Modular Wind Turbine System with Rotatable Bogies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbines are often placed far from civilization due to visibility, noise, and shadow concerns, leading to lengthy access routes and high resource and maintenance costs, making them inefficient and costly to service and maintain.

Innovation Solution

A modular, flat wind turbine system with a reduced rotor circle design, featuring a turbine support on tower supports with rotatable bogies, adjustable pitch, and modular construction, allowing for optimal wind direction alignment and independent positioning using wind power, suitable for onshore, offshore, and ship-based installations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If wind turbines are placed far from civilization to reduce visibility, noise and shadow impacts, then environmental harm is reduced, but access routes become very long and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility, noise and shadow impactsVSAvoidaccess routes length

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wind turbine system is divided into multiple independent turbine units (at least two turbines) mounted on a common turbine support, allowing modular deployment that can be adapted to different locations including areas closer to civilization without requiring all turbines to be relocated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from traditional ground-level turbine placement to elevated mounting on tower supports with turbine carriers that can be positioned at different heights and orientations, creating three-dimensional spatial utilization that reduces ground-level noise and shadow impacts while maintaining accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If traditional wind turbine designs are used with large hub height and rotor circle, then power generation efficiency is improved, but visibility, noise and shadow impacts become enormous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generation efficiencyVSAvoidvisibility, noise and shadow

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power generation function is segmented across multiple smaller turbine units rather than one large turbine, achieving comparable total power output while reducing the rotor circle diameter and associated noise and shadow impacts of each individual unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple turbine units are nested or clustered on a shared turbine support structure, allowing compact arrangement that reduces overall footprint and rotor circle while maintaining cumulative power generation capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If wind turbines are placed further away from civilization, then environmental harm is reduced, but service and maintenance costs become very high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental harmVSAvoidservice and maintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The modular turbine design with multiple independent units on a shared support allows selective maintenance of individual turbines without requiring access to the entire system, reducing service complexity and costs when deployed in accessible locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The turbine support structure and control systems are designed with universal, standardized components that can be serviced using common equipment and procedures, reducing the need for specialized maintenance operations regardless of location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables cost-effective and resource-efficient installation of wind turbines closer to civilization by optimizing wind capture and reducing maintenance costs through modular design and self-positioning capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a wind sensor for detecting the wind direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWind: Wind

Implementation Method 2

a position motor for rotating the turbine carrier via the bogie

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect:

Implementation Method 3

the turbine carrier with the turbine is designed in such a way that it can be lowered with a drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect:

Implementation Method 4

the tower supports are articulated and designed as a parallelogram

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect:

Implementation Method 5

a pitch axis of the turbine is designed to be adjustable by means of a length adjustment via the tower support

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect:

Implementation Method 6

the turbine carrier can rotate about the vertical axis via the bogie

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect:

Data Source

PatentEP2893184B9Wind turbine

Publication Date: 2019.05.01 WEPFER TECHNICS AG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a wind farm comprising at least two wind turbines (7, 7') mounted on a turbine support (5). Said turbine support is rotatably mounted on a rotating pedestal (2) by means of tower supports (4, 4') and can rotate in relation to a tower console (1).