Wind Turbine Damper Fluid Composition for Corrosion-Free Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbine dampers face challenges in achieving high damping efficiency and long-term stability against corrosion, with existing additives like sodium chloride being environmentally harmful and corrosive, while alternatives such as zinc chloride and ferrous sulphate have environmental drawbacks.

Innovation Solution

The use of citrates, specifically sodium citrate and potassium citrate, dispersed in an aqueous liquid within the damper to increase density and improve damping efficiency, while being environmentally friendly and non-corrosive, along with optional additives like glycols and corrosion inhibitors to enhance performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If sodium chloride is added to increase density, then damping efficiency is improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedensityVSAvoidcorrosion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing sodium chloride with citrate compounds (such as sodium citrate, potassium citrate, or calcium citrate). These citrates provide the necessary density increase while fundamentally altering the chemical properties to eliminate corrosive effects on metallic container parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful effect of salt additives (corrosion) into a beneficial solution by using citrates that provide density enhancement without corrosion. The citrates achieve the desired physical effect (density increase) while eliminating the harmful chemical effect (corrosion), thus turning a problematic approach into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Quantity of substance

If zinc chloride or ferrous sulphate is added to increase density, then damping efficiency is improved, but environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedensityVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition from harmful substances (zinc chloride, ferrous sulphate) to environmentally benign citrate compounds. This parameter change maintains the functional requirement of density enhancement while eliminating environmental toxicity and harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the harmful environmental impact of traditional density-enhancing additives into a beneficial environmentally friendly solution. Citrates provide the necessary density increase for damping efficiency while being non-toxic and environmentally safe, thus converting a harmful approach into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If conventional additives are used to increase density, then damping efficiency is improved, but long-term stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedensityVSAvoidlong-term stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition from conventional additives (sodium chloride, zinc chloride, ferrous sulphate) to citrate compounds. This parameter change provides not only the necessary density enhancement but also superior long-term stability by preventing corrosion of container parts, thereby ensuring durable operation over extended periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 citrate-based aqueous liquid significantly increases the density of the damping fluid, effectively reducing unwanted movements in wind turbines, such as oscillations, while being environmentally safe and reducing corrosion risks, thus providing a high-efficiency and stable damping solution.

Implementation Method 1

The aqueous composition comprises a component, wherein the component dispersed in the aqueous liquid is selected from at least one citrate... the at least one citrate is capable to significantly increase the density of an aqueous liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity increase through dissolution:

Implementation Method 2

The liquid passively damps the movement of the tower and/or nacelle of the wind turbine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPassive damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS20240167531A1Damper for a wind turbine

Publication Date: 2024.05.23 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS

AI summary

A damper for damping movements of a wind turbine, in particular for damping oscillatory movements of a tower of the wind turbine is provided. The damping of the movements is achieved by an aqueous liquid contained in a container of the damper. The aqueous liquid includes water and the components included in the aqueous liquid are completely dissolved. The composition includes a citrate, e. g. potassium citrate and/or sodium citrate. A wind turbine including the damper is also provided. Finally, a specific composition is provided. The composition is destined to be dissolved, e. g. in water, to result in the aqueous liquid.