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Title: Control system for a vertical-axis windmill

Abstract

A vertical-axis windmill having a rotating structure is provided with a series of articulated vertical blades whose positions are controlled to maintain a constant RPM for the rotating structure, when wind speed is sufficient. A microprocessor controller is used to process information on wind speed, wind direction and RPM of the rotating structure to develop an electrical signal for establishing blade position. The preferred embodiment of the invention, when connected to a utility grid, is designed to generate 40 kilowatts of power when exposed to a 20 mile per hour wind. The control system for the windmill includes electrical blade actuators that modulate the blades of the rotating structure. Blade modulation controls the blade angle of attack, which in turn controls the RPM of the rotor. In the preferred embodiment, the microprocessor controller provides the operation logic and control functions. A wind speed sensor provides inputs to start or stop the windmill, and a wind direction sensor is used to keep the blade flip region at 90 and 270/sup 0/ to the wind. The control system is designed to maintain constant rotor RPM when wind speed is between 10 and 40 miles per hour.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5242608
Application Number:
ON: DE82015923
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
DOE Contract Number:  
AC04-76DP03533
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of document are illegible
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
17 WIND ENERGY; VERTICAL AXIS TURBINES; COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS; ANEMOMETERS; ANGULAR VELOCITY; DESIGN; INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS; ORIENTATION; POWER RANGE 10-100 KW; TILT MECHANISMS; TURBINE BLADES; CONTROL SYSTEMS; ENERGY SYSTEMS; MACHINERY; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; POWER SYSTEMS; TURBINES; TURBOMACHINERY; VELOCITY; WIND TURBINES; 170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation

Citation Formats

Brulle, R V. Control system for a vertical-axis windmill. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Brulle, R V. Control system for a vertical-axis windmill. United States.
Brulle, R V. Thu . "Control system for a vertical-axis windmill". United States.
@article{osti_5242608,
title = {Control system for a vertical-axis windmill},
author = {Brulle, R V},
abstractNote = {A vertical-axis windmill having a rotating structure is provided with a series of articulated vertical blades whose positions are controlled to maintain a constant RPM for the rotating structure, when wind speed is sufficient. A microprocessor controller is used to process information on wind speed, wind direction and RPM of the rotating structure to develop an electrical signal for establishing blade position. The preferred embodiment of the invention, when connected to a utility grid, is designed to generate 40 kilowatts of power when exposed to a 20 mile per hour wind. The control system for the windmill includes electrical blade actuators that modulate the blades of the rotating structure. Blade modulation controls the blade angle of attack, which in turn controls the RPM of the rotor. In the preferred embodiment, the microprocessor controller provides the operation logic and control functions. A wind speed sensor provides inputs to start or stop the windmill, and a wind direction sensor is used to keep the blade flip region at 90 and 270/sup 0/ to the wind. The control system is designed to maintain constant rotor RPM when wind speed is between 10 and 40 miles per hour.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}

Patent:
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