Vertical Tower Damping Mounts for Wind Turbine Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbine towers experience undesired vibrations due to various factors, leading to fatigue damage and increased risk of resonance, especially in larger and more slender structures, which can reduce the lifespan of the turbine and pose safety hazards, and existing solutions are costly and complex to implement.

Innovation Solution

A damping device is integrated into the wind turbine tower structure, featuring upper and lower mounts with a damping system extending vertically, utilizing various types of dampers such as viscous fluid, hydraulic, or magnetorheological dampers to counteract vibrations, allowing for efficient assembly and maintenance in onshore and offshore locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thickness of the wind turbine tower is increased to overcome vibrations, then vibration resistance is improved, but material cost and transport complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidmaterial quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A damping device is introduced as an intermediary element between the tower structure and the foundation. This device includes a damper (hydraulic, pneumatic, or viscous) that actively counteracts vibrations without requiring additional tower wall thickness, thereby resolving the contradiction between vibration resistance and material quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The passive mechanical approach of increasing tower thickness is replaced with an active damping system that uses controlled mechanical elements (dampers, springs, mass blocks) to counteract vibrations. This substitution allows vibration resistance to be achieved through dynamic control rather than static material increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If the tower structure is made more slender for cost efficiency, then material cost is reduced, but sensitivity to induced vibrations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial quantityVSAvoidvibration sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping device acts as a mediator between the slender tower and the foundation, absorbing and dissipating vibrational energy before it can affect the tower structure. This allows the tower to remain slender while protecting it from vibration-induced damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping device provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-installed in the tower structure to counteract vibrations before they can cause fatigue damage or resonance. The damper is positioned to absorb shock and vibration energy in advance, protecting the slender tower structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If damping devices are added to reduce vibrations, then vibration control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration controlVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damping device is segmented into distinct functional components (mounts, connectors, dampers, mass blocks) that can be independently selected and configured. This modular segmentation allows vibration control to be achieved with a relatively simple, configurable system rather than a complex integrated structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping device is designed to be self-regulating through passive elements (viscous dampers, friction elements, gravity-based mass blocks) that automatically counteract vibrations without requiring complex active control systems. The device serves itself by using the vibration energy to drive its own damping mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 damping device effectively reduces vibrations, mitigating fatigue damage and resonance risks while maintaining structural integrity and reducing material costs, ensuring efficient operation and extended turbine lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

The damping device can include a viscous damper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 2

hydraulic dampers to counteract vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic damping: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

magnetorheological dampers to counteract vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetorheological effect: Magnetorheological Fluid

Data Source

PatentEP3441609B1Damping device for onshore and offshore wind turbines

Publication Date: 2023.05.10 GENERAL ELECTRIC RENOVABLES ESPANA SL

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AI summary

A damping device 54 for a wind turbine 10 tower 12 is disclosed having at least one upper mount 44 extending from a tower structure 12, at least one lower mount 46 extending from one of the tower structure 12 or a tower foundation 40, 42, at least one damping device 54 extending only in a substantially vertical direction, the damping device 54 having an upper connector 48 coupled with the upper mount 44 and a lower connector 50 coupled with the lower mount 46, and at least one damper 52 coupled between the upper connector 48 and the lower connector 50.