Floating Support Rod Alignment for Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional floating-type on-water support apparatuses face issues where the portion supporting the ball may be damaged due to excessive load, and the support rod can rotate, causing wind power generators to misalign and reduce power generation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a floating unit with a hollow interior, a spherical surface, and a support rod that is heavier at one end to stand vertically, coupled to a ball with a guide groove and restriction protrusion to prevent rotation, and a base unit that disperses weight and minimizes friction, ensuring the support rod remains upright and stable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the support rod is coupled to the ball which is supported by the floating part, then the support rod can be installed and support structures, but the load of the support rod is focused on the portion supporting the ball, causing damage to the floating part
Solution Approach 1:
The support rod is divided into an upper support rod and a lower support rod, with the ball positioned between them. The upper support rod is coupled to the ball, and the lower support rod is also coupled to the ball, distributing the load from the support rod to both the upper and lower portions of the floating part, thereby preventing concentration of load at a single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating part is constructed as a composite structure with an upper plate and a lower plate, both having spherical surface portions. This composite design allows the load to be distributed across multiple structural elements, increasing the overall load bearing capacity while maintaining the installation capability.
2Ease of operation
If the ball is supported by the floating part, then the ball can rotate, but the support rod rotates about its central axis, causing wind power generators to misalign and reduce power generation
Solution Approach 1:
The upper support rod is designed to be rotatable relative to the ball, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The lower support rod is fixed to the ball, providing a stable reference. This dynamic design allows the upper support rod to rotate and align the wind power generator with the wind direction, maximizing power generation while maintaining rotational freedom.
3Force
If the floating part has a spherical surface portion, then the base unit can roll on it to minimize friction, but the support rod may still rotate about the axis
Solution Approach 1:
Both the upper plate and lower plate of the floating part are provided with spherical surface portions. The base unit rolls on these spherical surfaces to minimize friction. Additionally, the upper support rod is rotatable relative to the ball, allowing it to adjust its orientation while the lower support rod remains fixed, providing rotational stability and preventing unwanted rotation about the axis.
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
This design prevents damage to the support structure, maintains the alignment of wind power generators, and enhances power generation by ensuring the support rod remains vertical and stable, even in harsh marine conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a lower plate provided with a spherical surface portion and floats on water
Implementation Method 2
the other end thereof is in roll contact with the spherical surface portion
Implementation Method 3
the other end of the support rod is heavier than the one end so as to stand vertically
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a floating-type on-water support apparatus including: a ball; a floating unit including a floating part, wherein the floating part has an upper plate supporting the ball so that the ball is rotatable, an interior formed to be hollow, and a lower plate provided with a spherical surface portion and floats on water; a support rod coupled to the ball and having one end exposed above the water so that a structure is installable thereon and the other end heavier than the one end so as to stand vertically to be accommodated in the floating part; and a base unit having one end installed on a lower portion of the support rod to support the support rod and the other end in roll contact with the spherical surface portion.