Environmentally friendly method for conversion of wind energy into electrical energy
The new method makes it possible to harvest more wind energy as the converter is environmentally friendly and easy to install and maintain. The converter has no external rotating parts. Many components can be made from wooden materials. The converter can be adapted to both city and country areas. The wind energy is converted into pressure energi both as increased pressure and reduced pressure. The pressure difference causes air to accelerate and the resulting reaction force drives a turbine and electrical generator. For more information see the drawing and description below.
Wind energy converter
When air flows along the wing panels the air pressure becomes reduced in a similar way to the reduction of air pressure that occurs on an aircraft wing. The wing panels have openings to enable transfer of the reduced pressure to a chamber inside of the device where the pressure energy is stored temporarily. Simultaneously, air flows in through an air inlet at the front of the device to an inlet chamber where the pressure and kinetic energy of the inflowing air are temporarily stored as pressure energy. The pressure difference causes the air in the inlet chamber to flow with high speed to the reduced pressure chamber. The acceleration of the mass of air causes a reaction force that drives a turbin and an electric generator.
The reduction of pressure on the outside of the wing panels causes air to flow out from the chamber inside. This flow of air prevents turbulence to occur in the air flow outside the wing panels.
Two energy converters can be mounted on each side of a column. The converters are pivotally mounted to the column to automatically adjust orientation to the wind direction. Practical heigth of the converter will be from 1,5 to 3,5 m.
Estimated produced energy
Estimated amount of produced energy for two converters mounted to a column and with effective height 2,5 m and width 2,0 m:
in gentle breeze (3,4 – 5,4 m/s): 0,1 – 0, 39 kW
in moderate breeze (5,5 – 7,9 m/s): 0,4 – 1,19 kW
in fresh breeze (8,0 – 10,7 m/s): 1,2 – 2,9 kW
in strong breeze (10,8 – 13,8 m/s) 3,0 – 6,3 kW
in high wind (13,9 – 17,1 m/s) 6,4 – 12,1 kW
in fresh gale (17,2 – 20,7 m/s) 12,2 – 21,5 kW
As an example, in fresh breeze (8,0 – 10,7 m/s) one energy converter can generate electrical power for 31 – 74 number of 40W light bulbs.
Manufacturing
The column and foundation may be made from galvanized steel. The wing panel is a lightweight structure similar to an aircraft wing. Many of the components in the wing panel can be made from wooden materials. The wooden materials can be protected by an environmentally friendly preservative to enable easy disposal after component life time. Plastic or aluminium would be suitable materials for some components.
Wind power plant
The illustration above shows a power plant consisting of 5 no of energy converters where each converter has a height of 3,5 m and a width of 2,0 m. The energy converters are supported on concrete blocks which by own weight or by bolting to rock obtain required stability.
Estimated amount of produced energy from the power plant:
in fresh breeze (8 – 10,7 m/s): 6,0 – 14,5 kW
in strong breeze (10,8 – 13,8 m/s) 15,0 – 31,5 kW
in high wind (13,9 – 17,1 m/s) 32,0 – 60,5 kW
in fresh gale (17,2 – 20,7 m/s) 61,0 – 107,5 kW
As an example, in fresh breeze (8,0 – 10,7 m/s) the abovementioned power plant can cover 25% of the electricity consumption of 8 – 19 households (based on an average consumption of 3 kW pr household).
Turbin
Wooden frame for wing panels