Wind Turbine Nacelle Torque Arm Orientation for Reduced Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine nacelles with horizontally oriented torque arms occupy excessive space, limiting walkways, egress routes, and material handling due to their large volume, particularly width and height.
Innovation Solution
The nacelle design includes at least two torque arms positioned around the drivetrain axis, with at least one torque arm oriented substantially non-horizontally, supported by a frame attached to a yaw bearing, allowing for reduced space usage by deviating from horizontal orientation, thereby increasing available space for walkways, egress routes, and material handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If torque arms are positioned horizontally in the nacelle, then the structural support for the drivetrain is adequate, but the nacelle volume becomes excessively large, particularly in width and height
Solution Approach 1:
The torque arms are oriented at an angle deviating from the horizontal plane, transitioning from a conventional horizontal arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. This angular orientation allows the torque arms to provide adequate structural support while reducing the nacelle's width and height dimensions, thereby decreasing overall nacelle volume without compromising drivetrain support capability
2Strength
If torque arms are positioned horizontally, then the drivetrain is properly supported, but the space available for walkways, egress routes, and material handling is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the torque arms at an angle deviating from horizontal, the design utilizes three-dimensional space more efficiently. This angular configuration reduces the horizontal and vertical footprint of the torque arm assembly, thereby creating additional clearance and space for walkways, egress routes, and material handling operations within the nacelle
3Volume of stationary object
If the nacelle volume is reduced through non-horizontal torque arm orientation, then material utilization efficiency improves, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design modifies the orientation parameter of the torque arms by specifying an angular deviation from the horizontal plane. This parameter change allows the torque arms to achieve both structural support functionality and reduced nacelle volume without requiring complex additional components or mechanisms, thereby improving material utilization efficiency while maintaining relatively simple construction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~4E
AI summary
A nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle comprising: a drivetrain with a drivetrain axis, at least two torque arms positioned around the drivetrain axis and attached to a member of the drivetrain, and a frame attached to a yaw bearing. The torque arms of the drive train are supported by the frame and at least one of the torque arms has an orientation deviating at least substantially from being horizontal.