Wind Turbine Nacelle Support Structure with Movable Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of medium-voltage lines in wind turbine nacelles is challenging due to their high deadweight and susceptibility to bending stress, requiring significant effort and time to pull and bend the lines into the nacelle, which increases construction costs.
Innovation Solution
A support structure with movable rollers in the nacelle that can extend into the receiving area to facilitate the pulling of medium-voltage lines, allowing for minimal effort installation by moving the rollers between advanced and retracted positions, eliminating the need for separate cable deflection equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If medium-voltage lines are installed in wind turbine nacelles, then electrical power transformation capability is improved, but installation time and effort increase due to high deadweight and bending stress requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is pre-installed in the nacelle with rollers positioned to receive the medium-voltage line. The pulling device is pre-positioned and connected to the line before installation begins, allowing the line to be pulled through the tower and into the nacelle in a continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate bending and positioning operations that would increase installation time
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure with rollers acts as an intermediary between the pulling device and the medium-voltage line. The rollers guide the line through the nacelle and maintain the predetermined bending radius, distributing the mechanical stress and facilitating smooth line installation without requiring direct manual handling of the heavy cable
2Ease of operation
If medium-voltage lines are pulled into the nacelle using dedicated cable deflection equipment, then line installation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the medium-voltage line, guides the line through the nacelle with rollers, maintains the predetermined bending radius, and eliminates the need for separate cable deflection equipment. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity while maintaining installation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of cable support, guidance, and bending radius control are merged into a single integrated support structure with rollers. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate dedicated cable deflection equipment, reducing device complexity and installation cost while maintaining full line installation capability
3Reliability
If medium-voltage lines are bent at predetermined bending radius, then line integrity is improved, but installation effort increases due to line weight and bending requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure with rollers is designed to automatically maintain the predetermined bending radius as the medium-voltage line is pulled through. The rollers self-adjust to guide the line along the correct path, eliminating the need for external force application to maintain bending radius and reducing overall installation effort while ensuring line integrity
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
Significantly reduces installation time and effort by utilizing the nacelle's support structure, enhancing the efficiency of medium-voltage line installation without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
the support structure of the gondola comprises a number of rollers (23) which are mounted on the support structure so as to be movable back and forth
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a nacelle (104) of a wind turbine (100) which is configured to be installed on a tower (102) of the wind turbine (100), wherein the nacelle (104) has a system transformer (1) configured to transform electrical power generated by the wind turbine (100) for feeding into a medium-voltage network, and an electrical interface (3) for connecting at least one medium-voltage line (5), wherein the line (5) runs through the tower (102) of the wind turbine (100) into the nacelle (104), as well as a pulling device (7) installed in the nacelle (104) with a pulling element (9) configured to pull the line (5) into the nacelle (104) for connection to the electrical interface (3), and a support structure (21) installed in the nacelle (104) which has a receiving area (31) for the traction element (9) orthe line (5) and is designed to hold the line (5) in the receiving area (31) at a predetermined bending radius. The invention proposes that the support structure (21) has a number of rollers (23) which are mounted on the support structure (21) so as to be movable back and forth between a forward first position (S1) and a retracted second position (S2), wherein the number of rollers (23) extends further into the receiving area (31) in the first position (S1) than in the second position (S2).