Twin Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines for Floating Platforms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating wind turbines face challenges such as difficult maintenance, stability issues due to heavy components, and inefficiencies in power production, particularly with HAWTs, while VAWTs suffer from lower power output and mechanical complexity, and twin turbines introduce yaw adjustment needs and material inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A floating wind turbine design featuring twin cross-flow turbines with central cylindrical blades and arms linked by pivot linkages, housed within MMESS or HMESS fairings, which eliminates the need for a shaft and reduces material usage, allowing passive windward orientation and simplified maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If HAWT is used for floating wind turbine, then continuity with land-based solutions is maintained, but maintenance difficulty increases due to high nacelle position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional HAWT configuration by using VAWT instead, where the turbine axis is vertical rather than horizontal. This inversion places the generator and heavy components near the water surface or underwater rather than at the top of a tall tower, dramatically improving maintenance accessibility while still achieving offshore power generation goals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If HAWT is used for floating wind turbine, then land-based experience is transferable, but access for maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting from HAWT to VAWT configuration, the patent relocates maintenance-critical components from elevated positions to near-surface or underwater positions, making them accessible from the floating platform without requiring complex crane operations or specialized marine maintenance equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If HAWT is used for floating wind turbine, then conventional design is maintained, but compensation for pitch and roll becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the turbine orientation from horizontal to vertical axis, which fundamentally changes how the system responds to platform motion. The vertical axis configuration with low-mounted components creates a lower center of gravity and reduces the lever arm for destabilizing forces, thereby improving pitch and roll stability characteristics.
4Adaptability or versatility
If HAWT is used for floating wind turbine, then existing technology is applied, but installation difficulty increases requiring large cranes
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting to VAWT configuration, the patent reduces the height of the turbine structure and relocates heavy components to lower positions on the floating platform. This inversion dramatically reduces the lifting height and complexity of installation operations, enabling deployment with smaller, more economical cranes.
5Ease of repair
If VAWT is used for floating wind turbine, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but power output decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dual counter-rotating VAWT rotors that serve multiple functions: they maintain the aerodynamic balance needed for efficient power extraction while enabling passive windward orientation of the floating platform. This multi-functionality allows the VAWT configuration to achieve both improved maintenance accessibility and acceptable power output levels.
6Power
If twin turbines are used, then power production is improved, but yaw adjustment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the twin VAWT configuration to passively self-orient toward the wind direction through aerodynamic forces acting on the rotors and fairings. The system automatically adjusts its orientation without requiring active yaw control mechanisms, servo motors, or complex control systems, thereby achieving improved power production without increased yaw adjustment complexity.
7Productivity
If twin turbines are used, then efficiency is enhanced, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the structural support functions for both turbines into a single integrated fairing system. The common fairing structure provides aerodynamic housing and structural support for both VAWT rotors, thereby reducing the total material required compared to two separate turbine assemblies while maintaining the efficiency benefits of the twin-rotor configuration.
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 design enhances efficiency, reduces material usage, and minimizes normal load variations on pivot linkages, eliminating the need for yaw control and improving power production while maintaining structural integrity and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
VAWTs of a second type operate on a principle of lift on a single blade
Implementation Method 2
The blades of the wind turbines drive a shaft in rotation which in turn drives an electric generator
Implementation Method 3
each turbine composed of blades comprising central parts and arms, the central parts describing cylinders in rotation and being extended at the ends by the arms, the arms being moreover linked to axle elements by pivot linkages
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a floating wind turbine including a floating platform and a turbomachine resting on the platform, the turbomachine including: —first and second transverse flow turbines disposed symmetrically with respect to a first plane, each turbine including blades including central parts that are extended at the ends by arms, connected to shaft elements by pivoting connections, each turbine also including upper and lower fairings; and—a structure for holding the turbines including a vertical median pylon between the turbines and upstream of a second plane containing the axes of rotation of the blades of the turbines.