Vibration Damper Group Layout for Wind Turbine Connection Ends

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reducing tonalities in wind turbines are complex, costly, and inefficient, particularly due to limited installation space and high costs associated with passive and active vibration dampers on the drive train and large-area damping on the tower.

Innovation Solution

A vibration damper arrangement with multiple damper groups spaced along the longitudinal direction and circumferentially distributed on the first component's end section, reducing vibration transmission locally at the connection end without requiring global damping on the component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If passive vibration dampers are installed on the drive train, then vibration reduction is achieved in a narrow frequency range, but the solution is only effective in a small frequency range and requires complex design and characterization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidfrequency range coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tower is divided into different sections (end section with dampers and remaining section without dampers). The vibration dampers are segmented and placed only in the end section where they are most effective, rather than distributing them throughout the entire tower structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping property is applied locally only in the end section of the tower where vibration reduction is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire tower. This localized application reduces the overall amount of damping material required while maintaining effectiveness in the critical frequency range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If active vibration dampers are installed on the drive train, then powerful vibration reduction is achieved, but the cost becomes disproportionately high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Passive vibration dampers are used instead of expensive active vibration dampers. While passive dampers have limited adjustability, they provide sufficient cost-effective vibration reduction for the tower, eliminating the need for costly active systems with sensors, actuators, and control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If large-area damping with vibration dampers is installed on the tower, then vibration reduction is achieved across the tower, but the costs, additional weight, and installation effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidtower weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tower is divided into different sections (end section with dampers and remaining section without dampers). The vibration dampers are segmented and placed only in the end section where they are most effective, rather than distributing them throughout the entire tower structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping property is applied locally only in the end section of the tower where vibration reduction is most needed, rather than uniformly across the entire tower. This localized application reduces the overall amount of damping material required while maintaining effectiveness in the critical frequency range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively reduces vibration transmission at the connection end, minimizing costs and installation space, while achieving broad frequency reduction without the need for extensive damping across the entire component.

Implementation Method 1

The vibration damper arrangement is suitable and/or configured to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the connection end, in particular to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the connection end to a section of the first component beyond the end section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS20260110289A1Vibration absorber arrangement for reducing the transmission of vibrations

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 WOLFEL ENG GMBH CO KG

AI summary

The invention relates to a vibration damper assembly (40; 140) for an elongate first component (10; 30), which is arranged at a connecting end (11; 31) in a longitudinal direction (LD) of the first component (10; 30) for mechanical connection to a second component (20). The vibration damper assembly (40; 140) comprises at least two damper groups (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e) which are arranged in an end section (12; 32) of the first component (10; 30) with the connection end (11; 31) and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction (LD), wherein each of the damper groups (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e) comprises a plurality of individual vibration dampers (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e) which are arranged distributed on a circumferential wall (14) of the first component (10; 30) in a circumferential direction (CD). In order to reduce the problems caused by tonalities in wind energy installations (1) in a simple and cost-effective way, the damper groups have different natural frequencies from each other. The invention also relates to a wind energy installation (1).