Offshore Wind Turbine Fluid Supply Assembly for Protected Water Feed

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Offshore wind turbines face challenges in supplying input fluid to electrolytic units due to height differences and harsh environmental conditions, leading to damage of traditional hanging fluid supply assemblies, resulting in high maintenance and replacement costs.

Innovation Solution

A fluid supply assembly that includes a pump and fluid connection extending through the base and tower, with a submerged fluid inlet and a pipeline or channel, sealed to prevent leakage, and featuring a filter and antifouling materials to protect against corrosion and marine growth, allowing for efficient and reliable delivery of input fluid from below the water level to the electrolytic unit above.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional hanging fluid supply assembly with a submerged pump is used, then the input fluid can be supplied to the electrolytic unit, but the assembly is damaged by wind and waves, resulting in high maintenance and replacement costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of fluid supply assemblyVSAvoiddamage from wind and waves

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is extracted from the hanging assembly and placed inside the tower, removing it from exposure to wind and waves. The fluid connection is routed through the tower structure, protecting the entire fluid supply path from environmental damage while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The tower structure serves as a protective enclosure for the fluid connection and pump, providing beforehand cushioning against wind and wave forces. This pre-protective structure prevents damage before it occurs, eliminating the need for repairs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the fluid connection extends through the base and tower, then protection from environmental damage is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from environmental damageVSAvoidcomplexity of fluid supply assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid supply assembly is merged with the tower structure by routing the fluid connection through the existing base and tower. This integration utilizes the tower as both a support structure and a protective conduit, avoiding the need for separate protective housings and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tower structure serves multiple functions: supporting the nacelle and simultaneously protecting the fluid connection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated protective structures, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If filter and antifouling materials are added, then protection from corrosion and marine growth is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from corrosion and marine growthVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Antifouling materials are applied beforehand to the fluid connection components during manufacturing, creating a protective barrier before deployment. This preliminary protective action prevents marine growth and corrosion during operation, reducing maintenance needs despite initial manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid connection incorporates composite materials with antifouling properties and corrosion resistance. These specialized materials provide long-term protection against marine environments, justifying the increased manufacturing complexity through reduced operational maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution effectively mitigates the risk of damage from wind and waves, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures reliable operation by protecting components from corrosion and marine growth, enabling efficient hydrogen production and energy storage.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid supply assembly comprises a pump and a fluid connection between the fluid inlet and the electrolytic unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

featuring a filter and antifouling materials to protect against corrosion and marine growth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCorrosion resistance:

Data Source

PatentUS11953027B2Offshore wind turbine with a fluid supply assembly

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS

AI summary

An offshore wind turbine erected in a body of water including a generator, a base, a nacelle, a tower having a first end mounted to the base and a second end supporting the nacelle, an electrolytic unit electrically powered by the generator to produce hydrogen from an input fluid, in particular water, and a fluid supply assembly for supplying the input fluid from a fluid inlet arranged below a water level to the electrolytic unit arranged above the water level, wherein the fluid supply assembly includes a pump and a fluid connection between the fluid inlet and the electrolytic unit.