Control system for a vertical axis windmill

Patent · Tue Oct 18 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5418607

Brulle, R V

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/sup 0/ 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.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4410806
• OSTI ID: 5418607
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170602* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SOURCES
INCLINATION
MACHINERY
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TILT MECHANISMS
TURBINE BLADES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VERTICAL AXIS TURBINES
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES