Slip Ring Assembly for Wind Turbine Yaw Power Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical arrangements in wind turbines with yaw drives require complex and costly maintenance due to the need for flexible cables that must accommodate rotating movements, leading to reduced power generation efficiency during unwinding operations.
Innovation Solution
A slip ring assembly with a housing fixed to the pole, rotatable conducting disks, and elongated conductors that maintain electrical connection between the generator and fixed distribution conductors, allowing the nacelle to rotate while the housing remains stationary, thus simplifying the electrical connection and reducing maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible cable is used to accommodate the rotating movement of the nacelle, then the electrical connection can handle the yaw motion, but the cable requires complex control systems and frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flexible cable mechanical system with a slip ring assembly that uses continuous sliding contact between conducting fingers and conducting disks to transmit electrical signals and power, eliminating the need for cable winding/unwinding mechanisms and associated control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly acts as an intermediary device between the rotating nacelle and the fixed tower, providing a continuous electrical connection interface that accommodates rotational movement without requiring complex cable management systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible cable loop is used to allow nacelle movement, then the cable can accommodate several wraps during operation, but maintenance is required to unwind the cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the flexible cable loop system with a slip ring assembly that provides continuous rotational electrical connection without cable winding, eliminating the need for maintenance operations to unwind or reposition cables
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly enables continuous electrical connection during rotation without interruption or need for resetting, allowing the nacelle to rotate freely through multiple revolutions without cable management interventions
3Reliability
If a lap counter and control system are added to monitor cable winding, then the cable loop can be monitored, but the control system becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for lap counters and electronic monitoring systems by replacing the cable-based electrical connection with a slip ring assembly that inherently accommodates rotation without requiring position tracking or control interventions
4Ease of repair
If the wind turbine is rotated in the opposite direction to unwind the cable, then the cable loop can be unwound, but power generation efficiency is reduced during the unwinding operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cable unwinding mechanism with a slip ring assembly that maintains continuous electrical connection during rotation, eliminating the need to stop power generation for cable management operations
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly allows the wind turbine to maintain continuous power generation while the nacelle rotates in any direction, without requiring interruptions to unwind or reposition cables
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 slip ring assembly provides a reliable and maintenance-free electrical connection, enabling efficient power transmission and potentially extending maintenance intervals up to 40 years, suitable for high ampacity applications.
Implementation Method 1
each one of the conducting disks comprises a plurality of radially spaced-apart conducting fingers projecting from the same face thereof, the conducting fingers being devised to be in sliding contact with one another
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A slip ring assembly comprising: a plurality of conducting disks being spaced-apart and stacked mounted along a common rotation axis, each being electrically connectable and fixedly securable to a generator mounted in a rotatable nacelle of a wind turbine so that a rotation of the rotatable nacelle triggers a rotation of the conducting discs; and a plurality of slip ring devices each being electrically connectable and mechanically securable to a fixed electrical distribution conductor mounted to a fixed pole so as to have a fixed position relative to the fixed pole, each one of the plurality of the slip ring devices comprising upper and conducting fingers arranged so as to rotatably receive a respective conducting disk therebetween and provide an electrical connection between the conducting disks and the slip ring device during the rotation of the nacelle.