EP2376772A2 - Wind turbine nacelle - Google Patents

Wind turbine nacelle

Info

Publication number
EP2376772A2
EP2376772A2 EP09771492A EP09771492A EP2376772A2 EP 2376772 A2 EP2376772 A2 EP 2376772A2 EP 09771492 A EP09771492 A EP 09771492A EP 09771492 A EP09771492 A EP 09771492A EP 2376772 A2 EP2376772 A2 EP 2376772A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wind turbine
nacelle
strut member
turbine nacelle
nacelle according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09771492A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Thomas Hjort
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vestas Wind Systems AS
Original Assignee
Vestas Wind Systems AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vestas Wind Systems AS filed Critical Vestas Wind Systems AS
Publication of EP2376772A2 publication Critical patent/EP2376772A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D1/00—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor 
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20—Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00—Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/80—Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/10—Stators
    • F05B2240/14—Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a wind turbine nacelle and a wind turbine.
  • the nacelle of a modern wind turbine may comprise a number of components weighing more than one ton such as the gearbox, electric generator, power converter and transformer, respectively.
  • the heavy components distributed in the long nacelle require a strong nacelle structure and accompanying yaw mechanism in order to continuously sustain and transfer the induced forces i.e. also resulting in a nacelle structure adding significantly to the total weight of the nacelle.
  • An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a wind turbine nacelle with an improved structure and especially in relation to transfer of forces.
  • a wind turbine nacelle comprising
  • At least one strut member carrying one or more of said wind turbine components at least one strut member carrying one or more of said wind turbine components
  • tie and strut members are connected at one end to each other and at the opposite ends to different positions on the base member for establishing one or more closed structures.
  • said one or more closed structure is triangular, substantially triangular in shape or at least has a triangular transfer of forces with said tie member as the upper triangle side which ensures a simple and strong structure in the nacelle.
  • said at least one tie member is one or more lightweight beams, cable stays or wires.
  • said strut member is inclined in relation to a horizontal plane by an angle ⁇ in a range of 15 to 75° such as approx. 45°.
  • the number of said at least one strut member is one centrally situated member in relation to the nacelle sides and orientated toward the rear of the nacelle.
  • a lightweight nacelle structure with the possibility of positioning the wind turbine components such as an electric generator on top of or below the member as well as attached on one or both sides e.g. as two separate generators for the same gearbox.
  • Other multiple configurations of a wind turbine component on opposite side of the member and behind or in front of another heavy component are also possible.
  • the number of said at least one strut member is two members at the nacelle sides e.g. parallel in direction or orientated to meet at the rear of the nacelle.
  • One or more of electric generators, power converters and transformers are carried by said at least one strut member in an even further aspect of the invention.
  • the layout, configuration and manufacturing of the nacelle are simplified by the strut member being capable of carrying most of or all of said wind turbine component i.e. establishing one straight line of components behind the gearbox without creating torque in the nacelle structure.
  • the transformer is suspended from said component carrying member in a suspension arrangement including a shaft attachment and one or more movement dampers and/or actuators.
  • the suspension arrangement ensures that the transformer is allowed to swing in a controlled manner in response to any nacelle vibrations and thus avoid fatigue in the suspension of the transformer.
  • the actuators may be used to control the movement of the transformer in an active damping of vibrations in the transformer or in the wind turbine as such.
  • said suspension arrangement being suspended to said component carrying member in a flexible joint connection and/or includes a flexible joint connection allowing the transformer to sway and/or said flexible joint connection is a cardan, ball or similar universal coupling joint.
  • fig. 1 illustrates a large modern wind turbine as known in the art
  • fig. 2 illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of a well- known wind turbine nacelle, as seen from the side,
  • fig. 3 illustrates schematically a wind turbine nacelle with a load carrying structure, as seen from the side,
  • fig. 4 illustrates the wind turbine nacelle of fig. 3 with more details
  • figs. 5a and 5b illustrate schematically another embodiment of the load carrying structure in the nacelle
  • fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of a suspension arrangement for suspending a transformer in a load carrying structure of the wind turbine nacelle
  • fig. 7 illustrates a flexible embodiment of the suspension arrangement for a transformer, as seen from the rear of the nacelle.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a large modern wind turbine 1 as known in the art, comprising a tower 2 and a wind turbine nacelle 3 positioned on top of the tower 2.
  • the wind turbine rotor 4 comprises three wind turbine blades 5 mounted on a common hub 6 which is connected to the nacelle 3 through the low speed shaft extending out of the nacelle 3 front.
  • the wind turbine rotor 4 could comprise another number of blades 5 such as one, two, four, five or more.
  • the wind turbine is erected on a concrete foundation 7 mainly positioned below a ground level 8 in order to establish a wind power plant for connection to a utility grid (not illustrated on the figure) transferring the generated power to utility customers.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of a nacelle 3, as seen from the side with a number of wind turbine components being present.
  • the nacelle establishes a force transferring connection between the wind turbine rotor (not illustrated on the figure) and the tower 2 by especially including a bedframe as a bell-shaped member 9 carrying a gearbox 14 and a yaw mechanism 10 allowing a rotational connection to the tower.
  • the illustrated nacelle also includes two sets of horizontal orientated lower and upper side beams 11, 12 wherein the lower beams 1 1 are attached to the bell-shaped member 9.
  • the lower and upper beams 11, 12 are directly or indirectly connected by a number of further beams 13 in order to establish a nacelle structure.
  • a floor level support structure is established between the two lower side beams 11 , 12 in order to carry further wind turbine components such as the electric generator 15, the power converter 16 (illustrated as a number of converter units) and a transformer 17.
  • the transformer 17 transforms the electric power generated by the generator 15 and converted by the power converter 16 to a different high voltage level for feeding the power to the utility grid.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a wind turbine nacelle with a load carrying structure 20, as seen from the side, with a connection to the wind turbine tower 2 via the yaw mechanism 10.
  • the nacelle load carrying structure is illustrated as a closed structure having a triangular shape defined by a base member 21 including the bell-shaped bedframe 9, a strut member 19 and a tie member 22.
  • the nacelle may comprise one or two triangular shaped structures e.g. with the strut member 19 centrally located or located at both nacelle sides, respectively.
  • the nacelle may also comprise more than two triangular shaped structures e.g. one centrally located and two located at the nacelle sides.
  • the strut member 19 is inclined in relation to a horizontal plane (illustrated with the dotted line) by an angle ⁇ e.g. in a range of 15 to 75° such as approx. 45° orientated toward the rear of the nacelle.
  • the strut member 19 is schematically illustrated with one wind turbine component 18 such as an electric generator, power converter or transformer attached to the member 19.
  • the weight of the wind turbine component is converted to a force compressing the strut member 19 (illustrated with the arrow F strut ) and tensioning the tie member 22 (illustrated with the arrow F t j e ) in relation to the two different connection positions on the base member 21 and the bedframe 9.
  • the forces are transferred with the rigid connection established by the bedframe, yaw mechanism and tower 2 to the wind turbine foundation.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the wind turbine nacelle of fig. 3 including a number of wind turbine components attached to the strut member 19.
  • the generator 15 is illustrated as being the first wind turbine component attached to the strut member 19 with use of connection means 24 such as bolts, rods or similar attachment means.
  • Fig. 5a and 5b illustrate schematically another embodiment of the load carrying structure 20 in the nacelle 3.
  • Fig. 5 a illustrates the load carrying structure of the nacelle, as seen from the side, with only the generator 15 and the transformer 17 present for clarity purposes.
  • the figure also illustrates a further cable stay 22a complementing the cable stay 22 of fig. 4 i.e. adding a bridge like suspension to the structure by using two (or more) cable stays.
  • the cable stays are connected to the structure in connection points 23, 23a on the strut member 19 e.g. in proximity of the connection means 24 for the wind turbine components.
  • Fig. 5b illustrates the embodiment of fig. 5a as seen from above.
  • the added cable stays 22a are illustrated in the embodiment as diagonally connecting the base frame 20 with the strut member 19 while the cable stays 22 are illustrated as in alignment with the nacelle 3. All the stays may however also be directed diagonally or in alignment with the nacelle 3 in other embodiments of the invention.
  • connection means 24 such as bolts, rods or similar attachment means between the two wind turbine components 15, 17 and the two strut members 19 of the embodiment.
  • the nacelle structure comprising strut and tie members may also be provided with a crane system allowing a wind turbine component such as a transformer to be released from the strut member(s) and lowered via a nacelle opening to the ground by the crane and/or elevated from the ground level to the members in an installation or replacement action.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a suspension arrangement for the transformer 17 on the strut member 19 of the load carrying structure in the wind turbine nacelle 3.
  • the arrangement includes use of a pivoting connection means 24 and movement dampers or actuators 26 in attaching the transformer on the strut member 19.
  • the transformer may move back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the nacelle in response to nacelle vibrations but in a restricted manner by the movement dampers.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the suspension arrangement for the transformer 17, as seen from the rear of the nacelle, wherein the flexibility of the arrangement is enhanced by establishing a cardan functionality allowing the transformer to sway longitudinally and transversely (as illustrated with the arrows) in between the strut members 19 of the two closed structures.
  • Transformer for feeding generated power to the utility grid 18.
  • Wind turbine component such as generator, power converter or transformer
  • Strut member e.g. one or more beams or cable stays 23. Connection for the strut member

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

According to the present invention is provided a wind turbine nacelle comprising wind turbine components. The nacelle also comprises a load carrying structure including a base member (21) establishing a connection between the wind turbine rotor and tower, at least one tie member (22), and at least one strut member (19) carrying one or more of said wind turbine components. The tie and strut members are connected at one end to each other and at the opposite ends to different positions on the base member for establishing one or more closed structures.

Description

WIND TURBINE NACELLE
The present invention relates to a wind turbine nacelle and a wind turbine.
Background
The nacelle of a modern wind turbine may comprise a number of components weighing more than one ton such as the gearbox, electric generator, power converter and transformer, respectively.
Further, different distances are needed between the components e.g. in order to fulfil the structural or safety requirements. The mechanical and electrical energy transferred from the rotor to the transformer is of such significance that the components need to be positioned in alignment i.e. resulting in a rather long and slender nacelle on top of the tower.
The heavy components distributed in the long nacelle require a strong nacelle structure and accompanying yaw mechanism in order to continuously sustain and transfer the induced forces i.e. also resulting in a nacelle structure adding significantly to the total weight of the nacelle.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a wind turbine nacelle with an improved structure and especially in relation to transfer of forces.
Brief description of the invention
According to the present invention is provided a wind turbine nacelle comprising
wind turbine components, and a load carrying structure including
a base member structurally establishing a connection between the wind turbine rotor and tower,
at least one tie member, and
at least one strut member carrying one or more of said wind turbine components,
wherein tie and strut members are connected at one end to each other and at the opposite ends to different positions on the base member for establishing one or more closed structures.
By the closed load carrying structure it is possible to establish a nacelle without of torque loads i.e. a structure with a more simple force distribution by solely comprising linear forces of compression and tension.
In an aspect of the invention said one or more closed structure is triangular, substantially triangular in shape or at least has a triangular transfer of forces with said tie member as the upper triangle side which ensures a simple and strong structure in the nacelle.
In another aspect of the invention said at least one tie member is one or more lightweight beams, cable stays or wires. By the use of a lightweight connection between the strut and base member is established a well-equipped solution in sustaining the tension from the carried wind turbine components on the strut member.
In an aspect of the invention said strut member is inclined in relation to a horizontal plane by an angle α in a range of 15 to 75° such as approx. 45°. Hereby is ensured an advantageous relation between tension and compression as well as outer shape of the nacelle. Especially the avoidance of very acute angles is advantageous as load concentrations are prevented in the closed structure.
In another aspect of the invention the number of said at least one strut member is one centrally situated member in relation to the nacelle sides and orientated toward the rear of the nacelle. Hereby is established a lightweight nacelle structure with the possibility of positioning the wind turbine components such as an electric generator on top of or below the member as well as attached on one or both sides e.g. as two separate generators for the same gearbox. Other multiple configurations of a wind turbine component on opposite side of the member and behind or in front of another heavy component are also possible.
In a further aspect of the invention the number of said at least one strut member is two members at the nacelle sides e.g. parallel in direction or orientated to meet at the rear of the nacelle. Hereby is established a strong nacelle structure with sufficient space between the members for components as well as passages for people servicing the components.
One or more of electric generators, power converters and transformers are carried by said at least one strut member in an even further aspect of the invention. The layout, configuration and manufacturing of the nacelle are simplified by the strut member being capable of carrying most of or all of said wind turbine component i.e. establishing one straight line of components behind the gearbox without creating torque in the nacelle structure.
In an aspect of the invention the transformer is suspended from said component carrying member in a suspension arrangement including a shaft attachment and one or more movement dampers and/or actuators. The suspension arrangement ensures that the transformer is allowed to swing in a controlled manner in response to any nacelle vibrations and thus avoid fatigue in the suspension of the transformer. Further, the actuators may be used to control the movement of the transformer in an active damping of vibrations in the transformer or in the wind turbine as such.
In further aspects of the invention said suspension arrangement being suspended to said component carrying member in a flexible joint connection and/or includes a flexible joint connection allowing the transformer to sway and/or said flexible joint connection is a cardan, ball or similar universal coupling joint. Hereby are advantageous embodiments of the invention achieved and especially as the transformer is partly or totally decoupled from any vibrations of the nacelle ensuring that the transformer is not amplifying the vibrations
Figures
The invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures in which
fig. 1 illustrates a large modern wind turbine as known in the art,
fig. 2 illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of a well- known wind turbine nacelle, as seen from the side,
fig. 3 illustrates schematically a wind turbine nacelle with a load carrying structure, as seen from the side,
fig. 4 illustrates the wind turbine nacelle of fig. 3 with more details, figs. 5a and 5b illustrate schematically another embodiment of the load carrying structure in the nacelle,
fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view of a suspension arrangement for suspending a transformer in a load carrying structure of the wind turbine nacelle, and
fig. 7 illustrates a flexible embodiment of the suspension arrangement for a transformer, as seen from the rear of the nacelle.
Detailed description of related art
Fig. 1 illustrates a large modern wind turbine 1 as known in the art, comprising a tower 2 and a wind turbine nacelle 3 positioned on top of the tower 2. In this embodiment the wind turbine rotor 4 comprises three wind turbine blades 5 mounted on a common hub 6 which is connected to the nacelle 3 through the low speed shaft extending out of the nacelle 3 front. In another embodiment the wind turbine rotor 4 could comprise another number of blades 5 such as one, two, four, five or more.
The wind turbine is erected on a concrete foundation 7 mainly positioned below a ground level 8 in order to establish a wind power plant for connection to a utility grid (not illustrated on the figure) transferring the generated power to utility customers.
Fig. 2 illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of a nacelle 3, as seen from the side with a number of wind turbine components being present.
The nacelle establishes a force transferring connection between the wind turbine rotor (not illustrated on the figure) and the tower 2 by especially including a bedframe as a bell-shaped member 9 carrying a gearbox 14 and a yaw mechanism 10 allowing a rotational connection to the tower.
The illustrated nacelle also includes two sets of horizontal orientated lower and upper side beams 11, 12 wherein the lower beams 1 1 are attached to the bell-shaped member 9. The lower and upper beams 11, 12 are directly or indirectly connected by a number of further beams 13 in order to establish a nacelle structure.
A floor level support structure is established between the two lower side beams 11 , 12 in order to carry further wind turbine components such as the electric generator 15, the power converter 16 (illustrated as a number of converter units) and a transformer 17.
The transformer 17 transforms the electric power generated by the generator 15 and converted by the power converter 16 to a different high voltage level for feeding the power to the utility grid.
Detailed description of the invention
Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a wind turbine nacelle with a load carrying structure 20, as seen from the side, with a connection to the wind turbine tower 2 via the yaw mechanism 10.
The nacelle load carrying structure is illustrated as a closed structure having a triangular shape defined by a base member 21 including the bell-shaped bedframe 9, a strut member 19 and a tie member 22.
The nacelle may comprise one or two triangular shaped structures e.g. with the strut member 19 centrally located or located at both nacelle sides, respectively. The nacelle may also comprise more than two triangular shaped structures e.g. one centrally located and two located at the nacelle sides.
The strut member 19 is inclined in relation to a horizontal plane (illustrated with the dotted line) by an angle α e.g. in a range of 15 to 75° such as approx. 45° orientated toward the rear of the nacelle.
The strut member 19 is schematically illustrated with one wind turbine component 18 such as an electric generator, power converter or transformer attached to the member 19.
The weight of the wind turbine component is converted to a force compressing the strut member 19 (illustrated with the arrow Fstrut) and tensioning the tie member 22 (illustrated with the arrow Ftje) in relation to the two different connection positions on the base member 21 and the bedframe 9. The forces are transferred with the rigid connection established by the bedframe, yaw mechanism and tower 2 to the wind turbine foundation.
Fig. 4 illustrates the wind turbine nacelle of fig. 3 including a number of wind turbine components attached to the strut member 19.
The generator 15 is illustrated as being the first wind turbine component attached to the strut member 19 with use of connection means 24 such as bolts, rods or similar attachment means.
Behind the electric generator are attached a number of units in the power converter 16 and finally the transformer 17 attached at the end of the strut member 19. The end of the strut member 19 is also attached to the tie member 22 which is illustrated in this embodiment as a cable stay or wire instead of a lightweight metal beam as illustrated in fig. 3. Fig. 5a and 5b illustrate schematically another embodiment of the load carrying structure 20 in the nacelle 3.
Fig. 5 a illustrates the load carrying structure of the nacelle, as seen from the side, with only the generator 15 and the transformer 17 present for clarity purposes.
The figure also illustrates a further cable stay 22a complementing the cable stay 22 of fig. 4 i.e. adding a bridge like suspension to the structure by using two (or more) cable stays. The cable stays are connected to the structure in connection points 23, 23a on the strut member 19 e.g. in proximity of the connection means 24 for the wind turbine components.
Fig. 5b illustrates the embodiment of fig. 5a as seen from above.
The added cable stays 22a are illustrated in the embodiment as diagonally connecting the base frame 20 with the strut member 19 while the cable stays 22 are illustrated as in alignment with the nacelle 3. All the stays may however also be directed diagonally or in alignment with the nacelle 3 in other embodiments of the invention.
The figure also illustrates the connection means 24 such as bolts, rods or similar attachment means between the two wind turbine components 15, 17 and the two strut members 19 of the embodiment.
The nacelle structure comprising strut and tie members may also be provided with a crane system allowing a wind turbine component such as a transformer to be released from the strut member(s) and lowered via a nacelle opening to the ground by the crane and/or elevated from the ground level to the members in an installation or replacement action. Fig. 6 illustrates a suspension arrangement for the transformer 17 on the strut member 19 of the load carrying structure in the wind turbine nacelle 3. The arrangement includes use of a pivoting connection means 24 and movement dampers or actuators 26 in attaching the transformer on the strut member 19.
The transformer may move back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the nacelle in response to nacelle vibrations but in a restricted manner by the movement dampers.
Fig. 7 illustrates a further embodiment of the suspension arrangement for the transformer 17, as seen from the rear of the nacelle, wherein the flexibility of the arrangement is enhanced by establishing a cardan functionality allowing the transformer to sway longitudinally and transversely (as illustrated with the arrows) in between the strut members 19 of the two closed structures.
Other flexible suspension arrangements including flexible joint connection in the suspension of the transformer such as cardan, ball or similar universal coupling joints may be used. Different embodiments are disclosed in co-pending Danish patent application filed 16th December 2008 by the same applicant and titled "Wind turbine" and is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention has been exemplified above with reference to specific examples of the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular examples described above but may be designed and altered in a multitude of varieties within the scope of the invention as specified in the claims. List
1. Wind turbine
2. Tower 3. Nacelle
4. Rotor
5. Blade
6. Hub
7. Foundation 8. Ground level
9. Bedframe or similar bell-shaped structure
10. Yaw mechanism
1 1. Lower beam
12. Upper beam 13. Connection beams
14. Gearbox
15. Electric generator
16. Power converter
17. Transformer for feeding generated power to the utility grid 18. Wind turbine component such as generator, power converter or transformer
19. Tie member,
20. Load carrying structure
21. Base member
22. Strut member e.g. one or more beams or cable stays 23. Connection for the strut member
24. Connection means for the wind turbine components
25. Shaft for attachment of wind turbine component
26. Movement dampers
27. Flexible suspension arrangement hp. Horizontal plane

Claims

Claims
1. Wind turbine nacelle comprising
wind turbine components, and
a load carrying structure including
a base member structurally establishing a connection between the wind turbine rotor and tower,
at least one tie member, and
at least one strut member carrying one or more of said wind turbine components,
wherein tie and strut members are connected at one end to each other and at the opposite ends to different positions on the base member for establishing one or more closed structures.
2. Wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1 wherein said one or more closed structure is triangular, substantially triangular in shape or at least has a triangular transfer of forces with said tie member as the upper triangle side.
3. Wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least one tie member is one or more beams, cable stays or wires.
4. Wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said strut member is inclined in relation to a horizontal plane by an angle α in a range of 15 to 75° such as approx. 45°.
5. Wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the number of said at least one strut member is one centrally situated member in relation to the nacelle sides and orientated toward the rear of the nacelle.
6. Wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the number of said at least one strut member is two members at the nacelle sides e.g. parallel in direction or orientated to meet at the rear of the nacelle.
7. Wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein one or more of electric generators, power converters and transformers are carried by said at least one strut member.
8. Wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the transformer is suspended from said at least one strut member in a suspension arrangement including a shaft attachment and one or more movement dampers and/or actuators.
9. Wind turbine nacelle according to claim 8 wherein said suspension arrangement being suspended to said at least one strut member in a flexible joint connection and/or includes a flexible joint connection allowing the transformer to sway.
10. Wind turbine nacelle according to claim 9 wherein said flexible joint connection is a cardan, ball or similar universal coupling joint.
11. Wind turbine comprising a wind turbine nacelle according to any of claims 1 to 10.
EP09771492A 2008-12-16 2009-12-11 Wind turbine nacelle Withdrawn EP2376772A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12290008P 2008-12-16 2008-12-16
DKPA200801790 2008-12-16
PCT/DK2009/000253 WO2010069315A2 (en) 2008-12-16 2009-12-11 Wind turbine nacelle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2376772A2 true EP2376772A2 (en) 2011-10-19

Family

ID=42269146

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09771492A Withdrawn EP2376772A2 (en) 2008-12-16 2009-12-11 Wind turbine nacelle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2376772A2 (en)
WO (1) WO2010069315A2 (en)

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US8922038B2 (en) 2010-12-08 2014-12-30 Northern Power Systems, Inc. Wind power unit having an underslung transformer
EP2565445B1 (en) 2011-09-02 2014-02-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Transformer chamber for a wind turbine, wind turbine structure component, wind turbine, and method for assembling a wind turbine
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