Floating wind turbine with passive pitch correction
AssigneeGeorge J. Syrovy
InventorGeorge J. Syrovy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The nacelle (27) of a horizontal axis wind turbine (WT) is mounted on a vertical support (VS) by means of a pivot (33). The vertical support is mounted off-center with respect to a floating, rotatable support (7). A weight (43) functionally attached to the nacelle maintains the axis of the turbine horizontal as the floating support pitches (rotates forward and back). The weight is attached to an elongate vertical element (41). Relative motion between the vertical element (41) and the pitching floating support (HS) generates an electric current.
Claims19
A wind turbine comprising blades which extend outwardly from and sweep around a horizontal axis of rotation;
- a nacelle comprising at least a horizontal shaft driven by the blades and a drive train;
- an upright structure supporting the nacelle and blades, the upright structure extending below the sweep of the blades, and a generally horizontal floating base supporting the upright structure, wherein,
- the upright structure comprises a pivot supporting the nacelle, and
- the wind turbine further comprises an elongate vertical element supported by the pivot, the elongate vertical element being connected to the nacelle for movement with the nacelle, the elongate vertical element carrying a weight, the weight maintaining the axis of rotation of the blades in a horizontal position as the floating base pitches, the pivot being located downwind of the blades and upwind of the elongate vertical element.
A wind turbine comprising blades which extend outwardly from and sweep around a horizontal axis of rotation;
- a nacelle comprising at least a horizontal shaft driven by the blades and a drive train;
- an upright structure supporting the nacelle and blades, the upright structure extending below the sweep of the blades, and a generally horizontal floating base supporting the upright structure, wherein,
- the upright structure is mounted to a rotatable support carried by the base, so that the upright structure, the nacelle, and the blades rotate together about a vertical axis with respect to the base,
- the upright structure, the nacelle, and the blades have a collective center of gravity that is positioned behind the vertical axis,
- the upright structure comprises a pivot supporting the nacelle, and
- the wind turbine further comprises an elongate vertical element connected to the nacelle for movement with the nacelle, the elongate vertical element carrying a weight, the weight maintaining the axis of rotation of the blades in a horizontal position as the floating base pitches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.