Wind Turbine Cable Bundling Device for Torsion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind energy installations face issues with cable twisting and torsion due to nacelle rotation, leading to potential damage, power losses, and premature wear of cables, particularly in the cable slack area.
Innovation Solution
A cable bundling system with tensioning devices that limits cable twisting to a small angular range, securely bracing the bundling device to the tower center, preventing torsion transfer from the hanging cables to the cable slack, and distributing twisting evenly over the hanging section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cables are non-rotatably connected to the nacelle and tower, then the electrical power can be transmitted from the nacelle to the ground, but the cables experience torsion and twisting when the nacelle rotates for wind tracking
Solution Approach 1:
A cable drum is introduced as an intermediary component between the hanging cables and the cable slack. The cable drum rotates together with the nacelle, allowing the cables to wind and unwind on the drum rather than twisting directly. This mediator absorbs the rotational movement and prevents torsion from being transferred to the cable slack area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cables are allowed to hang freely in the tower center, then the nacelle can rotate freely for wind tracking, but the cable slack area experiences twisting and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cable drum serves as a mediator that decouples the rotational freedom of the nacelle from the cable slack area. The drum rotates with the nacelle, accepting the full range of motion, while the cables wind onto the drum in an organized manner. This prevents the uncontrolled twisting that would otherwise occur in the cable slack region.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable arrangement allows the cable bundle to flex and adapt to the rotation through the cable drum mechanism. The cables can wind and unwind flexibly on the drum surface, accommodating the nacelle's rotation while maintaining cable integrity and preventing damage in the slack area.
3Reliability
If multiple cables are bundled together in the tower, then the current carrying capacity is maintained and cable spacing is ensured, but the bundle experiences twisting when the nacelle rotates
Solution Approach 1:
The cable drum acts as a mediator for the entire cable bundle. All cables are wound together on the drum, maintaining their relative positions and spacing. As the drum rotates with the nacelle, the entire bundle rotates as an organized unit rather than twisting uncontrollably, preserving both current carrying capacity and cable integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
The tower has a nacelle rotatably supported on the tower, and cables (12) guided in an inner side of the tower and connected to a tower wall (10). The cables are guided by a cable bundle device (20) that is held by clamping devices (22) such that rotation of the cable bundle device is limited to a predetermined angular range. The clamping devices are connected with an inner side of the tower wall and distributed uniformly over the circumference of the cable bundle device. A cable deflection unit (26) is arranged at the tower wall for guiding the cables.