Composite Elastomer Ring Dampers for Wind Turbine Tower Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine towers experience significant torsional and bending vibrations due to excitation forces from rotor imbalance and extreme winds, leading to material fatigue, and existing damping solutions are either space-intensive or ineffective in reducing noise and vibration frequencies.
Innovation Solution
Attaching ring layers made of composite materials, comprising stone-like materials and elastomers, to the inner surface of the tower wall, which are prestressed and designed to absorb vibrations effectively, providing a space-saving and efficient damping solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a specially designed pendulum absorber is installed inside the tower, then vibration damping is effective, but a lot of space is required inside the tower which is often not available
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system is nested within the existing tower structure by attaching ring layers to the inner surface of the tower wall. The composite material layers are integrated into the available space without requiring additional internal volume, as the ring layers conform to the tower's existing geometry and are mounted directly on the inner wall surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses thin composite material ring layers with flexible elastomer components that can be mounted on the inner surface of the tower wall. These flexible thin-film structures provide effective vibration damping through their material properties while occupying minimal space, eliminating the need for bulky pendulum absorbers.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the tower is provided with reinforcing layers made of fiber-reinforced plastics, then noise emissions are reduced, but the contribution to effective tower damping is not satisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs composite materials consisting of stone or stone-like materials combined with elastomer to create ring layers that provide both noise reduction and effective vibration damping. The composite structure leverages the noise-absorbing properties of stone materials while the elastomer component provides the necessary damping characteristics to address tower vibrations effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by combining different materials (stone and elastomer) in specific proportions and configurations. The composite material properties are optimized to simultaneously achieve noise reduction and vibration damping, unlike single-material fiber-reinforced plastic layers that cannot satisfy both requirements.
3Strength
If steel towers are used, then structural strength is achieved, but material damping is very little so the towers are largely undamped
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the low damping property of steel by attaching composite material ring layers to the tower. The composite materials, particularly the elastomer components, provide high damping characteristics that complement the structural strength of the steel tower, creating a hybrid system that combines strength and damping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite ring layers act as an intermediary between the steel tower structure and the vibration excitation sources. These intermediate layers absorb and dissipate vibrational energy through their damping properties, protecting the steel tower from excessive vibrations while maintaining the tower's structural integrity.
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 composite material effectively dampens torsional and low-frequency bending vibrations, reducing material fatigue and noise emissions while occupying minimal space, making it suitable for tall steel towers with little inherent damping.
Implementation Method 1
The towers are usually made of steel with very little material damping, so that the towers are largely undamped
Implementation Method 2
a composite material made of shaped stone material and elastomer material
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to towers, particularly those of wind turbines, which feature novel devices designed to prevent or reduce typical unwanted vibrations and any associated noise on and in the tower. The devices comprise ring-shaped elements made of components connected to one another via elastomer layers.