FR2841605A1 - Equipment for converting energy of moving fluid into rotation, comprises conduit with internal streamlining to direct fluid to blades which may be aligned as equator or meridian to spherical rotor - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid such as air or water travelling in a conduit (A) is channelled by convergent and divergent streamlining (C,D) past a housing (E) for a rotor (B). The rotor is shaped as a truncated sphere and turns about a shaft orthogonal to the flat faces. Paddle blades are attached to the curved faces and may be rotated between equatorial and meridian positions to vary the power taken from the air or water.

Description

Installation to convert the energy of a moving fluid.

  The invention relates to an installation for converting energy

  of a moving fluid, and in particular air or water.

  It relates more particularly to wind turbines but is also applicable to hydrogenerators. In an aerogenerator, a rotor converts kinetic wind energy into kinetic energy of rotation on an output shaft whose movement is used, after multiplication or reduction, to drive devices such as a water pump, a generator or an alternator

providing electric current.

  Although this method of converting wind energy has been known for a very long time, wind energy sensors have evolved at the same time as the hydraulic turbine to return to the structure of windmills, namely with an axis rotor. horizontal carrying radial blades, of step 15 adjustable or not. The problem resulting from the horizontal arrangement of the shaft, an arrangement requiring the provision of angle drives to drive a vertical shaft in certain applications, such as water pumps, has been resolved with regard to electric generators, for example , by integrating the generator into the horizontal bulb located behind the rotor. The fact remains that certain drawbacks remain. The most important is undoubtedly the low power delivered which implies increasing the number of wind turbines with the consequence, taking into account the space of evolution which is necessary for them, to mismatch the site on which they are distributed. Another disadvantage is to generate airborne noise, in particular,

  when the rotor is coasting.

  To remedy this, it has been envisaged in the Darrieus turbine to provide a vertical shaft with semi-circular blades. In use, it turned out that this type of turbine had a lower efficiency and was noisier.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an installation 30 having a better efficiency, while generating less airborne noise and which can equally be used with its horizontal or vertical output shaft to convert wind energy, or hydraulic energy.

  This installation comprises at least one module equipped with a rotor driving a shaft and disposed downstream of a tangential convergent formed in

a fairing.

  According to the invention, the fairing delimits a convergent with a neck and a divergent, while the rotor comprises: a) a body in the form of a spherical segment whose poles are truncated by flats, parallel to the equatorial plane of this body, b ) at least two shaft ends projecting axially from each of the poles, and c) at least four pallets, distributed with a constant angular pitch around the spherical body and integral, each, with a median pivot, each pivot being, of on the one hand, mounted freely in rotation in a bearing arranged in the equatorial plane of the body, and on the other hand, connected to motor means capable of rotating it between a working position, in which the pallet occupies a meridian position, and a stop position, in which the pallet occupies an equatorial position, and that the housing, containing the rotor and arranged after the neck of the convergent 15, is in the form of a spherical segment with swapped poles, of radius centered on the c between the body and of equal value, apart from the functional clearance, to that of the outer edge of the pallets, this housing extending * upstream of the body, up to substantially a tangent to this body, parallel to the direction of the fluid leaving the neck of the convergent, * and, downstream, to substantially the longitudinal median plane

  of the body, to form the neck of the divergent.

  In operation, the fluid flow, and in particular the air flow penetrating into the convergent and exiting through the neck thereof, opens tangentially on the body and communicates part of its kinetic energy to its pallets. Leaving the body, the air flow circulates in the divergent to the outlet of the fairing. To modify the quantity of kinetic energy transmitted to the rotor, and even even to stop its rotation, it suffices to modify the inclination of each pallet by rotating it from its meridian position to its equatorial position. When each pallet is parallel to the equatorial plane, the energy transmitted to them is practically zero, so that the rotor stops, either gradually or immediately by the action of a brake.

  In one embodiment, the rotor is arranged in a tubular box 35 of rectangular cross section whose walls, opposite and parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor, are covered by fairing walls forming, - on one side of the box, a longitudinal groove, the radius of which is similar to that of the extreme edge of the pallets - and, on the other side: * upstream of the housing for the rotor, a concave then convex camber going to the edge of the spherical housing in forming a beak, defining the neck of the divergent, with the opposite wall * and downstream of this housing, a flare going from the edge of

  this housing up to the outlet of the box and forming a divergent.

  With this construction, the air flow is perfectly channeled oriented and redistributed, and the module which contains it has a prismatic shape, making it easier to assemble with other modules, by superposition and juxtaposition.

  Thus, in one form of implementation, the installation comprises several modules which, each consisting of a box and a rotor with a vertical axis, are juxtaposed and superimposed in a support structure, said structure being integral with '' a lower circular plate, mounted freely in rotation on a circular guide path and connected to drive and setting means in rotation, while the shafts of the rotors of the superimposed modules are linked in rotation, to each other and to a common output shaft.

  This construction makes it possible to orient the modules, so that

  their longitudinal axis is always parallel to the direction of the current wind.

  In another embodiment, the wall defining the housing for the rotor is interrupted, substantially opposite its end juxtaposed to the neck of the convergent, to form the inlet of a suction channel bypassing the rotor by the upstream and opening into the converging, upstream

of his collar.

  When the rotor is rotating, part of the fluid which is entrained by its vanes in the housing for its body borrows the suction channel, creating, in the part of the housing short circulated by this channel, a depression which is reflected in the exit of the converging pass. The latter sucks the fluid emerging from the neck, and consequently increases its speed and energy, just before this fluid transfers part of this energy to

rotor paddles.

  Advantageously, in each module the rotor is linked in rotation to its output shaft, traversing or not, with the interposition of a unidirectional drive means, such as notches and pawls. In an installation equipped with several rotors whose output shafts are linked in rotation, this arrangement makes it possible, by disengaging the deficient rotor compared to the other rotors, not to add a torque resistant to the

engine torque supplied.

  Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description

  which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of examples, several embodiments of the installation according to the invention.

  Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views along, respectively, Il of Figure 2 and 11-Il of Figure 1, of a first embodiment of a module according to the invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view according to 111-111 of Figure 1 showing, on an enlarged scale, an embodiment of the rotor, Figure 4 is a sectional view and on an enlarged scale along IV-IV of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a terrestrial installation with two superimposed modules, FIG. 6 is a plan view over a terrestrial installation with three juxtaposed modules, FIGS. 7 and 8 are views, respectively from the front and in elevation with partial section of the room. machines of a land installation formed by juxtaposed and superimposed modules, Figure 9 is a sectional view along IX-IX of Figure 8 of the engine room, Figure 10 is a perspective view of a marine wind turbine installation,

  Figure 11 is a plan view from above, Figures 12 and 13 are sectional views along, respectively, XII-XII of Figure 13, and XIII-XIII of Figure 12 of another embodiment of a module.

  In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the module of an aerogenerator is composed of a tubular box A, and of a

  rotor B. The casing A contains a fairing defining, as shown in FIG. 2, a convergent C, a divergent D and, between the two, a housing E for the rotor.

  As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rotor B comprises a body 2, in the form of a spherical segment, the poles of which are truncated by flats 2a, 2b, parallel to each other and to the equatorial plane Pe. Each pole is integral with a bearing, respectively 3a, 3b, and it is linked in rotation to a shaft 4, octagonal to the equatorial plane Pe, this connection being, for example, made by a ratchet wheel 5a, 5b. In the embodiment shown, the shaft is through with a female end 6a and a male end 6b. Each of the ends of the shaft 4 is mounted to rotate freely in two bearings 7a, 7b.

  The rotor also comprises, at least four vanes 8, distributed with a constant angular pitch around the spherical body and, consequently, 15 distributed at 90 from each other. When each pallet is in the position of use, as shown on the right in FIG. 3, it is in a meridian plane and extends between the two polar planes of the body 2. Its inner edge follows the body 2 and therefore has a radius r centered on the center O of this body, while its outer edge is in an arc of circle of radius R, greater than r and 20 of center O. Each pallet is integral with a median pivot 9 which is mounted to rotate freely in a bearing 10, disposed in the equatorial plane Pe of the body 2. The pivot 9 is linked to motor means 12, such as an electric motor. The electric motors 12 are powered by a battery disposed in the body 2 and are connected to an external control and command box, either by an electrical pipe with a rotary collector, or by a radio or infrared link. FIG. 3 shows that, in the embodiment shown, the rotor B can accommodate a human being who enters the body 2 through one of the two manholes 13 with door 14 with which the body 2 is fitted, in the interval between two pallets 8.

  FIG. 4 shows that each pallet 8 can, with its drive means 12, be brought from its position of use in which it is parallel to a meridian, shown on the right of FIGS. 3 and 4, to a rest position, in which it is in the equatorial plane Pe, shown on the left side of the same figures. Of course, it can take any position

intermediate, if necessary.

  The rotor B is placed in a housing E which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is in the form of a spherical segment and has, in cross section, shapes and dimensions, respectively, close to and equal, apart from the functional clearance, to those of the rotor B. This housing is delimited, inside the interior volume formed by the walls of the box, by a wall 21 of radius R centered on the center O of the body 2. FIG. 2 shows that this housing is disposed between the neck F of the convergent C and that 16 of the divergent D. In this embodiment the axis of rotation of the rotor B is substantially mid-length of the box A. The box A, which has a rectangular cross section,

  internally has fairing walls forming the converging and the diverging. More specifically, the longitudinal wall 17a, which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor B, is covered by a fairing wall 18 having a longitudinal groove 19 with a circular bottom, the radius R2 of which is centered on the center O of the rotor and has a value substantially equal, apart from the functional clearance, to the radius R of the outer edge of the pallets 8. This groove 19 extends over the greater part of the box, from a progressive entry 19a to an exit degressive 19b (Figure 2). The facing longitudinal wall 17b is covered internally by a wall 20 having a concave camber 20a and a convex camber 20b, reducing the cross section of the convergent to the value of the neck F, forming, with the wall of the housing E a spout 22. FIG. 2 shows that the fictitious extension 20c of this wall, beyond the spout 22, is tangent to the body 2 of the rotor and parallel to the direction of the fluid entering the housing E, along the arrow 31.

  Downstream of the housing E, the outer longitudinal wall 17b of the box is covered by a straight wall 23, arranged in a plane containing the axis of rotation of the rotor B and going to the downstream end of the box A, forming a flaring constituting the divergent D. FIG. 1 shows that the two longitudinal walls 17c, 17d of the

  box, which are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, are each doubled by a wall 24c, 24d. These last two go closer, going from the inlet of the box to the housing E for the rotor, then moving away from each other, going from this housing to the outlet 33 of the box, outlet fitted with a grid for stabilizing the outlet flow.

  The wall 21 of the housing E for the rotor extends over a sector going from the free end to the arched wall 20b, that is to say from the neck F of the -7 converging to the upstream end of the wall 23 of the divergent. This wall forms, with the walls 17b, 17c, 17d and the wall 20 of the convergent, an enclosed space G which is used to allow access to maintenance personnel. The space G communicates with the outside by a well 26 and with the convergent by a door 27. This space G also contains a guillotine valve 28 connected to motor means able to move it in the convergent C to close it and to return it to the retracted position in this space. The door 27 is equipped with a safety device allowing its opening only if the valve 28 is in

  shutter position and rotor B stopped.

  The walls of box A and the inner fairing are made of metal or a composite material. In large installations, the box and its fairing are produced in sections assembled on the operating site. It is easily understood that the air flow entering the box A through its upstream inlet, as shown by the arrows 31, is gradually compressed accelerated by the convergent C to the neck F. At the outlet of this neck, the flow of air is directed tangentially on the rotor, so as to strike

  perpendicularly each of the blades 8 of the rotor, in the working position.

  The kinetic energy thus transmitted to the vanes causes the rotor to rotate in the direction of arrow 32 in Figure 2. Leaving the housing E the air flow expands in the divergent D, before returning to the atmosphere by the mouth

outlet 33 of the box.

  The kinetic energy communicated to the shaft 4 can be used to drive the various devices described in the state of the art, such as

pump, generator, alternator.

  Due to its tubular shape and closed structure, the wind generator generates less noise than a traditional wind turbine while

  providing superior energy efficiency.

  By its design in the form of a parallelepiped module, the module according to the invention can, as shown in FIG. 5, be superimposed on one or more other modules M1, M2. This figure clearly shows that the modules are supported, in elevation relative to the ground level S, by a superstructure 40. This is linked to a circular platform 42, mounted free in rotation in a circular guide path 43 and associated with means for driving in rotation and for setting in rotation, not shown, such as

  a set of circular toothing and rack.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the installation can be oriented so that the longitudinal axis of each of these modules is parallel to the

wind direction.

  FIG. 6 shows that the modules M1, M2, M3 ... Mn can be juxtaposed on the same level. Under these conditions, at least one of the modules is returned to 1800, so that its rotor B, rotating in the opposite direction to that of the other rotors, compensates for the effects of torque on the

structure 40.

  It is obvious that the output shafts of the superimposed modules are linked in rotation to each other and are linked to a common output shaft 44 which transmits energy directly, or through a reduction gear or a multiplier, to any machine or apparatus arranged under the platform 42, such as compressor, pump, alternator. The connection between the superimposed shafts is facilitated by equipping one of the shaft ends of each rotor with a diametral stud penetrating the diametrical groove, formed at the opposite end

from the shaft of another rotor.

  One of the advantages of this construction, concerning large and small modules, is to be able to add or remove a module

  as the energy needs increase.

  FIGS. 7 to 9 represent a power plant equipped with three columns of superimposed modules M, these columns being carried by a superstructure 40a, secured to a platform 42a linked, by posts 45, to

a lower platform 42b.

  The two platforms 42a and 42b are mounted with the possibility of rotation in an infrastructure 47. The platforms delimit between them the engine room, which is supplied with energy by the three output shafts 48 of the three columns of modules, these shafts causing, by for example, alternators 49. The annular room 47a, formed in the infrastructure 47 around the platforms, is large enough to accommodate control and command cabinets for the turbine of each module, transformers, command control means and of regulation of the driven machines, as well as the commanding and controlling means

  the orientation of the modules relative to the wind direction.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the columns 52 and 53 of superimposed modules M are arranged side by side on

  a platform 51, which is mounted offshore and anchored to the seabed.

  FIG. 11 shows that the directions of rotation of the turbines are reversed between the two columns 52, 53. A column 54, the dimensions of which are half that of columns 52 and 53, is mounted between these two columns to

  supply the auxiliaries.

  In the above, the installation uses modules of large dimensions and having, for example, a height of 2 meters, a width of 4 meters and a length of 22 meters, which provides an inlet cross section of 8 m2, and a section at the neck F of the convergent of 1.26 m2, this box cooperating with a rotor having a diameter of 2.40 meters and a height of 1.75 meters, with pallets having a width of 0, 70 meters for a thickness of 3 centimeters. However, it can be made in smaller dimensions to meet the energy needs of private homes, a caravan, a motorhome or a sailboat. Likewise, the axis of rotation of the rotor B, which is vertical in all the previous embodiments, can also be horizontal in particular applications. Figures 12 to 13 show an embodiment, concerning

  more specifically, small modules.

  For the remainder of the description, the elements common to the new embodiment and to the previous ones will bear references increased by

  , while the new references will start from 60.

  As in the previous embodiments, the module is composed of a box A with a convergent C and a divergent D, of a rotor B equipped with eight pallets 108, mounted pivotally or fixed. The housing E of the rotor B 25 is formed by a wall 121 which is interrupted locally and substantially opposite the neck F of the convergent, to form the inlet mouth 60 of a channel 61. The latter bypasses the upstream the housing E for the rotor and opens into the converging C, upstream of its neck F. In the converging C the wall 120a forming the concave camber is extended by a wall 120b which is

  less arched while the wall 119, which faces it, forms a convex protuberance 119c, upstream of the outlet 62 of the channel 61, in order to direct the air flow towards this outlet and increase the suction effect .

  In this installation, when the rotor B is in rotation, the air which it drives with its vanes 108 circulates in the space 63 formed between the wall 35 121 and the body 102 of the rotor. Simultaneously, the air flow which enters the convergent C, following the arrows 64, and which is compressed to the neck F, passes

  in front of the outlet 62 of channel 61, generating suction in this channel. By the inlet 60 of the channel, this aspiration is reflected in the upstream part 63a of the space 63 and, from there, until the end of this part, that is to say at the level of the neck F. It follows that the air flow leaving the neck is subjected, by this aspiration, to an acceleration which increases its kinetic energy, just before it yields part of it to the paddles 108.

  This arrangement increases the power and the output of the module which, as in the other embodiments, can be juxtaposed or superimposed with other modules.

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Claims (9)

  1. Installation for converting the energy of a moving fluid comprising at least one module (M) equipped with a rotor (B), driving a shaft (4) and disposed downstream of a tangential convergent (C), the said rotor being mounted to rotate freely in the bearings of a casing furnished with a fairing, characterized in that, the fairing delimits a convergent (C) with a neck (F) communicating with that (16) of a divergent ( D, while the rotor (B) comprises: a) a body (2) in the form of a spherical segment whose poles are truncated by flats (2a, 2b), parallel to the equatorial plane (Pe) of this body, b) at least two ends of the shaft (4 or 6a, 6b) projecting axially from each of the poles, and c) at least four pallets (8, 108) distributed with a constant angular pitch around the body (2) and integral, each, a central pivot (9), each pivot being, on the one hand, mounted to rotate freely in a bearing (10) disposed in the equatorial plane of the body, and on the other hand, r linked to motor means (12) capable of rotating it between a working position, in which the pallet (8) occupies a meridian position, and a stop position, in which the pallet (8) occupies an equatorial position, and that the housing (E), containing the rotor and arranged after the neck of the convergent, is in the form of a spherical segment with truncated poles, of radius (R) centered on the center (O) of the body and of equal value, at play functional near, to that of the outer edge of the pallets (8,108), this housing having extending: * upstream of the body (2), up to substantially a tangent to this body, parallel to the direction of the fluid leaving the neck ( F) from the convergent, * and, downstream, to substantially the longitudinal median plane   of the body (2), forming the neck of the divergent.   2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor (B) is arranged in a tubular box (A) of rectangular cross section whose walls (17a, 17b), opposite and parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor , are covered internally and by fairing walls to form: - on one side of the box and with a wall (18), a longitudinal groove (19) with rounded bottom, whose radius (R) is similar to that of the extreme edge pallets (8,108), - and, on the other side and with walls (20 and 23), e upstream of the housing (E) for the rotor, a concave camber (20a) then convex (20b) going up to at the edge of the spherical housing (E) by forming a beak (22), defining the neck (F) of the divergent, with the opposite wall * and downstream of this housing and with a wall (23), a flaring going from the edge from this accommodation (E) to the   outlet of the box (A), forming the divergent (D).   3. Installation according to all of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the wall (23) forming the widening of the divergent (D) is in a plane passing substantially through the axis of rotation of the rotor (B).   4. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the   convergent (C) is equipped with a motorized guillotine valve (28) capable of closing it and erasing a space (G).   5. Installation according to all of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the walls (17a, 17b) of the box (A), which are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor (B) are approaching l 'from one another, going from the inlet of the box (A) to the median plane of the box containing the axis of rotation of the rotor (B), then moving away from one of the other, from this plane to the exit mouth.   6. Installation according to claim 1 and any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises several modules (Ml, M2, Mn) which, each composed of a box (A) and a rotor (B) with vertical axis, are juxtaposed and / or superimposed in a support structure (40, 40a), said structure being integral with a lower circular plate (42), mounted to rotate freely on a circular guide path (43) and connected to means 30 for driving and setting in rotation, while the shafts (4) of the rotors (B) of the superimposed modules (Ml, M2, Mn) are linked in rotation, to each other and to a common output shaft (44).   7. Installation according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that in each module (M) the rotor (B) is linked in rotation to its output shaft (4, 6a, 6b), traversing or not, with interposition of 'a way   unidirectional drive, such as notches and pawls (5a, 5b).   8. Installation according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   that the wall (121) defining the housing (E) for the rotor (B) is interrupted, substantially opposite its end juxtaposed with the neck (F) of the convergent (C), to form the inlet (60) d '' a suction channel (61) bypassing the rotor upstream and opening into the convergent (C), upstream from its neck (F) and through a mouth (62).   9. Installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the convergent (C) has upstream of the outlet (62) of the suction channel (61) a convex protuberance (1 19c), directing the flow of fluid towards this outlet   to increase the suction effect.