Method and apparatus for reducing bird and fish injuries and deaths at wind and water-turbine power-generation sites

摘要

A simple system is provided to dramatically reduce the number of bird fatalities and injuries, as these are bird-kills that man should be able to do something about. Essentially, the inventive apparatus comprises one or more instantaneously inflatable mini-airbags on turbine blade leading edges which, in the “stowed position” are tightly conformally elastically wrapped around or juxtaposed to the turbine blade surface(s) and/or edges(s) thereby not affecting the blade's aerodynamic efficiency. The airbag(s) can be activated and restowed or recollapsed very rapidly, thereby not significantly negatively impacting the operational efficiency of the wind machine. In a similar manner, fish-kills or injuries taking place in the turbine impellers of hydroelectric power-generator facilities may be avoided (as opposed to ameliorated) using another inventive system and method taught herein, this one being primarily a collision avoidance system which does not require the problematic alteration of the turbine blades themselves.

主权项

1. A system for reducing the severity of collisions taking place between windmill or wind-turbine blades, rotors or vanes and flying birds or avian species or flying species comprising:
a wind turbine or windmill having moving or rotating members such as rotating blades, rotors or vanes; at least one large-area inflatable component comprising an inflatable membrane, inflatable bag or inflatable cushion which is mounted to or attached to a portion of at least one such moving or rotating member, rotor or blade; an avian-species collision-analysis system capable of contributing to the triggering or inflation of one or more such inflatable components in response to a conclusion or its conclusion that a collision between a member and a bird is imminent, likely, possible or even happening; the inflatable component being rapidly inflated at least partially before any likely blade or member collision is initiated, the inflated component presenting a cushioned impact surface for the bird upon or during such collision; the cushioned impact ameliorating the severity of a collision and allowing for the bird to survive at least some collisions on its own or with human care; and the inflated bag being soon deflated or replaced so as not to unacceptably interfere with continued turbine operation, stability or reliability.