Power generator
AssigneePacer Turbines Limited
InventorsPeter Boyd-Wilson, Paul Binner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a vertical axis turbine 1 apparatus for converting movement of a fluid into electrical power and a method of manufacture of a turbine. The turbine can be installed on a flexible line 2, such as a cable, rope or stay. It could be used on the stay of a yacht. The main rotor 13, 14 of the turbine has least two helical blades arranged about the longitudinal axis with rotational symmetry, the blades being substantially identical in shape and having a lift-producing cross-sectional shape at least along a part of their longitudinal length. A generator 22 coupled to the main rotor 13, 14 and is contained in a generator housing 23.
Claims35
A turbine apparatus for converting movement of a fluid into electrical power comprising:
- a main rotor that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis in response to movement of the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising at least two helical blades arranged about the longitudinal axis with rotational symmetry, the blades being substantially identical in shape and having a lift-producing cross-sectional shape at least along a part of their longitudinal length, each blade having an outer edge lying on a circle defining a diameter of the rotor and an inner edge located between the longitudinal axis and the side of the diameter circle generally opposite to the inner edge such that the inner edges of the blades overlap in cross-section,
- a generator coupled to the main rotor and having a stationary armature containing windings and a generator rotor connected to rotate with the main rotor and which carries one or more magnets past the windings, and
- a mounting provided at at least one longitudinal end of the main rotor, non-rotationally connected to the armature,
- wherein the mounting is adapted to be connected to a flexible line such that the turbine apparatus can be supported by the mounting so as to rotate relative to the flexible line, be substantially immovable along its longitudinal axis but is able to move at least a limited amount in a direction laterally of the longitudinal axis when connected to the flexible line.
A turbine apparatus for converting movement of a fluid into electrical power comprising:
- a main rotor that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis in response to movement of the fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
- a generator coupled to the main rotor and having a stationary armature containing windings and a generator rotor connected to rotate with the main rotor and which carries one or more magnets past the windings, and
- a mounting provided at at least one longitudinal end of the main rotor, non-rotationally connected to the armature,
- wherein the generator is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the main rotor and the main rotor or generator is formed in at least two separate parts which are interconnectable about the longitudinal axis.
A method of manufacturing a turbine apparatus comprising the steps of:
- i) moulding at least two separate but identical rotor blades to comprise a helical twist from one longitudinal end to the other, the blades having a substantially constant cross-sectional curvature along their length, the curve having a starting point at a first side edge of the blade and an end point at a second side edge of the blade, and
- ii) creating a main rotor by arranging the moulded rotor blades spaced about a longitudinal axis and in an overlapping manner, and
- iii) mounting a generator to the main rotor so that the rotor of the generator is driven by the main rotor.
A method of manufacturing a turbine apparatus comprising the steps of:
- i) extruding at least two separate but identical rotor blades to comprise a helical twist from one longitudinal end to the other, the blades having a substantially constant cross-sectional curvature along their length, the curve having a starting point at a first side edge of the blade and an end point at a second side edge of the blade, and
- ii) creating a main rotor by arranging the extruded rotor blades spaced about a longitudinal axis and in an overlapping manner, and
- iii) mounting a generator to the main rotor so that the rotor of the generator is driven by the main rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.