Methods and apparatus for advanced wind turbine design

Abstract

A wind turbine system includes a variable blade assembly including adjustable sails and wing shaped masts expanding the wind velocity capture envelope. The blade assembly turns a hydraulic pump, which pressurizes fluid and stores the pressurized fluid in a chamber in the support tower. Pressurized fluid is directed via an electronically controllable proportioning valve to a hydraulic motor which is coupled to an electric generator. A computer control module operates the proportioning valve regulating pressure to the hydraulic motor, maintaining generator rotational speed, and providing consistent output frequency to the power grid. Stored energy in the high pressure tank is used to continue generator operation after the winds cease, allowing early warning notification to the power management system of impending power loss. Residual pressure maintained in the high pressure tank allows restart operations via hydraulic pressure rather than power grid energy drain. On site high energy capacitors store additional energy.

1 . A windmill assembly comprising:
 a blade assembly;   a hydraulic pump coupled to said blade assembly;   a high pressure storage tank coupled to said hydraulic pump for storing hydraulic fluid output by said pump under pressure;   a hydraulic motor having a fluid inlet coupled to said high pressure storage tank; and   a generator coupled to said hydraulic motor.