GB2413367A - Wind turbine - Google Patents

Wind turbine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2413367A
GB2413367A GB0408835A GB0408835A GB2413367A GB 2413367 A GB2413367 A GB 2413367A GB 0408835 A GB0408835 A GB 0408835A GB 0408835 A GB0408835 A GB 0408835A GB 2413367 A GB2413367 A GB 2413367A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
tower
wind turbine
upper section
section
lower section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0408835A
Other versions
GB0408835D0 (en
Inventor
Bruce Vaughan Woodman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PURE ENERGY PROFESSIONALS Ltd
Original Assignee
PURE ENERGY PROFESSIONALS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by PURE ENERGY PROFESSIONALS Ltd filed Critical PURE ENERGY PROFESSIONALS Ltd
Priority to GB0408835A priority Critical patent/GB2413367A/en
Publication of GB0408835D0 publication Critical patent/GB0408835D0/en
Publication of GB2413367A publication Critical patent/GB2413367A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/0204—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor for orientation in relation to wind direction
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/70—Bearing or lubricating arrangements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
    • F05B2240/912—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure on a tower
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

A wind turbine wherein the tower of the wind turbine is divided up into upper 102 and lower 103 sections. The upper section 102 is adapted to rotate relative to the lower section and the nacelle is fixed relative to the upper section 102 of the tower. The lower tower section 103 is less than half the overall height of the tower. The tower may have an arc shaped upper section (fig. 2) to increase the separation between the blades and the upper section of the tower.

Description

1 241 3367 s
WIND POWER GENERATOR APPARATUS
The present invention relates to wind-powered electricity generating apparatus, known colloquially as wind-turbines, an expression which will be used in the present specification.
Wind-turbines are well-known and conventionally consist of a vertical tower at the top of which there is mounted a nacelle which contains an electricity generator and a gearbox to the input shaPc of which there is connected a, normally three-bladed, propeller and to the output shaft of which the generator is connected. Normally, the nacelle is free to rotate about the vertical tower to enable the turbine to track changes in the direction of the wind, although in special circumstances where the wind is known to be uni-directional it is known to be fix the nacelle in relation to the tower. In some designs of wind turbines the turbine blades are arranged to position themselves down wind of the tower and in others they are maintained upwind of the tower by means of a wind-vane operated servo mechanism. In machines where the blades are downwind of the tower, interference occurs between the tower and the blades of the turbine as they pass it. This interference leads to fluctuating loads on the turbine blades which increases the risk of fatigue failure of the turbine blades and also causes low-frequency pulses of sound which people living in the vicinity of wind turbines may find disturbing. Also, electrical and physical maintenance of the wind turbine is hampered by the need to ascend the tower and also to prevent rotation of the nacelle about the tower during maintenance operations.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wind turbine.
According to the present invention, there is provided a wind turbine as hereinbefore described wherein the tower of the wind turbine is divided into upper and lower sections the upper section being adapted to rotate relative to the lower section and the nacelle being fixed relative to the upper section of the tower, the lower section being less than the half the overall height of the tower.
Preferably, the upper section of the tower in arcuate in profile, the concave arc facing the blades of the turbine thereby to increase the separation between the blades of the turbine and the adjacent part of the upper section of the tower.
The lower end of the upper section of the tower may terminate in a shaft which rotates in two aligned bearings forming part of the lower section of the tower, and there may be provided a hinge in the section of the shaft intermediate the two bearings and the lower section of the tower may include a section which may be removed to expose the hinge, thereby to enable the nacelle and blades of the wind turbine to be lowered to facilitate the maintenance thereof.
For use in situations where heavy snowfall or ice accumulation is unlikely, a triangular brace terminating in a wheel and arranged to run on a circular track surrounding the base of the lower section of the tower may be attached to the lower end of the downwind side of the upper portion of the tower.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a part-sectional elevation of a wind-turbine embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a part-sectional elevation of a second wind turbine embodying the invention.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a wind turbine 100 embodying the invention consists of a vertical tower 101 which has an upper section 102 and a lower section 103.
Fixed at the top of the upper section 102 of the tower 101 is a nacelle 104 which contains a generator unit which may include a gearbox, (neither of which is shown in the drawing) to the input shaft of which is attached a turbine hub unit 105 with, typically, three large blades 106. The lower end of the upper section 102 of the tower 101 terminates in a shaft 107.
The lower section 103 of the tower 101 surrounds the shaft 107 and carries two bearings 108, 109 which permit the shaD 107 of the upper section 102 of the tower 101 to rotate.
Either the lower bearing 109 may be adapted to act as a thrust bearing or a third, thrust, bearing may be provided. Below the upper bearing 108 the shaft 107 is provided with an horizontally-acting hinge 110. At least a portion of the lower section 103 of the tower lO1 extended from a position below the hinge 110 to its upper end is split longitudinally so that it can be removed to expose the hinge 110 which enables the nacelle 104 and turbine hub unit 105 to be lowered to the ground for maintenance purpose. In order for this to be accomplished, the bearing 108 has to be provided with a split outer track. If the entire length of the lower section 103 ofthe tower 101, with the exception of a stub which is fixed to a foundation l l l, is split longitudinally, then the bearing lO9 also needs to have a split outer track. Slip rings and brushes 112 provide electrical connection between the generator in the nacelle 104 and a power take-offpoint 113.
A weather skirt 114 covers the junction between the upper and lower sections 102, 103, respectively, of the tower 101.
Attached to the side of the upper section 102 of the tower 101 which, in use is downwind side is a triangulated brace 1 15 which terminates in a wheel 1 16 which runs on a track 1 17 which encircles the lower section 103 of the tower 101. Preferably, the wheel] 16 and track 1 17 are of steel to minimise friction. The brace 115 reduces the bending stresses on the tower 101, but in circumstances where appreciable snow or ice accumulation is expected, it can be omitted.
Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention, which has many components in common with the first embodiment of the invention. These components have the same reference numerals and will not be described again.
Referring to Figure 2, the straight upper section 102 of the tower 101 shown in Figure I is replaced by an upper section 201 which has an arcuate profile which is arranged to be concave towards the turbine blades 106. By this means, the separation between the turbine blades 106 and the tower 101 is increased, thus reducing the interference between them, increasing the energy capture of the turbine, reducing load fluctuations on the turbine blades 106, so increasing their fatigue life and reducing the emission of low- frequency sounds. The shape of the upper region 201 of the tower 101 may be arranged to be such that the centre of gravity of the nacelle 104 and turbine blades 106 is on the axis of rotation of the upper portion 201 of the tower lot so avoiding static off-axis loads on the shaft 107 and the bearings 108 and 109.
In both embodiments ofthe invention, the upper section 102 ofthe tower 101 may have a non-circular, for example streamlined, cross-section so decreasing the interference between the tower 101 and the blades 106 of the wind-turbine.
The embodiments described, for simplicity, show arrangements where the turbine blades 106 are kept downwind of the tower 101 by a simple weather-cocking action, but the invention is equally applicable to designs of wind turbines in which the turbine blades 106 are kept upwind of the tower 101 by means of a vane and servo-mechanism in the nacelle 104.

Claims (5)

1. A wind turbine as hereinbefore described wherein the tower of the wind turbine is divided into upper and lower sections the upper section being adapted to rotate relative to the lower section and the nacelle being fixed relative to the upper section of the tower, the lower section being less than the half the overall height of the tower.
2. A wind turbine according to claim I wherein the upper section of the tower of the wind turbine terminates in a shaft which is adapted to rotate in two aligned bearings housed in the lower section of the tower of the wind turbine, and there is provided in the shaft an horizontally acting hinge, at least a portion of the lower section of the tower of the wind turbine being adapted to be removable so as to enable the said hinge to function if so required.
3. A wind turbine according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the upper section of the tower of the wind turbine has an arcuate profile arranged to be concave with respect to the blades of the wind turbine thereby to increase the separation between the blades and the upper section ofthe tower of the wind turbine.
4. A wind turbine according to any of claims I to 3 wherein there is provided a triangulated brace attached to the downwind side of the tower of the wind turbine the brace including a ground-contacting wheel which is adapted to run on a track which encircles the base of the lower section of the tower of the wind turbine.
5. A wind turbine substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB0408835A 2004-04-21 2004-04-21 Wind turbine Withdrawn GB2413367A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0408835A GB2413367A (en) 2004-04-21 2004-04-21 Wind turbine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0408835A GB2413367A (en) 2004-04-21 2004-04-21 Wind turbine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0408835D0 GB0408835D0 (en) 2004-05-26
GB2413367A true GB2413367A (en) 2005-10-26

Family

ID=32344106

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0408835A Withdrawn GB2413367A (en) 2004-04-21 2004-04-21 Wind turbine

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2413367A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2430986A (en) * 2005-10-05 2007-04-11 Wind Power Ltd A bearing arrangement
GB2437533A (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-10-31 Uws Ventures Ltd Turbine and support engagement
FR2920206A1 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-02-27 Alizeo Sarl Wind turbine, has nacelle provided at upper end of support mast and comprising rotor that carries propeller and drives electric generator that is located near ground at distance of nacelle, and actuator connected to support mast
EP2075464A2 (en) * 2007-12-27 2009-07-01 General Electric Company Forward leaning tower top section
US20130171002A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Clipper Windpower, Llc Hybrid Wind Turbine Tower with Integrated Yaw Bearing System
CN107061180A (en) * 2017-04-26 2017-08-18 华北电力大学（保定） A kind of tower cylinder for wind power generation fittable slackening device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2806081A1 (en) * 1978-02-14 1979-08-16 Voith Getriebe Kg Wind turbine mast structure - has assembly stay on the side, with hydraulic tensioner enabling raising and lowering
US6069409A (en) * 1998-09-08 2000-05-30 Fowler; Benjamin P. Wind powered generator apparatus
DE10119516A1 (en) * 2001-04-20 2002-10-24 Hermann Wenninger Wind power unit has pivot bearing cantilevered arm with bend or curve and rotor
US20030147739A1 (en) * 2002-02-05 2003-08-07 Jonathan Crinion Wind driven power generator

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2806081A1 (en) * 1978-02-14 1979-08-16 Voith Getriebe Kg Wind turbine mast structure - has assembly stay on the side, with hydraulic tensioner enabling raising and lowering
US6069409A (en) * 1998-09-08 2000-05-30 Fowler; Benjamin P. Wind powered generator apparatus
DE10119516A1 (en) * 2001-04-20 2002-10-24 Hermann Wenninger Wind power unit has pivot bearing cantilevered arm with bend or curve and rotor
US20030147739A1 (en) * 2002-02-05 2003-08-07 Jonathan Crinion Wind driven power generator

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2430986A (en) * 2005-10-05 2007-04-11 Wind Power Ltd A bearing arrangement
GB2437533A (en) * 2006-04-28 2007-10-31 Uws Ventures Ltd Turbine and support engagement
GB2437533B (en) * 2006-04-28 2012-01-11 Swanturbines Ltd Marine turbine and support with locating device
FR2920206A1 (en) * 2007-08-24 2009-02-27 Alizeo Sarl Wind turbine, has nacelle provided at upper end of support mast and comprising rotor that carries propeller and drives electric generator that is located near ground at distance of nacelle, and actuator connected to support mast
EP2075464A2 (en) * 2007-12-27 2009-07-01 General Electric Company Forward leaning tower top section
US20090167023A1 (en) * 2007-12-27 2009-07-02 Jacob Johannes Nies Forward leaning tower top section
EP2075464A3 (en) * 2007-12-27 2012-12-19 General Electric Company Forward leaning tower top section
US20130171002A1 (en) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Clipper Windpower, Llc Hybrid Wind Turbine Tower with Integrated Yaw Bearing System
CN107061180A (en) * 2017-04-26 2017-08-18 华北电力大学（保定） A kind of tower cylinder for wind power generation fittable slackening device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0408835D0 (en) 2004-05-26

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)