Wind Turbine Nacelle Frame Flexible Coupling for Deformation Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbines face challenges due to increased aerodynamic loads on larger rotor blades, leading to stresses, deformations, and vibrations that can cause structural failure in nacelle frames, resulting in higher material costs and weight, and potential failure under dynamic loads.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of flexible couplings between the primary frame and secondary structures in wind turbines to absorb and reduce the transmission of deformations and vibrations, allowing for a lighter and simpler secondary structure design and enabling refurbishment of existing turbines to extend their service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bigger and heavier frames are used to compensate for structural failure risk, then strength and reliability are improved, but weight and material costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The frame system is divided into primary frame and secondary structure components, with flexible couplings separating them. This segmentation allows the primary frame to handle main loads while the secondary structure is protected from excessive deformations, enabling weight optimization of the secondary structure without compromising overall strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible couplings are introduced as intermediary elements between the primary frame and secondary structure. These couplings absorb and reduce deformations, acting as a mediator that protects the secondary structure from the full impact of frame deformations, thereby allowing lighter secondary structure design.
2Reliability
If bigger and heavier frames are used to withstand increased aerodynamic loads, then reliability is improved, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structural system is segmented into load-bearing primary frame and protected secondary structure, with flexible couplings distributing the load management functions. This allows optimized material distribution where materials are concentrated in the primary frame and couplings, while reducing material in the secondary structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible couplings change the deformation parameters transmitted to the secondary structure, reducing the magnitude and variability of deformations. This parameter modification allows the secondary structure to be designed for a narrower, less severe load envelope, reducing material requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If asymmetric deformations are transferred to the secondary structure, then structural integrity is maintained, but stress and strain in the secondary structure increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible couplings serve as intermediary elements that decouple the secondary structure from asymmetric deformations of the primary frame. The couplings maintain structural integrity by keeping the secondary structure attached, while simultaneously filtering out harmful asymmetric stress components through their flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible couplings convert the harmful asymmetric deformations into beneficial controlled movements. The couplings' flexibility allows them to absorb asymmetric loads that would otherwise create high stresses, transforming a harmful effect into a protected response that maintains integrity while reducing stress.
4Reliability
If dynamic loads are resisted by bigger frames, then reliability is improved, but the frames can still fail due to dynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible couplings introduce dynamic flexibility into the frame system, allowing it to adapt to dynamic loads in real-time. Rather than relying solely on static strength increases, the system uses the dynamic characteristics of the flexible couplings to absorb and dissipate energy from dynamic loads, improving reliability without proportionally increasing frame strength requirements.
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
The flexible couplings effectively reduce stress and strain on secondary structures, enabling the use of lighter materials and simpler designs while extending the service life of nacelle frame assemblies by mitigating the transmission of deformations and oscillations from the primary frame.
Implementation Method 1
one or more flexible couplings between the primary frame and the secondary structure configured to reduce transmission of deformations from the primary frame to the secondary structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a wind turbine (10) comprising a wind turbine tower (15), a nacelle including a primary frame (110), wherein the primary frame is connected to the tower (15). The wind turbine further comprises a secondary structure (120) connected to the primary frame (110) and one or more flexible couplings (130) between the primary frame (110) and the secondary structure (120) configured to reduce transmission of deformations from the primary frame (110) to the secondary structure (120). The present disclosure also relates to secondary structures (120) configured to be connected to primary frames (110) and to methods (500) for refurbishing a secondary structure (120) of a wind turbine (10).