Transcript Summary Overview of the Blackhawk Wind Turbine

A Summary Overview
of the
Blackhawk Wind Turbine
3/4/10
B. Boatner,EE
Lead Engineer/Partner
The Blackhawk Project, LLC
Boise, ID
The Blackhawk Wind Turbine
What is the VAWT/AR*?
(*Vertical Axis Wind Turbine w/ Articulating Rotor)
• A new sub-class of VAWT
• Uses rotor tilt to control AOA (Angle of Attack)
• The first major technological breakthrough since
the Darrieus patent (1931), complying with the
Betz Equations.
• Combination of helicopter rotor head and wind
turbine design
• Result of 7 years of research
• No directly related prior art in USPTO
• U.S. Patent #7,677,862
The Betz Theorem – 1929
The “Bible” of wind turbine design
• Maximum theoretical efficiency = 59.6%
• Slow incoming air mass by no more than 1/3
• Minimize solidity quotient
• Maximize Tip Speed Ratio (TSR)
• Bottom Line: Least number of blades traveling at
a maximum possible speed
From Patent Application:
2-Bladed and 3-Bladed variations shown
How does the VAWT/AR work?
1. Wind causes Rotor Tilt
2. Rotor Tilt sets Airfoil Angle of Attack (AOA)
3. Airfoil AOA creates Aerodynamic Lift
4. Aerodynamic Lift creates Rotation/Torque
5. Self-corrects for gyroscopic precession.
Action of wind (403,404) against the side of the airfoils (405, 406)
causes tilting force (409) on the rotor arm (401).
When the rotor (18) tilts, the stationary pushrods (41, 42) cause
the airfoils (11, 12) to change angles due to different radii.
Power is produced cyclically
in 2 main quadrants
Main Rotor Tilt controls Pitch of Airfoils
Elastomeric dampeners limit rotor tilt
Operating characteristics
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Very high torque due to long moment arms
Large working areas for more power
Dynamic response to wind and load conditions
Self-limiting to prevent run-aways
No external wind alignment mechanics
Self-starting at low wind speeds
Very quiet compared to most turbines
Blackhawk AFPMG*
(*Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generator)
• 12, 24 or 48 Volts
• Full charging voltage at
very low speed
• Operating range 40 – 120
RPM
• 1.5 KW potential output
• Non-cogging design
allows easy start-up
• Self cooling
• No brushes or slip rings
• In-house design
Generator Design:
Expertise and Experience Gained
• Unable to identify OEM source for low-speed
transmission-less design: “it can’t be done”.
• Design analysis of multiple generators and
mathematical performance modeling produced
initial successful design – 40 RPM cut-in.
• With field-verified results, we are now able to
easily produce any size/configuration/speed
variation needed.
• That makes us a leader in the field.
AFPMG Design/Test Station
AFPMG Components
(L) Magnet Wheel (1 of 2), and (R) Stator
Electronics
• 20+ years Silicon Valley Electrical Engineering
microcontroller hardware/software design experience
• “The Limiter” allows user to set RPM limit and timeout period for very high wind conditions (currently in
field use).
• “The Governor”: upgrade of “The Limiter” that will
use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to intelligently
control loads (designed - not yet implemented)
• MPPT: proprietary Maximum Power Point Tracking
algorithm will dynamically match loads to varying
wind conditions for optimal efficiency (designed –
not yet implemented)
Blackhawk Electronics
Limiter PCB
Limiter Control Unit
Power Control Cabinet
Precision Test Loads
Blackhawk System Wiring
Clockwise from top left: Grand View, ID; Wells Fargo Bldg, Boise;
Clarkston, WA; CAES Idaho Falls; Emmett
Proof-of-Concept:
Critical Design Targets Achieved
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System is reliably self-starting
System is stable under varying wind conditions
System is quiet & aesthetically pleasing
System has survived 100+ MPH winds
System is easy to manufacture & assemble
System is easy to transport and erect
System is reliably producing power
Design Variations:
The Rapid Deployment Concept
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Configuration possible with VAWT/AR design
Folds up like an umbrella
Less than 5 minute deployment/furling
Can be combined with extensive emergency
battery backup power on a trailer
• Military and emergency potential usage
Blackhawk RD-10
Rapid Deployment Device
Blackhawk RD-10 and Trailer
Blackhawk RD-10
Rapid Deployment Sequence
•Quiet operation…
•Endless aesthetic possibilities…
Status of Intellectual Property
• U.S. Utility Patent application 12/7/06
• Patent pending Australia/New Zealand
• No prior art found representing tilt vs. AOA
control methods
• I.P. owned by The Blackhawk Project, LLC:
50% Bruce Boatner, 50% Pat Large
• U.S. Patent #7,677,862 issuance notification
3/2/10
Our current staff
• Bruce Boatner, EE: Inventor, Partner, Lead
Engineer
• Dawn Cardwell: Project Manager
• Pat Large: Business Partner
• Randy Peterson: Technician
Project Requirements
For Production
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Product engineering
Design engineering support
Manufacturing engineering
Materials analysis
Manufacturing logistics & capital
Testing & Certification
Marketing strategy
Accounting & other overhead
Inter-Disciplinary Research Efforts at INL/CAES*
(* Idaho Nat’l Laboratory, Center for Advanced Energy Studies)
[email protected] (925) 695-5469