Wind Turbine Pendulum Torque Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wind turbines face challenges with non-uniform wind energy capture due to wind speed variations, leading to power peaks and structural overloads, which affect the stability of the electrical grid and the turbine's mechanical components.
Innovation Solution
A compensated motor torque wind turbine design that incorporates an inertial pendulum to balance rotor torque, using a pendulum setup with the power train components suspended from a bearing aligned with the rotor shaft, allowing them to rotate and absorb torque fluctuations, thereby reducing stress on the nacelle, tower, and shoe, and incorporating a hydrostatic transmission for improved energy regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wind turbines directly transmit rotor torque to the generator through rigid mechanical connections, then the structure is simple, but power peaks and valleys cause structural overloads and grid instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid mechanical connections with a dynamic pendulum mechanism. The power train components (generator, brake disc, multiplier) are suspended from a bearing aligned with the rotor shaft, allowing them to rotate and balance rotor torque through dynamic movement. This dynamic system absorbs torque fluctuations and mitigates power peaks and valleys, thereby improving grid stability without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs the anti-weight principle through the pendulum mechanism, where the suspended power train components act as counterweights that balance the rotor torque. The pendulum's rotational movement creates counterbalancing forces that offset torque variations, reducing structural overloads on the nacelle, tower, and shoe while maintaining system reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wind turbines use active regulation and control servo systems to handle wind variations, then the turbine can adapt to wind conditions, but the structure becomes overloaded and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing a passive mechanical system where the pendulum automatically balances rotor torque through its own rotational movement. The suspended power train components naturally respond to torque variations without requiring external control signals or active regulation, enabling the turbine to adapt to wind conditions while reducing structural loads and maintenance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the pendulum mechanism as an intermediary between the rotor and the generator. This intermediate system absorbs and balances torque fluctuations, protecting the rigid structural components (nacelle, tower, shoe) from direct exposure to wind-induced torque variations, thereby preserving structural strength while maintaining adaptability.
3Device complexity
If the power train components are rigidly attached to the nacelle, then the structure is simpler, but torque variations directly stress the nacelle, tower, and shoe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid attachment with a dynamic suspension system. The power train components are hung from a bearing aligned with the rotor shaft, allowing them to rotate and balance torque dynamically. This dynamic configuration reduces the transmission of stress to the nacelle, tower, and shoe while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspended power train components function as counterweights that balance rotor torque through their rotational movement. This counterbalancing action reduces the net stress on the structural components, allowing for a simpler power train configuration without compromising structural integrity.
4Reliability
If synchronous generators are used to provide constant frequency output, then the generator must rotate at constant speed, but wind speed variations cause rotor speed fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the pendulum mechanism as an intermediary that decouples the rotor speed from the generator speed. The suspended power train components absorb and balance torque variations, allowing the rotor to vary in speed with wind conditions while the generator maintains constant rotation for synchronous operation, thereby ensuring high-quality electrical output.
Solution Approach 2:
The pendulum acts as a counterbalancing system that smooths out torque fluctuations, enabling the generator to rotate at constant speed even when rotor speed varies with wind conditions. This counterbalancing effect ensures consistent electrical output quality while accommodating natural wind speed variations.
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 design enhances energy capture uniformity, reduces structural overloads, and improves grid stability by mitigating power peaks and valleys, allowing the turbine to operate effectively in weak grids and isolated areas with reduced maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating an inertial pendulum, so that its structural innovative design makes it able to capture the wind energy with less effort than traditional machines
Implementation Method 2
incorporating passive mechanical systems that compensate for, accumulate and restore the power peaks and valleys
Implementation Method 3
inserting hydrostatic transmission between the multiplier and the generator, so that the generator, in through shaft version, is located on a large flywheel
Implementation Method 4
the generator, in through shaft version, is located on a large flywheel, both arranged at the base of the tower
Data Source
AI summary
COMPENSATED MOTOR TORQUE WIND TURBINE, constituted by a single blade (12) rotor (1) attached to a low speed shaft (3) with spindle (2) sustained in a nacelle (9), on gear bearing (7), at the end of the tower (8), being the power train elements: multiplier (5), generator (6) and brake (13) suspended from the nacelle (9) through a first bearing (4) aligned with the low speed shaft (3), forming a pendulum set (28) that allows them to rotate, compensating in its angular motion the rotor (1) torque, said pendulum set (28) accumulates potential energy when rising in its angular motion and releases it when the gust stops by descending and turning in the opposite direction of the rotation of the turbine's rotor (1) restituting turns to the generator's (6) rotor, being this effect a power regulator.