Gyroglider power-generation, control apparatus and method

摘要

A power generation apparatus and method comprises at least one gyroglider rotary wing flying at an altitude above the nap of the earth. A strong and flexible tether, connected to the gyroglider frame is pulled with a force generated by the rotary wing. The force is transmitted to a ground station that converts the comparatively linear motion of the tether being pulled upward with a lifting force. The linear motion is transferred to a rotary motion at the ground station to rotate an electrical generator. The tether is retrieved and re-coiled about a drum by controlling the gyroglider to fly down at a speed and lift force that permit recovery of the gyroglider at a substantially reduced amount of retrieval force compared to the lifting force during payout of the tether. Thus, the net difference in force results in a net gain of energy.

主权项

1. A gyroglider apparatus for power generation comprising:
at least one gyroglider comprising a rotor secured to a mast, said rotor being provided with a plurality of rotor blades rotatably secured to a frame and adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation and provide a lift to said gyroglider; said rotor having a rotor pitch defined by a path of said rotor with respect to the incoming wind and a blade pitch defined respectively for each of said rotor blades by the angle of said blade with respect to the incoming wind; bearings co-operating with said rotor and said mast, said bearings adapted to reduce friction therebetween; a tether having a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned proximate the earth and the second end extending aloft, said tether being adapted to secure said gyrogliders at said second end thereof; tension management means adapted to manage tension in said tether comprising: an onboard tension meter adapted to measure tension existing in or added to said tether; a wind speed sensor adapted to indicate the wind speed to which said gyroglider is exposed; and a controller adapted to receive inputs from said onboard tension meter and said wind speed sensor and cyclically monitor the tension in said tether, said controller being further adapted to determine whether the input from said onboard tension meter is consistent with the configuration of said gyroglider, said rotor and said blades; and generate an output state of said tether; a first control means adapted to receive said output state of said tether and selectively control said rotor pitch if said output state indicates a value too low or too high with reference to a predetermined range; a second control means adapted to receive said output state of said tether and selectively control said blade pitch if said output state indicates a value too low or too high with reference to said predetermined range; a capstan adapted to receive said output state of said tether and further adapted to cyclically reel in or payout said tether proximate said first end thereof, in a predetermined systematic order if said output state indicates a value way too low or way too high with reference to said predetermined range; a converter adapted to convert rotational energy from said capstan to power in a form selected from the group consisting of a transmissible form, a storage form and both, a transmissible form and a storage form; and a connector adapted to connect said capstan to said converter.