Wind Turbine Cellular Tower
The Problem
Rural communities and areas often
find mobile-phone service to be limited in options and
availability. One can look at coverage maps of the many
cell-phone service providers to see that there are large
areas of the United States, typically rural areas with little population, where
cell-phone service is not available. For the service providers, placing towers
in those rural areas is an expensive investment with low
likelihood of a return
While
mobile-phone service is sparse in rural communities, these same areas are being
“populated” with wind farms to generate clean (i.e., no carbon emissions)
energy. Wind turbines are typically, though not
exclusively, located on top of hills in rural and remote locations in open
areas to maximize the capture of wind energy and around 90 meters in height
The Solution
An
omni-directional radio frequency (RF) antenna suitable for receiving and
transmitting cell-phone communication data is on each blade of a wind
turbine. Each RF antenna has a wired connection that passes from the
antenna through the turbine blade to the connection with the main
shaft. At turbine blade’s connection with the wind turbine’s main shaft,
the wired connection from the antenna is attached to a slip ring which, in
turn, is connected to a radio unit
The RF
antenna is integrated within the turbine blade. In some options,
particularly large turbine blades where the turbine blades are large enough that a person is
able to stand inside, the integration may include mounting an antenna in that
space inside of the turbine blade. In alternatives, particularly with
smaller turbine blades where it would not support mounting an antenna
internally, the antenna may be integrated with the turbine blade
material. In the latter instances, the antenna is not exposed at the surface; at least some of the turbine blade material
will cover the antenna. In either instance, the RF antenna is formed
in dimensions to the available space and/or shape of the turbine blade into
which it is integrated. Further still, irrespective of the manner in which the antenna is integrated in the turbine
blade, the design does not have any effect on the aerodynamics of the turbine
blades or their operation as part of the wind turbine
While
turbine blades vary between 18 and 100+ meters in length, the RF antenna is
typically located between 3 and 8 meters from the connection to the wind
turbine’s main axle and center of rotation for clearance plus diversity. Generally wind turbines utilize three blades, though
the design is not limited to having this. Each RF antenna may correspond
to operating on distinct frequencies and cellular formats from the antennae of
other turbine blades of the wind turbine (i.e., supporting distinct cellular providers). However typically a wind turbine will support only one
cellular provider, i.e., having all turbine blade antennae configured to
support the frequency(ies) and/or format(s) of a
single cellular provider
The cellular
system of the wind turbine may be powered by batteries charged by the wind
turbine in which the cellular system is incorporated for continual operation
In various
options the antenna radio unit is connected to a microwave radio of any
applicable band that communicates with another cellular base station site and
to its core network. The microwave antenna is located on or near the wind
turbine’s tower below the lowest extent of turbine blades
so they do not interfere with the communication between it and the next site
when rotating
Alternatively the system may communicate with other cellular base stations and
core network via physical instead of a microwave connection. For
example, an alternatively configured cellular system may include a controller
that communicates data over a fiber optic or wired connection, or a
combination, or even satellite
Summary
Systems provide
very wide area coverage as generally on high sites and tall towers to fill in
coverage in hard-to-reach areas and roads that normally wouldn’t be possible
either due to siting regulations or not being
economical so no need for new sites and associated zoning, regulatory approvals
and thus no environmental or visual impacts
Much
improved customer experience with seamless service and no dependence on
limitations and expense of fill-in roaming or satellite coverage alternatives
Multi-technology
capable so can be used for 4G, 5G and 6G when available, and any combinations.
Can operate in any frequency bands, low band (<1GHz) preferred for best
coverage along with mid band (2-6GHz) for capacity, and ORAN, VRAN,
multi-operator, private network and neutral host compatible
Equally
applicable for new wind turbine builds but also when doing upgrades such as
replacing the blades which fatigue and are usually replaced every 10 to 20
years to prevent consequences
Can be used
both inland and offshore, individual sites or in windfarms
with highly reliability, low maintenance and very stable power from local
batteries charged by the wind turbine
Scaled down
versions can be used for localized wind turbines for industrial, residential
and other areas as Small Cells for added coverage, capacity
and in building penetration, primarily in higher frequency bands
Flexible
connectivity with other sites and core network via fiber, copper, microwave or
even satellite. And totally transparent and complementary to wind turbine primary role of generating clean energy
Ultimate green cellular
mobile coverage solution for rural and difficult to cover areas
Patent
pending - 63/651,895
Based in
Arizona USA, for more information contact via info@microcellularsystems.com