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US 2012/0104762 A1Published application
Large floating vertical axis wind turbine
AssigneeFlorida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJack W. Wilson, JR., John E. Ryznic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A large floating vertical axis wind turbine with a floating inner cylinder having rotor blades that rotate together as an assembly, and a floating outer cylinder with a central opening in which the floating inner cylinder rotates for support against tipping. Outriggers with floating devices on the ends extend out from the floating outer cylinder for additional stability. The floating inner cylinder is partially supported by a top bearing on the outer cylinder to carry some of the load from the rotor blades.
Claims15
1:
- A floating vertical axis wind turbine comprising:
- a floating inner cylinder having a height much greater than a diameter;
- a top plate secured to a top end of the floating inner cylinder;
- a vertical axis rotor blade secured to the top plate such that the floating inner cylinder rotates along with the rotor blade;
- a floating outer cylinder having a central opening and an outrigger extending outward with a floating device secured to an end;
- the floating inner cylinder floating being rotatably supported within the central opening of the floating outer cylinder;
- a side bearing positioned between the central opening and the floating inner cylinder to rotatably support the floating inner cylinder;
- and,
- an electric generator secured between the floating inner cylinder and the stationary floating outer cylinder such that electrical energy is produced when the wind turbine rotates.
6 more elements
2:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- a top bearing positioned between the top plate and the floating outer cylinder to rotatably support the floating inner cylinder.
3:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 2, and further comprising:
- a ballast located within a bottom end of the hollow floating inner cylinder;
- and,
- the ballast being of such weight that a load supported by the top bearing is within a load limit of the top bearing.
1 more element
4:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- a central support tower secured to the top plate and extending upward;
- and,
- the vertical axis rotor blade is supported by the central support tower.
1 more element
5:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- a horizontal support cable extending from one rotor blade to a second rotor blade to support the two rotor blades;
- and,
- a vertical support cable connected to the horizontal support cable to support the horizontal support cable.
1 more element
6:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- an outrigger secured to the floating outer cylinder and extending outward;
- and,
- a floating device secured to an outer end of the outrigger.
1 more element
7:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 6, and further comprising:
- three outriggers each with a floating device are secured to the floating outer cylinder with each about equally spaced around the floating outer cylinder.
8:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- the electric generator is a vertical axis direct drive permanent magnet generator.
9:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- the electric generator is mounted between the top plate of the floating inner cylinder and the floating outer cylinder.
10:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- the floating outer cylinder has a doughnut shape.
11:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 1, and further comprising:
- the wind turbine has an electrical generating capacity greater than 10 mega watts.
12:
- The floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 8, and further comprising:
- the electric generator is formed from a stack of electric generators.
13:
- A process for assembling a floating vertical axis wind turbine comprising the steps of:
- building a floating outer cylinder capable of floating in a body of water and having a central opening;
- towing the floating outer cylinder to a location in a body of water;
- inserting a bottom inner cylinder section within the central opening such that the bottom inner cylinder section floats in the body of water within the central opening;
- securing additional inner cylinder sections to the bottom cylinder section until the complete floating inner cylinder is formed;
- and,
- adding ballast to the inner cylinder sections during assembly to lower the floating inner cylinder sections within the central opening.
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14:
- The process for assembling a floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 13, and further comprising the step of:
- placing a top bearing between the floating inner cylinder and the floating outer cylinder to support some of the weight of the floating inner cylinder and the rotor blade.
15:
- The process for assembling a floating vertical axis wind turbine of claim 14, and further comprising the step of:
- assembling a vertical axis rotor blade onto the floating inner cylinder when completed;
- and,
- adding additional ballast to the inner cylinder so that a top bearing load is within load limits.
1 more element