Wind Turbine Cable Routing Rings for Nacelle Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind power plants face challenges in maintaining efficient and untwisted power cable management during nacelle rotation, which can lead to cable twisting and complications in load transportation within the tower.
Innovation Solution
A wind energy plant with a transport unit featuring a cable routing system using rings, where power cables are attached to the circumference of the rings, allowing a non-rotatable bottom ring to guide the cables along the tower's axis, preventing additional twisting and enabling load transportation inside the tower.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the nacelle rotates for wind tracking, then the wind energy capture is improved, but the power cables become twisted and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is divided into multiple rings (first ring, second ring, third ring) that can rotate independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each ring to handle rotational stress separately, preventing the cables from twisting excessively while the nacelle rotates for wind tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the rotational parameters of the rings to accommodate nacelle rotation. The rings can rotate at different angles and speeds, allowing the cable assembly to adapt its configuration dynamically as the nacelle tracks the wind, thereby maintaining cable integrity during rotation.
2Reliability
If cables are routed outside the transport path, then cable twisting is reduced, but the transport space inside the tower is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system utilizes the vertical dimension by arranging rings at different heights (first ring at upper level, second ring at intermediate level, third ring at lower level). This vertical stacking allows cables to be routed along the transport path without interfering with horizontal transport space, effectively using the third dimension to resolve the spatial conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The rings are arranged concentrically with each other, creating a nested configuration where smaller rings are positioned within the space defined by larger rings. This nesting allows multiple cables to be routed through the same vertical space without interfering with the transport basket's horizontal movement path.
3Ease of operation
If rings are made larger to accommodate transport, then load transportation is improved, but cable routing space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing function is segmented across multiple rings rather than attempting to route all cables through a single large ring. Each ring handles a portion of the cable routing, allowing the rings to maintain smaller, more manageable sizes while still accommodating all necessary cables and transport operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a wind turbine, comprising a tower (102) having a longitudinal axis, a nacelle (104) on the tower, a plurality of power cables (200), which extend into the tower (102) from the nacelle (104), and a transport unit (500). The transport unit (500) is fastened within the nacelle (104) and is used to transport loads (400) within the tower (102) to the nacelle (104). The transport unit (500) has a cable-guiding unit (300) having a plurality of rings (310 - 350), wherein the power cables (200) are fastened to the circumference of the rings (310-350), so that a region in the interior of the rings (310-350) is kept clear for the transport of the load (400). A topmost ring (310) is fastened onto the nacelle (104), and a bottommost ring (350) is fastened in or on the tower (102) in a rotationally fixed manner. The bottommost ring (350) has a rotationally fixed guide (360) along the longitudinal axis of the tower.