Abstract: A power generating system wherein a turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The turbine includes a rotor having a main blade connected to a rotor hub and an extender section. An adjusting device positions the extender blade between a retracted position within the main blade and to an extended position to expose more or less of the rotor to the fluid flow. The adjusting device includes a servo-controlled rack and pinion mechanism that converts rotation of the pinion by a servomotor into linear motion of the extender blade. A generator is connected to the turbine for generating electrical energy.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical power from a flow of water, including a housing having a water inlet and water outlet, a first turbine (12) mounted in the housing for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and having a turbine shaft, a set of vertical blades (22), and a blade angle control mechanism, a second turbine (14) mounted in the housing adjacent to the first turbine, for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the second turbine having a turbine shaft, a set of vertical blades (22) and a blade angle control mechanism, the housing being adapted to be mounted within the body of water and being so configured that an incoming water flow enters the housing via the inlet, and is principally directed into two driving flows (34, 36), one for each turbine, and is then directed for discharge via the outlet, the angle of each blade with respect to the driving water flow is controlled by the blade angle control mechanism such that a large blade surface area is presented to the incoming water fl

Abstract: A brake assembly for use with a wind turbine. The brake assembly comprises a movable wind flap for attachment to a tail assembly of the wind turbine, the wind flap being configured to assume a first closed position during normal operation, and a second open position when incoming winds exceed a predetermined velocity threshold. Provided on the wind flap is a trip rudder assembly for cooperating with incoming wind to urge the wind flap into the open position. A counterbalance assembly is also provided for biasing the wind flap into the closed position. The wind flap in the open position effects a redirection of a portion of the incoming wind, urging the wind turbine to assume an oblique position relative to the incoming wind, effecting a reduction in rotational velocity of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A device for holding a hydraulic turbomachine in position, the turbomachine comprising a drive shaft along which are distributed turbines designed to rotate the drive shaft when they are immersed in a moving liquid, each turbine comprising drive blades distributed around the drive shaft, the device comprising at least one post extending along at least more than half of the length of the drive shaft and formed of the stacking of at least two post portions, each Post portion being associated with a turbine or with an assembly of adjacent turbines; and a first linking mechanism attached to one of the post portions and to a bearing receiving the drive shaft and arranged between two adjacent turbines; and a second linking mechanism connecting at least one of the posts to the around by a rigid connection with respect to the ground along at least one axis parallel to the liquid motion direction.

Abstract: A wind driven turbine (2) has a plurality of sigmoid blades (6) with the trailing edge (56) of each blade (6) mounted parallel to a horizontally oriented shaft (4). Each blade (6) extends radially outward from the shaft (4). An electric generation system is composed of an array of the turbines (2) mounted on a platform (54) positioned on top of a tower (86). Each turbine shaft (4) may be connected directly with a generator (78) for producing electricity.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising an active elastic member arranged with access to the surface of the wind turbine blade is provided. The active elastic member is deformable from a first shape to a second shape and the lift coefficient of the airfoil with the active elastic member in the first shape is larger than the lift coefficient of the airfoil with the active elastic member in the second shape. Furthermore, a wind turbine comprising such a wind turbine blade and a method of operating a wind turbine comprising such a wind turbine blade are provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine having at least a blade comprising a first component (11) having an aerodynamic profile with a leading edge, a trailing edge and suction and pressure sides between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and a second component (13), attached to the trailing edge and/or to the leading edge of the first component (11) in at least a part of the blade, comprising one or several upwards and/or downwards deflectable flaps (15, 15?) that allow changing the flow over the blade, in which the means for deflecting each of said flaps (15, 15?) comprise an actuating force or torque provided by scaling devices (21) connected to a predetermined location (17) in the outer surface of the blade, through a duct (19), so that the changes in the wind pressure at said location (17) can be scaled to said actuating force or torque.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of operating a wind turbine, wherein for a reduction of a wind load impacting on the wind turbine the rotational speed of the rotor and/or the electrical power output of the wind turbine are reduced depending on a deviation of the wind speed from the average wind speed. Moreover the invention concerns a wind turbine comprising a calculating unit adjusted for executing the inventive method.

Abstract: A method for ice detection for a wind turbine is provided. The method includes providing an ice condition threshold parameter adapted for distinguishing a condition during which icing may occur and a condition during which icing may not occur, measuring a wind velocity with a first anemometer, wherein the first anemometer being of a first type, measuring a wind velocity with a second anemometer, wherein the second anemometer being of a second type, and wherein the second type is different from the first type, evaluating, for a condition during which icing may occur, a deviation of the wind velocity measured with the first anemometer and the wind velocity measured with the second anemometer, and determine whether the deviation exceeds a limit value based on a calibration conducted under a condition during which icing may not occur.

Abstract: VAHM has a rotor helix type, vertical axle, omni directional foil, which incorporates a 3 helix monoblock blade which transforms wind energy into electrical energy, via stand alone batteries. Rotor movement begins at a 2-3 m/s wind speed and provides a self-braking momentum at over 20 m/s wind speed.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the speed of blades rotating in a rotor plane on a wind turbine, wherein the angle between at least two blades in the rotor plane is changed, whereby the tip speed of each individual blade can be optimised relative to the current speed of the wind experienced by the blade. Hereby it is possible to take into consideration the variation of the wind as a function of the height above ground level, and the yield of the wind turbine can be increased. The angular displacement of each blade can be changed individually independently of the remainder of the blades and cyclically. The method also comprises that each blade is accelerated on its way upwards in the rotation cycle and decelerated on its way down. Further details are provided about a system for controlling blades in a wind turbine comprising one or more wind speed meters, position meters, and/or acceleration meters, based on which parameters control of the angular displacement of each blade in the rotor plane is performed.

Abstract: A modular multi-turbine unit of fixed toroidal support structures having a rail system designed to allow each of the plurality of turbines to rotate to a most efficient position relative to the wind for generating power, a computer control system capable of positioning each of the plurality of turbines to most effectively generate power from the wind, preventing damage to the turbines, and providing a wind predictive model based on the wind characteristics for the area in which the wind turbine is located.

Abstract: To provide a horizontal axis wind turbine capable of reducing flutter, and by extension, reducing the load on the wind turbine, without controlling the yaw, regardless of the direction of the wind relative to the nacelle. When the wind speed is above a specific value, the yaw angle of the nacelle is held constant, the blade pitch angle is controlled according to the yaw angle Y of the wind direction relative to the nacelle, and the rotor is allowed to rotate freely. Even when the yaw angle of the nacelle is held constant, allowing the rotor to rotate freely makes it possible to reduce the load by avoiding flutter.

Abstract: The Wind Drum is a cylinder shaped wind utilization machine primarily used for electricity generation. Instead of a solid wall attaching the top and bottom circular plates are eight rods spaced equally around the circumference of the top and bottom circular plates. Now you have a drum shape you can see through from the elongated side. Attached to these rods are boards, or flat rectangular pieces, which make-up the vanes of the Wind Drum. Through mechanical manipulation of the angles of the eight vanes compared to the center, or pivotal spot, of the top and bottom circular plates the vanes are positioned so as to be pushed by wind energy, directing wind energy into other vanes of the Wind Drum, or to become neutral to wind energy allowing minimal resistance to wind energy. These changes of the wind vane angles allows for maximum efficiency in converting wind energy into mechanical energy.

Abstract: Operations of a turbine to generate energy from a relatively slow fluid flow, such as wind and water, are described. The turbine has a plurality of foils rotating about a central axis at a rotational velocity, each of the foils having a length and a foil axis parallel to the length and the central axis with each of the foils rotatable about its foil axis. From determinations of a velocity of the fluid flow, and angular location of each foil and the rotational velocity about the central axis, an attack angle of each foil is controlled with respect to the direction of fluid flow about the foil axis responsive to the velocity of the fluid flow, the angular location of the foil and the rotational velocity as the foil rotates about the central axis.

Abstract: A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle (13) is detected with an accelerometer (17) attached to the nacelle (13). In an active damping unit (20), a pitch angle of windmill blades (12) for generating a thrust on the windmill blades (12) so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle (13) is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command ??* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit (30), a pitch angle of the windmill blades (12) for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command ?* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command ??* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command ?* for output control using a subtracter (40).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting asymmetric utilizing lateral tower acceleration data may include: providing a lateral tower acceleration monitoring system; determining from the lateral tower acceleration monitoring system whether a lateral tower acceleration is above an acceleration limit; determining whether a rotor-mass imbalance condition exists; and determining whether the lateral tower acceleration coincides with icing on a rotor.

Abstract: Condition-based monitoring functionality using sensors that monitor wind turbine component movement. A main shaft flange displacement sensor system can be used to provide signals used to perform fatigue assessment of the wind turbine rotor blades as well as drive train components. Output signals from the main shaft flange displacement sensor system are used to perform fatigue assessment, failure trending, diagnostic analysis, etc.

Abstract: Wind turbine blade (10) including adjustable lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) arranged on or at the surface of the wind turbine blade (10), said lift-regulating means being provided with activating means by means of which they can be adjusted and thus alter the aerodynamic properties of the blade (10). The lift-regulating means (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) and the activating means are adapted and arranged such that by activation of the activating means, the lift can be reduced in a zone extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) from a first position adjacent the blade tip (14) to a second position between the position and the blade root (16) and this second position is variable in the longitudinal direction of the blade (10) by adjusting activate means. The lift-regulating means are formed of at least one flexible flap (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21).

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having a lidar wind speed measurement apparatus for achieving wind control. The lidar apparatus is arranged to scan the area in front of the wind turbine so as to generate a measurement of the wind speed across the wind field. The lidar apparatus may be located in the hub of the wind turbine and the look direction inclined away from the rotational axis so that rotation of the hub ensures scanning. Preferably the lidar apparatus has a plurality of look directions so as to increase the scanning rate. This may be achieved by having a number of dedicated lidar systems and/or by using multiplexed lidars. Measurement of the wind field allows improved control of the wind turbine giving efficiency and reduced wear benefits.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a vertical axis wind engine comprising at least one arm each having its center rotatably coupled to a vertical axis mounted on a base on the ground, each pair of the upper and lower arms adapted to define an airfoil receiving space for pivotably mounting an airfoil by pivot pins thereof; and at least one elastic stop member each provided on the arm proximate the airfoil and spaced from the pivot pins, each stop member adapted to limit a pivot angle of the airfoil and lift the pivot limitation for allowing the airfoil to pivot when the airfoil experiences a wind force larger than a maximum resistance force thereof, preventing the components of the wind engine from being damaged by strong wind or when the wind engine is operating in high speed.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine of an upwind type includes: a rotor for rotating around a rotor axis extending in a horizontal direction, the rotor being turned in a horizontal plane according to a wind direction; a nacelle having a symmetrical shape with respect to an imaginary plane including the rotor axis and extending a vertical direction; two anemometers disposed at positions of both side portions of the nacelle, the positions opposing each other across the imaginary plane; and a controller for controlling a yaw angle of the rotor based on wind speeds measured by the two anemometers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a windmill device rotating by a wind power. More particularly, to efficiently obtain rotating energy irrespective of a wind direction, the present invention is firstly characterized in that assuming that an outermost radius as a distance between the remotest position of each blade from the center of a vertical shaft and the vertical shaft is r1, an innermost radius as a distance between the nearest position of each blade to the vertical shaft and the vertical shaft is r2, and the angle (rad) of an arbitrary position r in an inner peripheral surface of the cross-section of the blade by regarding a line segment for connecting the remotest position from the vertical shaft to the vertical shaft as a reference is t (in this case, 0<=t<=2?/3), the form of the inner peripheral surface in the cross-section of each of the three blades satisfies a following formula: r=(r1?r2)×((t?2?/3)×2)/(2?/3)×2+r2.

Abstract: A rotor for a wind power installation having at least one rotor blade. The smaller the surface area on which the wind acts, that is to say in particular the rotor blade area, the correspondingly lower is the load level for which installation has to be designed and the correspondingly more easily can the rotor blade be transported. On the other hand the size of the wind power installation entails minimum dimensions which are unavoidable for operation and below which the installation dimensions may not fall. In order to provide a rotor blade which on the one hand has the aerodynamically required surface area but which on the other hand is so designed that the surface area of the rotor blade and therewith the depth thereof can be reduced in predetermined situations a part of the surface of the rotor blade is deformmable or movable.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind power installation at very high wind speeds, in which there is predetermined a first wind speed at which the rotor blades of the wind power installation are put into a first predetermined setting. In addition, the method includes controlling the wind power installation during an extreme wind situation where the rotor blades moved to a position to reduce, as far as possible, mechanical loadings on the wind power installation caused by the extreme wind situation.

Abstract: A method for reducing peak loads of wind turbines in a changing wind environment includes measuring or estimating an instantaneous wind speed and direction at the wind turbine and determining a yaw error of the wind turbine relative to the measured instantaneous wind direction. The method further includes comparing the yaw error to a yaw error trigger that has different values at different wind speeds and shutting down the wind turbine when the yaw error exceeds the yaw error trigger corresponding to the measured or estimated instantaneous wind speed.

Abstract: A sky turbine, having impeller blades with a plurality of panels that can telescope inward and outward. The pitch of the panels can be adjusted, and the pitch of each panel on a blade, passing from the innermost panel to the outermost panel, differs from the pitch of the previous panel by a certain adjustable amount. The sky turbine is preferably mounted above a city at a sufficiently high elevation that air current will be generally faster than just above the ground. In the preferred embodiments, a wing with two pods is pivotally mounted on a tower. Each pod has front and rear shafts, from which four blades extend. Servomotors cause the wing to turn so that its center of symmetry is parallel to the direction the sky is moving, cause the pitch of the panels of the blades to change, and cause the panels of the blades to telescope.

Abstract: A method for reducing at least one of loads, deflections of rotor blades, or peak rotational speed of a wind turbine includes storing recent historical pitch related data, wind related data, or both. The stored recent historical data is analyzed to determine at least one of whether rapid pitching is occurring or whether wind speed decreases are occurring. A minimum pitch, a pitch rate limit, or both are imposed on pitch angle controls of the rotor blades conditioned upon results of the analysis.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine having twist bend coupled rotor blades on a rotor mechanically coupled to a generator includes determining a speed of a rotor blade tip of the wind turbine, measuring a current twist distribution and current blade loading, and adjusting a torque of a generator to change the speed of the rotor blade tip to thereby increase an energy capture power coefficient of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A vertical shaft is provided and supported whereupon are mounted sails that can so self adjust as to interact with the wind in such a way as to power a windmill as well as relieve themselves from winds that are too severe while maintaining continuous operation.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine includes: a yaw sensor; a rotor rotating around a rotor axis extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the rotor axis rotating in a substantially horizontal plane depending on wind direction; a plate-like member disposed on a rotational central portion of the rotor and extending in a parallel direction to the rotor axis and in a vertical direction; two anemometers disposed at positions which are across the plate-like member; and a controller for yaw control based on a difference or a ratio between wind speeds measured by the two anemometers.

Abstract: A method for the improvement of wind turbine rotor efficiency blades of a wind turbine rotor with serrated trailing edges each having a plurality of span-wise, periodic indentations, in the form of saw teeth having approximately 60 degrees included angles between adjacent vertices. The efficiency of an existing wind turbine rotor is improved by the attachment of an apparatus to at least part of the trailing edge of the wind turbine blades, the apparatus being in the form of a serrated panel that is fixed to the surface of the blade and has the serrations extending into the airflow behind the trailing edge of the existing blade. The efficiency of a new wind turbine blade is improved by manufacturing the blade with serrations of at least part of the trailing edge of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wind power generating apparatus in which windmill blades are mounted in a multi-stage fashion to a rotating shaft while being spaced apart from one another to efficiently generate wind power. Each windmill blade includes blade bodies mounted to the rotating shaft, and provided with wind pressure adjusting holes, wind pressure adjusting plates coupled to each blade body, and connected together to a wire, each wind pressure adjusting plate being slidable along guides respectively arranged at opposite sides of the associated wind pressure adjusting hole to adjust an opening degree of the wind pressure adjusting hole, elastic members each adapted to connect one end of the associated wire to the associated blade body, and winches each adapted to connect the other end of the associated blade body, the winches being mounted to a single shaft to simultaneously wind or unwind all wire.

Abstract: A vertical axis windmill has an immovable, hollow circumferential frame having a plurality of peripheral openings, and rotatable turbine arranged inside the frame and connectable to a generator of electric energy, the turbine having a plurality of vanes each having a working side and a non-working side, and a plurality of gate elements turnably connected with the frame for closing and opening of the openings of the frame by wind flowing substantially in a horizontal plane, the gate elements and the vanes of the turbine being formed so that at one side of the frame the wind opens the gate members by turning them in a predetermined direction, so that at one side the wind turns the gate elements so as to open corresponding ones of the openings, enters the frame through the corresponding opened openings and acts on the working side of corresponding ones of the vanes so as to rotate the turbine in the predetermined direction, while at the same time at the other side of the frame the wind closes other offset gate m

Abstract: Methods and Apparatuses for deicing a wind turbine blade are described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary process includes detecting an icy condition on a wind turbine blade and causing at least a portion of the wind turbine blade to vibrate, causing the ice built up on the wind turbine blade to break off.

Abstract: A stackable, vertical axis windmill comprised of a braced external frame that enables stacking of multiple windmill assemblies. Couplings are located on both ends of the vertical rotor shaft to enable stacking and the transmission of power, an internal wind flow cavity, and controlled wind guides is described. The external frame includes structural bracing that allows for two or more windmill to be stacked one upon another to optimize the use of land or rooftop space for the generation of electricity from wind power. The computer controlled wind guides automatically close partially in high wind conditions in order to prevent damage to the windmill. The internal wind flow cavity allows wind to transfer power to both the windward and leeward rotors blades. The rotor axis is constructed so that all bearings can be replaced without dismantling the structure.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly includes a plurality of reconfigurable blades mounted on a hub, an actuator fixed to each of the blades and adapted to effect the reconfiguration thereof, and an actuator power regulator for regulating electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current wind conditions and blade configuration, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator. Sensors measure current wind conditions and current configurations and speed of the blades. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the assembly. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to energize the actuators to reconfigure the blades for optimum performance under current wind conditions.

Abstract: A wind turbine with an array of rotors arranged at various heights. Each rotor is optimized for the height at which it is located. Optimization of each rotor could include selection of rated power, solidity, tip speed, blade twist, blade taper, or rotor diameter. Each rotor can also be operated in a manner that is optimized for the wind speed it experiences. Optimized operation parameters could include blade pitch angle or rotor speed.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable wind turbine blade assembly includes a plurality of reconfigurable blades mounted on a hub, an actuator fixed to each of the blades and adapted to effect the reconfiguration thereof, and an actuator power regulator for regulating electrical power supplied to the actuators. A control computer accepts signals indicative of current wind conditions and blade configuration, and sends commands to the actuator power regulator. Sensors measure current wind conditions and current configurations and speed of the blades. An electrical generator supplies electrical power to the assembly. Data from the sensors is fed to the control computer which commands the actuator power regulator to energize the actuators to reconfigure the blades for optimum performance under current wind conditions.

Abstract: A wind turbine with an array of rotors arranged at various heights. Each rotor is optimized for the height at which it is located. Optimization of each rotor could include selection of rated power, solidity, tip speed, blade twist, blade taper, or rotor diameter. Each rotor can also be operated in a manner that is optimized for the wind speed it experiences. Optimized operation parameters could include blade pitch angle or rotor speed.

Abstract: A sail-type windmill wheel is provided in which the area of the wheel facing into the wind is adjusted by an automatic variation of the blade angle of the sails. The wind wheel comprises a hub (22) with a plurality of radially extending spars (18), substantially triangular sails (10) secured along one edge to said arms, the clew of said sails secured through a sheeting cable (24) to drawbar extension springs (28), and the drawbar extension springs secured to the tip of the next adjacent arm. During high wind speeds the automatic blade angle adjustment reduces the frontal area of the wind wheel with a corresponding reduction in the force of the wind upon the wheel. During normal working wind speeds the present invention maintains the sails within an optimum blade angle range for extracting energy from the wind.

Abstract: A hub, to which three blades 3 receiving wind are fixed so as to extend in a radial direction of the hub at equal intervals, is arranged in a spindle-shaped boss having a rectification function. A cylindrical frame is arranged on the leeward side of the boss to separate an outer peripheral surface of a generator from outside air. An outer surface of the boss, which rotates with the blades, and an outer peripheral surface of the frame form a continuous plane. On the outer peripheral surface of the frame, a plurality of fins, which are outwardly protruded in a radial direction of the frame and extend in an axial direction of the frame, are arranged in a circle-circumferential direction of the frame at equal intervals. After the outside air gives a rotational force to the blades, the outside air passes along the fins. Therefore, heat, which is generated in the generator and is transferred to the fins through the frame by conduction, is dissipated to the outside air.

Abstract: A wind turbine apparatus having a frame assembly consisting of a hub and an outer rim interconnected by a series of spokes. Several wind vanes are rotatably secured within the frame assembly so as to extend from the hub radially outwardly around the frame assembly. Each wind vane consists of an impeller and an impeller shaft, the impeller shaft being positioned so that it does not pass through the center of wind moment of the impeller. Thus, when a wind vector reaches the impeller, the impeller and shaft rotate in direct accordance with the wind's velocity, thus ensuring that the impeller faces optimally into the wind. A biasing device is attached to each impeller shaft, the biasing device serving to retard the rotation of the wind vanes when the wind vector exceeds a given velocity, thus ensuring that the impellers maintain a constant rotational speed. A link means interconnects the adjacent impeller shafts so as to ensure that the wind vanes rotate simultaneously.

Abstract: A wine turbine with blades having a high lift-to-drag ratio is provided. A hydraulic or other control system is used to control cone angle, such as in response to flap moment. Pitch of blades is controlled, such as in relation to the blade flap angle. Teeter motion is controlled preferably as a function of teeter angular velocity.

Abstract: A windmill is provided which automatically compensates for increased wind velocity, causing the blades to feather and rotate at a substantially constant velocity rather than overspeeding. This is accomplished by pivotally mounting the blades so that they are rotatable between positions of relatively high angle with respect to the direction of the wind and positions of relatively shallow angle, with a resilient means biasing them to the former position. Tabs projecting forwardly at obtuse angles from the outer ends of the leading edges of the blades cause the blades to be pivoted to the feathered position when wind velocity increases.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine includes a pair of wind deflectors for directing the wind current into the rotor assembly. The wind deflectors are connected to the wind turbine so that their positions are automatically adjusted as a function of wind velocity as well as wind direction to maximize efficiency. The wind deflectors automatically move to a position downwind of the rotor assembly during periods of unusually high wind velocity and actuate a rotational governor which increases the angular inertia of the turbine to limit the speed of the turbine shaft during such high wind conditions.

Abstract: According to the invention, a wind turbine 10 incorporates a wind vane 105 which mechanically controls a valve 100 that directs the output of a turbine driven hydraulic pump 75 to yaw the turbine out of the wind upon a loss of system power or load. The turbine yaws out of the wind at an angular rate that is roughly proportional to rotor speed so that excessive teeter amplitudes are not encountered. The mechanically driven pump advantageously provides power to yaw the rotor out of the wind even if all electrical power is lost.

Abstract: The self-governing energy panel is to be used as one of a group of panels designed to collect wind for and govern the speed of the windpowered traveling shaft machine. This machine is designed to convert windpower into other forms of energy (e.g. electricity or direct-drive) by connection to a generator or other device. The panel is hung on bearings that are on the support beams that protrude out from the horizontal shaft of the windpowered traveling shaft machine. The panel has the majority of its length below the bearings; however, there are several places the panel may be attached to the beams thus changing how much of the panel is above or below the bearings. The panel will hang vertically to the ground in calm periods but with increasing wind speed the panel can change to a completely horizontal position by rotating on the bearings.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine includes a pair of wind deflectors for directing the wind current into the rotor assembly. The wind deflectors are connected to the wind turbine so that their positions are automatically adjusted as a function of wind velocity as well as wind direction to maximize efficiency. The wind deflectors automatically move to a position downwind of the rotor assembly during periods of unusually high wind velocity and actuate a rotational governor which increases the angular inertia of the turbine to limit the speed of the turbine shaft during such high wind conditions.

Abstract: A high speed, downwind horizontal axis wind turbine includes three circumferentially spaced lightweight blades having inner support arms and radially outwardly disposed airfoil configured blade segments which are pivotally connected to the support arms, so as to fold straight downwind under high wind conditions or high rotating speeds. A spring biased control mechanism serves to rotate the airfoil segment of each blade about its longitudinal axis as the blade is folded downwind, so that a simultaneous folding and feathering action is obtained to prevent damage to the turbine in high wind conditions or under high rotating speeds.