Offshore Wind Turbine Lock System for Saltwater Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind power installations face challenges with saltwater and salt-bearing air ingress, which can damage electrical components and hinder personnel access during adverse weather conditions, making it difficult to maintain the installations safely.
Innovation Solution
A lock system is integrated between the exterior entry and the interior of the wind power installation, made from non-rusting materials like glass fiber reinforced plastic, with drainage features and separate air pressure control to prevent moisture ingress, and includes facilities for personnel to change and rest, ensuring safe access and protection from salt damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entry is removed from the pylon and moved into the pod, then personnel can be landed on the installation, but salt water and salt-bearing air can still pass into the interior of the installation through the entry
Solution Approach 1:
A lock room is introduced as an intermediary structure between the external entry and the interior of the installation. The lock room serves as a transition zone that prevents salt water and salt-bearing air from directly entering the interior while still allowing personnel access. The lock room includes drainage facilities and can be opened into the interior when needed, thus mediating between the harmful external environment and the protected internal space.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lock is opened into the E-room, then air is urged out of the interior into the lock, but this creates air flow resistance for personnel entering the E-room
Solution Approach 1:
The air pressure in the lock room is dynamically adjusted based on operational requirements. When the lock needs to be opened into the E-room, the air pressure in the lock is increased to urge air out and prevent moisture ingress. When personnel need to enter, the pressure is reduced or equalized to facilitate easy movement. This dynamic parameter change allows the system to switch between protective mode and access mode.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lock is made from non-rusting material like plastic, then resistance to salt-bearing water and air is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock is constructed using composite materials, specifically glass fiber reinforced plastic, which combines the corrosion resistance of plastic with the structural strength of glass fiber reinforcement. This composite material approach allows the lock to withstand both the harsh marine environment and mechanical loads, resolving the contradiction between corrosion resistance and structural strength.
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 lock system effectively prevents saltwater and salt-bearing air from entering the interior, allowing continuous access and maintenance even in bad weather, protecting electrical components and ensuring the reliability of the installation.
Implementation Method 1
a slightly higher air pressure prevails in the interior of the installation than in the interior of the lock when the latter is opened so that any ingress of water or moist air which is in the lock into the interior of the installation is reliably prevented
Implementation Method 2
the lock prevents the ingress of moisture, salt-bearing air etc into the interior of the installation and if necessary also involves suitable drainage to the exterior if water should pass into the interior of the lock
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a wind power installation, in particular a wind power installation for the offshore region. The object of the invention is to overcome the previous difficulties and avoid disadvantages, in particular also to allow people to be constantly landed on the installation even when weather is so bad that flying by means of helicopters is no longer possible. A wind power installation comprising an entry and a space in the interior of the wind power installation, in which electrical or electronic components of the wind power installation are disposed, characterized in that provided between the entry of the wind power installation and the internal space in which the electronic components are disposed is a lock which prevents water that enters through the entry and/or salt-bearing or moist air which enters when the entry is opened from passing into the internal space of the installation.