Foldable Supporting Structures for Direct-Drive Wind Turbine Frame Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing different parts of a direct-drive wind turbine for assembly and maintenance is time-consuming due to the need for temporary supporting structures of varying heights and shapes, which delays the process.
Innovation Solution
A foldable supporting structure for a central frame of a direct-drive wind turbine that can be deployed and stowed, allowing it to be easily introduced into the central frame, reducing assembly and maintenance time by incorporating multiple functionalities and avoiding the need for temporary platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If temporary supporting structures are mounted inside the frame each time they are needed, then access to different parts of the wind turbine is enabled, but assembly and maintenance time is significantly delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is pre-assembled outside the main production line before being introduced into the central frame. This preliminary assembly action eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site assembly during maintenance or installation operations, directly addressing the time loss problem while maintaining ease of access to components.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting structure is designed to be foldable and deployable, transitioning between a compact stowed configuration for easy introduction into the frame and a deployed configuration that provides access to different components. This dynamic capability enables quick deployment without permanent installation, reducing both assembly time and maintenance time.
2Ease of operation
If different supporting structures of varying heights and shapes are used for different tasks, then access to various locations is optimized, but the complexity of managing multiple structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is designed with adjustable height and configurable platform arrangements that enable a single multi-functional structure to replace multiple specialized structures. The structure can be adjusted to provide access to different locations within the central frame, eliminating the need to manage multiple different supporting structures while maintaining optimal access capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting structure comprises multiple modular components including side portions that can be folded and platforms that can be positioned at different heights. This segmentation allows the structure to be configured for different access requirements while remaining a single integrated system, reducing the complexity of managing multiple separate structures.
3Productivity
If the supporting structure is assembled outside the main production line, then assembly time in the main line is reduced, but additional handling and introduction steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is designed in a folded stowed configuration that allows it to be easily introduced into the central frame through the nacelle opening. This nested compact form factor simplifies the handling and introduction process despite the structure being assembled separately, minimizing the additional steps required while maintaining productivity benefits.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to supporting structures for a central frame of a direct-drive wind turbine and methods for managing such structures. A supporting structure is configured to assume a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the supporting structure has a shape and size such that the supporting structure can be introduced into the central frame from an outside. In the deployed configuration, the supporting structure has one or more increased dimensions with respect to the stowed configuration, and comprises a working platform.