Description:The principle of working of the present invention is centred around the integration of at least one aerodynamic design or engineering element that is named an Automatic Wind Flow Control Device (AWFCD). The present embodiment contains a coupling of an Airflow Control Surface (ACS) and a tail rudder; comparable to those found in at least one fixed-wing aircraft, and high
performance automobiles. The structural layout of the AWFCD has a bearing-supported hub at the centre, with two arms, extending on either side of the hub, one each for supporting the ACS and the tail rudder. The upper and lower bearings of the AWFCD central hub keep the hub rotating freely over the main shaft and also maintain a perfect alignment with the main shaft. Herein, the tip of one arm is joined to one of the trailing edges of the ACS, thereby, visually forming the shape of an off-centred shaped arrow-tip, wherein viewed from the above. The ACS comprises two surfaces, joined along one edge, and splayed on the other. This structure, herein, sitting in a precise manner relative to the turbine blades as described in the diagrams of the present embodiment, is designed to redirect wind flow from the drag-inducing return half of a VAWT to the power-producing half of the VAWT, via the air-scooping design principles. Moreover, the deflecting surface is able to guide the incoming wind flow into the power-generating half of the turbine efficiently. The tip of the second arm of the present embodiment is attached to the tail rudder, such that the plane of the rudder when viewed one-dimensionally along its edge, is aligned along the length of the arm.
The structure of the present invention is designed such that when placed in
an airflow, the leading edge of the ACS faces the incoming wind flow and is guided and stabilized by the tail rudder. Herein, the control of the yaw profile of the AWFCD is accomplished through the utilization of the tail rudder. This component has a natural tendency to align with the orientation of minimal resistance within an airflow, whereby the plane of the rudder surface adheres to the streamlines of the airflow. The rudder experiences aerodynamic forces that cause rotation of the AWFCD around the rotational axis of the central hub and main turbine shaft. This rotation aligns the AWFCD optimally in the airflow, thereby directing maximum airflow to the power-generating portion of the turbine. Additionally, the non-power-generating half of the turbine is shielded from this same wind flow, which reduces the aerodynamic drag on that half and conversely increases the power output of the turbine. The AWFCD operates solely on the direction of wind flow to optimize turbine power output, without the need for external power requirements.
Herein, the flow correction mechanism of the present invention allows for dynamic and instantaneous adjustments. instantaneous adjustments. The redirected airflow is intercepted by a set of three semi-cylindrical drag-type blades/vanes that are affixed to three arms, arranged in a radial alignment that is 120 degrees apart from each other. The turbine assembly comprises three distinct components, specifically the blades, the turbine hub, and the main shaft. The reasoning behind the utilization of drag-type blades is rooted in their intrinsic capacity to produce greater torque from an airstream in comparison to lift-type turbines possessing analogous profiles. The present invention significantly mitigates the loss in power resulting from the increase in aerodynamic drag during the return half of rotation in drag-type turbines, as compared to at least one lift-type turbine. Herein, the turbine hub, together with the attached blades or vanes, is situated at the apex of the primary shaft. This shaft extends a considerable distance downwards beyond the lower perimeter of the turbine sweep area and is inserted into a hollow grounding shaft. The grounding shaft is supported by ball bearings that are collared at the top and bottom openings of the shaft. The primary shaft extends out of the bottom of the grounding shaft by a significant length, which allows for the attachment of a belt-driven pulley to the bottom tip of the main shaft.
In the present invention, the function of the grounding shaft's two bearings is to maintain proper alignment and facilitate unobstructed rotation of the main turbine shaft when subjected to wind power. The implementation of a notched ring in the vicinity of the interface between the grounding shaft’s upper bearing and the main shaft serves the main shaft suspended in a position against gravity. It prevents excessive insertion into the grounding shaft simultaneously. The kinetic energy harnessed by the rotating vanes is transmitted to the AC generator through a basic pulley assembly that operates on the principle of friction, with the main shaft serving as the conduit. The friction pulley drive system consists of a large-diameter main shaft wheel/gear attached to the lower tip of the turbine shaft and a small-diameter generator wheel/gear attached to the rotor of the AC generator. Herein, the sizes of the gear/wheels are in a gear ratio that allows the lower speed of the turbine shaft to be transferred to the generator rotor at a high speed. With proper analysis, the gear ratio is found to vary between 3:1 and 10:1, thereby, depending on the relative sizes of the turbine and generator, and the rotor turnover torque of the generator respectively. The generator is held in place by a simple holding bracket attached to the lower end of the grounding shaft. Observations with scale models have shown that the presence of AWFCD in the present embodiment performs remarkably well, and its performance parameters are well aligned with theoretical predictions. Moreover, the experimental analyses have shown an increase in power output when compared to other non-AWFCD-based VAWT turbine designs. Additionally, the present embodiment can be easily manufactured and integrated with any non-AWFCD-based VAWT to get the desired performance levels, thus, enhancing the total turbine power output. , C , Claims:We Claim:
1. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) integrated with a novel Automatic Wind Flow Control Device (AWFCD). The present invention comprises a turbine assembly, a central shaft, turbine gear, a grounding shaft-holding assembly, an airflow-guiding rudder, a generator, and generator-driven gears. Wherein the AWFCD has a bearing-supported hub at the centre with two arms extending on either side of the hub, one for each supporting the Airflow Control Surface (ACS) which is intercepted by a set of three semi-cylindrical drag-type blades or vanes that are affixed to three arms, arranged at an angle of 120º from each other. Along with a tail rudder characterized by a freely rotating hub over the main shaft situated in such a manner relative to the turbine blades, wherein it is designed to redirect the wind flow from the drag-inducing return half of the VAWT to the power-producing half of the VAWT via the air-scooping design principles.

2. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wind turbine integrates various directional wind movements to harness energy with the tail rudder aligned in such an orientation to have minimal resistance within an airflow, wherein the plane of the rudder surface adheres to the streamlines of the airflow.

3. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Automatic Wind Flow Control Device (AWFCD) controls the direction of wind flow to optimize turbine power output without the need for any external electrical input.

4. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the turbine assembly comprises three distinct components the blades, the turbine hub, and the main shaft, wherein the turbine hub with the attached blades is situated at the apex of the primary shaft wherein the shaft extends downward and inserted into a hollow grounding shaft, wherein the grounding shaft is supported by ball bearings that consent for the attachment of a belt-driven pulley to the bottom tip of the main shaft.

5. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the kinetic energy harnessed by the rotating vanes is transmitted to the AC generator for output power generation.

6. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wind turbine based on the AWFCD principle is integrated with non-AWFCD to get the desired performance levels, thus enhancing the total turbine power output.

7. A vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wind turbine is designed to effectively monitor and optimize power generation from wind currents across varying altitudes and spatial dimensions.