WIND TURBINE

Abstract

A wind turbine is described which includes a support structure, a rotor which includes one or multiple rotor blades and which is situated on the support structure so that the rotor is freely rotatable about a rotation axis, and a generator which is connected to the rotor and which converts the wind energy into electrical energy when the rotor is rotating. The support structure includes a stationary ring on which the rotor is rotatably guided and on which the stator of the generator is situated.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A wind turbine, comprising: a support structure; a rotor that includes at least one rotor blade and is situated on the support structure so that the rotor is freely rotatable about a rotation axis; and a generator connected to the rotor and that converts wind energy into electrical energy when the rotor is rotating, wherein the support structure includes a stationary ring on which the rotor is rotatably guided and on which a stator of the generator is situated.

17. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the rotor is free of a connection to one of a shaft and an axle.

18. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the generator is provided between the stationary ring and the rotor.

19. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the rotor includes a rotor ring that is supported on the stationary ring via one of a plurality of roller bearings and a plurality of rolling elements.

20. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the rotor includes a rotor ring that is supported in a floating manner on the stationary ring by a magnetic force.

21. The wind turbine as recited in claim 19, wherein one of: generators are integrated into the roller bearings, and the roller bearings are mechanically connected to generators.

22. The wind turbine as recited in claim 19, further comprising at least one circumferential rail that transmits a rotary motion of the rotor to the roller bearings, wherein the circumferential rail is fixed to the rotor in a circumferential direction.

23. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein a ratio of a rotor diameter to the rotor blade length is 1:2.

24. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein a ratio of a rotor diameter to the rotor blade length is 1:1.5.

25. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein a ratio of a rotor diameter to the rotor blade length is 1:1.

26. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein a number of the at least one rotor blade is at least three.

27. The wind turbine as recited in claim 19, wherein the roller rings are arranged into at least two circular tracks situated on the stationary ring.

28. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the stationary ring includes generator coils.

29. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the rotor includes generator magnets.

30. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrical energy generated by the generator is withdrawable at the stationary ring.

31. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein: the support structure includes a T-shaped upright with a tower and a crossmember, and the stationary ring is fastened to ends of the crossmember.

32. The wind turbine as recited in claim 16, wherein the rotor ring is situated on and outside of the stationary ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an axonometric overall view of a wind turbine.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an axonometric view of a support structure together with a stationary ring.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows an axonometric view of a rotor together with a plurality of rotor blades which rotates on the stationary ring.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the wind turbine in a partial cutaway view for explaining the rotor bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIGS. 1 and 4 show one embodiment of the wind turbine according to the present invention, which is denoted overall by reference numeral 11. Wind turbine 11 includes a rotor 13 which is supported so that it is rotatable about a stationary ring 15.

[0025] Stationary ring 15 is supported or held by a T-shaped upright 17.

[0026] Rotor 13 includes a rotor ring 19 and a plurality of rotor blades 21. Rotor ring 19 preferably has a diameter that essentially corresponds to the length of the rotor blades. For example, the diameter of rotor ring 19 and the length of the rotor blades is 50 meters in each case. Despite the considerable diameter of the rotor ring relative to the length of rotor blades 21, the surface area of rotor ring 19 is only 10% of the circular area defined by the free ends of rotor blades 21. The utilizable wind surface is thus only slightly reduced due to rotor ring 19. The length of rotor blades 21 may therefore be reduced by approximately ⅓, compared to the rotor blade length for wind turbines of the related art, without significantly reducing the utilizable wind surface. The material costs of wind turbine 11 according to the present invention may thus be significantly reduced, since the material costs of the rotor blades are lower.

[0027] Rotor ring 19 is rotatably guided on the outer side of stationary ring 15. The bearing may be assumed by a plurality of rolling elements 23, as shown in FIG. 4. Rolling elements 23 may be rotatably accommodated in depressions on the outer side of stationary ring 15, and situated in two or more concentric rails on stationary ring 15. Rolling elements 23 may slide directly on a running surface on the inner side of rotor ring 19, or may slide indirectly on guide rails 25. Rolling elements 23 may be wheels, rollers, drums, pins, and other rotationally symmetrical bodies. Guide rails 25 are fixedly connected to rotor ring 19, and shift the rotary motion of rotor ring 19 onto rolling elements 23. The high mechanical load resulting from the weight of the rotor blades does not have to be accommodated by a central bearing, as is the case with conventional wind turbines, and instead may be distributed over the plurality of rolling elements 23. The repair costs for wind turbine 11 may thus be reduced. It is also conceivable to increase the rotor blade length for wind turbine 11, since for the stated dimensions, the load capacity of rolling elements 23 does not reach its maximum.

[0028] It is also conceivable for the bearing of rotor ring 19 on stationary ring 15 to take place due to magnetic forces which keep rotor ring 19 suspended on stationary ring 15.

[0029] The generator of wind turbine 11, which converts the wind energy into electrical energy, is preferably situated between rotor ring 19 and stationary ring 15. Since only a motion of a magnetic field relative to an induction coil is important for a generator, it is preferred when the stator of the generator is situated in stationary ring 15, which is stationary anyway. The rotor of the generator is advantageously situated in rotor ring 19. To simplify withdrawal of the generated electrical current, it is preferred when the current withdrawal takes place at stationary ring 15, even though withdrawal using slide elements may also take place at rotor ring 19. For the simplified current withdrawal, the generator magnets are thus situated in rotor ring 19, and the induction coils are situated in stationary ring 15.

[0030] It is also conceivable for individual generators to be integrated into rolling elements 23, or for individual generators to be mechanically connected to rolling elements 23. Depending on the wind power, individual generators may be connected, or are disconnected by the transmission of rotation by rolling elements 23.

[0031] Wind turbines of the related art usually include three rotor blades. This number may be increased in the wind turbine according to the present invention, since due to their ring structure, the rotor blades are able to withstand higher mechanical loads.

[0032] The T-shaped upright includes a tower 27 and a crossmember 29. Stationary ring 15 is situated on the ends of crossmember 29. A sufficiently stable mounting, and at the same time, preferably low wind resistance, may be achieved in this way.

[0033] Due to providing a stationary ring 15 and a rotor ring 19, the mechanical forces may be decentralized, and do not act in a central point of the rotation axis, as is the case for wind turbines of the related art. The mechanical forces may be distributed over a plurality of rolling elements.