WIND WALL
20220349375 · 2022-11-03
Inventors
Cpc classification
F05B2240/13
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D1/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D1/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2240/133
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2250/27
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2240/40
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
Abstract
The Wind Wall is a solid structure composed of one or more Wind Cells, arranged adjacently, one next to the other, in an orderly and symmetrical way, in such a way that as a whole they form a continuous structure of Wind Cells, sustainable by itself and modular along the three physical dimensions, where each Wind Cell has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, where the internal surface comprised from the inlet opening to the outlet opening has the shape of an extrados (upper face) blade profile in revolution, and where the inlet opening and the outlet opening are of equal or substantially equal dimensions.
The Wind Cell, being the constructive component of the Wind Wall, is an aerodynamic structure specially designed to increase the wind speed within a critical space and, therefore, increase the wind power available to be used by the rotor of a Wind Turbine. The increase in wind speed is achieved through the deliberate creation of environments with high pressure differentials and, at the same time, environments dedicated to maintaining laminar wind flow and mitigating turbulent flow.
The Wind Wall is by itself a new generation of Wind Systems based not only on the aerodynamic efficiency of the Wind Turbine, but also on the aerodynamic efficiency of the structure and environment surrounding the Wind Turbine. In this sense, the new generation of Wind Systems, based on the application of the Wind Wall, will be able to increase the wind speed and, therefore, increase the density of the underlying power, given the same wind resource available in nature, allowing this way a general increase in the capacity of generating electric power.
Claims
1. A Wind Wall, comprising: one or more Wind Cells (104), where the Wind Cells are arranged adjacent to each other, compounding as a whole a continuous structure; where the Wind Cells are modular, each Wind Cell having equal and symmetrical configurations, or different and independent from each other, in such a way that the Wind Wall has completely configurable dimensions; wherein each Wind Cell has an individual structure, functional in itself, through which the wind passes in its path from a wind inlet opening (406) arranged on one side of the Wind Cell, to a wind outlet opening (407) arranged on the opposite side of said Wind Cell; wherein the wind inlet opening (406) and the wind outlet opening (407) are communicated and have the very same dimensions; wherein each Wind Cell comprises an internal aerodynamic chamber (501) in its interior in the shape of a revolutionized extrados (upper face) blade profile; wherein each Wind Cell comprises an adjacent outer section (404) formed by the outer walls of the Wind Cell; wherein each Wind Cell maintains a mirror or bilateral plane of symmetry which is located along the Wind Cell between the wind inlet opening (406) and the wind outlet opening (407), dividing the Wind Cell into half, in such a way that the perpendicular distance from any point, and its image, to the plane of symmetry is the same; wherein each Wind Cell maintains an axis of symmetric or axial plane, which divides the mirror plane of symmetry into two parts, whose symmetric points are equidistant from said axis.
2. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the joint between two adjoining Wind Cells, seen from a cross-section that passes parallel through the axes of axial symmetry of both Wind Cells, has the shape of a complete blade profile, and both Wind Cells are arranged sharing the same string; where this chord is contained by the adjacent outer section (404) of both Wind Cells and has the name of a shared closed chord.
3. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent external section (404) and the Wind Cell share the same mirror plane of symmetry and plane or axial axis of symmetry; wherein a cross section perpendicular to the axial axis of the Wind Cell shows an adjacent external section (404) with the same geometric figure along its entire axis of symmetry; wherein said geometric figure corresponds to the cylindrical base of the adjacent external section (404) which can have a polygonal shape, a conical section shape, a wavy or teardrop shape.
4. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the internal aerodynamic chamber (501) and the Wind Cell share the same mirror plane of symmetry and plane or axial axis of symmetry.
5. The Wind Wall, according to claim 4, wherein the internal aerodynamic chamber (501) comprises, positioned in the same direction of the wind, a pressure generating space (503), a critical space (504), a neck of the Wind Cell (405) and a turbulence suppressor space (505); wherein the pressure generating space (503) is located between the area of the wind inlet opening (406) and the critical space (504), the pressure generating space (503) being the space that supports the greatest drag force and presents the highest levels of pressure; wherein the critical space (504) is located between the pressure generating space (503) and the turbulence suppressor space (505), the critical space (504) being the space with the lowest pressure levels, with the highest records of the wind speed and where the neck of the Wind Cell (405) is located; furthermore, the critical space (504) is the suitable area to locate a rotor of a Wind turbine; wherein the turbulence suppressing space (505) is located between the critical space (504) and the area of the wind outlet opening (407), the turbulence suppressing space (505) being the space where the wind pressure and speed begin to be normalized in relation to the surrounding environment.
6. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the revolutionized extrados (upper face) blade profile of the internal aerodynamic chamber (501) includes the shape of a double hyperboloid profile, taking into account that the double hyperboloid profile comprises an input hyperboloid (506) facing the wind direction, disposed adjacent and perpendicular to the wind inlet opening (406), and an outlet hyperboloid (507) not facing the wind direction, arranged adjacent and perpendicular to the wind outlet opening (407); wherein the geometric shapes of the input hyperboloid (506) and the output hyperboloid (507) of the same Wind Cell are different from each other, with a magnitude or internal volume of the input hyperboloid (506) being smaller than the magnitude or internal volume of the output hyperboloid (507); wherein the input hyperboloid (506) and the output hyperboloid (507) are of an unfinished leaf and joined at the origin by identical circles in such a way that the connection between both geometric figures is continuous, that is, that the input hyperboloid (506) and the output hyperboloid (507) together form a geometric figure with continuous axial revolution symmetry.
7. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the extrados (upper face) blade profile comprises: a leading edge arranged contiguously and perpendicular to the wind inlet opening (406); and a trailing edge disposed contiguous and perpendicular to the wind outlet opening (407).
8. The Wind Wall, according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the adjacent external section (404) and the aerodynamic profile of the internal aerodynamic chamber (501) is variable throughout the entire span of the Wind Cell, taking into account that the greatest distance is located at the height of the neck of the Wind Cell (405).
9. The Wind Wall, according to claim 5, wherein the neck of the Wind Cell (405) has a circular geometric shape or any other geometric shape other than circular, as long as said shape is rounded in its geometric angles and the axis of axial symmetry of the internal aerodynamic chamber (501) can be exchanged for a plane axis of symmetry.
10. The Wind Wall, according to claim 5, wherein the wind outlet opening (407) and the wind inlet opening (406) of the Wind Cell have any of the following shapes: (i) a circular shape; (ii) the same geometric figure of the neck of the Wind Cell (405) when it is different from a circle; or (iii) the same geometric figure of the cylindrical base of the adjacent external section (404) rounded at its geometric angles.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0117] The wind, being an element of air mass in motion, has a certain amount of kinetic energy that is proportional to its mass and exponentially proportional to its speed. Therefore, consider for the description of the present innovation, the following equations that govern the wind force and the available power, respectively:
F=½.Math.ρ.Math.(u.sup.2).Math.S.sub.ref.Math.C.sub.A
P=½.Math.ρ.Math.S.sub.ref.Math.(u.sup.3)
PE=½.Math.ρ.Math.S.sub.ref.Math.(u.sup.3).Math.C.sub.C
[0118] Where:
[0119] F=Wind force
[0120] P=Available power
[0121] PE=Effective power of the wind system
[0122] ρ=Air density
[0123] u=Wind speed
[0124] S.sub.ref=Reference surface of the object under study
[0125] C.sub.A=Aerodynamic coefficient of the object facing the wind
[0126] C.sub.C=Conversion Coefficient
[0127] The equations described above show that, in the event of variations in wind speed, the changes in available power will be cubically exponential. In other words, the higher the wind speed, the greater the power available for a wind system.
[0128] The force of the wind is physically expressed as kilogram-meters/second squared, or Newtons. The available power of the wind is physically expressed as Newton-meters per second, or Watts. On the other hand, the aerodynamic coefficient can be expressed, depending on the force under study, as drag coefficient, lift coefficient or lateral coefficient. Additionally, the reference surface can be expressed, depending on the force under study, as the projected area, the blade surface or the lateral surface.
[0129] Due to the exponential relationship between wind speed and available power, small increases in wind speed generate large increases in available power. In other words, the Wind Wall has a significant impact on the effective power generated by a Wind turbine through increases in dynamic pressure and wind speed.
[0130] Having established the exponential relationship between the wind speed and the available power of the wind, therefore, the incidence of the Wind Wall (101) on the wind speed is also established.
[0131] The Wind Wall (101) being an aerodynamic body that has a positive impact on the wind speed projected on the rotor of the Wind system—achieved through the increase in the pressure differential and, consequently, in the wind speed existing in nature—, for the description of this innovation, consider the following equations that govern the magnitudes and aerodynamic coefficients of the Wind Wall (101):
F.sub.AMP=F.sub.D+F.sub.L+F.sub.S
F.sub.D=½.Math.ρ.Math.(u.sup.2).Math.A.Math.C.sub.D
F.sub.L=½.Math.ρ.Math.(u.sup.2).Math.S.sub.Lref.Math.C.sub.L
F.sub.S=½.Math.ρ.Math.(u.sup.2).Math.S.sub.Sref.Math.C.sub.S
If S.sub.Lref=S.sub.Sref then (C.sub.L=C.sub.S) and, thereby,(F.sub.L=F.sub.S)
P=½.Math.ρ.Math.A(u.sup.3)
[0132] Where:
[0133] F.sub.AMP=Dimensionless sum of the total forces exerted on the Wind Wall.
[0134] F.sub.D=Drag force or resistance of the Wind Cell.
[0135] F.sub.L=Lift force (upper and lower) on the Wind Cell measured from the inside out.
[0136] F.sub.S=Lateral force (left and right) on the Wind Cell measured from the inside out.
[0137] P=Available power.
[0138] ρ=Air density.
[0139] u=Wind speed.
[0140] A=Wind Cell projected area perpendicular to the wind direction.
[0141] S.sub.Lref=Blade surface projection corresponding to lift force.
[0142] S.sub.Sref=Blade surface projection corresponding to lateral force.
[0143] C.sub.D=Aerodynamic coefficient of resistance or drag of the object facing the wind.
[0144] Determines the aerodynamic performance of the wind system in the opposite direction to the wind direction.
[0145] C.sub.L=Aerodynamic coefficient of sustainability. Determines the aerodynamic performance of the wind system in the opposite direction to gravity.
[0146] C.sub.S=Lateral aerodynamic coefficient. Determines the aerodynamic performance of the wind system in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the wind and gravity.
[0147] In relation to the structural geometry of the Wind Wall (101), it must be understood as that solid structure composed of a finite number of individual and aerodynamic units called Wind Cells (104), which are located adjacently, one next to another, in an orderly and symmetrical manner, characterized by forming as a whole a continuous structure of Wind Cells (104), whose weight is supported in itself by the structure of Wind Cells (104) and whose configuration allows to build a configurable structure along the three physical dimensions in terms of height, length, and width. That is, by using Wind Cells (104) it is possible to build a Wind Wall (101) of completely modular dimensions in such a way that the resulting aerodynamic structure is an optimized structure for certain environmental, technical and economic conditions.
[0148] It is important to indicate that, notwithstanding that in this document we speak of a Wind Wall (101) built by a finite number of Wind Cells (104), the foregoing does not rule out the possibility that the Wind Wall (101) can be formed based on a single massive Wind Cell (
[0149] Additionally, the Wind Cell (
[0150] The Wind Cell (104) must be understood as that aerodynamic and individual structure, functional by itself, composed of an Adjacent External Section (404) and an Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501). It is important to specify that the Wind Cell and the Adjacent External Section (404) and the Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501) are part of a whole, so they share the same mirror plane of symmetry and plane or axial axis of symmetry as the case may be. Each of these sections will be explained below (
[0173] Next, it is important to explain the fundamentals of the Wind Wall
[0174] Having established the constituent parts of the Wind Wall (101), let us imagine for the purposes of this analysis a plane with a circular hole in the middle (hereinafter, “hollow flat disk”), which would have the same projected surface as the Wind Cell (104) and a circular hole in the middle with the same area of the Neck of the Wind Cell (405). It is important to indicate that, even though, the Wind Cell (104) and the “hollow flat disk” share the same projected areas and, therefore, receive the same amount of kinetic energy from the wind, the existing differences in the aerodynamic coefficients of both objects, are to explain the differences in pressure gradients and wind speed produced by each of the aerodynamic objects in question.
[0175] Despite the fact that both objects interact with the wind forces respectively, the drag force on the Wind Cell (104), due to aerodynamic effects, is less than the drag force exerted by the wind on the “hollow flat disk”, which implies that the Wind Cell (104), in a certain way, absorbs a lesser amount of kinetic energy from the wind compared to the “hollow flat disk”, allowing the difference between said kinetic energy to be conserved by the movement of the air itself.
[0176] The Wind Cell (104), in addition to facing a drag coefficient, also interacts with lift coefficients created by its unique aerodynamic geometry which generates lift forces along its blade surface of the Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501). In this sense, it is important to indicate that the blade surface of the Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501) is circular, so the vectors of the lift forces generated are directed concentrically towards the interior of the Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501). These lift forces, when they are concentrated in the Critical Space (504), produce a temporary state of greater amplification of the wind speed and, consequently, dynamic pressure.
[0177] The above implies that the amount of kinetic energy of the wind conserved and amplified, as a result of the aerodynamic shape of the Wind Cell (104), is a consequence of the lift forces concentrated within a Critical Space (504), responsible for the differential of pressures and increase in the wind speed to which the air mass is subjected in its movement towards the Wind Outlet Opening (407) of the Wind Cell.
[0178] The incidence of the Wind Wall (101) in the amplification of the kinetic energy of the wind is possible thanks to two elements: the size of the projected area of the Wind Wall (101) and the aerodynamic coefficients of the Wind Cells (104) constituting the Wind Wall (101). In other words, the increase in available power achieved by the Wind Wall (101) will be a function of the projected area and optimization of the aerodynamic coefficients of the Wind Cells (104) applied, as well as the particular characteristics of the prevailing wind resources that surround a given wind system.
[0179] According to the CFD simulations (
[0180] It is important to specify that the limit of the amplification of the wind speed, product of the application of the Wind Wall (101), is defined as a dependent function of the drag coefficient and the lift coefficient of the Wind Wall (101), where the drag coefficient has an inverse relationship and the lift coefficient carries a direct relationship, respectively. In this sense, although a larger projected area of the Wind Wall (101) could be beneficial in terms of a larger reference scanning surface, it is important to take into account that from a certain point the larger dimensions of the projected areas of the Wind Wall (101) could present diminishing returns in some regions of the Wind Wall (101) as a result of a higher drag coefficient. However, on the other hand, the drag and lift coefficients present curves with positive partial derivatives, which indicates that the negative effects of a higher drag coefficient may be accompanied (not related) by a higher lift coefficient and, therefore, in a higher dynamic pressure product of the present lift force. In this sense, for the selection of the ideal dimensions of the Wind Wall (101) it is important to study and find the optimum point where, given certain environmental conditions, the drag coefficient and the lift coefficient generate the highest dynamic pressure of the wind within the Critical Space (504) of the Wind Cells (104) that make up the Wind Wall (101).
[0181] In summary, the Wind Wall (101) described above is a new generation of wind systems that increases the wind speed and, therefore, the intensity of the kinetic energy circumscribed to a Critical Space (504) within the Wind Cell (104) and consequently, it raises the available power, given a certain kinetic energy of the wind, constant or inconstant, thus allowing a higher performance in the generation of electrical energy. Thus, the Wind Wall (101) solves the technical problem related to the low use of the potential kinetic energy of the wind, in such a way that, for the same wind resource, the application of the Wind Wall (101) will allow a better use of the kinetic energy of the wind available in nature and increase the generation of power given the same wind resource in question.
[0182] Regarding the configuration of the Wind Wall (101), due to the fact that it is made up of a finite number of Wind Cells (104), there may even be the case of the formation of a Wind Wall (101) based on a single Wind Cell; the total configuration of the Wind Wall (101) will therefore be based on the sum of the individual configurations of each Wind Cell.
[0183] On the other hand, the Wind Cell, individually, does not need to have a homogeneous configuration. That is, Wind Walls can be built based on homogeneous and symmetrical Wind Cells (104), but they can also be built based on Wind Cells (104) of different configuration in terms of different sizes, dimensions and geometric shapes of the Adjacent External Section (404) and/or aerodynamic profiles of the Internal Aerodynamic Chamber (501). In other words, the options for the configuration of the Wind Wall (101) are endless.
[0184] The choice of the most suitable configuration of the different Wind Cells (104) that will make up the Wind Wall (101) should be made based on the study of the predominant wind resource in the installation site of the Wind Wall (101), as well as on the basis of the technical parameters, economic restrictions, expected yields, available techniques, required environmental limitations and expected operational limits for a specific project, among others. That is, there may be as many optimal forms of the Wind Wall (101) as wind systems are created.
[0185] Regarding the clamping (fastening) and supporting elements, it is important to indicate that the Adjacent External Section (404) of each Wind Cell constitutes a structural support by itself. Because the Wind Cells (104) will be exposed to considerable lift and resistance forces, the internal part of the Wind Cell (that is, that part enclosed, not directly exposed to the environment) must be adequately reinforced as appropriate. Likewise, since the Wind Cells (104) that make up the Wind Wall (101) will behave as a whole, it is important to take into account the construction of fixing structures to maintain the integrity of the Wind Wall (101) as a whole. In this sense, the Wind Wall (101), in terms of clamping and support, is a self-sustaining structure based on the same Wind Cells (104) that constitute it, not requiring elevated vertical supports as in the case of conventional wind turbines. Notwithstanding, the determination of fixing and support structures, to maintain the integrity of the Wind Wall (101) as a whole, is necessary. Regarding the technique to be used for the construction of the clamping and structural support elements required by the Wind Wall (101), we indicate that it is alien to this discussion and will depend exclusively on the studies and technical recommendations of the branch of engineering specializing in the matter.
[0186] On the other hand, the application of the Wind Wall (101) offers in itself a new generation of wind systems based not only on the mechanical and aerodynamic efficiency of the wind turbine, but also on the structural and aerodynamic efficiency of the Wind Wall (101) as an element to amplify the wind speed and the underlying power density. In this sense, the benefits provided by the application of the Wind Wall (101) are the following: [0187] Increase in wind power density. Due to the driven increase in wind speed achieved by the present invention, given a certain kinetic energy of the wind in nature, the Wind Wall (101) generates a power density greater than which a conventional wind system could deliver, which It does not use any physical structure to increase the speed of the wind, but only takes the kinetic energy of the wind as it occurs in nature. [0188] Increase in the specific power factor. Given the same projection surface of the system, the Wind Wall (101) provides a substantially higher level of power per square meter (specific power factor or power coefficient) compared to conventional wind systems. According to the analysis and simulations previously carried out, the specific power factor would double in value compared to conventional wind systems. [0189] Smaller diameter of the Wind turbine rotor. Compared to conventional wind turbines that work with the wind available in nature without any modification, through the application of the aerodynamic structure of the Wind Cell that allows increasing the wind speed within a Critical Space (504), where it will be located the rotor of a wind turbine, a greater amount of power can be generated with a smaller diameter size of the rotor of a wind turbine. [0190] Lower cost per unit of generating power. As a result of the higher power coefficient and smaller size of the wind turbine rotor that the Wind Wall (101) offers, it is estimated that the level of investment per unit of power, measured in dollars per kilowatt (US $/kW), is lower than the investment level per unit of power of conventional wind systems.
[0191] Summing it up, the Wind Wall (101) has special relevance in increasing wind power density and specific power and, as a consequence, in increasing electric power generation capacity, given the same wind resources available in nature and, in an important addition, incurring in lower costs.