Magnus air turbine system

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:864455

Hanson, Thomas F ^[1]

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1. 24204 Heritage La., Newhall, CA 91321

A Magnus effect windmill for generating electrical power is disclosed. A large nacelle-hub mounted pivotally (in Azimuth) atop a support tower carries, in the example disclosed, three elongated barrels arranged in a vertical plane and extending symmetrically radially outwardly from the nacelle. The system provides spin energy to the barrels by internal mechanical coupling in the proper sense to cause, in reaction to an incident wind, a rotational torque of a predetermined sense on the hub. The rotating hub carries a set of power take-off rollers which ride on a stationary circular track in the nacelle. Shafts carry the power, given to the rollers by the wind driven hub, to a central collector or accumulator gear assembly whose output is divided to drive the spin mechanism for the Magnus barrels and the main electric generator. A planetary gear assembly is interposed between the collector gears and the spin mechanism functioning as a differential which is also connected to an auxiliary electric motor whereby power to the spin mechanism may selectively be provided by the motor. Generally, the motor provides initial spin to the barrels for start-up after which the motor is braked and the spin mechanism is driven as though by a fixed ratio coupling from the rotor hub. During high wind or other unusual conditions, the auxiliary motor may be unbraked and excess spin power may be used to operate the motor as a generator of additional electrical output. Interposed between the collector gears of the rotating hub and the main electric generator is a novel variable speed drive-fly wheel system which is driven by the variable speed of the wind driven rotor and which, in turn, drives the main electric generator at constant angular speed. Reference is made to the complete specification for disclosure of other novel aspects of the system such as, for example, the aerodynamic and structural aspects of the novel Magnus barrels as well as novel gearing and other power coupling combination apparatus of the invention. A reading of the complete specification is recommended for a full understanding of the principles and features of the disclosed system.

• Research Organization: Hanson; Thomas F. (24204 Heritage La., Newhall, CA 91321)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-80R950040
• Assignee: Hanson; Thomas F. (24204 Heritage La., Newhall, CA 91321)
• Patent Number(s): US 4366386
• OSTI ID: 864455
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

magnus
air
turbine
effect
windmill
generating
electrical
power
disclosed
nacelle-hub
mounted
pivotally
azimuth
atop
support
tower
carries
example
elongated
barrels
arranged
vertical
plane
extending
symmetrically
radially
outwardly
nacelle
provides
spin
energy
internal
mechanical
coupling
proper
sense
reaction
incident
wind
rotational
torque
predetermined
hub
rotating
set
take-off
rollers
ride
stationary
circular
track
shafts
carry
driven
central
collector
accumulator
gear
assembly
output
divided
drive
mechanism
main
electric
generator
planetary
interposed
gears
functioning
differential
connected
auxiliary
motor
whereby
selectively
provided
initial
start-up
braked
fixed
ratio
rotor
unusual
conditions
unbraked
excess
operate
additional
novel
variable
speed
drive-fly
wheel
drives
constant
angular
reference
complete
specification
disclosure
aspects
aerodynamic
structural
gearing
combination
apparatus
reading
recommended
understanding
principles
features
circular track
generating electric
gear assembly
electric generator
electrical power
electric motor
electrical output
radially outwardly
radially outward
planetary gear
variable speed
wind driven
support tower
mechanical coupling
rotor hub
generating electrical
mounted pivotally
constant angular
vertical plane
incident wind
air turbine
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