TRANSLATIONALLY MOVABLE WIND POWER PLANT

Abstract

The invention refers to a wind generator onboard of a road vehicle, the wind generator comprising: at least one wind wheel which is mounted onboard of a road vehicle to be rotatable around a rotational axis, the at least one wind wheel comprising at least one or more blade configured to convert flow energy of wind into rotational energy, at least one generator, the at least one generator being coupled to a hub or shaft of the at least one wind wheel or to an output shaft of a gear connected the at least one wind wheel, the at least one generator being configured to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy, wherein a center of gravity of the wind wheel, together with a hub and rotor shaft and rotatable parts of the generator or of the gear which are coupled to the hub or rotor shaft and rotate around the same rotational axis, is translationally movable in a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction together with the road vehicle in the direction of travel, wherein the at least one generator is either a direct current generator or is an alternating current generator with an output side of the at least one generator being coupled to a rectifier so as to provide the electrical energy as a direct current output, wherein at least one energy storage is coupled to the direct current output of the at least one generator or to the direct current output of the rectifier, for receiving and storing the electrical energy, wherein the extension of the at least one wind wheel parallel to its rotational axis is smaller than the extension of the at least one wind wheel transversely to its rotational axis, wherein, in the direction of travel of the road vehicle, there is no cascade of more than one wind wheel, i.e. no two wind wheels are arranged behind each other, and wherein the shape and size of the body of the vehicle are neither modified or increased by the wind generator nor affected by extensions fixed to the body of the vehicle housing the wind generator.

Claims

1. A wind generator onboard of a road vehicle, the wind generator comprising: at least one wind wheel which is mounted onboard of a road vehicle to be rotatable around a rotational axis, the at least one wind wheel comprising at least one or more blade configured to convert flow energy of wind into rotational energy, at least one generator, the at least one generator being coupled to a hub or shaft of the at least one wind wheel or to an output shaft of a gear connected the at least one wind wheel, the at least one generator being configured to convert the rotational energy into electrical energy, wherein a center of gravity of the wind wheel, together with a hub and rotor shaft and rotatable parts of the generator or of the gear which are coupled to the hub or rotor shaft and rotate around the same rotational axis, is translationally movable in a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction together with the road vehicle in the direction of travel, wherein the at least one generator is either a direct current generator or is an alternating current generator with an output side of the at least one generator being coupled to a rectifier so as to provide the electrical energy as a direct current output, wherein at least one energy storage is coupled to the direct current output of the at least one generator or to the direct current output of the rectifier, for receiving and storing the electrical energy, wherein the extension of the at least one wind wheel parallel to its rotational axis is smaller than the extension of the at least one wind wheel transversely to its rotational axis, wherein, in the direction of travel of the road vehicle, there is no cascade of more than one wind wheel, i.e. no two wind wheels are arranged behind each other, and wherein the shape and size of the body of the vehicle are neither modified or increased by the wind generator nor affected by extensions fixed to the body of the vehicle housing the wind generator.

2. The wind generator according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the wheel case of the front wheel of the road vehicle and the regarding front door is less than the diameter of the front wheel, or is less than the radius of the front wheel.

3. The wind generator according to claim 2, wherein the air leaving the at least one wind wheel is fed via an outlet air duct along a direction towards or nearby at least one engine of the road vehicle to a region beneath the body of the road vehicle, where the pressure is lowered beneath the atmospheric pressure in case of movement of the road vehicle.

4. The wind generator according to claim 3, wherein the outlet air duct terminates in an outlet mouth beneath the body of the road vehicle.

5. The wind generator according to claim 4, wherein the outlet mouth of the outlet air duct is located behind a front spoiler of the road vehicle or in the wheel case of the front wheel of the road vehicle.

6. The wind generator according to claim 5, wherein the outlet mouth of the outlet air duct is located in the area of the rear half of the wheel case.

7. The wind generator according to claim 6, wherein the outlet mouth of the outlet air duct is located in the upper area of the wheel case or at the medial side of the wheel case, that is at the wall separating the wheel case from the engine compartment.

8. The wind generator according to claim 7, wherein the outlet mouth of the outlet air duct in the wheel case is covered by a grid in order to protect the wind wheel from debris.

9. The wind generator according to claim 7, wherein the outlet mouth of the outlet air duct in the wheel case is directed towards the wheel brake.

10. The wind generator according to claim 5, wherein the outlet air duct is curved between the wind wheel and the outlet mouth.

11. The wind generator according to claim 3, wherein the air entering the at least one wind wheel is fed via an inlet air duct from a region of the body of the road vehicle where the pressure is raised above the atmospheric pressure in case of movement of the road vehicle.

12. The wind generator according to claim 11, wherein the inlet air duct terminates in an inlet mouth in the front region of the body of the road vehicle.

13. The wind generator according to claim 12, wherein the inlet air duct is wider at the inlet mouth than at the wind wheel.

14. The wind generator according to claim 13, wherein the inlet air duct narrows continuously from the inlet mouth to the wind wheel.

15. The wind generator according to claim 12, wherein the inlet air duct is straight in an area between the inlet mouth and the wind wheel.

16. The wind generator according to claim 12, wherein the inlet air duct is ascending in an area between the inlet mouth and the wind wheel.

17. The wind generator according to claim 12, characterized by a device for closing the inlet air duct at the inlet mouth.

18. The wind generator according to claim 17, characterized in that the device for closing the inlet air duct at the inlet mouth is designed as a lamella-like curtain whose lamellae are open for a normal incident flow direction of the air, but closed to stop the incident flow of air onto the wind wheel.

19. The wind generator according to claim 3, wherein the at least one wind wheel has a front side facing towards the airflow coming into the wind wheel, and a rear side facing in the direction of the air leaving the wind wheel, and wherein the rotational axis of the wind wheel is parallel to the direction of the air flow between the front side and the rear side of the wind wheel.

20. The wind generator according to claim 19, characterized in that the wind generator and/or the wind wheel are/is mounted between an inlet air duct and an outlet air duct in such a way that the front side of the wind wheel faces the inlet air duct and the rear side of the wind wheel faces the outlet air duct.

21. The wind generator according to claim 20, characterized in that the inlet air duct and the outlet air duct are connected to each other in an airtight manner.

22. The wind generator according to claim 19, characterized in that a wind resistance of the wind wheel or of parts thereof is adjustable, in particular in that a setting angle of one or several blades or other wind-guiding surfaces is changeable.

23. The wind generator according to claim 22, characterized in that the blades of a the at least one wind wheel are adjustable about a longitudinal axis of the regarding blade in order to be adaptable to different relative speeds of incident air.

24. The wind generator according to claim 19, characterized in that a freewheel is situated between a wind turbine and the electric generator associated therewith, so that in the event of a stop of the road vehicle, the electric generator, despite the decelerated wind turbine, can continue to rotate freely in a practically undecelerated manner.

25. The wind generator according to claim 3, characterized in that the rectifier is a bridge rectifier.

26. The wind generator according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one energy storage onboard of the road vehicle is a static storage for storing the fed electrical energy permanently.

27. The wind generator according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one energy storage onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one capacitor for storing the fed electrical energy electrically, especially in the form of an electrical field.

28. The wind generator according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one energy storage onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one accumulator for storing the fed electrical energy electrochemically.

29. The wind generator according to claim 28, characterized in that the at least one energy storage onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one lithium ion accumulator.

30. The wind generator according to claim 26, characterized in that the at least one energy storage onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one apparatus for storing the fed electrical energy chemically.

31. The wind generator according to claim 30, characterized in that at least one apparatus for storing the fed electrical energy chemically onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one electrolytic cell, especially an electrolytic cell for the fission of water into oxygen an hydrogen.

32. The wind generator according to claim 31, characterized in that at least one apparatus for storing the fed electrical energy chemically onboard of the road vehicle comprises at least one storage tank for storing the electrolytically generated hydrogen.

33. The wind generator according to claim 3, characterized in that the road vehicle is driven by at least one engine which is designed as an internal combustion engine, or as at least one electric motor.

34. The wind generator according to claim 33, characterized in that an electric output of the at least one energy storage is electrically connected to the electric input of the at least one electric motor.

35. The wind generator according to claim 34, characterized in that the electric motor comprises at least one three-phase synchronous or asynchronous motor.

36. The wind generator according to claim 35, characterized in that at least one three-phase inverter is interconnected between the electric output of the at least one energy storage and the three-phase synchronous or asynchronous motor.

37. The wind generator according to claim 36, characterized in that a three-phase output of the the at least one three-phase inverter is switchable between the at least one three-phase synchronous or asynchronous motor, and an alternating current output of the generator.

38. The wind generator according to claim 37, characterized in that a three-phase output of the the at least one three-phase inverter is switchable to an output connector for exchanging electric energy between the energy storage and an external energy grid.

39. The wind generator according to claim 38, characterized by a control device for switching the three-phase output of the at least one three-phase inverter either to an at least one three-phase synchronous or asynchronous motor, or to an alternating current output of the generator, or to an output connector for exchanging electric energy between the energy storage and an external energy grid.

40. The wind generator according to claim 3, characterized in that an electric input and an electric output of a capacitor or accumulator are conductively connected to each other.

41. The wind generator according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one storage tank for storing electrolytically generated hydrogen comprises an outlet duct which is coupled to a fuel cell.

42. The wind generator according to claim 41, characterized in that the fuel cell is designed to transform chemically stored energy of electrolytically generated hydrogen into electrical energy.

43. The wind generator according to claim 41, characterized in that the fuel cell comprises an electric output where direct current is provided.

44. The wind generator according to claim 2, characterized in that the wind wheel is not surrounded by wind deflector plates.

45. The wind generator according to claim 44, characterized in that the rotational axis of the at least one wind wheel extends in a vertical direction.

46. The wind generator according to claim 45, characterized in that the at least one wind wheel converts flow energy of wind into rotational energy independent of the flow direction of the wind.

47. The wind generator according to claim 46, characterized in that the at least one wind wheel is designed to convert flow energy of the air stream of the translational moving wind generator into rotational energy independent of the translational moving direction of the wind generator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Further features, particulars, advantages, and effects based on the invention result from the following description of one preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the drawings, which show the following:

[0074] FIG. 1a shows a lefthand view, partly broken away, of road vehicle with two wind generators onboard, each wind generator comprising a wind wheel;

[0075] FIG. 1b shows a plan view of the road vehicle of FIG. 1a;

[0076] FIG. 2a shows a lefthand view, partly broken away, of another road vehicle with two wind generators onboard, each wind generator comprising a wind wheel;

[0077] FIG. 2b shows a plan view of the road vehicle of FIG. 2a;

[0078] FIG. 3 shows the wind wheel which is used in the wind generators used in the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b;

[0079] FIG. 4a shows a block circuit diagram with relevant mechanic and electric components, which is incorporated in the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b, where the wind wheel shown at the left side of FIG. 4a is the same as one of the wind wheels of FIGS. 1a to 2b, while the Motor shown at the right side of FIG. 4a is the same as that shown in the FIGS. 1a to 2b; wherein the electric components are incorporated onboard of the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b, wherein the energy storage is an accumulator only;

[0080] FIG. 4b shows another block circuit diagram with relevant mechanic and electric components, which is incorporated in the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b, where the wind wheel shown at the left side of FIG. 4a is the same as one of the wind wheels of FIGS. 1a to 2b, while the Motor shown at the right side of FIG. 4a is the same as that shown in the FIGS. 1a to 2b; wherein the electric components are incorporated onboard of the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b, wherein—additional to the arrangement of FIG. 4a, a hydrogen generator, hydrogen tank and a fuel cell is provide in order to allow the road vehicles according to FIGS. 1a to 2b to store more energy in order to improve the cruising radius;

[0081] FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of road vehicle with a wind generator onboard having a wind wheel rotating around a horizontal axis in the direction of travel, which wind wheel is coupled to a generator;

[0082] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment with a wind wheel rotating around a vertical axis in a perspective similar to FIG. 5; and

[0083] FIG. 7 shows the wind wheel of the embodiment according to FIG. 6 in a perspective view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0084] As can be seen in the drawing, the wind generator 1, 1′, 1.sup.(3), 1.sup.(4) is situated onboard a vehicle 18 that is suitable for roadway travel, whereby this vehicle 18 is able to generate current from its kinetic energy, for example during a braking operation. For this purpose, such a wind generator 1, 1′, 1.sup.(3) is preferably situated within the vehicle body 25, for example beneath the hood 58, and therefore has no negative effect on the air resistance of the road vehicle 18.

[0085] The wind generator 1, 1′, 1.sup.(3) may be permanently active, or, when necessary, may be switched on as soon as excess kinetic energy is available, such as during a braking operation or during downhill travel. For this purpose, the wind generator 1, 1′, 1.sup.(3) may be concealed behind a streamlined cowling which may be opened as needed, but which can be closed during acceleration operations or if a maximum travel speed is desired, in order not to generate any air resistance.

[0086] FIG. 1a shows the wind power plant 1 based on a side view of the front of the road vehicle 18 with an engine bonnet 58, a driver's cabin 19, and a driver's door 59, where a wind turbine 4 is fixed inside the car body 25, nearby a wheel case 60.

[0087] When the road vehicle 18 is in motion, overpressure is generated in front of the road vehicle 18 by the headwind. This overpressure causes the air in front of the road vehicle 18 to flow through an inlet mouth 61 of an air inlet duct 62 to the wind turbine 4, which is thereby driven in rotational motion, and produces electrical energy for the vehicle's electric accumulator 30 by use of an electric generator 5 coupled to the wind wheel 4. After passing through the wind wheel 4, the air is deflected by an air outlet duct 63 to an outlet mouth 64.

[0088] As the air outlet duct 63 terminates at the outlet mouth 64 inside of the wheel case 60, the distance between the wheel case 60 and the car body 25 can be less than the radius of the wheel 6, although the a maximum of space capacity is provided inside of the vehicle 18, especially inside of the driver's cabin 19.

[0089] As can be seen in FIG. 1b, one of two air inlet ducts 62 extends straight from the front of the road vehicle 18 backwards into the engine compartment nearby the regarding one of the two wheel cases 60 up to a wind wheel 4. Behind the wind wheel 4, the air is fed away via an air outlet duct 63 up to an outlet mouth 64 located at the medial side of the regarding wheel case 60, that is in the wall 65 separating the wheel case 60 from the engine compartment 66. The outlet mouth 64 is located in the upper rearward area or quarter of the wheel case 60, where the pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure if the road vehicle 18 travels forward.

[0090] In order to prevent debris whirled up by the front wheel 6 inside of the wheel case 60 from damaging the wind wheel 4 or the generator 5 coupled thereto, the outlet mouth 64 may be covered by a grid or the like.

[0091] In the same manner, in order to prevent insects and the like contained in the headwind arriving at the front of the road vehicle 18 from damaging the wind wheel 4 or the generator 5 coupled thereto, the inlet mouth 61 may be covered by a grid or the like, too.

[0092] As can be seen from FIG. 1a, the inlet air duct 62 is slightly ascending towards the wind wheel 4.

[0093] Furthermore, FIG. 1b shows that the cross section of the inlet air duct 62 narrows backwards towards the wind wheel 4 in order to increase the flow velocity there and therefore to move the wind wheel in an optimum speed range. The wind wheel 4 is shown in FIG. 3 and explained in the following. If necessary, the blades of the wind wheel 4 may be adjusted for an optimum conversion of energy from air flow through the wind wheel 4 to electric energy which can be stored in the accumulator 30 as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b or as hydrogen gas in the hydrogen tank 48 as shown in FIG. 4b.

[0094] The only difference between the wind generator 1′ shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b and the wind generator 1 as already explained in view of FIGS. 1a and 1b is the location of the wind wheel 4′ and the inlet air duct 62′ and outlet air duct 63′ leading to and from the wind wheel 4′.

[0095] While in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the wind wheel 4 is located in the engine compartment 66, between the both wheel cases 60, each near a wall 65 separating the regarding wheel case 60 from the engine compartment 66, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the wind wheel 4′ is located above a regarding wheel case 60 in the area of a mudguard or fender 67 of the road vehicle 18.

[0096] For this reason, the inlet air duct 62′ is steeper inclined than the inlet air duct 62 as shown in FIG. 1a.

[0097] In both embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b as well as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the axis of rotation of the wind wheel 4, 4′ extends horizontally and is parallel to the direction of travel of the road vehicle 18.

[0098] A further difference between the two embodiments shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b on the one hand and FIGS. 2a, 2b on the other hand is that the outlet air duct 63 of the wind generator 1 is curved in a horizontal plane from a longitudinal direction nearly parallel to the direction of travel near the wind wheel 4 into a direction transverse to the direction of travel near the area of the outlet mouth 64, while the outlet air duct 63′ of the wind generator 1′ is curved in a vertical plane from a longitudinal direction nearly parallel to the direction of travel near the wind wheel 4′ into a nearly vertical direction near the area of the outlet mouth 64′.

[0099] The outlet mouth 64′ of the wind generator 1′ is located in the upper, curved wall 68 of the wheel case 60, especially in the rearward area of the wheel case 60, and can be protected against debris whirled up from the regarding front wheel 6 by a grid or the like.

[0100] In the same manner, in order to prevent insects and the like contained in the headwind arriving at the front of the road vehicle 18 from damaging the wind wheel 4′ or the generator 5′ coupled thereto, the inlet mouth 61′ may be covered by a grid or the like, too.

[0101] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a wind generator 1 which is built into the vehicle 18 according to FIGS. 1a and 1b as well as into the vehicle 18 according to FIGS. 2a and 2b. It can be seen that the stator 2 is in the form of a chassis which can be fixed in the road vehicle 18, especially to the air inlet duct 62, 62′ and/or to the air outlet duct 63, 63′.

[0102] On the other hand, such chassis comprises the geometry of an outer ring surrounding the rotor, and comprises several spokes 7 running inwardly toward a hub-like element 14, where the rotor 3 is mounted in a pivotable manner.

[0103] The rotor 3 comprises a central hub 9, from which several blades 10 extend radially outwards. These have a two-dimensional shape with two nearly radial edges 11, 12 and a peripheral rim 13. All blades 10 are inclined from one radial edge 11 to the other 12 in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotor 3 or wind wheel 4, in order that air bouncing against the blades 10 in an axial direction cause a rotation of the wind wheel 4 in a predetermined direction.

[0104] Integrated with the hub-like element 14 of the stator 2 is a stator of the generator 5, while a rotor of the generator 5 is integrated with the hub 9 of the rotor 3 or wind wheel 4. Therefore, upon rotation of the wind wheel 4 or rotor 3, the generator 5 produces electric energy which is fed via a cable 15 to the accumulator 30 or to a rectifier, if the generator 5 is no direct current generator.

[0105] FIG. 4a discloses the electric standard circuitry 29 of a wind turbine 1 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b as well as wind turbine 1′ as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. Although these two embodiments differ in a mechanic way of construction, the electric components are the same in both embodiments.

[0106] A central component of this circuitry 29 is an energy storage 28 in the form of an accumulator 30. The electric terminals 31 of such accumulator 30 can be coupled either to the regarding wind wheel 4 via—if necessary—a free-wheel 14, via the generator 5 and—if necessary, that is if the generator 5 does not generate a direct current at its output—via a rectifier 32 for converting an alternating current or a sinusoidal output voltage of the generator 5 into a direct current for charging the accumulator 30, if the switch 33 is closed, or, if switch 34 is closed, to at least one wheel 6 driven by a motor 8 via—if necessary, that is if the motor 8 is no direct current motor—an inverter 35 with an input where a potentiometer 36 can be connected for inputting a control voltage into the inverter 35 as a signal representing an acceleration command.

[0107] In the two embodiments according to FIGS. 1a to 2b, the motor 8 is shown directly mounted to the regarding front wheel 6. Normally, such wheel motors 8 are provided in pairs, either in one pair for the two front wheels or in two pairs for all four wheels 6 of the road vehicle 18.

[0108] The potentiometer 36 can be mechanically connected to an acceleration pedal which is operated by a driver of the vehicle 18, for example in such way that an increasing control voltage 37 leads to an increased mean value of output current or output voltage 38 of the inverter 35, so as to control the torque and/or speed of the motor 8.

[0109] In special cases where a recuperation of energy from the wheels 6 of a vehicle 18 is desired in case of a braking operation, the inverter 35 may comprise a second input where another potentiometer can be connected for inputting a second control voltage into the inverter 35 as a signal representing a deceleration command, and then the inverter 35 reduces its output voltage so that the motor 8 is operated as a generator and takes mechanical energy from the wheels 6 in order to brake the vehicle 18 while this energy is used to charge the accumulator 30.

[0110] The electric circuitry 29.sup.(5) disclosed in FIG. 4b is amended over the standard circuitry 29 of FIG. 4a by an additional block 39 comprising several additional components which can be used to assist the accumulator 30 in storing energy. Therefore, the electric circuitry 29.sup.(5) may be called a high-end version of the standard version 29 as shown in FIG. 4a. Especially, this can be considered as a measure to (virtually) enhance the charging capacity of the accumulator 30.sup.(5) far beyond the charging capacity of the accumulator 30 in FIG. 8.

[0111] The additional block 39 comprises an electrolyse cell 40 with an anode 41 and a cathode 42, wherein preferably the anode 41 is connected to the output 43 of the rectifier 32 or—if the generator 5 is a direct current generator—directly to the output of the generator 5, while the cathode is connected to a common ground 56. The electrolyse cell 40 is a basin 44 filled with distilled water, into which the anode 41 and the cathode 42 are submerged. During operation of the electrolyse cell 40, oxygen bubbles are generated at the anode 41 and hydrogen bubbles at the cathode 42.

[0112] Such hydrogen bubbles are collected by a hood 45 which is located above the cathode 42. This hood 45 has an output at the elevated center of the hood 45, so that the hydrogen which is lighter than air is collected and fed to a duct 46 connected to that output

[0113] That duct 46 leads to a compressor 47 which feeds the compressed hydrogen gas to a pressure vessel 48 where the hydrogen can be stored, for example at a pressure of up to 200 bar.

[0114] In case energy is needed to drive one or more wheels 6 via the motor 8, hydrogen gas is fed via a duct 49 from an output of the pressure vessel 48 to a compartment 50 of a fuel cell 51, especially to a compartment 50 comprising an anode 52.

[0115] A cathode 53 is placed within a cathode compartment 54, and a membrane 55 is arranged between both compartments 50, 53. While the cathode 53 is connected to common ground 56, the anode 52 is or can be coupled to the input of the inverter 35.

[0116] If necessary, several electrolyse cells 40 may be connected in series, if the voltage at the output 43 of the generator 5 or rectifier 32 is substantially higher than the voltage at one electrolyse cell 40. On the other hand, several fuel cells 51 may be connected in series, if the voltage at one fuel cell 51 is substantially lower than the input voltage needed by the inverter 35.

[0117] The wind power plant 1.sup.(3) according to FIG. 5 is designed as a road vehicle or motor vehicle 18, for example as a transport vehicle like a lorry or motortruck with a driver's cabin 19 and a cargo area or load area 20. Other embodiments of such vehicle 18 are possible, for example as a passenger car or as a coach or bus.

[0118] In such vehicle 18, the wind wheel 4 may be installed behind the grill 21 in the front of the vehicle 18, with the rotational axis of the wind wheel 4 oriented in a horizontal direction, especially along the direction of travel of the vehicle 18. As can be seen from FIG. 5, there should be provided an air passage or ventilation duct 22 behind the wind wheel 4 to allow the inflow wind to leave the car body or the engine compartment after rotationally driving the wind wheel 4.

[0119] If the downstream mouth 23 of such air passage or ventilation duct 22 is at the bottom side 24 underneath the car body 25, where during movement of the vehicle 18 the pressure is below the atmospheric pressure, the pressure difference between inflowing air and outflowing air can be used to optimize the energy yield. The pressure is particularly low in the area of a diffusor or front spoiler 69 at the underside 24 of the vehicle 18.

[0120] The generated electric energy can be stored within an energy storage 28, specifically can be used to charge an accumulator on board of the vehicle 18. On the other hand, the energy storage 28 could be designed as a tank for storing hydrogen gas generated from water by electrolysis in an electrolytic cell onboard of the vehicle 18.

[0121] If the vehicle 18 comprises an electric drive motor, the additional electric energy can be used to extend the range of the vehicle 18 of one charge cycle. In case of a storage tank 28 for hydrogen gas, there could be provided a fuel cell onboard of the vehicle 18 for generating a current from the stored hydrogen gas to drive the vehicle 18

[0122] The wind power plant 1.sup.(4) according to FIG. 6 is designed as a road vehicle or motor vehicle 18.sup.(4), too. As a difference to the road vehicle or motor vehicle 18.sup.(4), the wind wheel 4.sup.(4) is not installed behind the grill 21 in the front of the vehicle 18.sup.(4), but on top of the driver's cabin 19 of the vehicle 18.sup.(4), and the axis of rotation 26 of the wind wheel 4.sup.(4) is not oriented in a horizontal direction, but in a vertical direction.

[0123] Such wind wheel 4.sup.(4) itself Is shown in more detail in FIG. 7. It comprises beams 27 extending from the axis of rotation 26 radially outwards like radial spokes, especially in two planes above each other. The free ends of two such spokes or radial beams 27 of different planes each support a blade 15.sup.(4) of the wind wheel 4.sup.(4), and these blades 15.sup.(4) have a curved cross section, so that an inflowing wind generates a higher pressure at the concave main surface of such blade 15.sup.(4) than at its convex main surface.

[0124] Therefore, even if all blades 15.sup.(4) of such wind wheel 4.sup.(4) receive the same airstream, the pressure on such blades 15.sup.(4) whose concave main surfaces face the airstream will be higher than the pressure on such blades 15.sup.(4) whose convex main surfaces face the airstream, and the wind wheel 4.sup.(4) will rotate in a direction where the convex main surfaces face into the direction of rotation, and the concave main surfaces will face against such direction of rotation.

[0125] For a wind wheel 4.sup.(4) with a vertical axis of rotation 26, the direction of the inflowing air is not relevant. Therefore, even if the vehicle 18.sup.(4) does not move, in case of a sufficient wind strength the wind wheel 4.sup.(4) will generate rotational energy at its axis or rotation 26, which can be converted into electrical energy within a generator 5 coupled to the axis of rotation 26. For this purpose, the generator 5 can be installed at the top of the driver's cabin 19, either inside or outside.

[0126] The generated electric energy can be stored within an energy storage 28, specifically can be used to charge an accumulator on board of the vehicle 18.sup.(4). On the other hand, the energy storage 28 could be designed as a tank for storing hydrogen gas generated from water by electrolysis via an electrolytic cell onboard of the vehicle 18.sup.(4).

[0127] If the vehicle 18.sup.(4) comprises an electric drive motor, the additional electric energy can be used to extend the range of the vehicle 18.sup.(4) of one charge cycle. In case of a storage tank 28 for hydrogen gas, there could be provided a fuel cell onboard of the vehicle 18.sup.(4) for generating a current from the stored hydrogen gas to drive the vehicle 18.sup.(4).

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals 1 wind generator 26 axis of rotation 2 stator 27 radial beam 3 rotor 28 energy storage 4 wind wheel 29 electric circuitry 5 electric generator 30 accumulator 6 vehicle wheels 31 Electric terminal 7 spoke 32 Rectifier 8 motor 33 Switch 9 hub 34 switch 10 blade 35 inverter 11 edge 36 potentiometer 12 edge 37 control voltage 13 rim 38 output voltage 14 hub-like element 39 additional block 15 cable 40 electrolyse cell 16 free-wheel 41 anode 17 ground 42 cathode 18 vehicle 43 output 19 driver's cabin 44 bassin 20 load area 45 hood 21 grill 46 duct 22 ventialtion duct 47 compressor 23 downstream mouth 48 pressure vessel 24 bottom side 49 duct 25 car body 50 compartment 51 fuel cell 52 anode 53 cathode 54 compartmend 55 membrane 56 common ground 57 front spoiler 58 hood 59 driver's door 60 wheel case 61 inlet mouth 62 air inlet duct 63 air outlet duct 64 outlet mouth 65 wall 66 engine compartment 67 fender 68 wall