Vertical axis wind turbines
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsVladimir Krivcov, Vladimir Krivospitski, Vasili Maksimov, Richard Halstead, Jurij Grahov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vertical axis wind turbine is described. The wind turbine can include a top ring, a middle ring and a lower ring, wherein a plurality of vertical airfoils are disposed between the rings. For example, three vertical airfoils can be attached between the upper ring and the middle ring. In addition, three more vertical airfoils can be attached between the lower ring and the middle ring. When wind contacts the vertically arranged airfoils the rings begin to spin. By connecting the rings to a center pole which spins an alternator, electricity can be generated from wind.
Claims17
A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising:
- a vertical axis rotor comprising:
- an upper ring, a middle ring and a lower ring;
- a plurality of upper airfoils disposed vertically between said upper ring and said middle ring;
- a plurality of lower airfoils disposed vertically between said lower ring and said middle ring,
- wherein at least one of said airfoils comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and a centerline,
- wherein the distance from the upper surface to the centerline is the same as the distance from the lower surface to the centerline across the length of the airfoil;
- and
- an air regulator comprising two moveable airfoils,
- wherein the air regulator is configured to move the two movable air foils, and wherein the air foils move in opposite directions to slow the rotational speed of the rotor.
A vertical axis wind turbine, comprising:
- a vertical axis rotor comprising:
- an upper ring, a middle ring and a lower ring;
- a plurality of upper airfoils disposed vertically between said upper ring and said middle ring;
- and
- a plurality of lower airfoils disposed vertically between said lower ring and said middle ring,
- wherein at least one of said airfoils comprises an upper surface, a lower surface and a centerline,
- wherein the distance from the upper surface to the centerline is the same as the distance from the lower surface to the centerline across the length of the airfoil,
- wherein said rotor further comprises an air regulator configured to slow the rotational speed of the rotor for control at high wind speed,
- wherein said air regulator comprises two movable airfoils, and
- wherein the air regulator moves the two moveable airfoils, and wherein the two airfoils move in opposite directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.