Opposite-Direction LED Lighting for Wind Turbine Tower Interiors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting arrangements for wind turbine towers require a large number of lighting devices, leading to increased installation and maintenance efforts, as well as high energy consumption, while providing only limited satisfactory illumination.
Innovation Solution
A lighting arrangement with two or more lighting devices connected by cable sections, featuring partially transparent housings, LEDs aligned perpendicular to the tower axis, and integrated optical devices for focused light emission, allowing efficient illumination with fewer devices and reduced energy consumption, along with a wide voltage range for reduced cable size and lower voltage drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If many lighting devices are used to illuminate the tower interior, then the illumination requirement is met, but the installation and maintenance effort increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device emits light in multiple directions simultaneously (upwards and downwards) by arranging LEDs on opposite sides of the circuit board perpendicular to the tower axis, transforming a linear single-direction illumination approach into a multi-dimensional illumination system that reduces the number of devices needed
Solution Approach 2:
Each lighting device performs multiple functions by illuminating both upwards and downwards simultaneously, making a single device serve the illumination needs of multiple tower sections, thereby reducing the total number of devices required
2Illumination intensity
If many lighting devices are installed along the tower, then sufficient illumination is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device merges multiple illumination functions into a single unit by arranging LEDs on opposite sides of the circuit board to emit light in both upwards and downwards directions simultaneously, reducing the total number of devices and corresponding energy consumption
3Length of stationary object
If lighting devices are arranged with cable sections along the tower, then illumination coverage is extended, but the cable cross-section size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device incorporates a wide voltage range operation capability (e.g., 24V to 280V), allowing the system to operate with higher voltages that reduce current requirements and enable the use of smaller cable cross-sections while maintaining illumination coverage along the entire tower
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 enables effective illumination of wind turbine towers with fewer lighting devices and reduced energy consumption, allowing safe climbing and minimizing blinding effects, while maintaining operational functionality over the entire tower height with smaller cable cross-sections.
Implementation Method 1
The publications JP 2002-157914 A and DE 100 29 069 A1 describe luminaires that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as lamps instead of incandescent lamps.
Implementation Method 2
the housing cover 7 being made entirely or at least partially of a transparent, easily translucent material
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting device (2) for a tower or tunnel, in particular a wind turbine tower, comprising a housing (5) that is at least partially transparent, wherein at least two light sources (19, 20) are provided in the housing (5), which emit their light in directions that are completely or substantially opposite each other. The invention further relates to a lighting arrangement (1) for a tower or tunnel, in particular a wind turbine tower, comprising one or preferably several such lighting devices (2) arranged at a distance from each other, which are electrically connected to one another by a cable or several cable sections (4) with electrical conductors.