a typhoon or other strong winds or during regular inspections, all of the blade angle holding devices are released. Releasing the blade angle holding devices causes the blades to enter a passive feathering state in which they flutter in the wind, and as no force is generated on the blades, the rotation of the round frame stops.

In order to realize passive feathering, which is the second object of the present invention described in (0009), in which the blade flutters in the wind, the blade shaft is attached on the upwind side of the position of the graphic center of the blade cross section. When the blade shaft is released by this means, the wind pressure of the wind hitting the leeward side of the blade shaft becomes large, so that the effect of making passive feathering easier can be expected.
Furthermore, under environmental conditions with high wind speeds, the rotational force of the round frame can be adjusted by holding some of the blades at an angle effective for power generation and releasing the remaining blades, thereby enabling partial load operation to reduce power generation and meet the needs of the power grid.

The third objective of the present invention, as stated in Section (0010), is to efficiently retain the load on the wind turbine body, such as the downward weight of the wind turbine body and the horizontal wind pressure acting on the blades during operation, and to reduce the frictional resistance of the bearings, thereby improving power generation efficiency while at the same time reducing the risk of damage to the bearings. An example of a specific configuration is described below.
In order to transmit the rotational force of the round frame, which is a component of the wind turbine body, to the generator, a pedestal is attached to the upper end of the tower, which is installed on a foundation on land or offshore, and a support column is installed extending upward from the pedestal. A drive jacket that fits into the support column and rotates horizontally is attached to the tip of the support column, and the outer periphery of the drive jacket and the round frame are connected by multiple round bars. A thrust bearing and a radial bearing are installed at the upper end of the support column to support the combined downward load (thrust load) of the round frame, blades, and round bars, and the horizontal load (radial load) acting on the blades by the wind. The thrust bearing and radial bearing are built into the drive jacket, allowing rotation with little frictional resistance.

Furthermore, a main shaft is attached to the center of the drive jacket, extending downward through a hollow portion inside the support, and a radial bearing is installed below the main shaft. This radial bearing is configured to be held on the underside of the pedestal. Even if the blades of the round frame are blown by the wind and a moment load is generated in the drive jacket due to torsion, the moment load is easily received by the two radial bearings attached to the upper end and lower part of the main shaft, so that the burden on the bearings is small and the risk of damage can be reduced.
In order to utilize the rotational force of the round frame as the electrical output of the generator, a coupling is attached to the lower end of the main shaft, and the main shaft is connected to the generator drive shaft via a gearbox or the like.

As another means for efficiently supporting the load acting on the wind turbine body, which is the third subject of the present invention, an upward-facing support is attached to a base at the top end of a tower installed on the ground or offshore, and a pivot bearing device is attached to the tip of the support. Furthermore, a lower bearing device that incorporates thrust and radial bearings and fits with the support and can rotate horizontally is installed near the base of the support.
The round frame on which the blades are attached is suspended by a plurality of suspending wires or suspending bars connected to the outer periphery of the pivot bearing device, and is also connected to the bearing device by a plurality of suspending wires or suspending bars.
With this configuration, the weight of the wind turbine body, including the round frame and blades, is maintained, and even when the wind blows around the wind turbine body during operation, the pivot bearing device attached to the upper end of the support and the bearing device attached to the bottom hold the wind turbine body in a fixed position, allowing stable rotation to continue.

The means for transmitting the rotational force of the round frame to the generator drive shaft is to attach a drive jacket that is fitted with a support and can rotate horizontally at the same height as the round frame, attach multiple round bars to the outer surface of the drive jacket, and connect the tips of the round bars to the round frame with multiple drive wires. The rotational force of the round frame is transmitted to the drive jacket by the drive wires and the round bars.
The rotational force generated in the drive jacket is transmitted to the drive shaft of a generator supported on a support or the like via a gear and pinion gear attached to the outer periphery of the drive jacket, and further via a speed increaser or the like, thereby generating electricity.

The fourth objective of the present invention is to attach a brake device to the generator drive shaft described in paragraphs (0019) to (0022) as a means to prevent the wind turbine body from rotating even in an environment where the wind hits the wind turbine body during construction, inspection, repair, etc. When the wind turbine is stopped for inspection, repair, etc., the blade angle holding device described in paragraphs (0016) to (0017) is released to put the blades in a passive feathering state, and the brake device is used to stop and fix the rotation of the generator drive shaft, so that the wind turbine body does not rotate, allowing workers to carry out their work safely.

The fifth objective of the present invention is to allow workers to access the blades, blade bearings, generators, step-up gears, etc. that are the subject of inspection and repair work. This can be achieved by attaching ladders or other devices that workers can walk on to these parts.

The sixth objective of the present invention, controlling the operation of a vertical axis wind turbine according to the present invention, can be achieved by inputting data on the environmental conditions during operation of the wind turbine, such as wind direction, wind speed, and power system operating status, as well as data on the wind turbine's rotation speed, power output, blade angle, etc., into a control panel, combining this data and transmitting command signals from the control panel to control the blade angle holding device and the brake device of the generator drive shaft.

The sixth objective of the present invention, that of using the vertical axis wind turbine of the present invention as an offshore wind turbine, can be achieved by installing a support pillar on a base at the tip of the tower that is set on a foundation on the seabed and protruding above the sea surface, or by attaching a support pillar to a base at the tip of a tower that is set upward on a floating body on the sea surface that is connected to an anchor set on the seabed, and then installing the vertical axis wind turbine described in paragraphs (0016) to (0025) on this support pillar.

According to the present invention, passive feathering of the blades enables output adjustment in response to environmental conditions, improving the availability and power generation efficiency of the vertical axis wind turbine. In addition, passive feathering allows the blades to flutter in the wind during typhoons and other strong winds, reducing the risk of damage to the blades, etc., and is expected to improve reliability.

According to the present invention, the downward load due to the weight of the round frame to which the blades are attached and the horizontal load due to the wind are efficiently supported by thrust bearings and radial bearings attached to the supports, which reduces frictional resistance in the bearings and enables a vertical axis wind turbine to generate electricity with high efficiency.

The present invention makes it possible to realize a vertical axis wind generator that allows workers to work safely by stopping and holding the rotation of the wind turbine body when the generator is shut down for inspection, repair, etc.

According to the present invention, by attaching a walking ramp to the components, it is possible to realize a vertical axis wind turbine that allows workers to work safely.

According to the present invention, a control panel is installed and commands are sent to the blade angle holding device and the brake device of the generator drive shaft based on data required for operation, such as environmental conditions, to control the device, making it possible to operate the wind turbine generator according to the present invention in an effective manner, and improving power generation efficiency can be expected.

The vertical axis wind turbine of the present invention can also be applied to offshore wind power generation, the number of which is expected to increase in the future, and is expected to reduce costs during construction and operation compared to conventional horizontal axis wind turbines, which require yaw control.

FIG. 1 is a bird's-eye view and a partially enlarged view of a vertical axis wind power generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing blade angle settings under various wind speed conditions according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view of a vertical axis wind power generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical axis wind power generator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 5 is a bird's-eye view and a partially enlarged view of a vertical axis wind power generator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fourth embodiment FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vertical axis wind power generator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a pivot bearing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a pivot bearing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view and a partial sectional view of an embodiment 5 applied to the embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view and a partial cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment applied to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a bird's-eye view of the sixth embodiment applied to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controlled object of a vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the control of the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the flow of control logic for the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention. FIG. 15 is a bird's-eye view showing an example of a vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention installed on the ocean. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the installation procedure of the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention at the time of departure from port. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the installation procedure of the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention at the time of laying anchors on the sea. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the installation procedure of the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention when the tower is extended offshore. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the installation procedure of the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention at the time of completion of installation on the sea.

An embodiment of a vertical axis wind power generator having the above-mentioned features will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the entire vertical axis wind power generator of the first embodiment, (FIG. 1-1) is a bird's-eye view, and (FIG. 1-2) shows a detailed view of the blades and the blade mounting portion.
In the vertical axis wind power generator of the first embodiment, a pedestal 3 is attached to the upper end of a tower 2 installed on a foundation 1, and a vertical support 4 is installed on the pedestal 3. A drive jacket 5 that fits with the support 4 and can rotate in the horizontal direction is attached to the tip of the support 4, a hanger head 6 is provided above the drive jacket 5, and the outer periphery of the hanger head 6 is connected to a round frame 7 that is configured in a horizontal circular or polygonal shape with a plurality of hanging wires or hanging bars 8, so that the round frame 7 is suspended at the same height as the drive jacket 5.
A number of blade bearings 9 are attached to this round frame 7 at the same pitch in the horizontal direction, and the blade bearings 9 rotatably hold the blade shaft 10 whose central axis is vertical. Furthermore, blades 11 extending in the vertical direction are attached to the upper and lower sides of the blade shaft 10. With the above configuration, the blades 11 are held by the blade bearings 10 in a state in which they can rotate horizontally. (See Figure 1-2)

A disk 12 integrated with the blade shaft 10 is attached to each blade shaft 10, and a blade angle holding device 13 is installed which clamps the disk 12 to each blade bearing 9 to stop the rotation of the blade shaft. This blade angle holding device 13 has the function of fixing the angle of the blade 11 relative to the round frame 7 and releasing the disk to allow the blade shaft to rotate.
At the same time, a gear 14 integrated with each blade shaft 10 and a blade angle meter 15 for detecting the blade angle are attached.
With the above configuration, it is possible to control the blade angle holding device in response to environmental conditions such as wind speed to hold the blades at an angle suitable for power generation, or to release the blades and allow them to flutter in the wind, thereby performing passive feathering.

When the blade angle holding device 13 holds the blade angle at an angle suitable for power generation, wind strikes the blades 11, generating a rotational force in the round frame 7. The configuration for obtaining power output from this rotational force will be described below.
A plurality of round bars 16 are attached radially to the outer periphery of the drive jacket 5, and the tips of the round bars 16 are connected to the round frame 7. At the same time, a main shaft 17 extending downward through a hollow portion inside the support 4 is attached to the lower central portion of the drive jacket 5, and the main shaft 17 passes through an opening in the base 3 and is connected to the drive shaft of a generator 18 installed below the base 3, thereby rotating the generator and generating power output.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment, and shows a concept of blade angle setting during power generation and when power generation is stopped in a vertical axis wind power generator having a configuration according to the first embodiment.
The arrow 19 in FIG. 2 represents the direction of the wind blowing towards the wind turbine.
2 shows in black the cross-sectional shape of the blade 11 shown in FIG 1 in a state where the angle is fixed by the blade angle holding device 13. At the same time, the cross-sectional shape of the blade 11 in white is shown in a state where the blade angle holding device 13 is released and the blade 11 is fluttering in the wind.
Figures 2-1 to 2-4 are top views of the blade cross sections of a wind turbine body with six sets of blades attached, showing examples of angle settings of blade cross sections 20, 21 for each wind speed condition when wind 19 hits the wind turbine body, the direction 22 of force acting on the blade shaft 10, and the direction of rotation 23 of the wind turbine body.

Figure 2-1 shows the cross section of the blade 20 when generating power in a weak wind. The blade angle holding device holds all six sets of blades at an angle effective for generating power. When the blades catch the wind, a rotational force is generated in the wind turbine body, causing it to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 23.
Figure 2-2 shows the cross section of blades 20 and 21 when generating power during moderate winds. The blade angle holding device fixes the blade angle of three of the six blades, while the other three blades are released and fluttering in the wind. By using the means shown in Figure 2-2, the power output can be controlled to meet the needs of the power grid even when the wind speed is high, which improves the utilization rate of the wind power generator.

Note that the blade shaft 10 is attached upstream of the blade's center of gravity with respect to the blade cross sections 20 and 21. With this configuration, as shown in the blade cross section 21, when the blade angle holding device is released, the blade easily flutters in the wind (passive feathering), making partial load operation possible by setting the blade angle as shown in Figure 2-2.

Figure 2-3 shows the cross section of blades 20 and 21 when generating power in strong winds. The blade angle holding device fixes the blade angle of two of the six blade pairs, while the remaining four blade pairs are released for passive feathering. Even in faster wind conditions, operation similar to that in moderate winds shown in Figure 2-2 is possible, and improved utilization rates can be expected.

Figure 2-4 shows a cross section of the blade 21 during a storm such as a typhoon. During a storm, all blades are released for passive feathering to stop power generation and reduce the risk of damage to the blades. This stops the rotation of the wind turbine body and minimizes the wind force acting on each blade, reducing the risk of damage to the blades, bearings, generator, and other components.

Fig. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the embodiment 3, and shows the main components such as the driving jacket, the round frame, the round bar, the speed increaser, and the generator for the vertical axis wind power generators configured according to the embodiments 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line (B)-(B) of Fig. 3.
3 and 4, a support column 4 is installed facing upward, and a drive jacket 5 is fitted to the upper end of the support column 4 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. A reinforcing plate 24 is a reinforcing member for supporting the force acting on the drive jacket 5 together with the support column.
As explained in the first embodiment in paragraphs (0035) to (0037), the main shaft 17 integrated with the drive jacket 5 is attached in the vertical direction at the center of the drive jacket, the hanger head 6 is installed on the top of the main shaft extended upward, and the hook 25 attached to the outer periphery of the hanger head is connected to the round frame 7 by a hanging wire or hanging bar 8. With the above configuration, the downward load caused mainly by the weight of the round frame 7, the blade 11, and the round bar 16 is supported by the drive jacket 5.
At the same time, in order to transmit the rotational force of the drive jacket 5 to the generator 18, the main shaft 17 is extended downward from the drive jacket 5 through a hollow portion in the support 4 and a hole opened in the center of the base 3, and is connected to a gearbox 27 via a coupling 26. By connecting the output of the gearbox 27 to a drive shaft 28 of the generator, electricity is generated by the generator 18.

The drive jacket of this configuration is subjected to a downward load mainly due to the weight of the round frame 7, the blades 11, and the round bars 16, as well as a horizontal load when the blades receive the wind.
The downward load is received by the thrust bearing 29, which supports the drive jacket 5 from below, and is supported thereby. At the same time, the horizontal load is supported by a radial bearing 30 installed inside the drive jacket and a lower radial bearing 31 installed below the main shaft 17.
By installing radial bearings at two locations, the upper and lower parts of the main shaft 17, even if the blades 11 are blown by the wind and a torsional moment acts on the drive jacket, this force can be stably held, improving reliability during operation. With the above configuration, even if the wind power generator becomes larger and the load increases, it can still support the load, making it possible to make the wind power generator larger and with greater output.

FIG. 5 is a bird's-eye view showing Example 4, which shows a configuration of the vertical axis wind power generators having the configurations of Examples 1 and 2, in which the driving jacket, the round frame are suspended, and the power transmission to the generator are different from those of Example 3.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (C)-(C) of FIG.
A support 4 is installed facing upward on a base 3 installed at the upper end of the tower 2 in Figures 5 and 6, and a drive jacket 5 is fitted to the support 4 midway and attached so as to be rotatable horizontally.
In the fourth embodiment, a pivot bearing device 32 is attached to the top of the support column 4, and a downward load acting on the pivot bearing device 32 is supported by a thrust bearing 33, while a horizontal load acting on the pivot bearing device 32 is supported by a radial bearing 34. A hook 25 is installed on the outer periphery of the pivot bearing device 32, and the hook 25 and the round frame 7 are connected by a hanging wire or hanging bar 8. With this configuration, the round frame 7 is suspended in a state in which it can rotate horizontally.

Furthermore, a lower bearing device 35 is attached below the drive jacket 5 of the support 4, and the vertical load acting on the lower bearing device 35 is supported by a thrust bearing 36, while the horizontal load acting on the lower bearing device 35 is supported by a radial bearing 37. A hook 25 similar to the pivot bearing device is installed on the outer periphery of the lower bearing device 35, and the hook 25 and the round frame 7 are connected by a hanging wire or hanging bar 8.
With the above-mentioned configuration, a torque is generated in the round frame 7 by the wind force acting on the blades 11. The torque is transmitted to the round bar 16 installed in the drive jacket 5 via the drive rope 38, whereby a torque is generated in the drive jacket 5.
The wind turbine body made with this combination is supported by multiple suspension wires or suspension bars 8, so stable rotation can be expected. At the same time, by using the drive ropes 38, the downward load due to the weight of the round frame including the blades and the moment acting on the blades due to the wind are less likely to be transmitted to the drive jacket 5, so frictional resistance when the drive jacket rotates can be reduced, and highly efficient power generation output and improved bearing reliability can be expected.

In the fourth embodiment, a gear 39 is attached to the outer periphery of the drive jacket 5, and a pinion gear 40 is meshed with the gear 39 to increase the rotation speed. The rotating shaft of the pinion gear 40 is further connected to a speed increaser 27 to increase the speed, and the output shaft of the speed increaser is connected to a generator drive shaft 28 to drive the generator 18 and generate electricity.
With the above-mentioned configuration, the drive jacket 5 rotates with little frictional resistance, and high speed rotation can be obtained by the speed increaser, making it possible to generate electricity with high efficiency.

An example of the detailed structure of the pivot bearing device 32 of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
The pivot bearing device 32 is fitted to the support column 4 at its upper end to rotate horizontally and has the function of supporting the weight of the round frame 7 including the blades via a hanging wire or hanging bar 8 connected to a hook 25 installed on the outer periphery. At the same time, in order to reduce frictional resistance during rotation as much as possible, the weight is supported by a thrust bearing 33, and the horizontal force acting on the blades is received by a radial bearing 34 and supported by a cylindrical shaft 41.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the detailed structure of the pivot bearing device.
8 shows a configuration in which a plurality of ball bearings 44 are installed on the outer periphery of a conical shaft 43 attached to the top of a support 4 by a fixing flange 42, and the ball bearings are held by a pivot bearing device 32. A hook 25 is attached to the outer periphery of the pivot bearing device in Fig. 8, and holds the round frame via a hanging wire or hanging bar 8.
The pivot bearing device shown in Fig. 8 can efficiently support the downward thrust load and the horizontal radial load at the same time, which allows the device to be made lighter and less expensive. However, at present, only relatively small pivot bearings of this type are in practical use. If there is an opportunity in the future to enlarge the vertical axis wind power generator according to the present invention, it is hoped that the large pivot bearing shown in Fig. 8 will be put to practical use.

FIG. 9 is a bird's-eye view showing the fifth embodiment, and is a sectional view taken along (D)-(D) of a vertical axis wind power generator having a configuration according to the third embodiment, in which a brake device 46 for stopping the rotation of the driving jacket is installed.
A brake disk 45 and a brake device 46 are attached to the generator drive shaft 28 shown in Fig. 9. By releasing the blades 11 to put them into a passive feathering state and stopping the rotation of the wind turbine body using the brake device 46, workers can work in a safe environment when the wind turbine is stopped for inspection, repair, etc.

Fig. 10 is a bird's-eye view and an (E)-(E) sectional view showing a configuration in which the brake device 46 of the fifth embodiment is attached to the fourth embodiment. A configuration in which a brake disk 45 and a brake device 46 are attached to the generator drive shaft 28 shown in Fig. 10 is shown. By releasing the blades 11 to put them into a passive feathering state and stopping the rotation of the wind turbine body using the brake device 46, workers can carry out work in a safe environment when the wind turbine is stopped for inspection, repair, etc.

Fig. 11 is a bird's-eye view showing a configuration in which a ladder 47 that workers can walk on is attached to the configuration in Examples 3 to 5 as Example 6. By installing the ladder 47 on the round frame 7, the base 3, the support pillars 4, etc. in Fig. 11, workers can move around safely and perform work during inspection and repair.
The bird's-eye view shown on the right side of FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which a hatch 48 is provided on the support column 4 of the fourth embodiment so that an operator can move around by utilizing the internal space of the support column 4.

Next, as a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the details of operation and control of the vertical axis wind power generators according to the third to sixth embodiments are shown in Figs. 12 to 14.
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a measuring device, a controlled object, and a signal flow for operating and controlling the vertical axis wind power generator described in the first to sixth embodiments, and FIG. 13 is a control block diagram.
FIG. 12 shows an example of a vertical axis wind power generator having six sets of blades as an embodiment, and the cross sections of the blades as viewed from above in FIG. 12 are represented by symbols (1) to (6).
The wind direction is measured by a wind vane 52 installed at the top end of a measurement tower 50 , and the information is transmitted as a wind direction signal 53 by radio signal, which is received by a control device 51 .
Similarly, the wind speed is measured by an anemometer 54 , and the information is transmitted as a wind speed signal 55 by radio signal, which is received by the control device 51 .

The angles of each blade shown in (1) to (6) are measured by a blade shaft angle meter 56, and the control panel 51 receives this information as a blade angle signal 57. As above, the rotation speed of the wind turbine body is measured by a rotation speed meter 58, and the control panel 51 receives this information as a wind turbine body rotation speed signal 59. The control panel 51 also receives the generator output 60 at that time as a signal 61.
Furthermore, in the event of an operational abnormality such as a power outage occurring in the ground power system 62, the control panel 51 receives the power system power outage signal 63 via the communication cable.

Figure 13 shows an example of a block diagram in which, in Examples 3 to 6, wind direction signal 53, wind speed signal 55, blade angle signal 57 measured by the angle gauge for blades (1) to (6), wind turbine body rotation speed signal 59, generator output 61, and power grid power outage signal 63 are processed in the control panel 51, and then an ON/OFF command signal 65 for the angle holding device for blades (1) to (6), a command signal 67 for starting and rotating the generator as a motor, and an ON/OFF command signal 69 for the brake device for the generator drive shaft are sent to the angle holding device 64 for blades (1) to (6), the generator/motor 66, and the brake device for the generator drive shaft 68, to perform operation control.

Fig. 14 shows an example of a flow diagram of the operation and control logic performed by the control panel in Examples 3 to 6. This diagram shows an example of a control flow using a figure 70 showing the start or end point of the flow, an arrow 71 showing the input of each piece of signal information, a figure 72 showing a decision using each piece of signal information, and a figure 73 showing the operation of each device.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the configuration of a vertical axis wind power generator of the present invention installed offshore as an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
The vertical axis wind power generator of the eighth embodiment is composed of a floating foundation 105 formed by connecting a plurality of floats 103 floating on the sea surface with trusses 104, and a plurality of anchors 101 installed on the seabed, which are connected with a plurality of mooring lines 102, and is moored at a fixed position on the sea surface, and a pedestal 107 is attached to the upper end of a tower 106 installed upward in the center of the floating foundation 105. By connecting the tower 106 and the trusses 104 with a plurality of reinforcing lines 108, etc., it is expected that the strength of the tower 106 will be increased.
A vertical support 109 is installed on the base 107, a drive jacket 110 that fits with the support 109 and can rotate horizontally is attached to the tip of the support 109, and a hanger head 111 is provided above the drive jacket 110. Furthermore, by connecting the outer periphery of the hanger head 111 to a round frame 112 that is configured in a horizontal circular or polygonal shape with a plurality of hanging wires or hanging bars 113, the round frame 112 is suspended above the sea level at the same height as the drive jacket 110.
A plurality of blade bearings 114 are attached to the round frame 112 at the same pitch in the horizontal direction, and the blade bearings 114 rotatably hold the blade shaft 115 whose central axis is vertical. Furthermore, blades 116 extending upward and downward are attached to the upper and lower sides of the blade shaft 115. With the above configuration, the blades 116 are held by the blade bearings 114 in a state in which they can rotate horizontally.

A disk 117 integrated with the blade shaft 115 is attached to each blade shaft 115, and a blade angle holding device 118 having the function of fixing or releasing the angle of the blade 116 relative to the round frame 112 is installed for each blade bearing 114.
At the same time, a gear 119 integrated with each blade shaft 115 and a blade angle meter 120 for detecting the blade angle are attached.
With the above configuration, it is possible to control the blade angle holding device in response to environmental conditions such as wind speed to hold the blades at an angle suitable for power generation, or to release the blades and allow them to flutter in the wind, thereby performing passive feathering.

When the blades 116 are exposed to wind, a torque is generated in the round frame 112. The configuration for obtaining a power output from this torque will be described below.
A plurality of round bars 121 are attached radially to the outer periphery of the drive jacket 110, and the tips of the round bars 121 are connected to the round frame 112. At the same time, a main shaft 122 extending downward through a hollow portion inside the support 109 is attached to the lower central portion of the drive jacket 110, and the main shaft 122 is connected to the drive shaft of a generator 123 installed below the base 107 through an opening in the base, thereby rotating the generator and generating power output.

Next, an example of a procedure for installing the vertical axis wind power generator on the sea according to the eighth embodiment is shown in Figs.
16 shows the situation where the wind turbine leaves the port of the manufacturing base with the tower and part of the wind turbine body assembled on the floating foundation 105. At the same time as the wind turbine leaves the port, the anchor 101 to be installed on the seabed and the mooring rope 102 required for mooring are also departed.
In FIG. 17, after the wind turbine generator arrives at the designated sea area, multiple anchors 101 are installed at predetermined positions on the seabed, and the floating base 105 and each anchor are connected with multiple ropes for mooring.

18 shows a state in which the wind turbine body is gradually raised upward while a tower extension pole 124 is being added to the tip of the tower 106. In the process of raising the wind turbine body, the lower blade 116 is attached to the blade shaft.
After the wind turbine body has been raised to a predetermined height in FIG. 19, the tower 106 and the truss 104 of the floating foundation are connected with a plurality of reinforcing ropes 108, completing the installation.

In contrast to horizontal axis propeller wind turbines, which have been the mainstream for power generation to date and have been put to practical use to date, this application proposes a vertical axis wind turbine configuration that does not require yaw control, which faces the wind-receiving surface into the wind, as required by horizontal axis propeller wind turbines, and is equipped with the necessary functions with the practical use of large machines in mind.
Currently, horizontal axis propeller wind turbines are produced by purchasing products from major overseas manufacturers and contracting out production of individual parts domestically, but if Japan can establish its own unique technology in the field of vertical axis wind turbines, it will be possible for them to be produced by many domestic machinery and parts manufacturers.
Furthermore, if it can be used for offshore wind power generation, it is thought that technology from domestic ship-related manufacturers may also be applicable.

1 Foundation 2 Tower 3 Pedestal 4 Support 5 Drive jacket 6 Hanger head 7 Round frame 8 Suspension wire or suspension bar
9: Blade bearing 10: Blade shaft 11: Blade 12: Disk 13: Blade angle holding device 14: (Blade angle meter) gear 15: Blade angle meter 16: Round bar 17: Main shaft 18: Generator 19: Arrow indicating wind direction 20: Blade cross section (Blade angle held)
21 Blade cross section (blade angle release state = passive feathering state)
22 Arrow showing the direction of force acting on the blade shaft 23 Arrow showing the direction of rotation of the wind turbine body 24 Reinforcement plate of the support 25 Hook 26 Coupling 27 Speed increaser 28 Drive shaft of the generator 29 Thrust bearing (of the drive jacket) 30 Radial bearing (of the drive jacket) 31 Radial bearing (of the lower part of the main shaft) 32 Pivot bearing device 33 Thrust bearing (of the pivot bearing device) 34 Radial bearing (of the pivot bearing device) 35 Lower bearing device 36 Thrust bearing (of the lower bearing device) 37 Radial bearing (of the lower bearing device) 38 Drive rope 39 Gear (of the drive jacket) 40 Pinion gear 41 Cylindrical shaft 42 Fixed flange 43 Conical shaft 44 Ball bearing (of the pivot bearing) 45 Brake disk (of the generator drive shaft) 46 Brake device (of the generator drive shaft) 47 Ladder 48 Hatch 49 (missing number)

50 Measurement tower 51 Control panel 52 Wind vane 53 Wind direction signal 54 Anemometer 55 Wind speed signal 56 Angle meter for blades (1) to (6) 57 Angle signal for blades (1) to (6) 58 Rotational speed meter for wind turbine body 59 Rotational speed signal for wind turbine body 60 Generator output meter 61 Generator output signal 62 Power system 63 Power system signal (power outage signal, power demand rate signal, etc.)
64 Blade (1) to (6) angle maintaining device 65 Blade (1) to (6) angle maintaining device NO/OFF command signal 66 Generator or electric motor 67 Command signal to rotate generator as electric motor 68 Brake device of generator drive shaft 69 Brake device ON/OFF command signal of generator drive shaft 70 Graphic representing start or end point on flowchart 71 Arrow representing input of signal information on flowchart 72 Graphic representing decision using signal information on flowchart 73 Graphic representing operation of each device on flowchart

74 to 100 (missing numbers)

101 Anchor 102 Mooring line 103 Float 104 Truss 105 Float foundation 106 Tower 107 Base 108 Reinforcement line 109 Support 110 Driving jacket 111 Hanger head 112 Round frame 113 Suspension wire or suspension bar
114 Blade bearing 115 Blade shaft 116 Blade 117 Disk 118 Blade angle holding device 119 (for blade angle meter) gear 120 Blade angle meter 121 Round bar 122 Main shaft 123 Generator 124 Tower extension pole

Claims (8)

In a vertical axis wind generator, a frame to which a plurality of blades formed in the vertical direction are attached is held on a vertical support in a state in which the frame can rotate horizontally around the support, and the rotational force of the frame generated by wind hitting the blades is transmitted to a generator to generate electricity. A round frame that is circular or polygonal when viewed from above is held on the vertical support in a state in which the frame can rotate horizontally around the support, and a plurality of blade bearings are installed on the round frame at equal angular intervals in the horizontal direction, and a blade shaft with a central axis that is rotatable in the vertical direction is attached to the blade bearing, and by attaching blades that extend in the vertical direction to the upper and lower sides of the blade shaft, the blades are rotated in the horizontal direction around the blade shaft. a blade angle holding device having a function of stopping or releasing the horizontal rotation of the blade shaft, and a blade angle meter for detecting the angle of the blade, a drive jacket which fits onto the support and can rotate horizontally is attached, the drive jacket and the round frame are connected by a plurality of round bars which protrude horizontally from the outer periphery of the drive jacket, and the rotational force of the round frame is transmitted to the drive jacket, and the rotational force of the drive jacket is transmitted to the drive shaft of a generator, causing the generator to rotate and generate electricity.
2. The vertical axis wind generator according to claim 1, wherein the blade shaft according to claim 1 is attached to the tip side of the blade relative to the center of gravity in a horizontal cross section of the blade according to claim 1, so that the tip of the blade faces upwind when the blade angle holding device according to claim 1 is opened.
The support column described in claim 1 is fixed on a base at the top end of a tower installed on a foundation on the ground or offshore, the drive jacket described in claim 1 is held by a thrust bearing installed on the top of the support column and a radial bearing installed on the top of the support column, and is configured to be engaged with the support column and rotate horizontally, and the round frame described in claim 1 is hung at the same height as the drive jacket in a state of being horizontally rotatable in a form connected to a hanger head installed above the drive jacket and a plurality of hanging wires or hanging bars, and at the same time, the outer periphery of the drive jacket and the round frame are connected with the round bar described in claim 1 to form the round frame. 2. The vertical axis wind generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational force of the frame is transmitted to the drive jacket to generate a rotational force, a main shaft integrated with the drive jacket is attached to the center of the drive jacket, the main shaft extends downward through the space inside the support, the main shaft passes through an opening of the base and protrudes below the base, and a lower part of the main shaft is supported by a radial bearing held by the base, and the drive shaft of the generator according to claim 1 is directly connected to the main shaft, or a speed increaser that increases the rotation speed is connected to the main shaft, and the drive shaft of the generator according to claim 1 is connected to the output shaft of the speed increaser.
The support column according to claim 1 is fixed on a base at the upper end of a tower installed on a foundation on the ground or offshore, a pivot bearing device capable of supporting a downward load and a horizontal load is installed on the upper end of the support column, and the round frame according to claim 1 is suspended in a horizontally rotatable state by a plurality of suspension wires or suspension bars attached to the outer periphery of the pivot bearing device, and the drive jacket according to claim 1 is attached at the same height as the round frame in a state of being fitted to the support column and being horizontally rotatable, and the round bar according to claim 1 is attached to the outer surface of the drive jacket. 2. The vertical axis wind generator according to claim 1, characterized in that by connecting the tip and the round frame with a plurality of drive ropes, the rotational force of the round frame is transmitted to the drive jacket, generating a rotational force in the drive jacket, and further comprising a gear attached to the outer periphery of the drive jacket, a pinion gear meshing with the gear, and a drive shaft of the generator according to claim 1 directly connected to the rotating shaft of the pinion gear, or a speed increaser that increases the rotation speed is connected to the rotating shaft of the pinion gear, and the drive shaft of the generator according to claim 1 is connected to the output shaft of the speed increaser.
A vertical axis wind generator according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that a brake device is attached to the rotating shaft of the pinion gear according to claim 4 or the drive shaft of the generator according to claim 3 or claim 4, and when the generator is in an unloaded state, the rotation of the pinion gear and the drive shaft of the generator is stopped, whereby the rotation of the main shaft according to claim 3 is stopped, and further the rotation of the drive jacket according to claim 3 or claim 4 is stopped, and the rotation of the round frame according to claim 3 or claim 4 connected to the drive jacket is stopped.
A vertical axis wind generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a ladder on which workers can walk is attached to the support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the drive jacket according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the round bar according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the drive rope according to claim 4, and the round frame according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A vertical axis wind generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a control panel for controlling the blade angle holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the brake device according to claim 5, wherein the control panel receives signals necessary for operation such as a wind speed signal measured by an anemometer installed in the vicinity of the vertical axis wind generator, a blade angle signal from a blade angle meter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a signal from a tachometer attached to the drive jacket according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a power generation output signal of the generator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a signal of an operation state of a power system, and controls the blade angle holding device and the brake device using those signals.
In a vertical axis wind generator, a frame to which a plurality of blades formed in the vertical direction are attached is held on a vertical support in a state in which the frame can rotate horizontally around the support, and the rotational force of the frame generated by wind hitting the blades is transmitted to a generator to generate electricity. A round frame, which is circular or polygonal when viewed from above, is held on the vertical support in a state in which the frame can rotate horizontally. A plurality of blade bearings are installed on the round frame at equal angular intervals in the horizontal direction, and a blade shaft whose central axis is rotatable in the vertical direction is attached to the blade bearing. By attaching blades extending in the vertical direction to the upper and lower sides of the blade shaft, the blades are held in the blade bearing in a rotatable state integral with the blade shaft, and the blade shaft is rotated horizontally. a blade angle holding device having a function of stopping or releasing the blade, and a blade angle meter for detecting the angle of the blade, a drive jacket which is fitted to the support and can rotate horizontally is attached, and a plurality of round bars extending horizontally from the outer periphery of the drive jacket connect the drive jacket and the round frame, so that the rotational force of the round frame is transmitted to the drive jacket, and the rotational force of the drive jacket is transmitted to the drive shaft of a generator, which rotates the generator and generates electricity. The vertical axis wind generator is characterized in that the support of the vertical axis wind generator is installed on a tower that is installed on the seabed and protrudes above the sea surface, or is installed on a tower that is installed on a floating foundation that is connected to an anchor laid on the seabed by a mooring rope and floats and moored at a certain position on the sea surface.