Wind Turbine Tower Vibration Damping Coupling Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for mitigating wind turbine tower vibrations are either costly in terms of materials, limit the operating range of the wind turbine, or are complex and disruptive, such as fluid damper systems and pendulum dampers.
Innovation Solution
A coupling element with a spring-elastic and damping function is used between the vibrating body and the tower wall, allowing for relative movement in two opposite directions with a consistent spring and damping function, thereby influencing the vibration behavior of the tower.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a massive or rigid tower design is used to minimize vibrations, then vibration damping is improved, but material cost and structural weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into a rigid tower structure and a separate oscillating mass that can move independently. The coupling elements connect these segments, allowing the oscillating mass to counterbalance vibrations without requiring the entire tower to be massive or rigid.
Solution Approach 2:
The natural frequency of the oscillating mass is tuned to match the tower's natural frequency, creating a resonant system that passively counteracts vibrations. This parameter matching allows effective vibration damping without increasing tower mass.
2Reliability
If resonance frequencies are prevented from coinciding with operating points, then vibration problems are reduced, but the operating range of the wind turbine is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating mass dynamically adjusts its motion in response to tower vibrations, continuously adapting to varying operating conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the system to effectively counteract vibrations across a wide range of operating speeds without limiting the turbine's operational flexibility.
3Reliability
If pendulum dampers are suspended centrally in the tower, then vibration damping is achieved, but collision with central cable guides and installation space requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating mass is extracted from the central tower region and positioned in the nacelle, removing it from the path of central cable guides. This extraction eliminates collision risks and simplifies installation while maintaining vibration damping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling elements act as intermediaries, transmitting vibration forces from the tower to the oscillating mass in the nacelle. This intermediary connection allows vibration damping without requiring direct central suspension of the oscillating mass.
4Reliability
If fluid damper systems are used in the nacelle, then vibration counteraction is achieved, but system complexity and load on the yaw bearing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex fluid damper system with pipes and pumps is replaced by a simple passive mechanical oscillating mass coupled to the tower. This substitution eliminates the need for fluid handling components and reduces system complexity while maintaining vibration counteraction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating mass automatically counteracts vibrations through its inertial properties and tuned natural frequency, requiring no external power source or control system. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex fluid pumping and control systems.
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
This solution effectively dampens tower vibrations by providing a uniform mechanical coupling that reduces oscillations, allowing for a simpler and more efficient design that does not obstruct the tower's interior space.
Implementation Method 1
a spring means (61, 62) is provided, which achieves a spring-elastic coupling between the first and second fastening portions
Implementation Method 2
the coupling element has a damping section (64) for a damping coupling between the first and second fastening sections
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a coupling element (32) prepared for fastening between a oscillatory body (12) and a tower wall (4) of a tower of a wind turbine (100) in order to influence relative motion between the oscillatory body (12) and the tower wall (4) in order to thereby influence vibration behavior of the tower, comprising a first fastening section for fastening to the oscillatory body (12) and a second fastening section for fastening to the tower wall (4) in order to establish mechanical coupling between the oscillatory body (12) and the tower wall (4) via the coupling element (32), the coupling permitting relative motion between the oscillatory body (12) and the tower wall (4), and the relative motion having a first motion direction, in the case of which the first and second fastening sections move toward each other, and a second motion direction, in the case of which the first and second fastening sections move away from each other, and the coupling element (32) having a spring element for spring-elastic coupling between the first and second fastening sections, the spring-elastic coupling being described by a spring function and the spring element being designed in such a way that the spring function is substantially the same for the first and second motion directions and additionally or alternatively the spring element being designed in such a way that motion in the first motion direction leads to compression of a first spring section and to extension of a second spring section in the spring element and motion in the second motion direction leads to extension of the first spring section and to compression of the second spring section in the spring element in order to thereby match the respective spring functions for the first and second motion directions to each other.