Nested Counter-Rotating Damper for Wind Tower Vibrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration damping devices for wind turbine towers introduce undesirable moments and parasite vibrations, leading to increased complexity and bulkiness, while existing solutions fail to efficiently reduce vibrations without these issues.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a first inner element and a second outer element, both rotatably mounted around a common axis, with the inner element's center of mass coinciding with the outer element's in a plane orthogonal to the axis, rotating in opposed directions to minimize parasite flexion moments and reduce volume, utilizing a controller to determine rotational speed and phase for effective damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If one rotatably mounted element is split into two parts and arranged at both sides of the other element, then parasite vibrations are avoided, but the device becomes much more cumbersome and bulky and the mechanical design more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The inner element is nested within the outer element, both rotating around the same axis. The inner element has a smaller radius and is positioned inside the outer element's circular path, creating a compact nested configuration that eliminates the need for separate side-by-side arrangements while maintaining vibration cancellation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two rotatable elements (inner and outer) that rotate around the same axis, merging their functions into a single integrated system. This unified approach around a common axis simplifies the mechanical design compared to splitting elements across different locations, while still achieving the goal of eliminating parasite vibrations through coordinated rotation
2Object-generated harmful factors
If two elements are arranged at both sides of each other along the rotational axis, then parasite vibrations are avoided, but the volume occupied by the device increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inner element is nested within the outer element's rotational path, with the inner element's radius being smaller than the outer element's radius. This nested arrangement allows both elements to occupy the same radial space rather than requiring separate side-by-side volumes, dramatically reducing the overall device volume while maintaining vibration cancellation 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
The device efficiently dampens vibrations by minimizing parasite vibrations and reducing occupied volume, achieving a simpler mechanical design with directed harmonic control forces, thereby enhancing the structural stability and usability of wind turbine towers.
Implementation Method 1
a first element rotatably mounted around a rotational axis and a second element rotatably mounted around said rotational axis... the first element and the second element rotate independently from each other around the rotational axis
Implementation Method 2
a first mass which is rotatable in a direction of rotation about a first axis of rotation transverse to the direction of vibration, the first mass having a first controllable moment of inertia about the first axis of rotation
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device for damping vibrations in a structure, comprising a first element (2) rotatably mounted around a rotational axis (3) and a second element (4) rotatably mounted around said rotational axis (3), a radius (R1) of a circle portion (10) delimitating the first element with respect to the rotational axis, being smaller than a radius (r2) of a circle portion (16) delimitating the second element with respect to the rotational axis, the first element being called inner element, and the second element being called outer element.