Vertical axis wind turbine

摘要

A turbine assembly is provided. The turbine assembly includes a plurality of sails and a generator assembly configured to convert rotation thereabout to power. A brake assembly may be provided. The brake assembly may include a magnet assembly that rotates with rotation of the plurality of sails, a conducting plate initially spaced-apart from the magnet assembly, and an actuator for translating the conducting plate relative to the magnet assembly during rotation thereof to thereby induce eddy currents that create a magnetic field acting on the conducting plate to impart a retarding force to control the rotational speed thereof. A control module is configured to control the actuator to adjust the spacing between the magnet assembly and the conducting plate in order to maintain the turbine assembly at a predetermined speed.

主权项

1. A turbine assembly comprising:
a plurality of sails; a generator assembly configured to convert rotation thereabout to power; and a brake assembly separate from the generator assembly and including:
a magnet assembly that rotates with rotation of the plurality of sails;a plate initially spaced-apart axially from the magnet assembly; andan actuator for translating the plate axially relative to the magnet assembly during rotation thereof to thereby induce eddy currents that create a magnetic field acting on the plate to impart a retarding force to control the rotational speed thereof; and a control module configured to control the actuator to adjust the axial spacing between the magnet assembly and the plate in order to maintain the turbine assembly at a predetermined speed.