Annular Enclosure Surface for Vortex-Induced Vibration Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of wind turbines is restricted by regional wind conditions due to vortex-induced vibrations, which can lead to instability and safety issues during hoisting and operation, and existing vibration suppression methods like spiral wires are not effective in reducing noise and have limited coverage.
Innovation Solution
An enclosure with a convex-concave outer surface and air guiding grooves is designed to disrupt the boundary layer of airflow, preventing the formation of vortex-induced vibrations by altering the flow field and reducing the correlation of fluctuating pressures, thereby suppressing vortex-induced vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spiral wires are used for vibration suppression, then vortex-induced vibrations are reduced, but noise increases and coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The outer surface is segmented into multiple annular recesses distributed along the height of the enclosure, creating discrete flow disruption zones that collectively suppress vibrations across different frequencies while maintaining lower noise levels compared to continuous spiral structures
Solution Approach 2:
The annular recesses create curved flow paths that disrupt the boundary layer and prevent vortex formation through smooth geometric transitions, reducing both vibrations and noise compared to wire-based solutions
2Reliability
If traditional vibration suppression methods are used, then some vibration reduction is achieved, but installation efficiency is reduced due to wind speed restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The annular recesses are pre-formed as integral parts of the enclosure structure during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate installation steps and allowing hoisting to proceed without wind speed restrictions, thus improving installation efficiency while maintaining vibration suppression functionality
3Ease of manufacture
If the outer surface is made smooth, then manufacturing is easier, but vortex-induced vibrations occur more readily
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure features localized annular recesses at specific positions along the outer surface, maintaining smooth manufacturing processes for the majority of the surface while introducing targeted flow disruption features only where needed for vibration suppression
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses vortex-induced vibrations during both installation and long-term operation, reducing noise and maintaining structural integrity while allowing for faster airflow, thus improving installation efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
disrupt the boundary layer of airflow around the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
altering the flow field and reducing the correlation of fluctuating pressures
Implementation Method 3
suppressing vortex-induced vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
An enclosure having an outer surface with a vortex-induced vibration suppression function is provided. The outer surface of the enclosure is provided with a plurality of annular recesses surrounding the enclosure, such that alternately concave and convex annular recesses and annular bosses configured for disrupting a boundary layer of a laminar flow are formed on the outer surface of the enclosure. An outer surface of the annular boss is provided with a plurality of air guiding grooves, and the plurality of air guiding grooves are distributed in a circumferential direction of the annular boss. The air guiding grooves are inclined upward or downward, such that part of an upwind incoming flow flowing to the annular boss can be guided into the annular recesses adjacent to the annular boss via the air guiding grooves. With the convex-concave outer surface, the cause of formation of the vortex-induced vibration can be prevented.