WO2013094623A1 - Wind energy recovery device and wind power generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a wind energy recovery device and wind power generation device that can continuously extract rotational force from the tractive force of a kite, and that can efficiently convert the tractive force of the kite into the rotational force. The present invention has: a kite (2) that floats in air under the force of wind; a draw cable (3) for drawing the kite (2); a control cable (4) for controlling the motion of the kite (2); a control unit (5) for controlling the tensile force of the control cable (4); a power lever (6) capable of reciprocating turning motion, the power lever (6) being connected to the control unit (5); and a power output means (7) for converting and outputting the reciprocating turning motion into rotational motion, the power output means (7) being connected to the power lever (6). The tensile force of the control cable (4) is controlled by the control unit (5), whereby the motion of the kite (2) is controlled, and the kite (2) is made to move left and right in a reciprocating manner so that the trajectory substantially forms an arcuate shape, whereby the power lever (6) is driven and power is outputted.

Description

Wind energy recovery device and wind power generation device

The present invention relates to a wind energy recovery apparatus and a wind power generation apparatus, and more particularly, to a wind energy recovery apparatus and a wind power generation apparatus that use the motion characteristics of a wing-type kite.

As a power generator using wind energy, a propeller type utilizing the rotation of a propeller blade is generally put into practical use. On the other hand, although a power generation device that uses the traction force of an airfoil kite that floats in the air has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2), the traction force of the kite is efficiently converted into a continuous rotational force. This is insufficient and has not been put into practical use.

For example, in the power generation device described in Patent Document 1, when the swimming body (kite) moves away from the base body, the hoisting machine rotates to generate electric power, and the hoisting machine is rotated by the electric motor to rotate the swimming body (kite). ) Close to the base. Further, the power generation device described in Patent Document 2 generates power by rotating the winch when the wing-like member (kite) rises, and lowers the wing-like member (kite) by rotating the winch with a motor. I have to.

Japanese Patent No. 4208153 Special table 2009-534254

As described above, the use of wind power, which is a renewable natural energy, has already been put into practical use as a propeller-type wind power generator. However, when the manufacturing cost of the device is compared with the unit price of power generation, generally other power generators (for example, , Thermal power generation devices, nuclear power generation devices, etc.) are currently relatively high. Moreover, although the scale merit comes out by increasing the size of the device, the construction cost of incidental facilities also increases, and it is not economically competitive with fossil fuel power generation such as thermal power generation.

On the other hand, as described above, a power generation device using wind energy received by a winged kite levitating in the air has already been proposed, but one of the ropes (ropes, control strings, mooring lines, etc.) connected to the kite. The problem is how to efficiently convert the traction force in the direction into the rotational force. In particular, the method of rewinding the cable body pulled out at the time of the work of the traction force of the kite with the electric motor or the like as in the power generation apparatus described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 releases a part of the recovered energy. At the same time, the extraction of the continuous rotational force is hindered, and the energy recovery efficiency is reduced.

In addition, if the wing type kite is made of cloth, the manufacturing cost is low, and if the wing area of the kite is increased, the wind energy received by the kite levitating in the air will be considerably increased, and the traction force of the kite will be efficiently converted into rotational force. If it is possible, a highly economical wind power generator can be obtained.

The present invention was devised in view of such problems, and it is possible to continuously extract the rotational force from the traction force of the kite, and to efficiently convert the traction force of the kite into the rotational force. It aims at providing a device and a wind power generator.

According to the present invention, a kite that floats in response to wind power, a main rope that pulls the kite, a control line that controls the movement of the kite, a control unit that controls the tension of the control line, A power lever connected to the control unit and capable of reciprocating rotation; and a power output means coupled to the power lever for converting the reciprocating rotation into a rotational motion and outputting the same. The movement of the kite is controlled by controlling the power, and the power lever is driven to output power by reciprocating the kite left and right so as to draw a substantially arc-shaped locus. A wind energy recovery device is provided.

The control line has a left control line connected to the left side of the kite and a right control line connected to the right side of the kite, and the control unit includes the left control line and the right control line. By alternately pulling or drawing the kite, the left and right moving directions of the kite are controlled, and by simultaneously pulling or drawing the left and right control ropes, the angle of attack of the entire kite is adjusted to You may be comprised so that a moving direction may be controlled.

In addition, the wind energy recovery device has kite position measuring means including a transmitter disposed on the main rope and a receiver disposed on the power lever, and receives a signal from the transmitter. The control line may be controlled by measuring the position of the kite received by the receiver and transmitting the measurement result to the control unit.

The wind energy recovery apparatus includes a gantry that supports the power lever and the power output means, and the gantry is rotatably arranged according to a wind direction, and the power lever and the power output means according to a wind speed. Thus, the tilt angle may be changed and supported.

The power output means includes a first gear rotated by the power lever, a second gear and a third gear meshed with the first gear, and an output connected to the second gear and the third gear. And the second gear and the third gear incorporate a clutch mechanism, and the second gear is configured to be rotatable when the first gear is rotated forward and to be slipped when the first gear is rotated. The gear may include power conversion means configured to be rotatable when the first gear is reversely rotated and slipped when the normal gear is rotated.

The power lever includes a built-in hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor connected to the hydraulic pump, and an elastic body that urges the piston of the hydraulic pump inward, the piston of the hydraulic pump The main rope is connected to the tip of the main body, and the hydraulic motor is driven to output power by moving the piston by a balance between the lift of the kite and the biasing force of the elastic body. Good.

In addition, the wind energy recovery apparatus may include kite recovery means configured to be able to grip and retract the main rope and the control rope above the control unit, or a part of the kite. A kite levitation assisting means configured to be able to be lifted upward in a state of gripping may be provided.

Further, the kite may include a plurality of kite units including the kite, the main rope, the control rope, the control unit, and the power lever, and each of the kite units may be connected to the power output unit.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a wind power generator comprising the above-described wind energy recovery device and having a generator connected to the power output means. The wind power generator may have a storage battery connected to the generator.

According to the wind energy recovery apparatus and the wind power generator according to the present invention described above, the power lever can be reciprocated to the left and right by positively reciprocating the kite to the left and right. By converting to motion, power can be extracted from the wind power. Accordingly, the rotational force can be continuously extracted from the kite's traction force, and the kite's traction force can be efficiently converted into the rotational force.

In addition, the fabric wing kite has almost no restrictions on the structural strength associated with the expansion of the wing area, and the cost of upsizing can be kept low. By increasing the size of the kite blade area, it is possible to obtain a larger traction force, and the driving force of the generator is increased in proportion thereto, so that the power generation cost can be significantly reduced. In general, since the wind speed increases in proportion to the ground altitude, it is possible to easily recover a large amount of wind energy by extending the main rope of the kite and increasing the flying height of the kite.

Furthermore, propeller-type wind power generators have problems with noise from propeller wind noise and low-frequency vibration, but in general, noise from kite is much smaller than wind noise from propellers, and the neighborhood residents And the influence on the surrounding environment can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic block diagram which shows the wind energy recovery apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, (a) is the front view which turned the upwind direction back, (b) has shown the side view. It is a perspective view which shows a kite. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a steering unit, (a) is a front view, (b) has shown the side view. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a motive power output means, (a) is a front view, (b) has shown the side view. It is a schematic block diagram of the gear mechanism which shows a power conversion means, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view at the time of the left rotation of a 1st gear, (c) is CC cross section in FIG.5 (b). FIG. 5D is a side view of the first gear when the right gear is rotated to the right, and FIG. 5E is a clutch mechanism diagram of the EE cross section in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which shows a mount frame. It is a figure which shows the movement state of a kite, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a top view, (d) has shown the arrangement of the force which arises in a kite. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the traction force of a kite and a power lever, (a) is a front view at the time of a right turn, (b) is a side view, (c) is a front view at the time of a left turn, (d) is a power It is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotational moment of a lever, and the rotational speed of a generator. It is a figure which shows the wind energy recovery apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, (a) is a front view of a power output means, (b) is a side view of a power output means, (c) is the piston details of a hydraulic pump FIG. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the traction force of a kite and a power lever in 2nd embodiment, (a) is a change of the axial component at the time of a right turn, (b) is a change of the axial component at the time of a left turn, c) shows a change in the rotational direction component during a right turn, and (d) shows a change in the rotational direction component during a left turn. It is a whole lineblock diagram showing a signal and electric power system of a wind power generator concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows a kite collection | recovery means, (a) has shown the state at the time of collection | recovery start, (b) has shown the state at the time of collection completion. It is a figure which shows the head part of the kite collection | recovery means shown in FIG. 12, (a) is a side view, (b) has shown the top view. It is a figure which shows a kite levitation | floating assistance means. It is a figure which shows the head part of the kite floating assistance means shown in FIG. 14, (a) is a side view, (b) has shown the front view. It is a figure which shows the wind energy recovery apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention, (a) is a schematic block diagram, (b) is a conceptual diagram which shows the operating method of a kite, (c) is a deformation | transformation of the operating method of a kite. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a wind energy recovery apparatus and a wind power generation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the wind energy recovery apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a front view with the upwind direction as the back, and (b) is a side view. Show. In FIG. 1B, illustrations of the control rope and the control unit are omitted for convenience of explanation.

A wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a kite 2 that floats in the sky by receiving wind power, a main rope 3 that pulls the kite 2, a control rope 4 that controls the movement of the kite 2, A control unit 5 for controlling the tension of the control line 4, a power lever 6 connected to the control unit 5 and capable of reciprocating rotation, and a power output means connected to the power lever 6 for converting the reciprocating rotation into a rotational motion and outputting it. 7, the movement of the kite 2 is controlled by controlling the tension of the control line 4 by the control unit 5, and the kite 2 is reciprocated left and right so as to draw a substantially arc-shaped trajectory. The lever 6 is driven to output power.

In the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the traction force of the main rope 3 is formed by the combined force of lift and drag generated in the kite 2 by the wind force, and the traction force of the main rope 3 acting in the sky direction (upward). As shown in Fig. 1 (a), the direction of the traction force of the main rope 3 is greatly changed by using the characteristics of the movement of the kite 2 and swinging the kite 2 in the sky to the left and right. The power lever 6 that draws a fan-shaped trajectory and reciprocally rotates receives a traction force, converts it into power, and outputs it. Moreover, a wind power generator can be easily configured by connecting a generator to the power output means 7.

Here, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the kite. As shown in FIG. 2, the kite 2 has, for example, a symmetrical airfoil shape, and is made of a strong cloth such as a chemical fiber. For the kite 2, for example, a kite made of wing-type cloth used in marine sports such as kite surfing can be used. The kite 2 is stretched on the front edge portion 21 constituted by an air tube, the vertical bone 22 constituted by an air tube arranged substantially at right angles to the front edge portion 21, and the front edge portion 21 and the vertical bone 22. Sheet 23. The front edge portion 21 and the longitudinal bone 22 form a skeleton of the kite 2, and the sheet 23 forms a pressure receiving surface that receives wind. With this configuration, the kite 2 having a flexible structure that is lightweight and highly durable can be manufactured. A shape maintaining rope 24 for maintaining a curved shape may be connected to the front edge portion 21 of the kite 2.

The main rope 3 and the control rope 4 are connected to the kite 2. For example, one end of the main rope 3 is connected to the left and right ends of the shape maintaining rope 24, and the other end is connected to the steering unit 5. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the main rope 3 is conceptually illustrated by a single line. The control rope 4 has, for example, a fixed end 41 having one end connected to the rear end portion of the kite 2 and a movable end 42 connected to the main rope 3 via pulleys 25 arranged on the left and right side portions of the kite 2. And the other end is connected to the steering unit 5. The control line 4 includes a left control line 4L connected to the left side of the kite 2 and a right control line 4R connected to the right side of the kite 2.

With this configuration, the kite 2 can maintain an appropriate airfoil shape in the airflow by the tension of the shape maintaining rope 24, the main rope 3, and the control rope 4. In addition, the tension of the control rope 4 can be arbitrarily adjusted by extending or retracting the control rope 4 (the left control rope 4L and the right control rope 4R), and the wind can be received by changing the shape of the kite 2. The kite 2 can be moved left and right and up and down. The main rope 3 and the control rope 4 are made of steel wire, nylon wire, or the like, and have sufficient strength to withstand the traction force generated according to the area of the kite 2.

For example, pulling one control line 4 causes a difference in the angle of attack at which the kite 2 receives the wind, and the kite 2 moves greatly in the direction in which the control line 4 is pulled. Differences in the speed and direction of movement of the kite 2 due to the difference in length and speed with which the control line 4 is pulled in, the pilot unit 5 is automatically operated so as to obtain the maximum kite traction force according to the wind speed. Further, for example, the angle of attack of the kite 2 can be increased by pulling both the control ropes 4 at the same time, and the angle of attack of the kite 2 can be reduced by extending both the control lines 4 simultaneously. Accordingly, the angle of attack for receiving the wind is adjusted according to the wind speed, and the maneuvering unit 5 is automatically operated so as to obtain the maximum kite traction force.

Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the steering unit, where (a) shows a front view and (b) shows a side view. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 5 rotates the control plate 51 and a substantially semicircular control plate 51 to which the control rope 4 (the left control rope 4L and the right control rope 4R) is connected at both ends. The rotary motor 52, the control board 51, the raising / lowering stand 53 which supports the turning motor 52, the raising / lowering motor 54 which raises / lowers the raising / lowering stand 53, and the casing 55 which accommodates these are included. A coupling fitting 56 to which the main rope 3 is connected is disposed on the top of the casing 55.

The control plate 51 is connected to a lift 53 so as to be rotatable, and is connected to a rotation motor 52 via a worm gear mechanism. Therefore, by driving the rotation motor 52, the control plate 51 can be moved left and right like a pendulum, the one side control line 4 (for example, the left side control line 4L) is drawn, and the one side control line 4 (for example, , The right control rope 4R) can be extended. Further, the lifting / lowering base 53 is connected to the lifting / lowering motor 54 via a ball screw mechanism, and the lifting / lowering base 53 can be slid inside the casing 55 by driving the lifting / lowering motor 54. Accordingly, the control line 4 (the left control line 4L and the right control line 4R) can be pulled in and out simultaneously, and the angle of attack of the entire kite 2 can be adjusted.

That is, the control line 4 includes a left control line 4L connected to the left side of the kite 2 and a right control line 4R connected to the right side of the kite 2. The control unit 5 includes the left control line 4L and the right side. By alternately pulling in or pulling out the control line 4R, the left and right movement directions of the kite 2 are controlled, and by adjusting the angle of attack of the entire kite 2 by simultaneously pulling in or drawing out the left control line 4L and the right control line 4R. Thus, the vertical movement direction is controlled.

For example, when the kite 2 is turned right from the state in which the kite 2 is located in the center, that is, the left control line 4L and the right control line 4R are in the neutral state, the state in which the right control line 4R is retracted is constant. The time is held, and the right control rope 4R is returned to the neutral state before the power lever 6 moves to the right end. When the power lever 6 reaches the right end or immediately before reaching the right end, the left control rope 4L is instantaneously pulled to change the direction of the kite 2 to return to the neutral state. The kite 2 receives the wind and moves naturally to the center position.

Next, when turning the kite 2 to the left, the state in which the left control rope 4L is retracted is maintained for a certain time, and the left control rope 4L is returned to the neutral state before the power lever 6 moves to the left end. When the power lever 6 reaches the left end or immediately before reaching the left end, the right control rope 4R is instantaneously pulled to change the direction of the kite 2 to return to the neutral state. The kite 2 receives the wind and moves naturally to the center position.

繰 り 返 す By repeating the above-mentioned right turn and left turn operations, the kite 2 reciprocates left and right. The operation of the control rope 4 (the left control rope 4L and the right control rope 4R) described above may be automatically controlled according to programming by simulation according to the installation environment, or may be controlled by feedback control after measuring the wind speed. It may be.

The driving mechanism of the control plate 51 and the lifting platform 53 is not limited to the illustrated one. For example, the control plate 51 or the lifting platform 53 may be operated by an electric actuator that does not use a gear mechanism. It is also possible to connect to an actuator that can be pulled in or out independently, and to individually control the steering and the angle of attack.

Further, the control unit 5 is connected to the power lever 6 via a connecting rod 57. The connecting rod 57 is disposed on the center line extending from the lower end of the steering unit 5 and is connected to the power lever 6 via the universal joint 58, for example. The universal joint 58 has a degree of freedom of 180 ° at each joint part, and is configured so as not to interfere with the movement of the kite 2 and is made of a material with little wear damage. The connecting rod 57 may be made of the same material as that of the main rope 3 and the control rope 4. In this case, the universal joint 58 may be omitted.

Also, when operating the kite 2, it is necessary to accurately grasp the position of the power lever 6 and the position of the kite 2. Therefore, a kite position measuring means 59 provided with a transmitter 59s disposed on the main rope 3 and a receiver 59r disposed on the power lever 6 is installed, and a signal from the transmitter 59s is received by the receiver 59r. The control rope 4 may be controlled by receiving and measuring the relative position of the kite 2 and transmitting the measurement result to the control unit 5. For example, the transmitter 59 s is disposed on the back surface of the casing 55 of the steering unit 5, and the receiver 59 r is disposed at the tip of the power lever 6. Although not shown, the control unit 5 is provided with a control base for controlling the driving of the control plate 51 and the lifting platform 53.

Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the power output means, where (a) shows a front view and (b) shows a side view. The power output means 7 includes, for example, a housing 71 that rotatably supports the power lever 6, a sector gear 72 that is connected to the power lever 6, and a power conversion means that includes a gear train connected to the sector gear 72. 73 and a generator 74 connected to the power conversion means 73. Thus, when the motive power output means 7 has the generator 74, the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 functions as what is called a wind power generator.

The housing 71 is a member that supports the power lever 6 and the power output means 7. The housing 71 is rotatably connected at one end side to a mount 8 arranged on the floor surface, and the other end side by an actuator 81. It is supported so that it can move up and down. Therefore, the housing 71 is configured so that the inclination angle can be changed. For example, the inclination angle is adjusted so that the extending direction of the main rope 3 and the direction of the rotating surface of the power lever 6 coincide.

The sector gear 72 is fixed so that the center of rotation coincides with the center of rotation of the power lever 6, and the center line thereof is disposed so as to coincide with the axis of the power lever 6. The sector gear 72 has teeth cut on an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface, and constitutes a gear that reciprocates between a broken line and a solid line shown in FIG. The rotation angle of the power lever 6 is set within a range in which the sector gear 72 can move within the housing 71, for example, a range of about 90 ° to 100 °.

Here, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gear mechanism showing power conversion means, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view when the first gear is rotated counterclockwise, and (c) is FIG. The clutch mechanism diagram of CC section in b), (d) is a side view when the first gear rotates clockwise, and (e) is the clutch mechanism diagram of EE section in FIG. 5 (d). . The power output means 7 includes, for example, a first gear 731 rotated by the power lever 6, a second gear 732 and a third gear 733 meshed with the first gear 731, and a second gear 732 and a third gear 733. The second gear 732 and the third gear 733 incorporate a clutch mechanism 737, and the second gear 732 can rotate when the first gear 731 rotates in the forward direction and can slip when the first gear 731 rotates in the reverse direction. The third gear 733 includes power conversion means 73 configured to be rotatable when the first gear 731 is reversely rotated and slipped when the first gear 731 is forwardly rotated. The clutch mechanism 737 is a so-called one-way clutch, but the clutch mechanism 737 is not limited to this as long as the rotation of the gear can be restricted in one direction.

The first gear 731 includes a first small gear 731s that meshes with the sector gear 72, and a first large gear 731b that is integrated with the first small gear 731s and rotates in the same direction. The second gear 732 includes a second small gear 732 s that meshes with the first large gear 731 b, and a second large gear 732 b that is connected to the second small gear 732 s via a clutch mechanism 737. The third gear 733 includes a third small gear 733 s that meshes with the first large gear 731 b, and a third large gear 733 b that is connected to the third small gear 733 s via a clutch mechanism 737.

Now, as shown in FIG. 5B, it is assumed that the first gear 731 is rotating in a certain direction (for example, counterclockwise). At this time, the second small gear 732 s and the third small gear 733 s that mesh with the first large gear 731 b rotate (rotate clockwise) in the opposite direction to the first gear 731. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, the clutch mechanism 737 of the third gear 733 is configured to slip, so that no force is transmitted to the third large gear 733b. On the other hand, since the clutch mechanism 737 of the second gear 732 is configured to lock, the second large gear 732b rotates (rotates clockwise) in the same direction as the second small gear 732s. Further, the second large gear 732 b is in mesh with the fourth gear 734, and the fourth gear 734 is configured to mesh with the fifth gear 735. Accordingly, with the rotation of the second gear 732, the fourth gear 734 rotates in the opposite direction (left rotation), the fifth gear 735 rotates in the same direction (right rotation), and rotates the output shaft 736 clockwise. Will be allowed to. At this time, the third large gear 733b meshes with the fifth gear 735, but the clutch mechanism 737 slips, so that the third gear 733 does not hinder the rotation of the output shaft 736. .

Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, it is assumed that the first gear 731 is rotating in the opposite direction (for example, clockwise rotation). At this time, the second small gear 732 s and the third small gear 733 s that mesh with the first large gear 731 b rotate (counterclockwise) in the opposite direction to the first gear 731. As shown in FIG. 5E, since the clutch mechanism 737 of the third gear 733 is configured to lock, the third large gear 733b rotates in the same direction as the third small gear 733s. Turn counterclockwise. Further, the third large gear 733 b is configured to mesh with the fifth gear 735, and with the rotation of the third gear 733, the fifth gear 735 rotates in the opposite direction (rightward rotation), and the output shaft 736. Will be rotated clockwise. On the other hand, since the clutch mechanism 737 of the second gear 732 is configured to slip, it does not transmit force to the second large gear 732b. At this time, the fifth gear 735 is connected to the second large gear 732b via the fourth gear 734. However, since the clutch mechanism 737 is in a slipping state, the second gear 732 is connected to the output shaft 736. Does not hinder the rotation.

According to the power conversion means 73 having the gear train described above, even when the sector gear 72 reciprocates in conjunction with the power lever 6, the output shaft 736 can always be rotated in a constant direction. A continuous unidirectional rotational motion can be extracted from the rotational motion. Further, the rotation speed can be amplified by passing through the plurality of gears, and the rotation speed suitable for power generation by the generator 74 can be easily obtained.

By the way, immediately before the turning direction of the power lever 6 is reversed, the turning speed is reduced and temporarily stopped when the turning is reversed, so that the rotational motion output from the output shaft 736 is pulsated. However, the rotating speed of the output shaft 736 changes smoothly because the inertial force of the gear rotating idly by the clutch mechanism and the rotor of the generator 74 acts. Moreover, as shown in FIG.4 (b), the storage battery 75 electrically connected to the generator 74 is arrange | positioned to the mount frame 8, and electricity is stored temporarily and the stable electric power supply is performed. It can also be done.

Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the gantry 8. The gantry 8 has a central axis 82 set so as to be rotatable with respect to the floor surface, and is configured to rotate on a rail 83 laid on the floor surface. Specifically, the gantry 8 includes a wheel 84 that is disposed on the bottom surface and can roll on the rail 83, and a rotation motor 85 that drives the wheel 84. As shown in FIG. 4B, the power lever 6 and the power output means 7 are arranged on the gantry 8, and the power output means 7 (housing 71) can be adjusted in inclination angle by the actuator 81. It is configured as follows. In FIG. 6, illustrations of the power output means 7 and the actuator 81 are omitted.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4B, a wind direction / anemometer 9 is arranged around the gantry 8, and the wind direction and the wind speed are regularly observed. The measured wind direction and wind speed are converted into an average value for a certain period of time (for example, every 10 to 15 minutes), and the gantry 8 is rotated based on the average value of the wind direction and wind speed, or the power output means 7 (housing) By tilting 71), the kite 2 can be directly opposed to the wind, and the horizontal angle between the power lever 6 and the main rope 3 can be substantially matched. That is, the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a gantry 8 that supports the power lever 6 and the power output means 7, and the gantry 8 is disposed so as to be rotatable according to the wind direction. It is supported on the gantry 8 so as to be movable and change the inclination angle according to the wind speed. In addition, the calculation time of the average value of the wind direction and the wind speed described above is not limited to the time described above, and can be appropriately set depending on the installation environment or the like.

Next, the operation of the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 described above will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the movement state of the kite, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a plan view, and (d) is an arrangement diagram of forces generated in the kite, Is shown. FIG. 8 is a view showing the positional relationship between the kite traction force and the power lever, where (a) is a front view when turning right, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a front view when turning left. (D) is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotational moment of a power lever, and the rotational speed of a generator.

7 (a) to (c), the kite 2 moves on the imaginary spherical surface V on the leeward side centered on the lower end portion of the main rope 3 by the operation of the control rope 4. As shown in FIG. 7 (d), the kite 2 levitating above has an angle of attack θ, and the kite 2 and the rope (main rope 3 and control rope 4) have a kite weight Gk and a rope weight Gr. The lift force L, the drag force D, the combined force R, and the traction force F are acting. Now, it is assumed that the kite 2 descends downward in order from the upper position P1 on the phantom spherical surface V to the positions P2 and P3. At this time, as the kite 2 moves from the position P1 to the positions P2 and P3, the angle of attack θ increases and the traction force F also increases. Therefore, in order to efficiently transmit the traction force F when the kite 2 descends downward to the power lever 6, the actuator 81 is operated so that the reciprocating rotation surface of the power lever 6 is in the leeward direction, for example, from the vertical line. The angle φ is inclined so as to be within a range of 45 ° to 60 °. The optimum value of the inclination angle changes depending on the wind speed, and is appropriately set based on the measurement result of the wind direction / anemometer 9.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the power lever 6 turns to the right, the rotation acting on the power lever 6 during the period from when the power lever 6 is tilted to the left end until it moves to the right end. The rotational direction component Fm of the traction force F of the main rope 3 causing the moment changes in size and direction as Fm1 → Fm2 → Fm3 → Fm4 → Fm5. Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the power lever 6 that has moved to the right end is a tractive force that acts on the power lever 6 during the period from the state where the power lever 6 has fallen to the right end to the left end (while turning left). The rotation direction component Fm of F changes in size and direction as follows: Fm6 → Fm7 → Fm8 → Fm9 → Fm10. That is, the largest rotational moment acts during the period from the state where the power lever 6 is tilted to the left and right (the state where Fm1 and Fm6 are acting) to the state where the power lever 6 stands vertically (the state where Fm3 and Fm8 are acting). Thereafter, the rotational moment gradually decreases and becomes zero at the moment of turning.

Therefore, the magnitude of the rotational moment draws a waveform as shown in FIG. Here, in the graph shown in FIG. 8D, the horizontal axis indicates time, the solid line indicates the rotational moment, and the broken line indicates the rotational speed of the generator 74. Times t1 to t10 correspond to rotational direction components Fm1 to Fm10 of the traction force F, respectively. Further, as described above, the generator 74 is rotated in one direction by the power conversion means 73, and due to its inertial force or the like, the rotational speed draws a waveform that is smoother than the rotational moment.

Subsequently, a wind energy recovery apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Here, FIG. 9 is a figure which shows the wind energy recovery apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention, (a) is a front view of a power output means, (b) is a side view of a power output means, (c) ) Shows a detailed view of the piston of the hydraulic pump. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the traction force of the kite and the power lever in the second embodiment, where (a) shows the change in the axial direction component when turning right, and (b) shows the axis when turning left. A change in direction component, (c) shows a change in rotational direction component during a right turn, and (d) shows a change in rotational direction component during a left turn. In addition, about the same component as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the power lever 6 is configured to be extendable and retracted, and the traction force F of the main rope 3 by the kite 2 is further recovered to improve the energy recovery rate. Specifically, the power lever 6 has a built-in hydraulic pump 61, a hydraulic motor 62 connected to the hydraulic pump 61, and an elastic body 63 that urges the piston 61p of the hydraulic pump 61 inward. The main rope 3 is connected to the tip of the piston 61p of the hydraulic pump 61. The piston 61p is moved by the balance between the axial component Fs of the traction force F of the kite 2 and the urging force of the elastic body 63, so that the hydraulic pressure is increased. The motor 62 is driven to output power.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the traction force F of the main rope 3 acting on the power lever 6 is a rotational direction component Fm that gives a rotational moment to the power lever 6 and an axial direction acting on the axis of the power lever 6. Vector decomposition can be performed on the component Fs. The rotational direction component Fm can be recovered by the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment described above. In the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the above-described hydraulic pump 61 or the like is used to further recover energy by the axial component Fs.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the tip of the piston 61p built in the power lever 6 is configured to protrude from the tip of the power lever 6, and the tip of the piston 61p The main rope 3 is connected. Therefore, when the main rope 3 is pulled by the kite 2, the piston 61 p is pulled up in the axial direction of the power lever 6 while overcoming the urging force of the elastic body 63 and compressing the elastic body 63. At this time, the piston 61p generates hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic pump 61 and rotates the hydraulic motor 62. The hydraulic motor 62 is connected to the second generator 64 via an amplifier, for example, and can drive the second generator 64 by the rotation of the hydraulic motor 62 to generate electric power.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, the piston 61 p is provided with a check valve 61 v at a head portion that slides within the hydraulic pump 61, and the piston 61 p moves upward in the axial direction of the power lever 6. In this case, the check valve 61v is closed so that the pressure can be increased, and when the piston 61p moves downward in the axial direction of the power lever 6, the check valve 61v is opened and no load is applied. In the hydraulic pump 61, the power lever 6 may be an outer cylinder, or a cylinder member that encloses hydraulic oil may be disposed inside the power lever 6.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, when the power lever 6 turns right and left, the axial component Fs of the traction force F increases as the power lever 6 moves toward the turning point. When the power lever 6 reaches the turning point and the kite 2 finishes changing the direction, the size becomes substantially zero. Accordingly, the piston 61p is pushed back downward in the axial direction by the restoring force of the elastic body 63 (for example, a coil spring) at the turning point of the power lever 6. That is, the piston 61p repeats expansion and contraction every time the power lever 6 reciprocates. As shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D, when the power lever 6 turns right and left, the rotational direction component Fm of the traction force F is an intermediate point where the power lever 6 goes to the turning point. And when it reaches the turning point, it becomes substantially zero.

With this configuration, the hydraulic pump 61 can generate hydraulic pressure each time the power lever 6 turns right or left, and the second generator 64 can generate power. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in addition to power generation (energy recovery) by the rotational direction component Fm of the traction force F, power generation (energy recovery) can also be performed by the axial direction component Fs of the traction force F, and wind energy recovery efficiency is improved. be able to. Since power generation by the second generator 64 also pulsates, it may be stored in the storage battery 75 as in the first embodiment.

Next, the signal and power system of the wind turbine generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 11 is an overall configuration diagram showing signals and a power system of the wind turbine generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated wind turbine generator is a wind energy recovery device 1 including a generator 74 and a second generator 64. In FIG. 11, for convenience of explanation, a state in which the control unit 5, the power lever 6, the power output means 7 (housing 71), the gantry 8, the generator 74, and the second generator 64 are separated is illustrated. . As illustrated, the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 and transmits a control signal from the control unit 10 to each component. For example, the control unit 10 may be mounted on the gantry 8 or may be arranged at a location separated from the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 and connected by wire or wirelessly.

The position signal s2 of the kite 2 is measured by the kite position measuring unit 59 and transmitted to the control unit 10. The position signal s6 of the power lever 6 is measured by phase measuring means (not shown) such as a rotary encoder and transmitted to the control unit 10. Further, the wind direction signal s91 and the wind speed signal s92 measured by the wind direction / anemometer 9 are transmitted to the control unit 10.

Based on the transmitted signals s2, s6, s91, and s92, the control unit 10 transmits a control signal to each device to be controlled by a preset program or a program that can learn past data. . For example, the control unit 10 transmits control signals s52 and s54 to the rotation motor 52 and the lifting motor 54 mounted on the control unit 5. The control unit 10 transmits a control signal s81 to the actuator 81 that adjusts the inclination angle of the power output means 7 (housing 71), and transmits a control signal s85 to the rotary motor 85 that adjusts the orientation of the gantry 8.

Further, the electric power generated by the generator 74 and the second generator 64 is stored in the storage battery 75. Most of the electric power stored in the storage battery 75 is externally supplied to a desired facility or the like, and a part of the electric power is driven by the above-described control devices (the rotation motor 52, the lifting motor 54, the actuator 81, the rotation motor 85), etc. Used as electric power.

Next, the kite collecting means will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the kite recovery means, where (a) shows the state at the start of recovery, and (b) shows the state at the completion of recovery. FIG. 13 is a view showing the head portion of the kite recovery means shown in FIG. 12, wherein (a) shows a side view and (b) shows a plan view. In addition, since the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 is the same structure as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 may include a kite recovery unit 11 configured to be able to grip and retract the main rope 3 and the steering rope 4 above the steering unit 5. . The kite collecting means 11 is constituted by, for example, a self-propelled arm car 111, and the self-propelled arm car 111 includes an arm 112 that can be raised and lowered, and a head portion 113 that can hold the main rope 3 and the control rope 4. Have.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), at the start of the recovery of the kite 2, after the self-propelled arm car 111 is moved to a predetermined position, the self-propelled arm car 111 is fixed to the anchor 114, and the arm 112 is Raise. At this time, the resistance at the time of recovery of the kite 2 can be reduced by operating the control rope 4 to reduce the angle of attack of the kite 2 and reducing the lift. And after holding the main rope 3 and the control rope 4 with the head part 113, these rope bodies are pulled down by frictional force etc., and the collected rope bodies are accommodated in containers, such as the bucket 115 arrange | positioned at the mount frame 8. . Then, after collecting the rope (main rope 3 and control rope 4) to the extent that it is safe to drop the kite 2 on the ground, the arm 112 is folded and lowered to collect the kite 2. The kite collecting means 11 is not limited to the illustrated configuration, and the self-propelled arm vehicle 111 may be a generally available aerial work vehicle or an arm vehicle that can be moved manually. It may be.

As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the head unit 113 includes, for example, two lower rollers 131 rotatably supported by the casing of the head unit 113, and a casing of the head unit 113. And an upper roller 132 that is rotatably arranged. The roller surfaces of the lower roller 131 and the upper roller 132 are preferably made of a soft material such as rubber and having high frictional resistance. Further, one lower roller 131 is connected to a drive motor 133 and is configured to be rotationally driven. The other lower roller 131 is configured to be rotationally driven by a power transmission mechanism 134 such as a belt / pulley. Has been.

The upper roller 132 is rotatably disposed on a rotation arm 136 that is rotatably supported by the casing of the head unit 113, and the rotation arm 136 is rotated by an actuator 135 built in the head unit 113. Is done. Accordingly, the upper roller 132 can be moved closer to or away from the lower roller 131 by operating the actuator 135. The upper roller 132 is rotated by frictional resistance by being pressed against the lower roller 131. When the head portion 113 grips the cable body (the main rope 3 and the control rope 4), the upper roller 132 rotates to a position separated from the lower roller 131, and the main roller 113 is interposed between the upper roller 132 and the lower roller 131. A gap that can sandwich the cord 3 is formed. Then, after the cable body is inserted between the upper roller 132 and the lower roller 131, the upper roller 132 is rotated to approach the lower roller 131 to be pressed.

Further, the head unit 113 has a fixed guide roll 137 and a movable guide roll 138 that restrict the lateral movement of the cable body. The fixed guide roll 137 has a length extending from the lower roller 131 to the upper roller 132, and restricts the ropes (main rope 3 and control rope 4) sandwiched between them from coming out from the side. The movable guide roll 138 is configured to be tiltable by an electric motor or the like, and is in a sleeping state when the rope body is sandwiched. The movable guide roll 138 stands up after the rope body is sandwiched, and is sandwiched in the same manner as the fixed guide roll 137. The cable body is restricted so that it does not come off from the side.

Subsequently, the kite levitation assisting means will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 14 is a view showing the kite levitation assisting means. FIGS. 15A and 15B are views showing the head portion of the kite levitation assisting means shown in FIG. 14, wherein FIG. 15A is a side view and FIG. 15B is a front view. In addition, since the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 is the same structure as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 14, the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 may include a kite levitation assisting unit 12 configured to be able to lift upward while holding a part of the kite 2. The kite levitation assisting means 12 has a configuration similar to that of the kite collecting means 11, and is composed of, for example, a self-propelled arm car 121. And a head portion 123 that can be stopped.

As shown in FIG. 15, the head portion 123 has a kite locking portion 124 arranged on the outer periphery of the head portion 113 shown in FIG. 13C, for example. The kite locking portion 124 includes a hook portion 124f that can be locked to the annular portion 21a disposed on the front edge portion 21 of the kite 2, and a guide member 124g that holds the front edge portion 21 of the locked kite 2. Have. The hook portion 124f is configured to be rotatable by an electric motor or the like, and is configured to be able to be locked or detached from the annular portion 21a. The guide member 124g has a concave portion into which the front edge portion 21 in a state where air is sealed can be inserted. In FIG. 15, only a part of the kite 2 (front edge portion 21) is shown, and the other parts are omitted.

In order to hold the kite 2 with the kite levitation assisting means 12, first, with the arm 122 lowered to the vicinity of the ground, the front edge portion 21 of the kite 2 on the guide member 124g of the head portion 123 becomes the inside of the annular portion 21a. Thus, the hook portion 124f is rotated and the hook portion 124f is locked to the annular portion 21a. At this time, the hook portion 124f may be configured to be retractable, and the front edge portion 21 may be pressed against the guide member 124g. In this state, the self-propelled arm car 121 is moved to a predetermined position, and the arm 122 is raised until the kite 2 winds and generates lift. After confirming that the kite 2 can float, the hook portion 124f is detached from the annular portion 21a, and the locked state of the kite 2 is released.

As described above, by arranging the kite locking portion 124 in the head portion 113 of the kite collecting means 11, the kite collecting means 11 and the kite levitation assisting means 12 can be used together. Of course, the head part 113 of the kite collecting means 11 may be excluded from the head part 123 of the kite lifting assistance means 12 and used as the dedicated kite floating assistance means 12.

Both horizontal axis wind power generators using existing propeller blades and vertical axis wind power generators using vertical blades require the construction of high-rise towers and columns as the size of the wind turbine generator increases. Including construction cost and assembly cost. Propeller blades, towers, and the like are long parts and require a large amount of cost for transportation to the installation site.

On the other hand, even if the present invention described above is increased in size, the kite 2 is less limited in structural strength, and can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a large size, and can be folded, so the cost required for transportation can be reduced. it can. In addition, the power generator main body (power lever 6, power output means 7 and the like) is not high-rise, and construction costs and assembly costs can be kept low. Further, by increasing the length of the main rope 3 and the control rope 4 of the kite 2, strong wind energy in the high sky can be easily recovered, and high cost performance can be expected.

Also, unlike propeller-type wind power generators, there is almost no noise or low-frequency vibration from the kite 2, and it is difficult for problems such as noise to the surrounding area to occur, and it is also difficult for wild birds to collide. There are few issues in terms of environmental assessment. Moreover, even if the kite 2 falls to the ground, its own weight is light and damage to the ground object is slight. Furthermore, if any of the kites of the kite 2 breaks, the kite 2 will fall while floating without being able to maintain the wing shape, but as long as at least one of the cords is connected, There will be no situation of flying away. Therefore, restrictions on the installation location are relatively low, and the geographical usage range can be expanded.

In addition, the wind energy recovery apparatus and the wind power generation apparatus according to the present invention can be installed on the ground such as a coast, a plateau, and a mountain area in an environment where no obstacle exists within the range on the virtual spherical surface to which the kite 2 can move. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can also be installed on the roof of a ship such as a ship on the ocean, a floating structure on the ocean, and a building. For example, if the power generator main body (power lever 6, power output means 7 etc.) is installed on the stern upper deck, and the head wind or the head wind at an oblique front is used in a navigating ship, the main characteristics of the kite 2 can be seen from the characteristics of this power generator. The force that the traction force of the rope 3 acts in the stern direction is weak, and it is possible to secure a power generation amount that greatly compensates for the negative effect on the propulsion of the ship.

Finally, a wind energy recovery apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an energy recovery device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic configuration diagram, (b) is a conceptual diagram showing a kite operating method, and (c) is a diagram. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the modification of the operating method of a kite. In addition, about the same component as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

As shown in FIG. 16 (a), the wind energy recovery apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a kite 2a, 2b, main ropes 3a, 3b, a steering rope 4a, 4b, a steering unit 5a, 5b, The kit has two kite units 20a and 20b constituted by power levers 6a and 6b, and the kite units 20a and 20b are connected to the power output means 7, respectively. According to such a configuration, a plurality of kites 2 can be arranged in one wind energy recovery device 1, and energy recovery efficiency can be improved.

In the illustrated embodiment, power is distributed from one power output means 7 via a power transmission mechanism (gear mechanism) and the two power levers 6a and 6b are rotated, but the kite units 20a and 20b are arranged. The power output means 7 may be arranged in each of the above. The kite units 20a and 20b are not limited to two, and may be three or more as long as the kites 2a and 2b do not collide and the main ropes 3a and 3b are entangled.

As shown in FIG. 16 (a), the kites 2a and 2b have different power levers 6a and 6b when the height of the main ropes 3a and 3b is different from each other while the height at the time of floating is different. Even when the kites 2a and 2b are turned by rotating at an arbitrary phase, the possibility of the collision of the kites 2a and 2b and the entanglement of the main ropes 3a and 3b is sufficiently low. Further, the height of the kite 2a, 2b can be adjusted by shortening the length of the main rope 3b of the kite 2b (or increasing the length of the main rope 3a of the kite 2a). Accordingly, the lengths of the main ropes 3a and 3b may be adjusted. By providing the kites 2a and 2b with a height difference, the kites 2a and 2b can be separated more effectively.

Here, when the orbit (the trajectory that draws the figure of eight) where the kites 2a and 2b perform the right turn and the left turn once is taken as one cycle, the kites 2a and 2b are shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. By shifting the period in this way, the kites 2a and 2b are in the trajectory between the zenith and the right end or the left end, and have the positional relationship shown in FIG. The collision of 2a, 2b and the entanglement of the main ropes 3a, 3b can be effectively suppressed.

The shift in the period of the kites 2a and 2b is not limited to a quarter period. For example, the height of the upper kite 2a is adjusted to the height of the lower kite 2b by adjusting the lengths of the main ropes 3a and 3b. If the height of the main rope 3a is adjusted to be larger than that of the lower main rope 3b by maneuvering with the control ropes 4a and 4b, the height of the main rope 3b is adjusted to be larger than that of the lower main rope 3b. ), As shown in FIG. 16B and 16C, the positions of the kites 2a and 2b are represented on the same trajectory for convenience of explanation.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and embodiments. For example, the output shaft 736 of the power output means 7 does not necessarily have to be continuously rotated in one direction, and does not depart from the spirit of the present invention. Of course, various modifications are possible.

Claims (11)

A kite that floats in response to wind power, a main rope that pulls the kite, a control line that controls the movement of the kite, a control unit that controls the tension of the control line, and a reciprocation connected to the control unit A power lever that can be rotated, and a power output means that is connected to the power lever and converts the reciprocating rotation into a rotational motion and outputs the rotational motion.
By controlling the tension of the control line by the control unit, the movement of the kite is controlled, and by reciprocating the kite left and right so as to draw a substantially arcuate locus, the power lever is driven to drive the power. The wind energy recovery device characterized by outputting. The control line has a left control line connected to the left side of the kite and a right control line connected to the right side of the kite, and the control unit includes the left control line and the right control line. By alternately pulling or drawing the kite, the left and right moving directions of the kite are controlled, and by simultaneously pulling or drawing the left and right control ropes, the angle of attack of the entire kite is adjusted to The wind energy recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wind energy recovery apparatus is configured to control a moving direction. Kite position measuring means comprising a transmitter disposed on the main rope and a receiver disposed on the power lever, and a signal from the transmitter is received by the receiver to receive the kite. The wind energy recovery apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control line is controlled by measuring the position of the control line and transmitting the measurement result to the control unit. The power lever and the power output means have a gantry supporting the power lever, the gantry is rotatably arranged according to the wind direction, and the power lever and the power output means are supported so that the inclination angle can be changed according to the wind speed. The wind energy recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The power output means includes a first gear rotated by the power lever, a second gear and a third gear meshed with the first gear, and an output shaft connected to the second gear and the third gear. The second gear and the third gear have a built-in clutch mechanism, the second gear is configured to be able to rotate when the first gear rotates forward and to slip when the first gear rotates, and the third gear The wind energy recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising power conversion means configured to be rotatable when the first gear is reversely rotated and slipped when the first gear is normally rotated. The power lever includes a built-in hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor connected to the hydraulic pump, and an elastic body that urges a piston of the hydraulic pump inward, and a tip of the piston of the hydraulic pump The main rope is connected to the piston, and the piston is moved by the balance between the lift of the kite and the urging force of the elastic body, thereby driving the hydraulic motor to output power. 6. The wind energy recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wind energy recovery apparatus is characterized in that: The wind energy according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising kite recovery means configured to be able to grip and retract the main rope and the control rope above the control unit. Recovery device. The wind energy recovery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising kite levitation assisting means configured to be able to lift upward while holding a part of the kite. It has a plurality of kite units constituted by the kite, the main rope, the control rope, the control unit, and the power lever, and each of the kite units is connected to the power output means. The wind energy recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A wind power generator comprising the wind energy recovery device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and having a generator connected to the power output means. The wind turbine generator according to claim 10, further comprising a storage battery connected to the generator.

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