Wind Turbine Tower Damper Tilt Mechanism for Gravity Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience vibrations from various sources, leading to fatigue damage and reduced operational lifetime, with existing vibration dampers often requiring larger masses and limited installation flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A tubular structure with a vibration damper and tilt mechanism that adjusts the orientation of the central axis relative to the tower's longitudinal axis, allowing efficient damping of vibrations and reducing fatigue, even in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tower is not vertically aligned with gravity, then the damper cannot effectively dampen vibrations, but adjusting the damper orientation adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the damper orientation adjustable through a tilt mechanism. The damper can be tilted relative to the tower axis to align with the gravity vector, transforming a static system into a dynamically adjustable one. This allows the damper to adapt to tower misalignment while maintaining effective vibration damping performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the orientation angle of the damper relative to the tower axis. The tilt mechanism enables adjustment of this geometric parameter to match the gravity direction, even when the tower itself is misaligned. This parameter adjustment restores the damper's effectiveness without requiring tower realignment.
2Reliability
If larger masses are used in the damper, then vibration damping effectiveness improves, but the weight and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the damper rather than increasing its mass. By aligning the damper with the gravity vector through the tilt mechanism, the system achieves effective vibration damping with smaller masses. This parameter optimization allows the damper to work more efficiently with reduced weight requirements.
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 damper effectively dampens vibrations by aligning its central axis with gravity, reducing tower fatigue and extending operational life while maintaining access to other equipment and cabling routes.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration damper having a central axis is coupled to the tubular structure... configured to change an orientation of the central axis of the vibration damper relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient damping of vibrations and reducing fatigue by aligning the damper's central axis with gravity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A tubular structure for forming at least a portion of a wind turbine tower (18) of a wind turbine (10) having a vibration damper (22) includes an elongate tubular body having a first end, second end, and a tower wall (46) extending between the first end and the second end. The first end is configured to be connected to a nacelle (24) of the wind turbine (10) and the tower wall (46) defines a longitudinal axis (20) of the tubular body. A vibration damper (22) having a central axis (64) is coupled to the tubular structure. The tubular structure includes a tilt mechanism (88) operably coupled to the vibration damper (22) and configured to change an orientation of the central axis (64) of the vibration damper (22) relative to the longitudinal axis (20) of the tubular body. A method of damping vibrations in such a tubular structure is also disclosed.