Tower Segment Airflow Manipulator for Vortex Shedding Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience undesired loads and vibrations due to vortex shedding effects, which can lead to structural excitation and potential damage, especially during the erection phase when the tower is not fully loaded with a nacelle or other heavy structures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an airflow manipulation arrangement and a support arrangement is mounted to the tower segment, which includes a flexible airflow manipulator that extends radially and/or longitudinally to redirect airflow, reducing vortex shedding effects by altering the airflow pattern and pressure distribution around the tower, thereby minimizing lateral forces and preventing resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tower segment is left without additional airflow manipulation components, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but vortex shedding effects cause undesired loads and vibrations affecting structural stability
Solution Approach 1:
An airflow manipulator is introduced as an intermediary component between the wind environment and the tower segment. This manipulator modifies the airflow pattern around the tower to reduce vortex shedding effects, thereby protecting the tower from harmful vibrations while maintaining relative simplicity of the overall system
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow manipulator is constructed using flexible materials such as fabric or thin-walled structures that can adapt to wind loads without requiring heavy rigid support structures. This approach reduces the overall device complexity while effectively managing airflow to prevent vortex shedding
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an airflow manipulator is added to the tower segment, then vortex shedding effects are reduced and structural stability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow manipulator utilizes flexible fabric or thin-walled cylindrical structures that can be manufactured using relatively simple processes. These flexible materials naturally adapt to aerodynamic loads and can be installed as removable covers or wraps around the tower segment, avoiding complex fabrication procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow manipulator is designed as a cost-effective component that can be manufactured using inexpensive materials such as fabric or thin plastics. It serves its purpose during critical phases like erection or specific operational conditions, and can be replaced or removed without significant economic loss or complex disposal procedures
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the airflow manipulator extends significantly beyond the tower diameter, then vortex shedding reduction is maximized, but the device complexity and wind loads on the manipulator increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow manipulator is constructed from flexible fabric or thin-walled materials that allow wind to pass through or around them rather than creating rigid barriers. This flexibility reduces the effective wind load on the manipulator while still achieving the desired airflow modification to prevent vortex shedding
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulator incorporates porous or permeable material structures that allow partial airflow penetration. This reduces the pressure differential and wind loads on the manipulator surface while maintaining effectiveness in disrupting vortex formation patterns around the tower
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 system effectively reduces vortex shedding effects, minimizing unwanted excitation of the tower and preventing resonance, thus enhancing the structural stability and safety of wind turbines during both the erection phase and operational conditions.
Implementation Method 1
vortex shedding effects caused by an airflow facing the tower segment and affecting the tower segment
Implementation Method 2
an airflow passing around the tower and/or tower segment is re-directed and/or partially blocked by the airflow manipulator
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a tower segment of a tower is presented, wherein the tower segment is configured for forming at least partially a part of a tower for carrying a structure, in particular for supporting a nacelle of a horizontal-axis wind turbine or a machine house of a vertical-axis wind turbine. The system is configured to be attached, arranged, and/or mounted to the tower segment and comprises at least an airflow manipulation arrangement and a support arrangement. The airflow manipulation arrangement includes an airflow manipulator which is configured for affecting an airflow around the tower segment. The support arrangement is configured for supporting the airflow manipulation arrangement and for mounting the airflow manipulation arrangement to the tower segment. The airflow manipulation arrangement and the support arrangement are configured such, when mounted to the tower segment, that the airflow manipulator projects a tower diameter in radial direction by at least 5%, in particular at least 10%, preferred at least 15%, in particular not more than 30%, further in particular not more than 20%, of the tower diameter, or that the airflow manipulator is essentially parallel to the tower segment. By this, an effective measure against vortex shedding effects is put in place.