A wind turbine guide cover support device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wind turbine shroud support device. The device includes a hub, which is connected to the generator shaft of the wind turbine or the main shaft located inside the nacelle; a front bracket, which is located in front of the hub; and a rear bracket, which is located at the rear of the hub. The front bracket includes at least one lattice support structure, which is composed of multiple components and nodes, and each node has two components gathered together. The rear bracket includes a support member and a connecting member. The support member is connected to the rear of the hub, and the two ends of the support member are respectively connected to different connecting members, and the shroud is connected to the connecting member. The support member and the connecting member together form a planar annular polygon. This support device reduces its own weight while increasing the support stiffness, greatly improving the fatigue life of the support device. It is also simple to process and highly economical.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of wind power generation, and in particular relates to a wind turbine guide cover support device. Background Art

[0002] Wind turbines use blades to drive the impeller, ultimately converting mechanical energy into electrical energy through the generator. The hub is a key component where the blades connect and converge. The shroud surrounds the hub, forming a barrier between the hub and other components (such as the pitch mechanism) and the external environment, providing both isolation and protection.

[0003] The shroud is primarily fixed by its connection to the hub. Because the hub is connected to both the blade roots and the main shaft or generator shaft, the locations where the shroud can be connected are very limited. Traditional shroud supports are divided into front and rear brackets. The front bracket typically consists of multiple rods or plates installed in front of the shroud and hub. The two ends of the brackets are welded to the shroud and hub, respectively.

[0004] During the lifecycle of a wind turbine, the shroud and its supports primarily bear the aerodynamic thrust loads created by the oncoming wind, as well as the alternating gravity loads of the rotating impeller. The front and rear shroud brackets suffer extensive fatigue damage during actual operation, making welded connections unreliable. The shroud brackets frequently break at their joints, impacting the normal operation of the turbine.

[0005] CN 104564539 B proposes a front support solution for a fairing, in which welding is avoided between the support device, the wheel hub, and the fairing. However, the support to resist the thrust load uses an independent rod. To ensure the support rigidity, the size and weight of the rod need to be increased.

[0006] CN 111207045 A discloses a front bracket for a fairing. The entire bracket adopts a conical integrated structure. Although this solution ensures support rigidity, the bracket has a large deadweight and low economic efficiency. In addition, the wheel hub and the fairing need to match the flange surfaces at both ends of the bracket during manufacturing and processing, which increases the production difficulty. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine shroud support device to solve at least one technical problem in the background technology.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, a wind turbine shroud support device is provided, comprising at least a hub connected to the wind turbine generator shaft or the main shaft located within the nacelle; a front bracket located in front of the hub; and a rear bracket located behind the hub. The wind turbine shroud encloses the hub.

[0009] The front bracket includes a plurality of lattice support structures, each of which is composed of a plurality of components and nodes, and the number of components is equal to the number of nodes.

[0010] The nodes are divided into hub nodes and fairing nodes. The hub node is connected to the hub, and the fairing node is connected to the fairing. Each component is connected to a hub node and a fairing node respectively, and each node has two components gathered together.

[0011] The lattice support structure is made by bending a complete steel section or by connecting multiple steel sections.

[0012] In a further technical solution, the two components connecting two adjacent hub nodes and two adjacent fairing nodes form a cross, and the cross position is fixedly connected together.

[0013] In a further technical solution, each of the lattice support structures includes at least two hub nodes and two air guide cover nodes, and the number of the hub nodes is equal to the number of the air guide covers.

[0014] In a further technical solution, a complete annular connecting plate is provided on the inner side of the front portion of the air deflector, and bolt holes are respectively provided on the connecting surfaces of the annular connecting plate and the air deflector node.

[0015] In a further technical solution, the rear bracket includes a support member and a connecting member, the support member is connected to the rear of the wheel hub, both ends of the support member are respectively connected to different connecting members, and the air deflector is connected to the connecting member.

[0016] In a further technical solution, the support members and the connecting members are coplanar and together form an annular polygon, and the number of the support members is equal to that of the connecting members.

[0017] In a further technical solution, the support member is made of steel, bolt holes are opened in the middle and at both ends of the support member, and the support member is connected to the wheel hub by bolts, and there are at least two connection points.

[0018] In a further technical solution, the length of the support member is greater than the diameter of the hub blade root section circle, and the support member is approximately perpendicular to the pitch axis.

[0019] In a further technical solution, a connecting flange is provided on the inner side of the air deflector, and the connecting piece is connected to the connecting flange.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the above technical solution include:

[0021] The present invention overcomes the problem of fatigue fracture in traditional welding connection mode by using lattice-type air deflector support device, and greatly improves the fatigue life of the support device under the premise of effectively reducing the weight of the support device and increasing the support stiffness.

[0022] It is easy to process and highly economical. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a wind turbine shroud support device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a front bracket of a wind turbine shroud support device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a rear bracket of a wind turbine shroud support device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a rear bracket connecting member of a wind turbine shroud support device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Explanation of the accompanying numbers: 1-hub, 2-front bracket, 3-rear bracket, 4- fairing, 5-lattice support structure, 6-hub node, 7-component, 8- fairing node, 9-annular connecting plate, 10-component intersection position, 11-support, 12-connecting part, 13-connecting flange, 14-blade root, 15-pitch axis.

[0028] It is important to note that the aforementioned figures are intended to illustrate features of the present invention and are not intended to depict any actual structure or reflect detailed information such as the dimensions, relative proportions, and other details of the various components. To more clearly demonstrate the principles of the present invention and to avoid obscuring them with unnecessary detail, the examples in the figures have been simplified. These illustrations will not hinder understanding of the present invention by those skilled in the relevant art. An actual wind turbine shroud support device may include many more components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] To make the purpose and technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention are fully described below in conjunction with the relevant drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. This patent describes only some embodiments, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] like Figure 1As shown, a wind turbine shroud support device comprises at least a hub 1 connected to the wind turbine generator shaft or the main shaft located within the nacelle, at the rear of the hub 1. In some embodiments, the hub 1 has three flanges reserved for connecting to the pitch bearing and blade root 14; a front bracket 2 located at the front of the hub 1; and a rear bracket 3 located at the rear of the hub 1. The wind turbine shroud 4 encloses the hub 1.

[0031] The front bracket 2 includes at least one lattice support structure 5 . Each lattice support structure 5 is composed of a plurality of components 7 and nodes. The number of the components 7 is equal to the number of the nodes.

[0032] The nodes are divided into hub nodes 6 and fairing nodes 8. Hub nodes 6 are connected to hub 1, and fairing nodes 8 are connected to fairing 4. Each component 7 is connected to a hub node 6 and a fairing node 8 respectively.

[0033] In some embodiments, three lattice support structures 5 can be used to form the front bracket 2, with all nodes (hub nodes 6 and shroud nodes 8) distributed approximately circumferentially on the hub 1 and shroud 4. When the impeller rotates to any azimuth angle, the load from the shroud 4 is evenly transferred to the hub 1 through the lattice support structures 5.

[0034] In other embodiments, only one lattice support structure may be used, connected end to end. This form has advantages in load transfer, but will increase the cost of the front bracket 2.

[0035] The lattice support structure 5 is essentially a three-dimensional grid structure with a relatively small weight bearing capacity. To form a grid structure, at least two components 7 are required to form an intersection, and each component 7 is respectively connected to a hub node 6 and a fairing node 8. Therefore, each lattice support structure 5 includes at least two hub nodes 6 and two fairing nodes 8, that is, four nodes. The two components 7 form an "X" shape. In some embodiments, the four components 7 form two connected "X" shapes. The intersection of each two components 7 needs to be fixedly connected together to increase the support stiffness of the lattice support structure 5, and the fixed connection method can be to fix the connecting parts with bolts.

[0036] Each node (the hub node 6 and the fairing node 8) has two components 7 gathered together. Increasing the number of components gathered at each node can increase the support stiffness, but may increase the difficulty of processing the lattice support structure 5.

[0037] In some embodiments, when two components 7 are gathered at each node, the lattice support structure 5 can be made by bending a complete steel section, completely avoiding additional mechanical connections such as bolt connections, thereby ensuring the strength of the lattice support structure 5 itself.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, a complete annular connecting plate 5 is provided on the inner side of the front portion of the air deflector 4. Bolt holes are provided on the connecting surfaces of the annular connecting plate 5 and the air deflector node 8. The front bracket 2 (i.e., the multiple lattice support structures 5) is connected to the annular connecting plate 5. The air deflector 4 is generally made of fiberglass, which has lower rigidity than metal. Therefore, the annular connecting plate 5 is provided to increase the connection rigidity of the front bracket 2.

[0039] like Figure 3 As shown, the rear bracket 3 mainly includes a support member 11 and a connecting member 12. The support member 11 is connected to the rear of the wheel hub 1. The two ends of the support member 11 are respectively connected to two different connecting members 12. The air deflector 4 is connected to the connecting member 12.

[0040] In some embodiments, the support member 11 and the connecting member 12 are coplanar. This arrangement, on the one hand, increases the support stiffness of the rear bracket 3 (the support member 11 and the connecting member 12 do not need to be bent). On the other hand, the connection between the support member 11 and the wheel hub 1, as well as the connection between the connecting member 12 and the fairing 4 become simpler.

[0041] In some embodiments, for a three-blade wind turbine generator system, the number of support members 11 and connecting members 12 is equal, that is, three, and the support members 11 and connecting members 12 together form a hexagon.

[0042] In some embodiments, the support member 11 can be made of angle steel. One side of the angle steel has at least two bolt holes in the middle for connecting with the wheel hub 1. Two or more bolt holes can ensure the stability of the connection; the other side of the angle steel has bolt holes at both ends for connecting with the connecting member 12. Since the support member 11 and the connecting member 12 are at a certain angle to each other, the two ends of one side of the angle steel used for the support member 11 need to be cut off or connected to the back of the angle steel (such as Figure 4 As shown), to avoid interference when the support member 11 and the connecting member 12 are connected.

[0043] The length of the support member 11 is greater than the pitch diameter of the hub 1 blade root 14, and the support member 11 is approximately perpendicular to the pitch axis 15. This arrangement places the coupling 12 in the area between the two blade roots 14, leaving a certain amount of space for maintenance personnel to enter the hub 1 in this area of ​​the shroud 4.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown, a connecting flange 13 is provided inside the deflector. In some embodiments, the bolt holes used to connect the connecting flange 13 to the connecting member 12 can be matched with the bolt holes used to connect the support member 11 to the connecting member 12, so that the support member 11, the connecting member 12 and the connecting flange 13 can be connected together.

[0045] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by the terms "upper, lower, inside and outside" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0046] In this disclosure, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "mounted, connected, and coupled" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed, removable, or integral couplings. They may also refer to mechanical, electrical, or direct couplings, indirect couplings through an intermediary, or internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this disclosure.

[0047] While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made and equivalent components may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner, provided no structural conflicts exist. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but encompasses all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A wind turbine shroud support device, characterized by: The deflector support device at least comprises: a hub; a front bracket; and a rear bracket; The wind turbine guide cover surrounds the hub inside; The front bracket comprises at least three lattice support structures, each of the lattice support structures is composed of a plurality of components and nodes, and the number of components is equal to the number of nodes; The nodes are divided into hub nodes and fairing nodes, the hub nodes are connected to the hub, and the fairing nodes are connected to the fairing; Each of the components is respectively connected to a hub node and a fairing node, and each node has two components gathered therein; The two components connecting two adjacent hub nodes and two adjacent fairing nodes form a cross, and the cross position is fixedly connected together; The lattice support structure is made by bending a complete steel section; The rear bracket includes a support member and a connecting member. The support member is connected to the rear of the wheel hub. The two ends of the support member are respectively connected to different connecting members. The number of the support members and the connecting members is equal, both are three, and together form a hexagon.

2. A wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the lattice support structures includes at least two hub nodes and two air guide cover nodes, and the number of the hub nodes is equal to the number of the air guide cover nodes.

3. The wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 1, wherein: A complete annular connecting plate is provided on the inner side of the front portion of the air deflector, and bolt holes are respectively provided on the connecting surfaces of the annular connecting plate and the air deflector node.

4. The wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 1, wherein: The air duct is coupled to the coupling member of the rear bracket.

5. A wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 1 or claim 4, characterized in that: The supporting members and the connecting members are coplanar and together form an annular polygon. The number of the supporting members is equal to that of the connecting members.

6. The wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The support member is made of section steel, and bolt holes are provided in the middle and at both ends of the support member. The support member is connected to the wheel hub through bolts, and there are at least two connection points.

7. The wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length of the support member is greater than the diameter of the hub blade root pitch circle, and the support member is approximately perpendicular to the pitch axis.

8. The wind turbine shroud support device according to claim 5, characterized in that: A connecting flange is provided on the inner side of the air deflector, and the connecting piece is connected to the connecting flange.

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