A device and method for wind turbine vortex-induced vibration monitoring and suppression

Abstract

A device and method suitable for wind turbine vortex-induced vibration monitoring and suppression, the device comprising: a control box, a plurality of vibration sensors, a fixed support, a plurality of maintenance cranes, a plurality of connectors, a plurality of maintenance cables and a plurality of sliding supports, wherein: the plurality of vibration sensors are installed on each layer platform inside the tower and connected with the control box; the number of maintenance cranes, maintenance cables, sliding supports and connectors are equal and one-to-one corresponding; the fixed support is annular and fixed at the top of the tower outside, and the plurality of maintenance cranes are fixed on the fixed support; the plurality of sliding supports are arranged at the lower end of the fixed support and symmetrically installed around the tower, and the sliding supports are provided with connectors, working cranes, fixed guide rails, walking guide rails, supporting guide rails and sliding wheels; the sliding wheels are installed at the connection between the inner side of the sliding support and the outer wall of the tower for sliding support when the sliding support moves up and down along the outer wall of the tower; and the working cranes are installed on the sliding supports through fixed wheels, driving wheels and supporting wheels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wind power generation, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine generators. Background Technology

[0002] With the shift of China's wind energy resource development to low-wind-speed regions such as the central and southern parts of the country, this region has become the main market area for the continuous large-scale development of wind power in my country. Due to my country's topography, the central and southern regions are low-wind-speed, high-shear-wind resource areas, resulting in relatively low wind power density for wind turbines. To increase wind resource utilization efficiency and power generation, wind turbines typically increase the rotor diameter to improve swept area and tower height.

[0003] As a cylindrical or near-cylindrical structure, the wind turbine tower creates periodic, alternating vortices behind it when wind flows over it. These vortex sheddings generate periodic drag and lift forces on the tower structure, causing periodic vibrations known as vortex-induced vibration (VID). With increasing overall height, the tower's flexibility increases, making VID more likely to occur. When the VID frequency approaches the tower's natural frequency, lock-in occurs, leading to structural fatigue damage. Under the influence of VID, when sufficiently large alternating stresses are generated, microcracks easily develop at the tower's structural components and weld joints. These dispersed microcracks coalesce and connect to form macrocracks. When these macrocracks slowly expand to a certain limit, the tower suddenly fractures, causing a tower collapse. Therefore, the monitoring and suppression of VID should be given sufficient attention during the safe operation of wind turbines.

[0004] Existing wind turbine generators and their associated control systems can monitor and prevent vortex-induced vibration during normal operation. However, when the wind turbine is shut down, and there is no external power supply or the control system is not monitoring the data status (referred to as "static"), the turbine cannot monitor vortex-induced vibration data in real time. Therefore, in this situation, vortex-induced vibration may damage the wind turbine generator. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides an apparatus and method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration in wind turbine generators, thereby solving the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a device suitable for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine generators, comprising: a control box, multiple vibration sensors, a fixed bracket, multiple maintenance cranes, multiple connectors, multiple maintenance cables, and multiple sliding supports, wherein:

[0007] The control box is installed at the bottom of the tower.

[0008] Multiple vibration sensors are installed on each platform inside the tower and connected to the control box;

[0009] The number of maintenance cranes, maintenance cables, sliding supports, and connectors are equal and correspond one-to-one;

[0010] The fixed support is in the shape of a ring and is fixed to the top of the outer side of the tower. Multiple maintenance cranes are fixed on the fixed support, and each maintenance crane hangs a maintenance cable. The lower end of each maintenance cable is connected to the corresponding sliding support.

[0011] Multiple sliding supports are set at the lower end of the fixed support and symmetrically installed around the tower. The sliding supports are equipped with connectors, working trolleys, fixed guide rails, traveling guide rails, support guide rails and sliding wheels. The fixed guide rails, traveling guide rails and support guide rails are all arranged in a ring around the tower.

[0012] The upper end of the connector is detachably connected to the fixed bracket, and the lower end of the connector is connected to the corresponding sliding bracket.

[0013] The sliding wheel is installed on the inner side of the sliding support at the connection with the outer wall of the tower, and provides sliding support when the sliding support moves up and down along the outer wall of the tower.

[0014] The working trolley is mounted on a sliding bracket via fixed wheels, drive wheels, and support wheels. The fixed wheels, drive wheels, and support wheels can slide along the fixed guide rail, the traveling guide rail, and the support guide rail, respectively. Multiple working trolleys are symmetrically installed around the tower. The working trolley is also equipped with a drive motor, a deflector rope motor, and a deflector rope. The drive motor drives the drive wheels. Driven by the drive motor and drive wheels, the working trolley moves in a circular motion around the tower along the fixed guide rail, the traveling guide rail, and the support guide rail. The deflector rope motor controls the lowering and retraction of the deflector rope. When the deflector rope is lowered, it causes turbulence. The lower end of the deflector rope is connected to the weights. The weights are connected in pairs via a constraint rope.

[0015] The control box has a maintenance crane control button, which is used to control the maintenance crane to raise or lower the maintenance cable.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing bracket is installed on the outer wall of the tower in the form of a clamp.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of sliding supports is 6 or 8.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple vibration sensors are connected to the control box via wired or wireless connection.

[0019] This invention also provides a method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration in wind turbine generators. This method utilizes the aforementioned device for monitoring and suppression, and sets the control box to monitor / suppress and maintain states, wherein:

[0020] Monitoring the suppression state process:

[0021] When the wind turbine stops, the control box switches to monitoring and suppression mode, and multiple vibration sensors send the collected vibration data to the control box in real time.

[0022] When the control box detects that the vibration frequency of the tower is close to the vortex-induced vibration frequency, the control box controls the drive motor to run, so as to drag the working trolley to rotate around the tower to a suitable position. At the same time, the control box controls the deflector rope motor to run, so as to lower the deflector rope to a designated position at the bottom of the tower.

[0023] When the control box detects that the wind speed has dropped to a safe wind speed, the control box controls the deflector rope motor to run, so as to retract the deflector rope to its original position;

[0024] Maintenance process:

[0025] When the device needs maintenance, the control box switches to maintenance mode and the maintenance crane is controlled by the maintenance crane control button. The maintenance crane drives the maintenance cable down to lower the sliding support and its auxiliary components along the tower. At the same time, the upper end of the connector is separated from the fixed support.

[0026] After the sliding support and its auxiliary components are lowered to the bottom of the tower, manual inspection and maintenance are carried out.

[0027] After maintenance is completed, the maintenance crane is operated by controlling the maintenance crane control button, so that the maintenance crane drives the maintenance cable upward to lift the sliding bracket and its auxiliary components along the tower to the normal working position. At the same time, the upper end of the connector is connected to the fixed bracket.

[0028] The control box switches the device from maintenance mode to monitoring and suppression mode.

[0029] The device and method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units provided by this invention can monitor vortex-induced vibration in real time when the wind turbine is in a static state, realize data early warning, adjust the unit status in a timely manner, effectively suppress vortex-induced vibration, and ensure the safety of the unit and personnel. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units according to an embodiment of the present invention, when monitoring the suppression state.

[0032] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of the middle section;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a sliding bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbines according to an embodiment of the present invention during maintenance.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation location of the device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units provided by the present invention on the wind turbine.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 001 – Control box; 101 – Vibration sensor; 201 – Fixed bracket; 202 – Sliding bracket; 203 – Working trolley; 301 – Fixed guide rail; 302 – Traveling guide rail; 303 – Support guide rail; 304 – Sliding wheel; 311 – Fixed wheel; 312 – Drive wheel; 313 – Support wheel; 401 – Maintenance crane; 402 – Drive motor; 403 – Deflector rope motor; 501 – Maintenance cable; 502 – Deflector rope; 503 – Restraint rope; 601 – Drop block; 701 – Connector; 801 – Tower. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units according to an embodiment of the present invention, when monitoring the suppression state. Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of the middle section. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a sliding bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbines according to an embodiment of the present invention during maintenance. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation location of the device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units provided by the present invention on the wind turbine, as shown in the figure. Figures 1-5 As shown, the present invention provides a device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine generators, comprising: a control box 001, multiple vibration sensors 101, a fixed bracket 201, multiple maintenance cranes 401, multiple connectors 701, multiple maintenance cables 501, and multiple sliding supports 202, wherein:

[0039] The control box 001 is installed at the bottom of the tower 801. The control box 001 in this invention is used for both monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of the wind turbine, realizing the linkage operation of "monitoring" and "suppression". The control box in this invention is composed of components such as a display screen, programmable controller, digital quantity module, analog quantity module, communication module, contactor, thermal relay, intermediate relay, circuit breaker, and operation buttons. It can receive, process, and send signals from various electrical components in the device and control the actions of related components in the device. It can receive status signals or control signals such as wind speed and wind direction of the wind turbine, and can perform status display and status warning.

[0040] Multiple vibration sensors 101 are installed on each platform inside the tower 801 and connected to the control box 001. The installation location is preferably convenient for inspection and maintenance. The number of sensors installed is not fixed and depends on the height of the tower 801 and the actual situation.

[0041] The number of maintenance cranes 401, maintenance cables 501, sliding supports 202, and connectors 701 are equal and correspond one-to-one;

[0042] The fixed support 201 is ring-shaped and fixed to the top of the outer side of the tower 801. The fixed support 201 bears the weight of almost all the outer part of the tower, so it needs to have a strong load-bearing capacity. Multiple maintenance cranes 401 are fixed on the fixed support 201. Each maintenance crane 401 has a maintenance cable 501 hanging down. The lower end of each maintenance cable 501 is connected to the corresponding sliding support 202.

[0043] Multiple sliding supports 202 are set at the lower end of the fixed support 201 and symmetrically installed around the tower 801. The sliding supports 202 are equipped with connectors 701, working trolleys 203, fixed guide rails 301, traveling guide rails 302, support guide rails 303 and sliding wheels 304. The fixed guide rails 301, traveling guide rails 302 and support guide rails 303 are all arranged in a ring around the tower 801.

[0044] The upper end of connector 701 is detachably connected to the fixed bracket 201, and the lower end of connector 701 is connected to the corresponding sliding bracket 202.

[0045] The sliding wheel 304 is installed on the inner side of the sliding bracket 202 at the connection with the outer wall of the tower 801, and provides sliding support when the sliding bracket 202 moves up and down along the outer wall of the tower 801.

[0046] The working trolley 203 is mounted on the sliding bracket 202 via fixed wheels 311, drive wheels 312, and support wheels 313. The fixed wheels 311, drive wheels 312, and support wheels 313 can slide along the fixed guide rail 301, the traveling guide rail 302, and the support guide rail 303, respectively. Multiple working trolleys 203 are symmetrically installed around the tower 801. The working trolley 203 is also equipped with a drive motor 402, a deflector rope motor 403, and a deflector rope 502. The drive motor 402 drives the drive wheels 312. Driven by the drive motor 402 and the drive wheels 312, the working trolley 203 moves in a circular motion around the tower 801 along the fixed guide rail 301, the traveling guide rail 302, and the support guide rail 303. The deflector rope motor 403 controls the lowering and retraction of the deflector rope 502. When the deflector rope 502 is lowered, it deflects the airflow to prevent resonance caused by the self-locking of the vortex-induced vibration frequency and protect the wind turbine from damage caused by vortex-induced vibration. The lower end of the deflector rope 502 is connected to the weight block 601. The weight blocks 601 are connected in pairs by a restraint rope 503. The restraint rope 503 restrains the weight blocks 601. The weight blocks 601 can increase the weight at the end of the deflector rope 502 and prevent it from swaying in the wind. The weight blocks 601 and the deflector rope 502 can serve as counterweight and restraint at the end of the deflector rope.

[0047] The control box 001 has a maintenance crane control button (not shown in the figure) for controlling the maintenance crane 401 to drive the maintenance cable 501 to rise or fall.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixing bracket 201 is installed on the outer wall of the tower 801 by means of a clamp to ensure installation stability.

[0049] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of sliding supports 202 is 6 or 8, and the specific number is determined according to the tower diameter. The larger the tower diameter, the more sliding supports 202 are installed.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of vibration sensors 101 are connected to the control box 001 by wire or wireless means.

[0051] This invention also provides a method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration in wind turbine generators. This method utilizes the aforementioned device for monitoring and suppression. The control box 001 is set to monitoring / suppression mode and maintenance mode. The monitoring / suppression mode is primarily used during wind turbine shutdown. During normal wind turbine operation, only the vibration frequency of each area of ​​the tower is detected. The data is uploaded to the control room for status monitoring reference. Specifically:

[0052] Monitoring the suppression state process:

[0053] When the fan stops, the control box 001 switches to the monitoring and suppression state, and multiple vibration sensors 101 send the collected vibration status data to the control box 001 in real time.

[0054] When the control box 001 detects that the vibration frequency of the tower 801 is close to the vortex-induced vibration frequency, the control box 001 controls the drive motor 402 to run, so as to drag the working trolley 203 to rotate around the tower 801 to a suitable position. At the same time, the control box 001 controls the deflector rope motor 403 to run, so as to lower the deflector rope 502 to the designated position at the lower end of the tower 801.

[0055] When the control box 001 detects that the wind speed has dropped to a safe wind speed, the control box 001 controls the deflector rope motor 403 to run, so as to retract the deflector rope 502 to its original position;

[0056] Maintenance process:

[0057] When the device needs maintenance, the control box 001 switches to maintenance mode (usually operated by staff). The maintenance crane 401 is controlled to run by the maintenance crane control button, so that the maintenance crane 401 drives the maintenance cable 501 down to lower the sliding bracket 202 and its auxiliary components along the tower 801. At the same time, the upper end of the connector 701 is separated from the fixed bracket 201.

[0058] After the sliding support 202 and its auxiliary components are lowered to the bottom of the tower 801, manual inspection and maintenance are carried out.

[0059] After maintenance is completed, the maintenance crane 401 is operated by controlling the maintenance crane control button, so that the maintenance crane 401 drives the maintenance cable 501 to move upward, so as to lift the sliding bracket 202 and its auxiliary components along the tower 801 to the normal working position. At the same time, the upper end of the connector 701 is connected to the fixed bracket 201.

[0060] Control box 001 switches the device from maintenance mode to monitoring and suppression mode.

[0061] The device and method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units provided by this invention can monitor vortex-induced vibration in real time when the wind turbine is in a static state, realize data early warning, adjust the unit status in a timely manner, effectively suppress vortex-induced vibration, and ensure the safety of the unit and personnel.

[0062] Those skilled in the art will understand that the accompanying drawings are merely schematic diagrams of one embodiment, and the modules or processes shown in the drawings are not necessarily essential for implementing the present invention.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will understand that the modules in the apparatus of the embodiments can be distributed in the apparatus of the embodiments as described in the embodiments, or they can be located in one or more devices different from this embodiment with corresponding changes. The modules of the above embodiments can be combined into one module, or they can be further divided into multiple sub-modules.

[0064] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device suitable for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine generators, characterized in that, include: The system includes a control box, multiple vibration sensors, fixed brackets, multiple maintenance cranes, multiple connectors, multiple maintenance cables, and multiple sliding supports, among which: The control box is installed at the bottom of the tower. Multiple vibration sensors are installed on each platform inside the tower and connected to the control box; The number of maintenance cranes, maintenance cables, sliding supports, and connectors are equal and correspond one-to-one; The fixed support is in the shape of a ring and is fixed to the top of the outer side of the tower. Multiple maintenance cranes are fixed on the fixed support, and each maintenance crane hangs a maintenance cable. The lower end of each maintenance cable is connected to the corresponding sliding support. Multiple sliding supports are set at the lower end of the fixed support and symmetrically installed around the tower. The sliding supports are equipped with connectors, working trolleys, fixed guide rails, traveling guide rails, support guide rails and sliding wheels. The fixed guide rails, traveling guide rails and support guide rails are all arranged in a ring around the tower. The upper end of the connector is detachably connected to the fixed bracket, and the lower end of the connector is connected to the corresponding sliding bracket. The sliding wheel is installed on the inner side of the sliding support at the connection with the outer wall of the tower, and provides sliding support when the sliding support moves up and down along the outer wall of the tower. The working trolley is mounted on a sliding bracket via fixed wheels, drive wheels, and support wheels. The fixed wheels, drive wheels, and support wheels can slide along the fixed guide rail, the traveling guide rail, and the support guide rail, respectively. Multiple working trolleys are symmetrically installed around the tower. The working trolley is also equipped with a drive motor, a deflector rope motor, and a deflector rope. The drive motor drives the drive wheels. Driven by the drive motor and drive wheels, the working trolley moves in a circular motion around the tower along the fixed guide rail, the traveling guide rail, and the support guide rail. The deflector rope motor controls the lowering and retraction of the deflector rope. When the deflector rope is lowered, it causes turbulence. The lower end of the deflector rope is connected to the weights. The weights are connected in pairs via a constraint rope. The control box has a maintenance crane control button, which is used to control the maintenance crane to raise or lower the maintenance cable.

2. The device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed bracket is installed on the outer wall of the tower using a clamping method.

3. The device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of sliding supports is 6 or 8.

4. The device for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration of wind turbine units according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple vibration sensors are connected to the control box via wired or wireless connections.

5. A method for monitoring and suppressing vortex-induced vibration in wind turbine generators, characterized in that, This method utilizes the apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 4 for monitoring and suppression, wherein the control box is configured to be in a monitoring / suppression state and a maintenance state, wherein: Monitoring the suppression state process: When the wind turbine stops, the control box switches to monitoring and suppression mode, and multiple vibration sensors send the collected vibration data to the control box in real time. When the control box detects that the vibration frequency of the tower is close to the vortex-induced vibration frequency, the control box controls the drive motor to run, so as to drag the working trolley to rotate around the tower to a suitable position. At the same time, the control box controls the deflector rope motor to run, so as to lower the deflector rope to a designated position at the bottom of the tower. When the control box detects that the wind speed has dropped to a safe wind speed, the control box controls the deflector rope motor to run, so as to retract the deflector rope to its original position; Maintenance process: When the device needs maintenance, the control box switches to maintenance mode and the maintenance crane is controlled by the maintenance crane control button. The maintenance crane drives the maintenance cable down to lower the sliding support and its auxiliary components along the tower. At the same time, the upper end of the connector is separated from the fixed support. After the sliding support and its auxiliary components are lowered to the bottom of the tower, manual inspection and maintenance are carried out. After maintenance is completed, the maintenance crane is operated by controlling the maintenance crane control button, so that the maintenance crane drives the maintenance cable upward to lift the sliding bracket and its auxiliary components along the tower to the normal working position. At the same time, the upper end of the connector is connected to the fixed bracket. The control box switches the device from maintenance mode to monitoring and suppression mode.

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