EP3601787A1

EP3601787A1 - Floating offshore wind power plant having a vertical rotor and modular wind farm comprising a plurality of such wind power plants

Info

Publication number: EP3601787A1
Application number: EP18713646.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Athanasios DAFNIS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-24
Filing date: 2018-03-23
Publication date: 2020-02-05
Also published as: US20200355161A1; WO2018172545A1; DE102017106434A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an offshore wind power plant (10) that floats on the surface of the water (32), comprising a rotor (12) with a shaft (16) that can rotate about a vertical axis of rotation (14), wherein the shaft (16) is connected to a generator (18), which converts a rotational movement of the shaft (16) into electrical energy, and comprising at least one float (30). To design and develop the wind power plant (10) so as to optimise use thereof offshore, in particular with regard to increased availability and improved efficiency (overall costs for producing, erecting and operating the wind power plant (10) in relation to the amount of energy generated), the generator (18) is arranged in the float (30) and can be accessed from above the surface of the water (32) via a service hatch (34) in the float (30). The generator (18) is preferably a large ring generator that lies flat in the float (30) and is driven directly by the rotor (12).

Description

Floating offshore wind turbine with a vertical rotor and wind farm in modular design comprising several such wind turbines

description

The present invention relates to a on a

Water surface floating offshore wind turbine with a rotor with a shaft rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. The shaft communicates with a generator that converts a rotary motion of the shaft into electrical energy. Furthermore, the wind turbine has a floating body, which provides buoyancy, so that the wind turbine can float on the water surface. Furthermore, the invention relates to an offshore wind farm, which includes several such offshore

Wind turbines includes. Worldwide, there is an increasing trend towards offshore wind power generation. These have opposite

Onshore wind turbines flow dynamic advantages and lead to a lower impact on the environment in the area of residential areas. Germany is also involved in this development with the construction of the first wind farms off the German coast. The provided there

Wind turbines correspond to the classic configuration with a horizontal axis of rotation and are based on so-called

Founding structures installed on the seabed. The classic configuration includes a relatively tall tower, a gondola at the top of the tower, a powertrain with or without gears, a generator and control electronics in the nacelle, a rotor with horizontal rotating shaft and

Rotor blades on the rotor hub flanges as well

Wind tracking systems for the gondola (Yaw system) and for the rotor blades (pitch system). As a foundation structure that construction is called, which is between the

Founded in the seabed and the individual wind turbine, so in the water and water / air boundary area is located. These

Classic wind turbines use the technological standards of horizontal axis wind turbines (HWKA) for energy generation, as they are also used in the onshore operating area. The technology used promises a high

Efficiency of the single plant and thus with water depths up to 40 m despite all related technical reasons

A problem of profitable energy production. From an environmental perspective, the large-scale anchoring of Founding structures in the seabed, however, questionable, and from a technical and economic point of view, a

Area expansion into areas of greater depths of the sea

become complicated and unprofitable.

An alternative solution, which is also more environmentally friendly and economical, can provide wind energy production on floating platforms (so-called barges). Under platform is to be understood a support structure with floats, which support structure can accommodate a certain number of optimally positioned wind turbines. Ideally, a modular design is sought in which a module is a floating one

Structural unit called a single

Wind turbine houses. Such a module can be isolated or part of a variable, modular

constructed linkage arrangement of several modules. Power generation from floating, modular wind farms can outperform those from wind turbines installed on solid foundations in many ways. Due to the omission of the foundations, the floating arrangement represents a more environmentally friendly variant of offshore energy production, which can be achieved by means of a flexible system

Topological optimization of individual wind turbines achieve a higher performance in relation to a total area and in case of malfunctions or failure of important components of the plants a higher operational availability by a

facilitate uncomplicated module exchange. Individual modules can be easily landed, so for example Maintenance, repair or upgrading (so-called repowering)

can be inexpensively carried out with onshore deployment techniques.

The concept of wind energy production on floating

Platforms is definitely a new development of

Compared to onshore wind turbines and today's offshore trends, new strategies can be developed here

appropriate wind energy sites are presented and

New type of wind farms to be built.

Due to the buoyancy and the modular

Compilation of the platforms, this concept is a more environmentally friendly version than other offshore concepts with start-up structures dar. Added to a very high

Recovery / recycling efficiency, whereby at the end of the life, the possibility of a natural and

complete demolition of the entire wind farm is given.

The modular, platform-type surface erection for the installation of aerodynamic converters (wind energy converters) makes installation, logistics, inner-park cabling, maintenance and operational management processes less expensive, less risky and technically / practically easier to implement.

In addition, through sophisticated replacement and repair concepts, a higher availability is possible than with the current offshore concepts. The development of wind energy harvesting systems on buoyant, modularly coupled support structures requires the synergy of different technology fields. A fundamental factor of this synergy is the interface between maritime technology developments and the

Developments of new types of wind energy converters. It is obvious that a transfer of the standard design, consisting of tower, gondola with integrated

Total drive train and rotor, on a buoyant

Support structure is not readily feasible. A

floating construction requires a clear

Shifting emphasis towards the water surface (better still deeper) and a reduction in mass compared to conventional wind turbines. The challenge lies not only in the development of suitable types of wind energy converters, but also extends to the development of extremely light-weight rotor blade designs and new powertrain concepts.

A vertical axis rotor arrangement (vertical axis wind energy plants, VWEA) of the aerodynamic converter allows functionally the necessary lowering of heavy components of the drive train. This can make it difficult to overturn the wind turbine in strong winds and / or rough seas. Such a VWEA is, for example, from US 2016/0327027 AI, in which, for example, the generator is arranged at the lower end of the rotor on a floating body of the system. However, it is problematic that for the generator own housing must be provided to him in front

Moisture, salt, corrosion and mechanical influences. Furthermore, the floating stability of the known VWEA is not yet optimal.

On the basis of statistical analyzes, the design of wind turbines is less achievable from today's perspective

Efficiency for the design significant, but the

total, actual power generation costs. In this perspective, VWEA promise a whole range of advantages in the onshore operating sector. VWEA need, for example, no wind tracking, whereby the design and construction costs is lower. In areas with constant, fast

changing wind direction, this tracking is not possible due to the inertia of the nacelle, the rotor blades, the measuring chains and the adjusting devices, so that the rotor of a HWEA is temporarily not optimally flowing.

Heavy and maintenance intensive components from the

Powertrain such as gearboxes, generators and

Suspension bearings can be installed near the ground at a VWEA. Also, the VWEA's gravity acts as a constant load on all rotor blades. In contrast, the rotor blades are cyclically loaded by gravity in a HWEA and thereby, depending on the

Span, exposed to extreme alternating loads.

The comparison of the versions in the

However, different sources of literature make it clear that For the VWEA, no intensive and systematic research has yet been pursued. This is especially true for

Large plants in the MW range, so that there are still many technological development reserves available.

Starting from the described prior art, the present invention has the object, an offshore wind turbine with a rotor with a vertical axis of rotation for energy in the MW range, to design and further develop that their use in the offshore area is optimized, especially in terms of higher

Availability and improved efficiency (total cost of producing, constructing and operating the wind turbine in relation to the amount of energy generated).

To solve this problem is based on the

Wind turbine of the type mentioned proposed that the generator disposed in the float and a service flap in the float from above the

Water surface is accessible.

For the purposes of the present invention, 'offshore' is understood to mean not only the open sea. Rather, this term is in the context of the invention, larger inland waters, especially lakes (eg Caspian Sea, Lake Constance) include, on which the floating wind turbine or a composite of several wind turbines wind farm could be built. According to the present invention, therefore, the generator is not simply arranged on the floating support structure, but deliberately arranged in a closed float of the system, so that no additional housing for the

Generator (and possibly further mechanical

and / electrical components, such as a gear or a frequency converter) is more required. The in the

Float available space also allows the

Design and use of arbitrarily large generators. This is unproblematic insofar as a larger float to accommodate larger and heavier generators for more passive floating stability of the wind turbine ensures against tipping over. This is due to the fact that the point of application for the weight force constructively below the

Can be arranged attack point for the buoyancy force and thus a stable equilibrium state is produced.

To improve the availability of the wind turbine, the float has a service flap that allows service technicians access to the generator when needed to service or repair it. Preferably, the

Service hatch designed so large that the service technician can climb into the floating body in order to locally maintain the generator, to repair or exchange commercially available defective standard components. The service technician arrives at the float by means of a service ship or a helicopter at short notice. Separate swimming modules same design can serve as both helicopter landing pads as well as service ship docking. From there, he has direct access to the generator via the service flap and does not have to move from the float to a separate one

Go housing of the generator. In particular, in floating wind turbines can be made any way over deck or on ladders, catwalks tedious or even dangerous. In this respect, it represents a significant improvement when the service technician of the float and the in it

provided service door has direct access to the generator.

Preferably, the generator is at least for the most part

arranged below the water surface in order to shift the center of gravity of the wind turbine as far as possible down and thus prevent the tipping of the wind turbine due to strong wind and / or rough seas.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the generator is designed as a flat-lying and rest torque-free ring generator, the without

Interposition of a gearbox is directly connected to the rotor shaft and without interposition of a

Inverter directly energy of a required

Mains frequency generated. By adjusting the inclination of the

Rotor blades and / or targeted deceleration of the rotor, the speed of the rotor can be kept constant in a wide range, regardless of the wind speed and / or direction, so that energy at a constant frequency, preferably the desired power frequency (eg traction current 16.7 Hz, 25 Hz in North America, 50 Hz in Europe), can be generated directly. Such flat ring generators may have a diameter of> 10 m (so-called.

Large ring generators). Large ring generators can in particular have diameters of 10 to 25 m. By means of adequate

Inverter linkage enables trouble-free operation

Direct generation (i.e., without frequency converter) of

required mains frequencies even with limited

Number of revolutions.

A flat-lying ring generator also has the advantage that the rotor rotates during operation about a vertical axis of rotation and thereby due to centrifugal forces the

Wind turbine actively stabilized and additionally against

Tipping ensures (so-called gyroscopic effect). A gyroscopic effect is understood to mean the self-steering effect caused by centrifugal forces, that of a system (here: the wind turbine) due to the rotational movement

single elements (here: a rotating part of the

Generator) is inherent. This is not just about swimming stabilization due to the

Moment of inertia, but also dynamic processes associated with the conservation of angular momentum, which can return the system even in case of disturbances (here: slope due to wind and / or sea state) in a stable state.

Due to the large diameter of the ring generator and the relatively heavy rotating masses are the acting Forces also relatively large, so that there is a particularly large floating stability of the wind turbine.

The big solid and mobile masses at the foot of the

Wind turbine serve on the one hand to improve the

passive floating stability due to the low center of gravity and on the other hand to improve the moment of inertia of the rotor, so that even with gusty wind even with almost

undiminished speed continues to turn when the wind abates for a short time. This construction allows it

at the same time, the upper part of the wind turbine,

in particular the rotor, without affecting the

To design synchronous running characteristics in gusty wind in lightweight construction. This will increase the stability of the

Wind turbine without affecting the

Constant-velocity properties additionally promoted in gusty wind.

In general, the following effects contribute cumulatively

Floating stability or to improve the floating behavior of the float with integrated ring generators at:

1) Point of application of the weight below the

Point of attack of the buoyancy force. This ensures passive maintenance of the state of equilibrium.

2) Large tilting moment of inertia because of the large area

Placement of fixed and rotating masses within the float. This will make a "nervous"

Floating reaction of the floating body is suppressed due to great sea and / or gusty wind and 3) Preservation of the angular momentum by the rotating parts of the wind turbine, basically by the masses of the wind turbine

Generatorläufer, so that an additional active preservation of the tipping stability is guaranteed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the ring generator a

Power generating portion having a generator stator and a generator rotor and a storage portion which is formed, a magnetic bearing of the shaft at least in a direction parallel to the vertical axis of rotation to

realize. The storage section preferably has a first circular or annular section with magnets of a certain polarity and a second section associated therewith with magnets of the same polarity, so that the two sections repel each other and in

considered vertical direction forms an air gap between the two sections, so that the two sections in the vertical direction without material contact alone through

magnetic forces are stored. In a wind turbine bearings after the rotor and the gear unit (usually gears) the next-most common reason for one

Failure of the wind turbine dar. With a rotor with

vertical axis of rotation, the greatest forces act in the vertical direction. Due to the special design of the bearing for receiving the vertical forces as a magnetic bearing, the

Availability of the wind turbine can be significantly improved. The magnets can, for example, as superconducting magnets or be designed as a regulated electromagnet. The magnetic bearing can be passive, active or as a

be formed electrodynamic magnetic bearing.

The transverse forces acting in the horizontal direction can be achieved by conventional mechanical bearings (ball bearings, plain bearings,

Rolling, etc.) are added. This is relative

problem-free, since in wind turbines with a rotor with a vertical axis of rotation, the horizontal forces act largely symmetrical. In a further development of the invention, however, it is also possible that the storage section is designed to realize a magnetic bearing of the shaft also in a direction transverse to the vertical axis of rotation. Again, the magnets may, for example, be designed as superconducting magnets or as a controlled electromagnets. The magnetic bearing can be designed as passive, active or as an electrodynamic magnetic bearing.

In order to reduce or even avoid unwanted interaction between the magnetic fields for power generation and the magnetic fields for storage, it is proposed that the storage section of the ring generator be offset and spaced from the power generating section on the

Ring generator is formed. The storage portion may be formed in the direction of the vertical axis of rotation and / or transversely to the power generating portion on the ring generator. To realize a safe and possible

Reliable storage, it is conceivable that several

Storage sections are formed on the ring generator. It is also conceivable, at least a conventional mechanical bearing vorzugsehen that in case of failure of

magnetic bearing takes over the storage function.

In offshore wind turbines, one can take advantage of the particular flow dynamics above the water surface, according to which the wind velocities at a low altitude above the water surface are significantly greater than at the corresponding altitude above the continental surface (see different flow boundary layer profiles on land and at sea ). At sea, the boundary layer profiles

"Plump". The reason for this lies in the different roughness of the surfaces. On the mainland, buildings, special terrain topographies (mountains and valleys) and plants (shrubs and trees) provide relatively high roughness, whereas the water surface at sea or in a lake has significantly less roughness. In offshore wind power plants, therefore, the wind prevailing at low altitudes immediately above the water surface can already be used for energy generation, so that the rotor blades of a vertical rotor are already directly (for example a few meters) above the wind turbine

Water surface should have a windable impact surface. Furthermore, the wind speeds increase with increasing altitude from the water surface. Nevertheless, in order to ensure a largely constant application of force to the rotor blades over the span of the rotor blades, it can be advantageous if the effective area in the lower region of the rotor blades is greater than in the upper region. In this sense is proposed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, that the rotor has a plurality of rotor blades, each having a substantially vertical span. Depending on the rotor blade geometry and for setting an optimal or appropriate torque curve around the

Rotary axis can be conical up or down

to run.

In general, with a rotor blade geometry with a constant tread depth, conically pointed upwards

converging rotor blades for regulating the

Torque curve at. But preferred is a larger

Profile depth of the rotor blades at the lower end of the rotor blades provided as at the upper end. In this case, conically tapered rotor blades are advantageous because - in addition to an appropriate regulation of the torque curve - the upward force components of

Buoyancy distribution against the rotor weight act, which leads to a relief of the bearing of the rotor. This allows new suspension and storage concepts with reduced

Consumption of polluting lubricants are used. In particular, this can be environmentally friendly

(hydraulic) plain bearings, (magnetic) permanent magnetic bearings or (pneumatic) air bearings or a combination of these bearings are used.

To increase the aerodynamic performance, the

Rotor blade tips in the upper area with winglets provided to the induced by the pressure compensation Randwirbeleffekte too minimize. As a result, the buoyancy distribution at the upper blade tip area at the same tread depth "fuller", resulting in a simultaneous increase in the torque-generating

Wind power components means. In addition, lead

weakened edge vortex to a lower noise

Flow tracking field of the wind turbine. This would be advantageous in the design of wind farms because the aerodynamic performance of adjacent wind turbines is less affected. As a result, the required distance from juxtaposed modular composite

Wind turbines are reduced, which increases the density of the wind farm. The application of vortex generators to the suction surface of the rotor blades, near and along the trailing edge of the blades, becomes premature

Flow separation at larger angles of attack along the span prevented. Thus, the rotating blades will linger longer in an aerodynamically optimal state.

It is also proposed that the rotor has a plurality of rotor blades, which are each arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation, wherein the span of the respective

Rotor blades has a helical shape around the axis of rotation / rotary shaft. It is very particularly preferred if the rotor blades are twisted around the axis of rotation by a part of a circumference of the rotor which corresponds to at least one reciprocal of the total number of rotor blades of the rotor. So it is conceivable, for example, that when using three circumferentially evenly distributed around the axis of rotation arranged rotor blades of each rotor blade is rotated by at least 1/3 of the circumference about the axis of rotation, that extends from the lower end to the upper end in a circumferential region of at least 120 °.

This results in a possible geometry of the rotor blades:

- Darrieus type (rotor with two curved, elastic leaves),

VAWIAN type (rotor with two straight, rigid leaves in H-shape),

- H-Darrieus type (rotor with several straight, rigid

Scrolling), and

- "twisted", rigid rotor blades (3D strand design in

Double helix shape or triple helix shape, so-called Twister).

For all the above-mentioned geometries, the rotor blades for optimal use of the wind flow due to the

atmospheric wind flow boundary layers along their span have an increasing tread depth. From the perspective of a structural / aerodynamic

Comparison in terms of load carrying capacity and maximum wind energy production are in the optimization of

Rotor blade geometry (rotor blade surface, span, extension, tread depth) the rotor blades in the lower area larger

Profit depths than the upper range. A

corresponding blade twist along the span, the insertion of winglets at the upper rotor blade tips and the placement of vortex generators will additionally increase the aerodynamic effect significantly. A triple Heiix form of rotor blades has one

demonstrably comparable to low vibration operation on what mechanically and environmentally specific (low noise) of large

Advantage is.

Furthermore, in the wind turbine with vertical axis of rotation new concepts of structural designs can be used, which are currently used at best in the field of aircraft to the rotor blade structure and the

torque transmitting shafts and axles while still having sufficient strength and structural stability in

Extremely lightweight construction to be able to produce. When using fiber composites is a fiber-friendly

Production sought, which allows even lighter designs in compliance with the strength and stiffness requirements.

The necessary inertia mass required to maintain the angular momentum can be accommodated in the float (module) (see, for example, permanent magnets for the runner)

Ring generator, in particular with a diameter> 10 m, and the bottom bearing of the rotating assembly).

An extreme lightweight construction of the aerodynamically charged

Drehanordnung has in addition to the structural advantages mechanical also a special effect on the material and

Transport costs, handling on assembly and

Exchange activities as well as on the environmental friendliness and Recycling efficiency due to the use of less

Material.

It is conceivable that the wind turbine is anchored by sagging or biased lines at the bottom of the water on which the wind turbine floats. With the help of the lines, the WKA can even at relatively large depths at one

anchored to a certain position above the seabed. The application of the lines is much easier

less expensive and less work than building a foundation for non-buoyant, seabed-anchored WCAs. However, it is advantageous if that

Anchoring concept allows a wind tracking of individual or all wind turbines of a wind farm. This can e.g. be achieved by motorized drive modules between the floats of individual wind turbines.

According to another advantageous embodiment of

The present invention proposes that the

Wind turbine a Global Navigation Satellite System, subsequently GNSS, to get a current position of the

Wind turbine to be able to detect a drive to change the position and / or orientation of the wind turbine on the water surface, and having a control or regulating device connected to the GNSS and the

Drive is in communication to drive the drive in response to the detected position of the wind turbine to the wind turbine in a desired position and / or

To bring alignment to the water surface. To this It is possible that the wind turbine automatically moves to a desired position and remains there. In addition, by taking into account the wind direction and strength in the control of the drive and the

Orientation of the wind turbine can be varied to the

Optimize energy production regardless of the wind conditions.

The invention also proposes a modular offshore wind farm, which has several offshore according to the invention

Wind turbines includes. Preferably, the individual wind turbines of the wind farm are rigidly connected. Between the floats of individual wind turbines or laterally there may be heliport modules or

Ship landing modules can be arranged over which people (eg., Maintenance and inspection personnel) can be placed on the wind farm. In this case, it is advantageous if only at least one selected wind turbine of the wind farm, for example. A heliport landing module of

Wind farms, a GNSS, to detect a current position of the wind farm and having at least two engines for propulsion to determine the position and / or orientation of the whole wind farm on the water surface in a wind farm

Wind tracking system to change.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Show it: 1 shows a wind turbine according to the invention according to a first preferred embodiment in one

Side view partly in section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of

Wind turbine of Figure 1;

3 shows a wind turbine according to the invention according to a further preferred embodiment in a perspective view;

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a rotor of a

wind turbine according to the invention in a perspective view;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through an upper end of another embodiment of a rotor of a wind turbine according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section through a lower end of

Embodiment of a rotor of a

inventive wind turbine of Figure 5;

7a shows a wind turbine according to the invention according to a further preferred embodiment in one

Side view; Figure 7b, a wind turbine according to the invention according to another preferred embodiment in one

Side view;

Figure 8 is an exemplary rotor blade of a

wind turbine according to the invention;

FIG. 9a two exemplary rotor blades of a

wind turbine according to the invention;

Figure 9b-9d details of the rotor blades of Figure 9a;

10 shows a wind turbine according to the invention according to a further preferred embodiment in one

Side view partly in section;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a wind farm according to the invention comprising a plurality of wind turbines according to the invention;

FIG. 12 shows a section of a lower part of a

Wind turbine according to the invention according to a further preferred embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a section of a device according to the invention

Wind turbine according to another preferred embodiment in a perspective view; Figure 14 shows a detail of an inventive

Wind turbine according to another preferred embodiment in a perspective view; and

Figure 15 shows a detail of a lower part of

Wind turbine of Figure 14 according to another preferred embodiment.

Below, various embodiments of a wind turbine according to the invention are shown, each having different characteristics. Of course, it is also conceivable to combine the features of the individual embodiments in any way with each other, even if not explicitly shown in the figures or is explained in the description. The individual features of the various embodiments can therefore be combined with one another in any desired manner.

FIG. 1 shows a side view partly in section of a wind power plant according to the invention. The wind turbine is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. It is a floating offshore

Wind turbine with a rotor 12 with a rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation 14 shaft 16. The shaft 16 is in communication with a generator, which is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 18. The generator 18 converts a rotational movement of the shaft 16 into electrical energy. Furthermore, the wind turbine 10 comprises at least one

Float 30. The float 30 ensures the

necessary buoyancy so that the entire wind turbine 10 can float on a water surface 32.

According to the present invention, the generator 18 is disposed in the float 30, preferably below the water surface 32. Further, the generator 18 via one or more service flaps 34, which in the float 30th

are formed, from above the water surface 32nd

accessible. The opened service flaps 34 are shown by dashed lines in FIG. 1 by way of example. In closed service flaps 34 of the float 30 is waterproof, so that no water in the interior of the

Float 30 can penetrate. In the event that water should ever penetrate (eg by a service door 34 opened for a short time or due to a leak in the float 30), a water level sensor (not shown) and / or a bilge pump (not shown) can be arranged inside the float 30 be. The shaft 16 may be mounted in the floating body 30 by means of one or more radial bearings 36 and / or by means of one or more thrust bearings 38.

In Figure 1, the float 30 floats on the

Water surface 32. Of course, it would also be conceivable that the float would be completely submerged, in which case the service flap 34 at the end of a projecting over the water surface pipe or snorkel arranged would be about the / the interior of the float 30 is accessible.

Due to the arrangement of the generator 18 in the float 30, preferably below the water surface 32, the

Focus of the wind turbine 10 moves as far down as possible, so that a particularly high passive

Floating stability of the wind turbine 10 against tipping results. In addition, the generator 18 via the service flaps 34 is particularly quick and easy to reach for service technicians, so that maintenance and / or repair of the generator 18 within a particularly short time is possible and the

Availability of wind turbine 10 increases.

The generator 18 is preferably designed as a flat-lying large ring generator and shown in Figure 1 in section. Of course, other types of

Generators are used. The generator 18 includes

in particular a generator stator 20 and a generator rotor 22 rotating relative thereto. Current large ring generators for on-shore operation have a diameter of approximately 5 m. Recent research reports significant

Increased performance in ring generators with one

Diameter on the order of more than 10 m. Such ring generators 18 can be arranged particularly advantageous in the large floating body 30 of the wind turbine 10, since the float 30 to obtain a desired

Minimum level of floating stability (protection against tipping over) anyway, must have a certain minimum size and the floating stability of the wind turbine 10 is the better, the larger the float 30 is. In addition, large floating bodies are also desired here, in order to achieve a suitable minimum distance from neighboring ones

To achieve wind turbines in a modular wind farm, when adjacent wind turbines each adjoin each other with their floats. optimal

Installation distances of wind turbines within a wind farm are based on the flow-induced

Afterfeed of the individual wind turbines defined (see Figure 9). In addition, due to the gyroscopic effect and the centrifugal forces acting thereon, the rotating ring generator 18 or the rotating rotor 22 provides additional "active" stability of both the rotor shaft itself (rotational stability) and the entire wind turbine 10 with respect to its swimming behavior (floating stability). Both the stator 20 and the rotor 22 are annular in the example shown. The rotor 22 is connected to the shaft 16 via a support structure 24 in connection. The stator 20 is by means of another support structure 25 on the wall

(Alternatively, on the floor) of the float 30th

attached.

A rotation of the rotor 12 of the wind turbine 10 through

Actuation of the rotor blades 13 with wind offset the

Rotor 22 of the generator 18 in a rotation about the axis 14 relative to the stator 20. The rotor 22 of the generator 18 can be stored by means of a magnetic bearing or otherwise. When the rotor 22 has permanent magnets distributed with varying polarity around the circumference and the stator 20 has a plurality of coils, a current is induced by the rotation of the rotor 22 in the coils. The rotation of the rotor 12 of the wind turbine 10 can by adjusting the

Angle of attack of the rotor blades 13 and / or be varied by selective braking of the rotor 12 such that

regardless of the current wind situation and without one

Transmission between the rotor 12 of the wind turbine 10 and the rotor 22 of the generator 18 is always generated energy of a desired constant mains frequency (for example, 25 Hz or 50 Hz).

In the example shown, the floating body 30 is anchored to the seabed 42 by means of prestressed or sagging lines 40. This will ensure that the

Wind turbine 10 is always positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the seabed 42 without a foundation in the seabed 42 and a complex and expensive support structure for the wind turbine 10 would have to be provided. Of course, other measures are conceivable, the wind turbine 10 in a predetermined position

with respect to the seabed 42. The depth T between the water surface 32 and the seabed 42, in which the wind turbine 10 is anchored, is preferably over 40 m, preferably even over 50 m. The wind turbine 10 could even be anchored in water depths T of over 100 m. The height H of the wind turbine 10 measured from the Water surface 32 may be some 10 m. Basically, in the wind turbine 10 of the invention greater height H than conventional floating offshore

Wind turbines are realized because the focus of the system 10 is particularly low and the flat

Large ring generator 18 provides additional passive swimming stability.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the wind power plant from FIG. 1 in a perspective view. In particular, the rotor 12 is shown with the rotor blades 13. Further, the stator 20 and the rotor 22 of the generator 18 are shown. The floating body 30 is not shown in FIG. It can be seen that the rotor 12 has three rigid rotor blades 13, which are each arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation 14 of the shaft 16. It is in this example, therefore, a so-called. Ii-rotor 12. Of course, a larger or smaller number of rotor blades 13 may be provided. The rotor blades 13 have a straight span, that is, the longitudinal axes 15 of the rotor blades 13 are straight and parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of rotation 14. Further, the rotor blades 13 at their upper and lower ends the same tread depth t ₀ and t _u . Of course, in the context of the invention, other rotors 12 and

Rotor blades 13 are used, which will be explained in more detail below. For example, in FIG. 3 a wind turbine 10 with a different type of rotor 12 is shown. It can be clearly seen that the tread depth t ₀ at the top of the

Rotor blades 13 is less than the tread depth t _u at the lower end. This takes into account the fact that the wind speeds just above the

Due to the greater tread depth t at the lower end than the upper end of the rotor blades 13 acts despite varying wind speeds at different heights H a largely constant buoyancy distribution along the span of the rotor blades 13. In addition, the focus the wind turbine 10 is displaced by the larger masses at the lower ends of the rotor blades 13 down, which the passive floating stability of the wind turbine 10 against

Upset promotes. Through a geometric twist of the

Rotor blades 13 about their longitudinal axes 15 (along the

Span) can also the local angle of the

Rotor blades 13 are optimally adapted. As a result, the operability of the wind turbine 10 and the rotor 12 can be ensured even with stronger winds. In addition, this can be used to vary the speed of the rotor 12. By optimally setting the local angle of attack, the rotational speed of the rotor 12 can thus be kept substantially constant, regardless of the wind force.

FIG. 4 shows yet another type of rotor 12 for the wind power plant 10 according to the invention. It is about this is a kind of Darrieus rotor 12 (so-called Twister). The rotor 12 has a plurality of rotor blades 13, which are each arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation 14. The spans 15 of the rotor blades 13 are twisted about the axis of rotation 14, so that there is a helical shape. Preferably, the

Rotor blades 13 each offset by a portion of a circumference about the axis of rotation 14, which in about a reciprocal of the

Total number of rotor blades 13 of the rotor 12 corresponds. In the illustrated example with three rotor blades 13, each of the rotor blades 13 thus extends from its lower end to its upper end over a range of approximately 120 ° (360 ° circumference / 3 rotor blades).

If one combines the rotor 12 of Figure 3 with the rotor 12 of Figure 4, one obtains a rotor 12, in which the tread depth t ₀ at the upper end of the rotor blades 13 is less than the profile depth t _u at the lower end and the longitudinal axes 15 of the rotor blades 13 are also rotated about the axis of rotation 14. A section through an upper end of such ausgestalteter

Rotor blades 13 in a view from above are shown by way of example in FIG. A corresponding section through a lower end of such rotor blades 13 is shown in FIG.

Furthermore, wind turbines 10 with a different type of rotor 12 are shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b. The rotor 12 has a plurality of rotor blades 13, which have a conical shape relative to the axis of rotation 14. such

Rotor blade pitches can be used to regulate torque through the lever arm action. In FIG. 7a a distance of the rotor blades 13 to the axis of rotation 14 at the lower end (a _u ) of the rotor blades 13 greater than at the upper end (a ₀ ). With reference to FIG. 7b, a distance of the rotor blades 13 from the axis of rotation 14 at the lower end (a _u ) of the rotor blades 13 is smaller than at the upper end (a ₀ ), so that at

Actuation of the rotor blades 13 with wind an upward force component F _E acts on the rotor 12. With F _N , the normal component of the buoyancy force is the

Applying a rotor blade 13 designated with wind. The normal force F _N is divided into a centrifugal force F _z opposing force component F _R and a component F _E , which acts against gravity. In this way, the bearings for supporting the rotor 12 and the shaft 16, in particular the thrust bearings 38, can be relieved. This makes it possible to use completely new bearings for supporting the rotor 12 in the area of wind power plants, for example sliding bearings,

Magnetic bearing (see Figure 12) or even air bearings. in the

Generally conically directed lift surfaces, pointed up or tapered down blade configurations, can also contribute to the tuning of an optimal torque, which is achieved by suitably adapting the lever arms of the torque-generating wind forces on the rotor

Rotor blade 13 along the span is made possible.

The big masses at the foot of the invention

Wind turbine 10 serve on the one hand to improve the passive floating stability by the low center of gravity and on the other hand to improve the moment of inertia of the rotor 12, so that even in gusty winds, it will continue to rotate at almost undiminished speed, even if the wind briefly subsides. This construction allows it

at the same time, the upper part of the wind turbine 10,

in particular the rotor 12, without affecting the

To design synchronous running characteristics in gusty wind in lightweight construction. As a result, the floating stability of

Wind turbine 10 without affecting the

Constant-velocity properties additionally promoted in gusty wind.

The ring generator 18 may include a power generating portion 80 having a generator stator 20 and a generator rotor 22, and a bearing portion 82 configured to support a magnetic bearing of the shaft 16 at least in one

Direction parallel to the vertical axis of rotation 14 too

realize. The bearing section 82 preferably has a first circular or annular section 84 with magnets of a specific polarity and at least one associated second section 86 with magnets

the same polarity, so that the two sections 84, 86 repel and viewed in the vertical direction between the two sections 84, 86 at least one

Air gap 88 forms, so that the two sections 84, 86 are mounted in the vertical direction without material contact solely by magnetic forces. In a wind turbine 10, the bearings after the rotor 12 and - if present - the transmission module the most-common reason for failure of the wind turbine 10. In a rotor 12 with vertical Rotary axis 14, the largest mass forces act in the vertical direction (weight forces), since the

Compensate each other for centrifugal forces. By the

special embodiment of the bearing 82 for receiving the

Vertical forces as a magnetic bearing, the availability of the wind turbine 10 can be significantly improved. The magnets may, for example, be designed as superconducting magnets or else as controlled electromagnets. The magnetic bearing can be designed as passive, active or as an electrodynamic magnetic bearing.

The transverse forces acting in a horizontal direction, usually aerodynamic forces, can be absorbed by conventional mechanical bearings (ball bearings, plain bearings, roller bearings, etc., cf bearing 36). This is relatively easy, since in wind turbines 10 with a rotor 12 with vertical

Rotary axis 14, the resulting lateral load is small. In a further development of the invention, it is also possible that the storage section 82 is formed, a

Magnetic bearing of the shaft 16 to realize in a direction transverse to the vertical axis of rotation 14. In this case, an air gap 92 is formed between the homopolar magnets 84, 90 in the horizontal direction. Again, the magnets 84, 90, for example, as superconducting magnets or as controlled

Electromagnets may be formed. The magnetic bearing can be designed as passive, active or as an electrodynamic magnetic bearing. In order to reduce or even avoid unwanted interaction between the energy generating magnetic fields (in section 80) and the magnetic fields for storage (in section 82), it is proposed that the storage section 82 of the ring generator 18 be offset and spaced from it

Power generating section 80 on the ring generator 18th

is trained. In FIG. 12, the storage section 82 is offset in the direction of the vertical axis of rotation 14

Power generating section 80 on the ring generator 18th

educated. Alternatively or additionally, the

Storage section 82 but also transverse to the vertical

Rotary axis 14 offset from the power generating portion 80 may be formed on the ring generator 18. To realize a safe and reliable storage as possible, it is conceivable that a plurality of storage sections 82 are formed on the ring generator 18. It is also conceivable, at least a conventional mechanical bearing vorzugsehen, the at

Failure of the magnetic bearing 82 takes over the storage function.

All of the above-described different types of rotors 12 or their respective features may be arbitrary

be combined with each other to obtain an optimal rotor 12 for the individual case.

In Figure 8 is an example of a rotor blade 13 a

Wind turbine 10 shown in which to increase the

aerodynamic performance, the rotor blade tip 13a is provided in the upper region with a winglet 19 to those through the Pressure compensation induced to minimize edge vortex effects. A winglet 19 may be provided on the tips 13a of all or only a few rotor blades 13 of a wind turbine 10. In FIG. 9a, by way of example, two rotor blades 13 of a wind power plant 10 are shown, where vortex generators 19a are directed onto the suction surface 13b of the suction axis 13b directed towards the axis of rotation 14

Rotor blades 13, in the vicinity and along the trailing edge 13c of the blades 13 are arranged. This prevents early flow separation at larger angles of incidence along the span. FIGS. 9b to 9d show details of the side-by-side vortex generators 19a. These may for example have the following dimensions: H = 10 to 20 mm, L about 40 mm, S = 30 to 50 mm, ß = 15 ° to 20 °, and the distance Z = 3xH to 5xH = 30 to 100 mm.

In Figure 10 is another embodiment of a

Wind turbine 10 according to the invention shown. It can additionally or alternatively to the anchoring of the

Wind turbine 10 are provided on the seabed 42 by lines 40 an arrangement that autonomous positioning and alignment of the wind turbine 10 with respect to the

Seabed 42 allowed. The arrangement includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) 50 to a current

Position of the wind turbine 10 can be detected using satellite signals 52. Furthermore, the arrangement comprises a drive 54 to the position and / or orientation of the

Wind turbine 10 on the water surface 32 to change. In this example the drive is as one Ship propeller trained. This can be rotated about an axis of rotation 56 to the direction of propulsion through the

Drive 54 to change. Of course, the drive can also be designed differently, for example. As a variable in its direction water jet drive. Finally, the arrangement also comprises a control or regulation device 58, which is connected to the GNSS 50 and the drive 54 in order to control the drive 54 as a function of the detected position of the wind turbine 10 in order to move the wind turbine 10 into a desired position and / or. or alignment on the

To bring water surface 32. For the energy supply of the arrangement or its components 50, 54, 58, a rechargeable battery 60 may be provided. This could, for example, be charged by the current generated by the generator 18. Of course, the wind turbine 10 of Figure 10 with any of the rotors 12 described above and shown in Figures 1 to 9 can be combined.

In Figure 11, an example of a wind farm 70 is shown, which is modularly constructed from a plurality of wind turbines 10 of the type described above. In this case, the floating body 30 in the plan view of such an outer peripheral shape that they can be arranged side by side from several sides and secured to each other. In the illustrated example, the floats 30 have the shape of a uniform

(isosceles and equiangular) octagons.

Of course, the floating body 30 may also have the shape of any other polygon. From the dimensions In the plan view, the floating body 30 is designed so large that the flat-lying large ring generator 18 and possibly other components of the wind power plants 10, for example. Frequency converter and / or control electronics, can be accommodated therein (eg length and width of

Float 30 each 12 to 18 m). The floats 30 of the individual wind turbines 10 are preferably rigidly connected. In this case, it would be sufficient if at least one of the wind turbines 10 is anchored to the seabed 42 via lines 40 or has an arrangement 50, 54, 58 for self-sufficient positioning and alignment of the wind turbine 10 with respect to the seabed 42. separate

Floating modules of the same design may be attached to a floating body of one or more wind turbines 10 and serve both as helicopter landing pads 30b and as service ship docking locations 30c.

FIG. 13 shows part of a further exemplary embodiment of a wind power plant 10 according to the invention. In the example, the rotor 12 has three rotor blades 13 which are connected to their rotor blades

Bottoms are attached to a support structure of the rotor 12. Of course, a different number of rotor blades 13 per rotor 12 may be provided. The

Rotor blades 13 have an asymmetrical, curved profile in the manner of an aircraft wing. The convexly curved surfaces of the rotor blades 13 are directed inwards in the direction of the axis of rotation 14. During commissioning or maintenance of the wind turbine 10, the radius of the rotor 12, that is the Distance between the axis of rotation 14 of the rotor and a

Longitudinal axis 15 of the rotor blades 13 and optionally also an orientation of the rotor blades 13 about their respective

Longitudinal axis 15 can be adjusted manually. The illustrated rotor 12 is realized without wind tracking, since the orientation of the rotor blades 13 about their respective longitudinal axis 15 can not be varied during operation of the wind turbine. In the area of an upper end 13a of the

Rotor blades 13 winglets 19 are provided. It is also conceivable vortex generators (not shown) in the manner of

Vortex generators 19a of Figure 9b to arrange on the rotational axis 14 directed to the suction surface of the rotor blades 13, in the vicinity and along the trailing edge 13c of the leaves thirteenth

FIG. 14 shows a part of a further exemplary embodiment of a wind power plant 10 according to the invention. In contrast to the example from FIG. 13, the rotor 12 shown here is equipped with an adjustable wind track. In this case, the orientation of the rotor blades 13 about their respective longitudinal axis 15 during operation of the wind turbine 10 can be varied (so-called pitch system). It can be realized a permanent pitch control depending on wind direction and wind speed. As a result, it is also possible, when the rotor 12 is at a standstill, to set the wind load optimally

adjust. Also, this rotor 12 may be equipped with winglets 19 and / or vortex generators 19 a, which, however, both are not shown here. In contrast to the rotor blades 13 from FIG. 13, these have a feature in FIG. 14 symmetrical profile and therefore can be special

be produced inexpensively.

The rotors 12 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 of FIG

Wind turbines 10 according to the invention can also be a geometric distortion of the rotor blades 13 to their

Have longitudinal axes 15 (along the span).

FIG. 15 shows the example of FIG

Storage section 82, which - as in the example in Figure 12 - in the radial direction offset to the

Power generating section 80 on the ring generator 18th

is trained. Of course, other configurations and arrangements of storage section 82 and power generation section 80 are also conceivable here. A motor 12a arranged in the rotor 12 can be seen very nicely, which can adjust a rotor blade 13 of the rotor 12 about the longitudinal axis 15 and thus the angle of attack of the blade 13 via a gear (not shown). It is advisable to provide on the float 30, at least in the area of the service flap 34, but preferably around the entire rotor 12 around, a security fence 30a, which prevents people in the

Hazardous area of the rotor blades 13 can get.

In summary, the wind turbine 10 according to the invention can thus have one or more of the following features:

- A vertical axis rotor 12, preferably in

Lightweight design. - Preferably two or three rotor blades 13 per rotor 12, which are distributed uniformly over the circumference of the rotor 12 (in two rotor blades 13 have these in the circumferential direction a distance of about 180 ° to each other, with three rotor blades of about 120 °), wherein

In principle, more than three rotor blades 13 per rotor 12 can be provided.

- geometry of the leaves 13: Darrieus type (rotor 12 with

flexible, arcuate leaves 13 Canadian style), H-Darrieus type (rotor 12 with straight, rigid leaves 13 according to Figures 1, 2 and 10), "twisted" rigid

Rotor blades 13 (3D strand design in double helical form or preferably in triple helix shape according to FIG. 4).

- Rotor blades 13 with increasing tread depth t along the span from the upper end (t ₀ ) to the lower end (t _u ) of the leaves 13 (t ₀ <t _u ), for optimal use of the wind flow due to the atmospheric boundary layer.

- Rotor blades 13 are arranged on the lateral surface of a cylinder (see Figures 1 to 6 and 10) or preferably a cone (conical arrangement, see Figure 7a, tapering up here, and Figure 7b, tapering down here).

- Mounted on floating platforms (Float 30).

- One arranged inside the float 30

Generator 18, preferably in the form of a flat lying Large ring capacitor with a capacity of at least 7.5 MW.

At least one service flap 34 in the outer skin of the

Float 30 above the water surface 32nd

- The floating body 30 have a suitable shape that allows a modular structure of wind farms 70 from several wind turbines 10 attached to each other.

Between rotor 12 of the wind turbine 10 and the

Generator 18 is preferably not a transmission for converting the rotational speed of rotor 12 to another rotational speed of annular generator rotor 22; the generator rotor 22 rotates at the same speed as the rotor 12 of the

Wind turbine 10.

- Storage of the rotor shaft 16 in the float 30th

by means of novel storage concepts, e.g. Slide bearing, permanent magnet bearing, air bearing or a

Combination of such storage concepts.

- Drive arrangement with a GNSS 50, a drive 54 and a control or regulating device 58 for autonomous positioning and alignment of the wind turbine 10 with respect to the seabed 42nd

Claims

claims

1. Floating offshore on a water surface (32)

Wind turbine (10) having a rotor (12) with a shaft (16) rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation (14), the shaft (16) being connected to a generator (18) in

Connection, which converts a rotational movement of the shaft (16) into electrical energy, and at least one floating body (30), characterized in that the generator (18) in the float (30) and arranged via a service flap (34) in the Float (30) from above the water surface (32) is accessible.

2. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 1, characterized

characterized in that the generator (18) as a

flat-lying ring generator is formed, which is directly connected to the shaft (16) without the interposition of a transmission and without the interposition of a frequency converter directly required energy

Mains frequency generated.

3. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 2, characterized

in that the ring generator (18) has a

Power generation section with a generator stator (20) and a generator rotor (22) and a

Storage portion which is adapted to realize a magnetic bearing of the shaft (16) at least in a direction parallel to the vertical axis of rotation (14).

4. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 3, characterized

characterized in that the bearing portion is adapted to a magnetic bearing of the shaft (16) also in a direction transverse to the vertical axis of rotation (14)

realize.

5. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized

characterized in that the storage section of the

Ring generator (18) in the direction of the vertical axis of rotation (14) offset from the power generating portion to the ring generator (18) is formed.

6. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized

characterized in that the storage section of the

Ring generator (18) transversely to the vertical axis of rotation (14) offset to the power generation section on the

Ring generator (18) is formed.

7. Wind turbine (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the rotor (12) has a plurality of rotor blades (13), each having a substantially vertical span along a

Have longitudinal axis (15) and which are each arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation (14), wherein a

Profile depth (t) of the rotor blades (13) at the lower end (t _u ) of the rotor blades (13) is greater than at the upper end (t ₀ ).

8. Wind turbine (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the rotor (12) comprises a plurality of rotor blades (13), each having a Span along a longitudinal axis (15) and are arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation (14), wherein the longitudinal axes (15) of the rotor blades (13) about the rotational axis (16) of the rotor (12) are rotated.

9. Wind power plant (10) according to claim 8, characterized

in that the rotor blades (13) are each provided with a part of a circumference which is at least the reciprocal of the total number of rotor blades (13) of the rotor (12).

multiplied by 360 ° corresponds to the rotation axis (14) are twisted.

10. Wind turbine (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the rotor (12) has a plurality of rotor blades (13), each having a span along a longitudinal axis (15) and arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation (14), wherein a distance (a) of the rotor blades (13) to the

Rotary axis (14) at the lower end (a _u ) of the rotor blades (13) is smaller than at the upper end (a ₀ ), so that when an impact of the rotor blades (13) with wind an upward force component (F _L ) on the Rotor (12) acts.

11. Wind turbine (10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, characterized in that the

Wind turbine (10) via sagging or prestressed lines (40) is anchored to the bottom (42) of the water on which the wind turbine (10) floats.

12. Wind power plant (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the wind turbine (10) a Global Navigation Satellite System (50), hereinafter GNSS to capture a current position of the wind turbine (10), a drive ( 54) to the position and / or orientation of the wind turbine (10) on the

Water surface (32) to change, and a control device (58), which communicates with the GNSS (50) and the drive (54) to the drive

(54) depending on the detected position of the

Wind turbine (10) to control the wind turbine

(10) to a desired position and / or orientation on the water surface (32).

13. Offshore Wind Farm (70) comprising several offshore

Wind power plants (10), characterized in that the wind farm (70) from several wind turbines (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12 has a modular structure.

14. Wind farm (70) according to claim 13, characterized in that the wind turbines (10) of the wind farm (70) are rigidly interconnected.

15. Wind farm (70) according to claim 14, characterized in that only at least one selected

Wind turbine (10) of the wind farm (70) a GNSS (50) to detect a current position of the wind turbine (10), and a drive (54) to the Position and / or orientation of the entire wind farm (70) on the water surface (32) to change.