Wind Turbine Nacelle Tower Coupling Self-Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of wind turbine components, particularly the connection of the nacelle to the tower, poses safety risks due to the presence of personnel in hazardous environments, where heavy loads and unpredictable conditions can lead to accidents, and often requires technical personnel to be present during hoisting and lowering operations, violating safety regulations.
Innovation Solution
A coupling arrangement that uses self-locking mechanisms, such as spring-loaded or actuator-activated locking means, to secure the nacelle to the tower without human intervention from within the tower, allowing for safe and automated provisional fastening, thereby eliminating the need for technical personnel during initial connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual locking of the nacelle to the tower is used during installation, then personnel can be present in the tower to guide and connect components, but work safety is compromised due to exposure to heavy moving loads and unpredictable conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to operate automatically without human intervention. The spring-loaded locking elements engage with the guide elements on the nacelle and tower structure, self-activating when the nacelle is positioned on the tower. This eliminates the need for personnel to manually lock components while ensuring secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical locking operation is replaced by an automated spring-loaded mechanical system. The spring force automatically drives the locking elements into engagement with the guide elements, substituting human manual operation with an autonomous mechanical mechanism that ensures both safety and functionality.
2Reliability
If automated locking mechanisms are used to eliminate personnel from the tower during hoisting, then work safety is improved, but the complexity of the coupling arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into discrete modular components: guide elements attached to the nacelle, corresponding guide elements on the tower structure, and spring-loaded locking elements. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured, installed, and maintained, reducing overall system complexity despite the automated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded locking elements act as intermediaries between the nacelle and tower structure. These intermediaries automatically engage the guide elements when the nacelle is positioned, providing the locking function without requiring direct human intervention or complex control systems, thus balancing automation with simplicity.
3Reliability
If provisional fastening is performed without personnel in the tower, then compliance with safety regulations is achieved, but the precision of alignment and connection may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The guide elements are pre-installed on both the nacelle and tower structure before the hoisting operation. These guide elements establish the correct alignment paths in advance, ensuring that when the nacelle is lowered, it automatically aligns with the tower flange without requiring manual adjustment or personnel intervention during the critical alignment phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements serve as intermediaries that mediate the alignment between the nacelle and tower. By providing physical guidance surfaces and constraints, these intermediaries ensure precise alignment is achieved automatically through the mechanical interaction of the components, eliminating the need for manual alignment while maintaining manufacturing precision.
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 enhances work safety by enabling secure and automated locking of the nacelle to the tower, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring compliance with safety regulations by preventing movement in the opposite direction to the mounting direction, thus allowing safe entry of personnel to finalize the connection.
Implementation Method 1
the locking means are spring loaded for self-locking
Implementation Method 2
the locking means comprise an actuator, in particular an electromagnetic or hydraulic actuator
Implementation Method 3
the locking means comprise an actuator, in particular an electromagnetic or hydraulic actuator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a coupling arrangement in the field of wind turbines, to a wind turbine and to a method for assembling said coupling arrangement. A coupling arrangement 7 in the field of wind turbines is disclosed, comprising a nacelle 8 having a plurality of bolts 9, a tower 6 having a plurality of bolt holes 11, the bolts 9 being insertable in the bolt holes 11 by moving the nacelle 8 and the tower 6 towards each other in a mounting direction M, and locking means 13 for locking the nacelle 8 to the tower 6 in a direction opposite to the mounting direction M.