Wind Tower Vibration Damper Tilting Assembly for Safe Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling and disassembling vibration dampers in wind turbines are cumbersome, particularly when the nacelle is attached, as they require tilting maneuvers at great heights and do not easily accommodate the vibration damper's horizontal extent, making it difficult to remove the damper after it is no longer needed.
Innovation Solution
The vibration damper is designed to transition from an in-use state to a transport state by tilting relative to its in-use position, allowing it to be moved into a more compact configuration that fits through standard tower openings, utilizing a frame with a rotating damper mass and guide arm, and can be supported on a platform for easy removal, with a control system to manage vibration counteraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vibration damper is designed with a significant horizontal extent to effectively counteract tower vibration, then the damping performance is improved, but the damper cannot be removed through standard tower openings after the nacelle is attached
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration damper is designed with a tiltable frame that can change its orientation between an in-use state (horizontal orientation for effective vibration damping) and a transport state (tilted orientation for removal through openings). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same structure to fulfill both performance and accessibility requirements at different operational stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a rotational degree of freedom to the damper structure, allowing it to transition from a horizontal configuration (optimizing damping in the horizontal plane) to a tilted configuration (enabling vertical transport through openings). This dimensional transformation resolves the contradiction between horizontal extent for damping and vertical accessibility for removal.
2Device complexity
If the vibration damper is removed after nacelle attachment, then the tower structure is simplified, but the removal process becomes extremely difficult due to lack of access from above
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable frame mechanism enables the damper to be reconfigured into a compact tilted state that can be maneuvered through existing tower openings for removal, eliminating the need for complex disassembly operations and making the removal process feasible after nacelle attachment.
3Ease of operation
If tilting maneuvers are performed at great heights to transport the vibration damper, then the damper can be moved through openings, but the operation becomes unsafe and undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The tilting mechanism is integrated into the damper structure itself, allowing the high-precision tilting operation to be performed at ground level or at low height during assembly or maintenance. Once tilted to the transport state, the damper can be safely moved vertically through openings without requiring additional tilting maneuvers at great heights, thus eliminating the safety risks associated with high-altitude tilting operations.
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
This method simplifies the removal of the vibration damper by reducing its horizontal dimensions, enabling safe and efficient transport and disassembly, reducing the risk of damage and extending the lifespan of wind turbines by reducing fatigue loads.
Implementation Method 1
a damper mass of the vibration damper can be set in motion, whereby the distance between the damper mass and a center axis of the tower changes
Implementation Method 2
The vibration damper is moved into a transport state by the vibration damper being tilted relative to the in-use state
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly method for a vibration damper of a tower of a wind power plant, in which the vibration damper is switched into a transport state from a state of use. The vibration damper is connected to a structural component of the tower such that a damper mass of the vibration damper can be set in motion, during which movement the distance between the damper mass and a central axis of the tower varies. The vibration damper is switched into the transport state by tilting the vibration damper compared to the state of use. The invention also relates to an associated assembly system.