Wind Turbine Tower with Elevated Roller Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing height and diameter of wind turbines due to horizontal forces on turbine blades necessitate a larger tower diameter at the base, making road transport of tower sections impractical, and existing support systems complicate maintenance and alignment at elevated heights.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical tower design with a central bearing and high rollers that provide horizontal support, allowing for a smaller base diameter, efficient maintenance, and adjustable play between rollers and the tower wall, minimizing load and deformation, and enhancing corrosion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tower height and blade diameter are increased to handle higher loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the tower base diameter must increase making road transport impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lateral support dimension by positioning support rings at elevated heights on the tower, perpendicular to the vertical load path. This dimensional addition allows the tower to resist bending moments without proportionally increasing the base diameter, enabling transport-friendly dimensions while maintaining load-bearing capacity through spatial distribution of support forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs roller bearings that allow dynamic adjustment and movement, enabling the tower to accommodate thermal expansion, contraction, and load-induced deformations. This dynamic capability maintains structural integrity under varying loads without requiring excessive static stiffness that would increase base diameter.
2Length of stationary object
If a support ring with rollers is positioned at high elevation to reduce base diameter, then transportability is improved, but maintenance and alignment become complex at elevated heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the support ring and roller assembly with self-adjusting mechanisms that automatically compensate for misalignment and wear without requiring manual intervention. The rollers are positioned and constrained in a way that allows them to self-align under load, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex alignment and maintenance functions from the elevated support structure by using simple, robust roller bearings that require minimal adjustment. The design separates the support function from the alignment function, allowing each to be optimized independently - the support ring provides structural support while the rollers provide simple, maintainable bearing surfaces.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a complicated bearing supports the tower in both horizontal and vertical direction at considerable height, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support function into separate vertical and horizontal components. The support ring structure provides vertical support through its rigid connection to the tower, while independent roller bearings provide horizontal support. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler and optimized for its specific function, rather than requiring a single complex bearing to handle both directions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex bearing to constrain the tower and allow movement, the patent inverts the approach by using simple rollers that naturally provide horizontal support while the tower's own structure provides vertical support. This inversion simplifies the bearing design by eliminating the need for complex mechanisms to handle both vertical and horizontal loads simultaneously.
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
Enables efficient production and maintenance, reduces maintenance complexity, allows for easy rotation and positioning, and maintains structural integrity and corrosion resistance, facilitating road transport and assembly of tower sections.
Implementation Method 1
high located rollers supporting the tower in horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
rollers supporting the tower in horizontal direction and need little maintenance
Implementation Method 3
the central bearing positions the bottom of the tower in horizontal direction relative to the base
Implementation Method 4
the strength and the resistance against corrosion of the outside surface of the steel wall are improved
Implementation Method 5
the rollers or wheels do not deform the steel wall of the tower under high wind loads
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a tower for a wind turbine which tower supports a nacelle with bearings in which a horizontal rotation axis with blades can rotate, the tower comprises a steel wall of circular section, a drive for rotating the nacelle around a vertical axis of the circular section and at the bottom of the tower foundation means for supporting the tower in upright position. In accordance with the invention the foundation means comprises a bearing on a base which bearing supports the tower and a support ring positioned by three or more legs above the base for keeping the tower upright wherein in the support ring rollers or wheels press against the steel wall of circular section.