GB2484962A - Shroud or fairing for window turbine - Google Patents

Shroud or fairing for window turbine Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2484962A
GB2484962A GB1018210.3A GB201018210A GB2484962A GB 2484962 A GB2484962 A GB 2484962A GB 201018210 A GB201018210 A GB 201018210A GB 2484962 A GB2484962 A GB 2484962A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shroud
tower
wind
nacelle
wind turbine
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Withdrawn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
GB1018210.3A
Other versions
GB201018210D0 (en
Inventor
Samuel Mcmaster
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.)
CALSAND Ltd
Original Assignee
CALSAND Ltd
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 CALSAND Ltd filed Critical CALSAND Ltd
Priority to GB1018210.3A priority Critical patent/GB2484962A/en
Publication of GB201018210D0 publication Critical patent/GB201018210D0/en
Publication of GB2484962A publication Critical patent/GB2484962A/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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 
    • F03D1/04—Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor  having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels
    • F03D11/04—
    • 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
    • F03D80/70—Bearing or lubricating arrangements
    • 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
    • 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
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
    • F05B2240/912—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure on a tower
    • 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
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/96—Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
    • 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

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

A shroud or fairing 21 for mounting around the tower 11 of a wind turbine generator 10, the shroud 21 extending from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent ground level G and being so shaped as to cause approaching airflow to be deflected substantially equally to both sides thereof, the shroud 21 being mounted to the tower 11 by one or more bearing rings or slew rings 24, 25 to facilitate rotation about the tower. The tail area below the level of the blades 14 may be increased by addition of a fin 27. The cross section of the shroud may be consistent from top to bottom or alternatively may follow the taper of the cross section of the tower 11. The shroud 21 may be coupled to the rotation mechanism 16 of the nacelle 12, however in windy conditions the shroud 21 may be disengaged from the rotation mechanism.

Description

A Faring for a Wind Turbine
Field
This invention relates to a way of adapting the support towers of horizontal axis wind turbines so as to reduce the forces on the support towers generated by the wind.
Background of the invention
Wind turbines are increasingly used for the generation of electrical energy.
Principally, wind turbines comprise of a tower, a nacelle located on the tower and a rotor, which is rotatably supported in the nacelle by means of a shaft. In modern wind turbines, the rotor typically has ihree rotor blades. The rotor blades are caused to turn by the wind and, thereby, achieve a rotational movement on the rotor. The shaft of the rotor transmits this. rotational movement to a generator accommodated within the nacelle for energy generation. The rotational.
movement of the shaft can be transferred via a gearbox, in order to increase the number of revolutions provided to the generator; The nacelle is typically rotatably mounted on the tower so that the rotor blades are directed into the wind.
The problems of noise generation due to airflow being the rotor blades and the tower are known and ways of reducing this noise generation have been proposed in GPB 2353825 A and EP 1515 049.
The wind driving the rotors also exerts a load on the tower. A typical towe is a hollow construction having a height of 68 meters with a base diameter of 4meters and a top diameter of 2.5 meters. For a designated wind speed for the UK of about 56 rn/sec (storm Force 10) the typical force on a tower is about 10, 000 kNM. and the stress at the base of the tower may be in the order of 125 N/mm2 An object of the present invention is to modify the pattern of airflow around the tower in such a way as to reduce the loads exerted on the tower by the wind.
Statements of Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a shroud or fairing for mounting around the tower of a wind turbine generator, the shroud in use extending from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent ground level and being so shaped as to cause approaching airflow to be deflected to both sides thereof, the shroud being free to rotate about the vertical axis of the tower.
Adjacent ground level is taken to be a minimum safe distance above ground level to prevent injury, to a person standing on the ground by the shroud moving in the wind.
Preferably the shroud is made ofa suitable material and may comprises panels, preferably fabricated from sheet metal, with supporting ribs and struts and is 20'' mounted.on one or more bearing rings to facilitate rotation about the tower.
Other suitable materials may comprise fibre reinforced reinforced plastic mouldings or other material according to cost and durability requirements.
The shroud may have a substantially constant cross-section from top to bottom or alternatively may be tapered to follow the tapering cross-section of the tower.
The shroud has a nose which in use is directed into the prevailing wind and a tail extending to the lee of the tower and preferably the tail area of the shroud may * be increase below the rotor bladed level by addition of a fin.
The nacelle of the wind turbine is caused by a rotation mechanism to face into the prevailing winds and the shroud may be coupled with and disengaged from said mechanism as is desired.
A second aspect of the present invention provide for a wind turbine generator having a tower which is enclosed from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent the ground level by a shroud or fairing according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Descjption of the Drawing The invention will now be described by way of Example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a wind turbine generator fitted with a shroud, and FIGURE 2 is a schematic drawing shows the airflow streamlines around * a tower with a shroud according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
With reference to Fig.1 there is shown a wind turbine generator 10 which comprises of a tower 11 standing on a foundationl8, a nacelle 12 located on the tower and a rotor 13, which is rotatably supported in the nacelle by means of a shaft. In modern wind turbines, the rotor typically has three rotor blades 14. The rotor blades are caused to turn by the wind and, thereby, achieve a rotational movement on the rotor. The shaft of the rotor transmits this rotational movement to a generator is accommodated within the nacelle for energy generation. The.
rotational movement of the shaft Sn be transferred via a gearbox (not shown), in order to increase the number of revolutions provided to the generator 15. The nacelle is typically rotatably mounted on the tower ii so that the rotor blades are directed into the wind.
The nacelle 12 is rotatable relative to the tower 11 so as to face the rotor 13 into the prevailing wind. To this end the, nacelle is provided with a rotation mechanism 16 which positions the blades 14 into the wind.
The tower 11 has a typical height of about 68 metres and tapers vertically from a diameter at the base of about 4 metres to a diameter at the top adjacent the nacelle 12 of about 2.5 metres. The tower is hollow cylinder formed from steel reinforced concrete. The base 18 is below ground level G and prevents the wind turbine from tipping.
The tower ii has a shroud or fairing 21 mounted thereon. Now with reference also to Fig. 2, the shroud 211s aerodynamically shaped so as to deflect wind W substantially equally to both sides thereof. The shroud 21 has a nose 22 directed towards the wind and a tail 23 in the lee of the shroud and is free to rotate about the mast so that the shroud is orientated by wind force to an optimum position for minimum wind resistance.
The shroud 21 extends from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent the ground level Gallowing for hroudtoterminateatasafeheight H above the ground and may have substantially the same cross-section as shown in Fig.1 from top to bottom.
In an alternative arrangement ( not shown) the cross-section of the shroud 21 may follow the taper of the cross-section of the tower 11.
The shroud may be fabricated from any suitable material, for example a combination of sheet metals with steel ribs and struts, or fibre reinforced plastics mouldings supported on GRP (Glass reinforced polyester or epoxy resin) struts or steel struts.
The shroud 21 may be mounted to the tower 11 on bearing rings 24,25, sometimes called slew rings, located at the top and bottom of the shroud 11.
In order to reduce the amount of wind force required to rotate the shroud, the tail area below the level of the blades 14 may be increased by addition of a fin 27.
The shroud 21 may be caused to rotate with the nacelle 12 by selectively coupling the shroud to the rotation mechanism 16 of the nacelle especially in light wind conditions. In more windy conditions the shroud 21 may disengaged from the rotation mechanism.
For a typical tower 11 as described earlier, it is estimated that a shroud 21 abcording to the present invention will reduce the wind loads acting on the tower by approximately 15% which in turn will allow the wall thickness of a typical tower to be reduces from about 35mm to between 30-31 mm. This results in a saving of approximately 16.00 tonnes of steel. Furthermore, the reduction in reduces moment of wind force allows for a reduction in weight of the foundation 18. typically of the order of a 50 tonne reduction in weight.
The shroud 21 has additional advantages in that there will be a reduction in air tUrbulence when the blades pass the tower reducing wear on the turbine rotors bearings and noise. -7

Claims (8)

  1. Claims 1. A shroud or fairing for mounting around the tower of a wind turbine generator, the shroud in use extending from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent ground level and being so shaped as to cause approaching airflow to be deflected to both sides thereof, the shroud being free to rotate about the vertical axis of the tower.
  2. 2. A shroud as claimed in Claim I and which is mounted to the tower by one or more bearing rings to facilitate rotation about the tower.
    *
  3. 3. A shroud as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 and which comprises assembled panels rotatably connected to the tower via supporting ribs and struts.
  4. 4. A shroud as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, wherein the shroud has a substantially constant cross-section from top to bottom
  5. 5. A shroud as claimed in any one of Claims I to 4, wherein the cross-section of the shroud is tapered to follow the tapering cross-section of the tower.
  6. 6. A shroud as claimed in any one of Claims I to 5, wherein the shroud hasa * nose which in use is directed into the prevailing wind and a tail extending to the lee of the tower and the tail area of the shroud may be increase below the rotor bladed level by addition of a fin.
  7. 7, A shroud as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein wind turbine comprises a tower, a nacelle located on the tower and a bladed. rotor, which is rotatably supported in the nacelle by means of a shaft. Which operates the turbine, the nacelle of the wind turbine being caused to face into the prevailing wind by a rotation mechanism and the shroud is selectively coupled with and disengaged from said mechanism as is desired.
  8. 8. A wind turbine generator having a tower which is enclosed from adjacent the top of the tower to adjacent ground level by a shroud or fairing as claimed in any one ofClaims Ito 7.
GB1018210.3A 2010-10-28 2010-10-28 Shroud or fairing for window turbine Withdrawn GB2484962A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1018210.3A GB2484962A (en) 2010-10-28 2010-10-28 Shroud or fairing for window turbine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1018210.3A GB2484962A (en) 2010-10-28 2010-10-28 Shroud or fairing for window turbine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201018210D0 GB201018210D0 (en) 2010-12-15
GB2484962A true GB2484962A (en) 2012-05-02

Family

ID=43401442

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1018210.3A Withdrawn GB2484962A (en) 2010-10-28 2010-10-28 Shroud or fairing for window turbine

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2484962A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014205348A1 (en) 2013-06-20 2014-12-24 Eric Loth 2-d fairing for a wind turbine tower
CN105822495A (en) * 2016-04-01 2016-08-03 福建爱迪生科技有限公司 Wind turbine generator
WO2016198530A1 (en) * 2015-06-10 2016-12-15 Lorenz Voit Wind turbine for obtaining electric energy from wind, and corresponding tower
CN107620680A (en) * 2017-09-11 2018-01-23 北京金风科创风电设备有限公司 Streamlined body for inhibiting vibration of enclosure structure, equipment and method for hoisting tower drum
CN110345020A (en) * 2019-07-28 2019-10-18 米建军 A kind of tower fairing and application apparatus
CN111237137A (en) * 2020-02-25 2020-06-05 扬州大学 Noise reduction device mounted on tower of wind turbine and wind turbine

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59147879A (en) * 1983-02-14 1984-08-24 Shinenerugii Sogo Kaihatsu Kiko Down wind type wind force generator
JPS61175272A (en) * 1985-01-30 1986-08-06 Yamaha Motor Co Ltd Fairing device of wind mill
GB2353825A (en) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-07 David Lovett Ewbank Teal Wind turbine tower having rotatable shroud/fairing
WO2003014568A1 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-02-20 Kanki, Kenzou Supporting shaft and column of wind power generator
WO2007105260A1 (en) * 2006-03-02 2007-09-20 Shoichi Tanaka Wind-driven power generator and construction method for the same
DE102008008760A1 (en) * 2008-02-12 2009-08-13 Schopf, Walter, Dipl.-Ing. Flow load controlling mechanism for tower of offshore-wind turbine i.e. monopile, has tower arranged with flow resistance-favorable surface structure such that sea current exerts smaller horizontal forces on tower
US20100183443A1 (en) * 2009-01-16 2010-07-22 Steve Thorne Integrated wind turbine and solar energy collector

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59147879A (en) * 1983-02-14 1984-08-24 Shinenerugii Sogo Kaihatsu Kiko Down wind type wind force generator
JPS61175272A (en) * 1985-01-30 1986-08-06 Yamaha Motor Co Ltd Fairing device of wind mill
GB2353825A (en) * 1999-09-01 2001-03-07 David Lovett Ewbank Teal Wind turbine tower having rotatable shroud/fairing
WO2003014568A1 (en) * 2001-08-02 2003-02-20 Kanki, Kenzou Supporting shaft and column of wind power generator
WO2007105260A1 (en) * 2006-03-02 2007-09-20 Shoichi Tanaka Wind-driven power generator and construction method for the same
DE102008008760A1 (en) * 2008-02-12 2009-08-13 Schopf, Walter, Dipl.-Ing. Flow load controlling mechanism for tower of offshore-wind turbine i.e. monopile, has tower arranged with flow resistance-favorable surface structure such that sea current exerts smaller horizontal forces on tower
US20100183443A1 (en) * 2009-01-16 2010-07-22 Steve Thorne Integrated wind turbine and solar energy collector

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014205348A1 (en) 2013-06-20 2014-12-24 Eric Loth 2-d fairing for a wind turbine tower
EP3011174A4 (en) * 2013-06-20 2017-02-22 The University of Virginia Patent Foundation 2-d fairing for a wind turbine tower
US10415547B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2019-09-17 University Of Virginia Patent Foundation 2-D fairing for a wind turbine tower
WO2016198530A1 (en) * 2015-06-10 2016-12-15 Lorenz Voit Wind turbine for obtaining electric energy from wind, and corresponding tower
CN105822495A (en) * 2016-04-01 2016-08-03 福建爱迪生科技有限公司 Wind turbine generator
CN107620680A (en) * 2017-09-11 2018-01-23 北京金风科创风电设备有限公司 Streamlined body for inhibiting vibration of enclosure structure, equipment and method for hoisting tower drum
US11306477B2 (en) 2017-09-11 2022-04-19 Beijing Goldwind Science & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd. Streamlined body and streamlined apparatus for suppressing vibrations of enclosure and method for hoisting tower
CN110345020A (en) * 2019-07-28 2019-10-18 米建军 A kind of tower fairing and application apparatus
WO2021017939A1 (en) * 2019-07-28 2021-02-04 米建军 Tower flow straightening apparatus and application method
CN111237137A (en) * 2020-02-25 2020-06-05 扬州大学 Noise reduction device mounted on tower of wind turbine and wind turbine

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Publication number Publication date
GB201018210D0 (en) 2010-12-15

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