Hydraulic Energy Storage in Wind Turbine Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pumped storage power plants, the preferred method for balancing electricity demand and production fluctuations, face challenges in coastal and flat regions due to topographical limitations and strain on the power grid, necessitating alternative solutions for energy storage and grid control.
Innovation Solution
A device using a turbine and pump or pump-turbine system with a ballast or spring construction to increase hydraulic pressure in an upper reservoir, allowing for compact energy storage systems that can be integrated near wind turbines or within mountain interiors, reducing space requirements and structural demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pumped storage power plants are constructed using traditional topographical conditions, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but landscape intervention and approval difficulties increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from traditional horizontal landscape-based reservoir placement to a vertical dimension by integrating reservoirs into existing tower structures (wind turbines, transmission towers, masts). This dimensional change eliminates the need for extensive landscape intervention while maintaining energy storage capacity through height-based hydraulic pressure generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables existing tower structures to serve dual purposes: their original function (wind energy generation, electricity transmission, lighting support) plus new energy storage function. By integrating hydraulic reservoirs into these multi-functional structures, the system avoids additional landscape infrastructure while achieving pumped storage capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pumped storage power plants are built in coastal and flat regions, then proximity to wind turbines is achieved, but topographical conditions for construction are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention overcomes flat topography limitations by utilizing vertical space within tower structures rather than relying on natural elevation differences in the landscape. Reservoirs are stacked vertically within the tower, creating artificial height difference necessary for hydraulic pressure generation without requiring sloped terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing tower structures provide their own structural framework and support for the hydraulic reservoirs. The towers themselves serve as the containment and support structure, eliminating the need for separate construction foundations and making the system self-sufficient regarding structural support in various locations.
3Stress or pressure
If ballast construction is used to increase hydraulic pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but weight and structural effort increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the weight of the water itself in the upper reservoir as the counterweight to generate hydraulic pressure, eliminating the need for additional ballast construction. The hydraulic pressure is naturally generated by the gravitational force acting on the elevated water mass, providing both pressure and counterbalancing the proposed ballast weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the separate ballast construction component from the system. Instead of adding ballast weight to generate pressure, the system uses only the essential working fluid (water) elevated to a height, removing unnecessary structural weight while maintaining pressure generation capability.
4Device complexity
If spring construction is used to increase hydraulic pressure, then structural effort is reduced, but pressure variability increases requiring advanced turbine technology
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical spring construction with a gravitational hydraulic system. Instead of using elastic mechanical elements that inherently vary pressure, the system uses the constant gravitational force on elevated water to generate stable hydraulic pressure, substituting a more stable physical principle for the variable spring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure generation mechanism from elastic deformation (springs) to gravitational potential energy conversion. This parameter change from mechanical elasticity to gravitational force provides more stable and predictable pressure characteristics, reducing pressure variability while maintaining reduced structural effort compared to ballast construction.
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 solution enables efficient energy storage and grid stabilization in challenging topographies by reducing space needs and integrating energy storage systems near wind farms, while also optimizing pressure management and turbine technology performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure can be increased by a spring construction (Fig. 2) or by a combination of load construction and spring construction (Fig. 3). As the fluid volume in the upper reservoir increases during pump operation, the spring construction generates an increase in pressure, which reduces the fluid volume required to store the energy.
Implementation Method 2
The reservoirs are connected to a pipeline on which is located a pump-turbine (PT) or turbine and pump. Water can be moved back and forth between the two reservoirs by means of the pump turbine. Depending on the pressure conditions, power is either taken from the power grid (pump operation) or delivered to the grid (turbine operation).
Implementation Method 3
Depending on the pressure conditions, power is either taken from the power grid (pump operation) or delivered to the grid (turbine operation).
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to hydraulic large-scale energy storage units that use the simple principle of pump storage power stations and are used to hydraulically store electric energy and can also be used decentrally for grid regulation. Load constructions and suspension constructions enable the volume of the fluid required for hydraulic storage to be considerably reduced thus significantly reducing the space required compared to conventional pump storage power stations. Hydraulic large-scale energy storage units can be used, preferably, in the field of wind power plants and are also integrated advantageously in the towers of wind turbines. They can be helpful, in particular, for the decentralised compensation of the wind power induced grid fluctuations.