Hub-Mounted Accumulator Frame for Wind Turbine Pitch Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and maintenance of hydraulic actuators' accumulators in wind turbines are challenging due to their scattered placement on the hub's surface, leading to increased downtime and maintenance costs, as all blades must be locked for maintenance, which is time-consuming and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A mounting frame with a base and accumulator mounting elements that clamp and fix accumulators, allowing for compact, intensive mounting within the hub's internal space, reducing installation complexity and enabling maintenance after the hub is locked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accumulators are mounted on the hub surface near each blade, then energy storage requirement is met, but installation and maintenance becomes extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple accumulators that were previously scattered on the hub surface into a single integrated mounting frame structure. This consolidation maintains the required energy storage capacity while significantly improving accessibility for installation and maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting frame acts as an intermediary structure between the hub and the accumulators. It provides a centralized platform that is easier to access than the scattered hub surface positions, thereby facilitating maintenance operations while still fulfilling the energy storage function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If accumulators are scattered at respective blade mounting holes, then each blade's pitch system can be independently supported, but maintenance requires locking all blades which increases downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple accumulators into a single accessible mounting frame, allowing maintenance personnel to service all accumulators during one maintenance window without requiring multiple separate blade lockings, thereby reducing total maintenance downtime.
3Reliability
If accumulators are mounted on the hub surface, then energy storage is achieved, but a lot of internal space of the hub is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple accumulators into a single mounting frame structure, which optimizes space utilization within the hub compared to having multiple separate accumulator installations scattered across the hub surface.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a mounting frame, an energy storage unit, a pitch system, a wind turbine and a method. The mounting frame for mounting accumulators in a hub includes: a base having a predetermined thickness, wherein the base includes a mounting surface in a thickness direction of the base; and two or more accumulator mounting elements disposed on the mounting surface at intervals, wherein each accumulator mounting element includes a supporting assembly and a holding assembly connected to the supporting assembly, the supporting assembly is connected to the mounting surface and extends in the thickness direction, and the holding assembly is adapted to clamp and fix the accumulator such that all the accumulators in the hub are mounted to the mounting frame.