CN111315982A

CN111315982A - Conversion type wind turbine

Info

Publication number: CN111315982A
Application number: CN201880055821.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杰拉尔德·L·巴伯
Original assignee: Jie LaerdeLBabo
Current assignee: Jie LaerdeLBabo
Priority date: 2017-08-09
Filing date: 2018-08-31
Publication date: 2020-06-19
Also published as: EP3665388A1; WO2019055159A1; EP3665388A4; PH12020500296A1; CA3072440A1; KR20210110176A; JP2021507162A

Abstract

A wind turbine for onshore or offshore use, comprising: a tower base; a wind turbine tower attached to the tower base; a wind turbine attached to a wind turbine tower, the wind turbine having a hub and an outer periphery with spokes disposed therebetween; a set of blades carried by the spokes; a generator configured to engage the outer periphery of the wind turbine and convert the rotational energy of the outer periphery into power; a lift tower having a pivot disposed at a proximal end of the lift tower; a cable attached between the lift tower and the wind turbine tower; and wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from a vertical position to an inclined position as the wind turbine tower transitions between a horizontal position to a vertical position.

Description

Conversion type wind turbine

Technical Field

To land-based and offshore wind turbines that can be easily erected from a generally horizontal position for maintenance, safety and transportation to a generally vertical position in operation.

Background

In recent years, wind energy in the united states has rapidly developed, particularly with renewed interest in renewable energy. Offshore wind turbines have also attracted increasing interest because wind generated over large bodies of water, particularly at sea, is not exposed to mountains, buildings, and terrain vegetation that tends to reduce wind speed. Wind turbulence is generally less on water than on land. This may be because the temperature difference between different levels on land is greater than on a body of water, apparently because water absorbs more sunlight than land and, under equivalent conditions, the surface of land is warmer and dissipates more heat than the surface of water. Furthermore, some of the largest cities in the world are located near large bodies of water, such as near the ocean where wind speed does not drop, where turbulence is less near the water surface, and wind speed is more easily predicted.

Another advantage of a wind turbine placed on a body of water is that the less turbulent flow at the water surface enables the turbine wheel to be supported below and closer to the water surface. This tends to reduce the cost of the tall towers as are typically required for land-mounted wind turbines. It is therefore desirable to place wind turbines on bodies of water that are relatively close to land masses that require electrical power. Moreover, it is desirable to produce wind turbines having means for reducing the longitudinal forces exerted by the turbine wheel on the tower or other vertical support of the wind turbine.

However, according to one study, offshore wind turbines built and designed for use according to conventional standards for land-based systems may not be able to withstand the gusts of a 5-stage hurricane, thereby posing a risk of personal and property damage. Furthermore, the potential damage to the wind turbine from a storm can greatly reduce the financial viability of the offshore project. Furthermore, current designs cannot deal with turning, which is a measure of the variation of the wind over the vertical span. The stresses on the buckets may be excessive, which may damage the buckets and the hub.

One study predicted that offshore turbines will face hurricane storms in excess of 223 miles per hour, but can only withstand 156 miles per hour. This problem appears to stem from the fact that: offshore turbine designs originate in europe with essentially no hurricane conditions. While land-based systems may not be faced with these winds, it would be advantageous to have a wind turbine system that could be lowered in the event of these damaging winds or storms.

Thus, when damaging winds or storms are expected, it would be beneficial to have a wind turbine that can be placed in a substantially horizontal position with relatively little effort.

Another problem with wind turbines using conventional designs is that maintenance of the wind turbine is challenging. Throughout the life of a wind turbine, it is inevitable that large components (including rotor blades, generators, transformers and gearboxes) will need to be repaired or replaced due to wear or damage. For some designs, these components are over one hundred (100) feet in the air. The problem is exacerbated when the wind turbine is offshore and the components are one hundred feet above the sea and must be accessed by a floating barge, crane or other vessel. In some cases of offshore installations, the components are removed from the offshore site, transported to land, repaired, transported back to the offshore site, and then installed to the highest component using a crane.

It would be advantageous to have a wind turbine design that can be lowered for transportation and maintenance. It would also be advantageous to have a wind turbine in which components can be repaired without having to transport the turbine or the components to land.

One result of having a rotating wind turbine is the gyroscopic effect produced by the rotational energy. This may create, among other factors, horizontal deflections that rotate the wind turbine away from the optimal angle of attack. Attempts have been made to reduce or eliminate these forces that hold the wind turbine against the wind without hub and gearbox stresses. These concepts include controlling the pitch of each blade to reduce gyroscopic forces on the rotor while yawing. The concept assumes that the kinetic energy of the wind on the blades is used to help turn the turbine into the wind. Such control features periodically change the pitch of the vanes as the wind direction changes, thereby presenting different angles of attack between the vanes and the wind. This concept may also eliminate the need for yaw drive motors. Small scale experiments have been performed on this concept, but research and investment has to be continued before this technology can be applied to large wind turbines.

These disadvantages are particularly troublesome for offshore wind turbines. It would therefore be advantageous to have an offshore wind turbine that can withstand the gyroscopic effect of the wind turbine without resorting to propellers or other power devices that must extract power from the system, thereby reducing its overall output. With these powered attempts, power from the wind turbine is transferred to the propeller and cannot be delivered to the grid or other location.

It would therefore be advantageous to have an offshore wind turbine that can be easily erected and lowered and that does not rely on power plants to maintain a suitable angle of attack between the wind turbine and the wind direction.

Disclosure of Invention

The above object is achieved by providing a conversion wind turbine comprising: a wind turbine, which may be placed on a barge or on land and has a tower base; a wind turbine tower hingeably attached to a tower base, the wind turbine tower having a horizontal position and a vertical position; a wind turbine attached to a wind turbine tower, the wind turbine having a hub and an outer periphery, wherein spokes are provided between the hub and the outer periphery; a spoke-carried blade assembly configured to rotate the outer periphery in response to movement of atmospheric wind; a generator configured to engage the outer periphery of the wind turbine and convert the rotational energy of the outer periphery into power; a lift tower having a pivot disposed at a proximal end of the lift tower and having an upright position and an inclined position; a cable attached between the lift tower and the wind turbine tower; and wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from the upright position to the inclined position when the wind turbine tower transitions between the horizontal position to the vertical position and a length of cable between the lift tower proximal end and the wind turbine tower is shortened.

The transition wind turbine may include a mounting barge removably attached to the wind turbine barge and configured to support a lift tower. The support standard may be attached to a mounting barge or wind turbine barge to support the wind turbine tower in a horizontal position. A lift assembly may be disposed at the proximal end of the lift tower and connected to the cable. A first distance may be comprised between the pivot axis of the lifting tower and the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in a horizontal position, and a second distance may be comprised between the pivot axis of the lifting tower and the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in a vertical position, wherein the first distance is smaller than the second distance. The fastening device may be used to secure the wind turbine tower to the tower foundation when the wind turbine tower is in a vertical position. The lift tower may include a transport position in which the lift tower is tilted forward relative to the tower base.

The wind turbine tower may be hingeably attached to a wind turbine base and have a horizontal position and a vertical position. The wind turbine foundation may be land-based or offshore. The wind turbine may be attached to a wind turbine tower; a lifting tower connected to the wind turbine tower and having an upright position and an inclined position; and wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from the upright position to the inclined position as the wind turbine tower transitions between the horizontal position to the vertical position. The lift tower may also transition forward relative to the base to be substantially parallel to the wind turbine tower when the wind turbine tower is in a horizontal position.

Drawings

The following description of a wind turbine will be better understood by reference to the following drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this written specification:

FIGS. 1-8 are perspective views of aspects of a wind turbine in horizontal and vertical positions;

9-12 are perspective views of aspects of a wind turbine including blades carried by spokes;

FIGS. 12 and 14 are perspective views of some aspects of a wind turbine including a generator carried by a tower and a generator platform;

15A-15F are side views of some aspects of the lift assembly;

16A-16D are side views of some aspects of the lift assembly;

FIG. 16E is a perspective view of some aspects of an assembly including a lift assembly;

FIG. 17A is a side view of some aspects of the barge, including air fins carried by the barge;

FIG. 17B is a top view of some aspects of the barge, including air fins carried by the barge; and the combination of (a) and (b),

18A-18D are perspective views of some aspects of a wind turbine and other components.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, which illustrate some embodiments, wind turbines and related components are more fully described herein. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Referring to fig. 1, a wind turbine barge 10 may include a tower base 12, which tower base 12 may be hingeably attached to a tower tube 14 or to a lattice tower or other structure. The tower tube may support a generator platform 16 configured to support a generator and a turbine wheel 18. When in the horizontal position, the tower tube hub may be supported by the barge at the distal end 20 of the tower tube. In one embodiment, a mounting barge may be used to transport the wind turbine to its offshore location. The tower may extend beyond the barge of the wind turbine in its horizontal position and be supported by the mounting barge.

Referring to fig. 2, tower tube 14 may be attached to tower base 12 by a tower hinge 22. In one embodiment, as shown, the hinge may be placed inwardly with respect to the wind turbine barge such that the tower extends on the wind turbine barge in a horizontal position. In one embodiment, the hinge may be positioned outwardly relative to the wind turbine barge such that the tower extends beyond the perimeter of the wind turbine barge in a horizontal position and may be supported by the mounting barge. One or more generators 24 may be attached to generator platform 16. The generator platform may be placed on the inside to outside of the tower.

Referring to fig. 3-5, the turbine wheel may include an axle 26 having an inner set of spokes 28a and an outer set of spokes 28 b. The inner and outer sets of spokes are attached to the hub and outer periphery 30. In the horizontal position, various components of the turbine wheel may be accessed for construction, repair, or replacement. Furthermore, the horizontal position enables the turbine wheel to be lowered in bad weather conditions. When in the horizontal position, the axles 26 may rest on the wind turbine barge 10. Further, the barge may be transported, for example, by vessel 32, while in a horizontal position. In one embodiment, the tower may also be supported by standard 100 (fig. 15A) when in a horizontal position so that the axles may extend over the circumference of the barge.

Referring to fig. 6-8, the tower tube 14 is shown in an upright position and secured to the tower base 12. When erected, the wind turbine barge 10 may be connected to the buoy 34 by a line 36. In one embodiment, the buoy is anchored to the sea floor. These ropes allow the barge to rotate about the buoy so that the wind direction enters the wind turbine to assist the wind direction 40 with the proper angle of attack Θ relative to the plane 38 of the wind turbine wheel. In one embodiment, the angle of attack is about 90 °.

Referring to fig. 9-12, a blade set may be included in a wind turbine. Each spoke 42 may carry a subset of blades. The subset of blades may include distal blades 44 disposed adjacent the periphery. Each blade may have a generally airfoil shape 50. A subset of blades having one or more blades may be arranged along the spoke to cover substantially the entire spoke. The blades may rotate independently relative to each other along their spokes and are cooperatively associated to have different angles of attack relative to the oncoming wind, resulting in different wind speeds along the spokes. The blade may comprise a turned-up portion 102 at the trailing edge of the blade. The blade set may provide similar benefits as previously provided with respect to the bucket twist 46 of conventional buckets without the need for long buckets. The spokes may be attached to a hub flange 48 that rotates about the hub axis. In one embodiment, outer peripheral edge 30 may have a circular or elliptical cross-section along AA.

Referring to fig. 13 and 14, the tower tube is shown in an upright position, with the tower tube secured to the tower base. The generator platform may support one or more generators 24. The generator may include a generator wheel 52, the generator wheel 52 being engageable with the outer periphery 30 such that when the outer periphery rotates, the generator wheel rotates, thereby causing the generator to provide power, such as electricity. In one embodiment, the generator wheel may have a concave outer surface which may engage with an outer periphery having a circular or elliptical cross-section. The fastening device 104 may be used to secure the tower to the tower foundation. Fastening means may include bolts, nuts, welds, screws, latches, snaps, clamps, rivets, and the like.

Referring to fig. 15A-15F, tower tube 14 may be hingeably attached to tower base 12. One or more lift towers 54 may be pivotally attached to the barge at pivots 56. The cable 58 may be attached to a winch, pulley block, or other lifting assembly 60, and the winch, pulley block, or other lifting assembly 60 may be attached to the distal end of one or more lifting towers. The cables may be attached at or near the generator platform 16. When the hoist assembly retracts the cable, the tower tube is pulled in direction 62 and the hoist tower transitions back. In one embodiment, the cables remain substantially perpendicular to the tower tube when the tower tube is raised. When the tower is in the upright position for operation, the elevator tube rests on a stop 64, which may be attached to the tower base or carried by the barge (as shown at 66), to prevent over-rotation of the elevator tube.

When the tower tube is in the horizontal position, the cable may be paid out a sufficient length to allow the elevator tube to be positioned forward for transport such that the tower tube and elevator tube are generally in a horizontal configuration, as shown in fig. 15D. In one embodiment, the lift tower is slidable along the barge such that the cables remain generally perpendicular to the tower tube during lifting of the tower tube. The distance between the tower foundation or wind turbine attachment point and the elevator tube may increase as the tower tube is raised, as shown at 68a (horizontal tower tube) and 68b (raised tower tube). The attachment point may be the location where the wind turbine tower is attached to a barge or a land-based foundation, tower base, or other support.

In one embodiment, the pivot of the elevator tube maintains the cable substantially perpendicular to the tower tube. When the tower tube is lifted, the top of the elevator tube can continuously move, so that the top of the elevator tube moves towards the tower tube. The cable between the elevator tube and the tower tube remains vertical between the tower tube and the elevator assembly when the elevator tube is moved at an angle to the tower tube. Once the tower tube is raised, the elevator tube and cables can be secured in place. The tower tube may then be bolted to the tower foundation. To lower the tower tube, the weight of the tower tube and wind turbine will begin the descent process to the barge, where the riser tube will be generally vertical and the tower tube generally horizontal. Then, in one embodiment, the elevator tube may be placed backward until the elevator tube reaches about 20 ° to 30 °. The riser can rest on a stop attached to the tower base or carried by the barge.

Referring to fig. 16A-16E, one embodiment of a lift system is shown. The wind turbine tower 14 may be hingedly attached to the tower base 12. The lift tower 54 may be pivotally attached to the barge and have cables 58, such as attached to the tower, with pulleys between the cables and the top of the lift tube. The cable may be retracted by the lift assembly 60. When the cables are retracted, the tower will be lifted towards the vertical. The elevator tube may be rotated backward in direction 70.

In one embodiment, the riser can be hinged to the barge deck, where the riser can be located approximately 40 feet on each side of the wind turbine tube from which the main pipe is hinged (standing vertically below the generator platform when the wind turbine is lowered). The cables may run down to the tower tube such that the cables are perpendicular to the tower tube when the wind turbine is raised. The elevator tube may comprise a pulley block that protrudes through the tower tube and may be disposed at an angle such that the elevator tube is vertical when the wind turbine is in a horizontal position. After the cables are paid out, the riser can be rotated toward the stern of the barge until the riser is in a shipping position.

Referring to fig. 17A and 17B, an embodiment is shown in which air foils 72 are attached to the stern of the barge. As the wind turbine rotates, the gyroscopic effect tends to rotate the wind turbine away from an optimal angle of attack relative to the wind direction 40. Placing the air foil on the stern allows the air foil to bias the barge in the opposite direction of rotation caused by the gyroscopic effect without the need for a propeller. As gyroscopic forces tend to rotate the barge and wind turbine in the direction shown at 74, the wind also biases the air foils 110 so that they are positioned to correspond with the wind along path 76, which in turn tends to move the barge in direction 78 to counteract the gyroscopic effect. Referring to fig. 18A and 18C, the wind turbine may be land-based. Referring to fig. 18D, the offshore wind turbine may include a pair of air foils 110a and 110b carried by the barge.

The design of the assembly has a number of benefits and features, including: removing a conventional gearbox, removing a conventional yaw bearing, removing a conventional electrical slip ring, removing a conventional large single length blade thereby reducing blade fatigue, simple blade/blade replacement, removing a blade pitch system, enabling a wind turbine to be installed on a barge without a subsea support structure, a simple barge anchoring system, no special installation vessel, enabling assembly on land or at dock, enabling assembly in a horizontal position, enabling maintenance at dock, enabling hurricanes to be avoided thereby reducing insurance costs, removing oil, eliminating the risk of oil burning/ignition, removing fiberglass cabins that may also burn, simplifying lifting of a wind turbine, reducing adverse effects of wheel/rim inertia, increasing the diameter of a wind turbine wheel due to the use of a blade set, removing a stern thruster, may be positioned relatively close to the reverse osmosis plant and the electrical equipment placed below the deck. By removing the most expensive and complex components (e.g. gearbox, yaw drive, blade pitch system, electrical slip rings, large blades, subsea structure, installation vessel), ongoing maintenance will be a fraction of the workload, complexity and cost of conventional offshore wind turbine systems.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the foregoing description sets forth preferred embodiments of the present assembly in detail, modifications, additions and changes may be made to the preferred embodiments of the assembly without departing from the spirit and scope of the assembly as recited in the claims.

Claims

1. A transition wind turbine, comprising:

a wind turbine barge supporting the tower base;

a wind turbine tower hingeably attached to the tower base, the wind turbine tower having a horizontal position and a vertical position;

a wind turbine attached to the wind turbine tower, the wind turbine having a hub and an outer periphery, wherein spokes are provided between the hub and the outer periphery;

a set of blades carried by the spoke, the set of blades configured to rotate the outer periphery in response to movement of atmospheric wind;

a generator configured to engage the outer periphery of the wind turbine and convert rotational energy of the outer periphery into power;

a lift tower having a pivot disposed at a proximal end of the lift tower and having an upright position and a tilted position;

a cable attached between the lift tower and the wind turbine tower;

air fins carried by the wind turbine barge, the air fins configured to counteract a gyroscopic effect of the wind turbine; and

wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from the upright position to the inclined position when the wind turbine tower transitions between the horizontal position to the vertical position and a cable length between a lift tower proximal end and the wind turbine tower is shortened.

2. The transition wind turbine of claim 1, comprising a mounting barge removably attached to the wind turbine barge and configured to support the lift tower.

3. The transition wind turbine as claimed in claim 2, comprising a standard attached to the mounting barge to support the wind turbine tower in the horizontal position.

4. The transition wind turbine of claim 1, comprising a lift assembly disposed at a proximal end of the lift tower and connected to the cable.

5. The transition wind turbine of claim 1, comprising: a first distance between a pivot axis of the lift tower and the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in the horizontal position, and a second distance between the pivot axis of the lift tower and the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in the vertical position, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

6. The transition wind turbine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a standard attached to the wind turbine barge to support the wind turbine tower in the horizontal position.

7. The transition wind turbine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fastening device which secures the wind turbine tower to the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in the vertical position.

8. The transition wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the lift tower includes a transport position in which the lift tower is tilted forward relative to the tower base.

9. A transition wind turbine comprising:

a wind turbine barge supporting the tower base;

a wind turbine attached to the wind turbine tower;

a lift tower having a pivot disposed at a lift tower proximal end and having an upright position and a tilted position;

a cable attached between the lift tower and the wind turbine tower; and

wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from the upright position to the tilted position when the wind turbine tower transitions between the horizontal position to the vertical position and a cable length between the lift tower proximal end and the wind turbine tower is shortened.

10. The transition wind turbine of claim 9, comprising a lift assembly disposed at the lift tower proximal end and connected to the cable.

11. The transition wind turbine as claimed in claim 9, comprising a fastening device which secures the wind turbine tower to the tower base when the wind turbine tower is in the vertical position.

12. The transition wind turbine of claim 9, comprising a lift assembly disposed at the lift tower proximal end and connected to the cable.

13. The transition wind turbine of claim 9, comprising a blade set carried by the wind turbine, the blade set configured to rotate the wind turbine in response to movement of atmospheric wind.

14. The transition wind turbine of claim 9, comprising a generator configured to engage the wind turbine and convert rotational energy of the wind turbine into power.

15. A transition wind turbine comprising:

a wind turbine tower hingeably attached to a wind turbine base and having a horizontal position and a vertical position;

a wind turbine attached to the wind turbine tower;

a lifting tower connected to the wind turbine tower and having an upright position and an inclined position; and

wherein the lift tower is configured to transition from the upright position to the tilted position as the wind turbine tower transitions between the horizontal position to the vertical position.

16. The transition wind turbine of claim 15, comprising a pivot shaft disposed at a proximal end of the lift tower.

17. The transition wind turbine of claim 15, comprising: a first distance between a pivot axis and an attachment point of the lifting tower when the wind turbine tower is in the horizontal position, and a second distance between a pivot axis and an attachment point of the lifting tower when the wind turbine tower is in the vertical position.

18. The transition wind turbine of claim 17, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

19. The transition wind turbine defined in claim 15, comprising a floating barge that supports the wind turbine base.

20. The transition wind turbine of claim 19, comprising air fins carried by the floating barge.