Shrink Foil Vortex Shedding Arrangement for Wind Turbine Towers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vortex-shedding arrangements for wind turbine towers are cumbersome to mount and dismount, require extensive control during transportation, and can fall off during installation, leading to increased vibrations and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A vortex-shedding arrangement comprising vortex shedding elements and shrink foils that are easily mounted and dismounted, using heat to fix the elements in place around the tower surface without the need for a tower flange or fixed point, utilizing the tower's shape to stay in place and allowing for easy removal without a crane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional strake with rope and mounting bracket is used, then vortex-induced vibrations are reduced, but the arrangement becomes cumbersome to mount and dismount, requiring extensive control during transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical mounting system (rope, mounting bracket, leg assembly) with a thermal bonding system using shrink foil. The shrink foil is wrapped around the tower and heated to shrink and bond the vortex shedding elements directly to the tower surface, eliminating complex mechanical fastening components and significantly simplifying the mounting process while maintaining reliable vibration reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes temperature as a control parameter to activate the bonding mechanism. By applying heat to the shrink foil, the material undergoes thermal contraction and bonding, transforming from a loose state during installation to a firmly attached state during operation. This parameter change enables easy mounting without mechanical fasteners while ensuring reliable vibration reduction
2Reliability
If a traditional strake with mounting bracket and leg is used, then vortex-induced vibrations are reduced, but the mounting process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multi-component mechanical mounting system (mounting bracket, leg, rope assembly requiring rotation and wrapping) with a single-step thermal bonding process using shrink foil. This eliminates numerous assembly steps, reduces installation time significantly, and maintains reliable vibration reduction, thereby improving installation productivity without sacrificing effectiveness
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 reduces vortex-induced vibrations during transportation and installation, enhancing safety and reducing installation complexity while being applicable to both onshore and offshore towers with varying stiffness and mass.
Implementation Method 1
The shrink foil is prepared to fix and to position the vortex shedding elements at specific positions at the tower surface by heat applied to the shrink foil
Implementation Method 2
The vortex induced vibrations result from alternating vortex shedding originated by critical wind conditions in view to the circumference of the tower
Implementation Method 3
The vortex shedding arrangement comprises vortex shedding elements and at least one shrink foil. The shrink foil is prepared to fix and to position the vortex shedding elements at specific positions at the tower surface by heat applied to the shrink foil
Data Source
AI summary
A Vortex-shedding-arrangement, which is prepared to be arranged on a tower of a wind turbine, is provided. Embodiments of the invention even relate to a tower, which is equipped with the Vortex-shedding-arrangement and to a method to equip the tower with the Vortex-shedding-arrangement.The Vortex-shedding-arrangement according to embodiments of the invention is arranged and prepared to be connected to a surface of a tower. The Vortex-shedding-arrangement is prepared to reduce Vortex-induced-vibrations, acting on the tower and its structure, during the tower-transportation. The vortex shedding arrangement comprises vortex shedding elements and at least one shrink foil. The at least one shrink foil is prepared to fix and to position the vortex shedding elements at specific positions at the tower surface by heat applied to the shrink foil.