Wind Turbine Door Lock with Rotor Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance personnel face safety risks when accessing the rotating parts of wind turbines for maintenance, as existing methods lack secure mechanisms to ensure the rotor is safely stopped and fixed before entry, potentially leading to accidents.
Innovation Solution
A door or access point is strategically placed between the rotating and stationary parts of the wind turbine, which remains closed and locked until the rotating part is securely fixed, allowing maintenance only when the rotor is at a standstill, utilizing a hydraulic or electromechanical system to control locking and unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is opened to allow maintenance personnel to access the rotating part, then maintenance work can be performed, but safety risks increase due to potential rotor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically braking and securing the rotor before the door can be opened. The control system detects door opening intent and preemptively activates the braking mechanism, ensuring the rotor is stationary before personnel can access the rotating part, thus eliminating safety risks while maintaining operational access
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the rotor's rotational state and door position. Sensors detect whether the rotor is stationary and whether the door is open, providing real-time feedback to the control system which adjusts the braking mechanism accordingly, ensuring safety conditions are always met before allowing access
2Reliability
If the rotor is braked and fixed to ensure safety, then maintenance personnel can safely enter, but the operational availability of the wind turbine decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the braking state based on real-time operational requirements. Rather than maintaining a fixed braked state, the control system continuously monitors maintenance needs and operational demands, activating brakes only when necessary for door opening or maintenance activities, and quickly releasing them to restore full operational capacity, thus minimizing productivity loss while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically managing the braking and unbraking sequences without requiring manual intervention. When maintenance is needed, the system autonomously secures the rotor, allows door access, and after maintenance completion, automatically releases the brakes to restore operation, reducing downtime and maintaining high operational availability while ensuring safety
3Adaptability or versatility
If a manual pumping system is used to operate the locking mechanism, then the system can be operated without external power, but the ease of operation and speed of locking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in two modes: automated mode using hydraulic actuators driven by the motor when power is available, and manual mode using a hand pump when power is unavailable. This universal design allows the system to adapt to different operational conditions, maintaining both ease of operation under normal conditions and versatility for power-loss scenarios
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
Ensures safe access and completion of maintenance tasks while ensuring the rotor is securely fixed during maintenance, and automatically releases the rotor for operation after maintenance is completed, enhancing safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a pump (1), by means of which hydraulic fluid, z. B. oil or the like can be pumped
Implementation Method 2
Downstream of the pump is a directional control valve 2, which can be adjusted in two positions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for controlling the locking of the opening of a door (12) preferably located between the stationary part (15) and the rotary part (16) of a wind power plant (22). According to the invention, means (3) are provided for immobilising or stopping the rotary part (16), and the door (12) between the rotary part (16) and the stationary part (15) of the wind power plant comprises a lock (11, 17) that allows unlocking and then if required opening the door (12) when the immobilising or stopping means (3) have immobilised or stopped the rotary part (16) of the wind power plant.