Wind Turbine Cable Guide Member Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cable guiding systems in wind turbines face challenges with high voltage cables being excessively heavy and costly due to necessary shielding, and the twisting of cables during nacelle rotation, which restricts their movement and increases the risk of entanglement.

Innovation Solution

A cable guiding arrangement using a guide member that separates high voltage cables from additional cables, providing shielding through a combination of air and material, allowing independent movement and reducing the need for external shielding, and utilizing a pulley system to manage cable length and prevent entanglement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If outer shielding is added to the high voltage cable to avoid disturbances on additional cables, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but the cable weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic disturbanceVSAvoidcable weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cable system is segmented into two separate groups: high voltage cables enclosed in a guide member and additional cables positioned outside. This spatial segmentation eliminates the need for outer shielding on the high voltage cable while maintaining electromagnetic isolation between cable groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member acts as an intermediary structure that physically separates the high voltage cable from additional cables. This intermediary arrangement provides electromagnetic isolation without requiring the high voltage cable itself to have heavy outer shielding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the high voltage cable is provided with outer shielding to prevent electromagnetic disturbances, then cable shielding performance is improved, but the cable cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic disturbanceVSAvoidcable cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cable routing is segmented into separate spatial zones using the guide member, with high voltage cables inside and additional cables outside. This segmentation eliminates the need for expensive outer shielding on the high voltage cable while maintaining electromagnetic isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member serves as an intermediary structure that provides electromagnetic isolation between cable groups, replacing the need for expensive outer shielding on the high voltage cable and reducing overall system cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If cables are fixed to the tower wall to restrict twisting, then cable entanglement is reduced, but the nacelle rotation capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable arrangement stabilityVSAvoidnacelle rotation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cable system is segmented into two independent groups that can move differently: high voltage cables inside the guide member and additional cables outside. This allows the high voltage cable to twist freely with nacelle rotation while additional cables remain more stable, enabling multi-turn rotation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member allows the high voltage cable inside to dynamically twist and turn as the nacelle rotates, while additional cables outside can be managed separately. This dynamic arrangement enables the nacelle to rotate multiple times (5+ turns) without cable entanglement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If cables are allowed to twist freely during nacelle rotation, then rotation capability is improved, but cable entanglement risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenacelle rotation capabilityVSAvoidcable arrangement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cable system is divided into separate groups with different movement characteristics. The high voltage cable inside the guide member can twist freely to accommodate nacelle rotation, while additional cables outside are managed separately, preventing entanglement between cable groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide member acts as an intermediary that allows the high voltage cable to twist independently while maintaining separation from additional cables. This intermediary structure enables free rotation capability while preventing cable entanglement through spatial isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8747073B2Arrangement for cable guiding and a wind turbine using such arrangement

Publication Date: 2014.06.10 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) for cable guiding, comprising a first guide member (40) adapted to enclose a first cable (10) along at least a part of the length of said first cable. The first guide member (40) has an outside surface adapted to form at least one first guide surface (41) supporting at least one second cable (20) along at least a part of the length of said first cable. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine comprising such an arrangement and to the use of such an arrangement.