JP2024083159A - Wind power generation equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A wind turbine generator capable of suppressing fatigue of a tower base is provided.
[Solution] The wind turbine generator has a rotor mounted on a tower and rotates when it receives wind, a generator that generates electricity when it receives the rotational force of the rotor, and a sliding bearing mounted between the tower and a support member that supports the load of the tower.
[Selected figure] Figure 5

Description

This disclosure relates to a wind power generation device.

An example of a wind power generation device is the wind power generation device described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2021-172211 A

A wind turbine generator has a rotor that receives wind force and is mounted on a tower. Structurally, bending forces are generated at the base of the tower when the rotor receives wind force, and fatigue failure at the base is an issue due to repeated loads from the wind.

One solution to the fatigue failure of the base would be to increase the rigidity of the tower structure, but this would increase costs due to increased component thickness and mass.

In addition, partial repairs to steel materials will only result in new strength weaknesses, and there is a risk that similar defects will continue to occur, so this is not an essential solution.

Taking the above facts into consideration, this disclosure aims to provide a wind power generation device that can suppress fatigue at the tower base.

The wind power generation device according to the first aspect has a tower, a support member with the tower mounted on top, a rotor mounted on the tower that rotates when exposed to wind, a generator that receives the rotational force of the rotor to generate electricity, and a sliding bearing mounted between the tower and the support member.

In the wind power generation device according to the first aspect, when the rotor rotates in response to the wind, the generator generates electricity by receiving the rotational force of the rotor.

In the wind power generation device according to the first aspect, when the rotor receives wind and a horizontal external force is input to the tower, horizontal displacement occurs in the sliding support provided between the tower and the support member, making it difficult for bending stress to occur in the base of the tower. This makes it possible to suppress fatigue in the tower base.

The wind power generation device according to the second aspect is the wind power generation device according to the first aspect, but has a damper that suppresses horizontal movement between the tower and the support member.

In the wind power generation device according to the second aspect, the horizontal movement between the tower and the support member is suppressed by the action of the damping force generated by the damper.

The floating offshore wind power generation device according to the third aspect is the wind power generation device according to the first or second aspect, and has a displacement restriction member that restricts horizontal displacement between the tower and the support member.

In the floating offshore wind power generation device according to the third aspect, the displacement restriction member restricts horizontal displacement between the tower and the support member.

The wind power generation device according to the fourth aspect is a wind power generation device corresponding to any one of the first to third aspects, in which a float having buoyancy is connected to the support member.

In the wind turbine generator according to the fourth aspect, a float having buoyancy is connected to the support member, so that the wind turbine generator can be a floating offshore wind turbine generator that floats on water, and can be placed on water such as the sea or a lake.

The wind power generation device according to the fifth aspect has a tower, a support member with the tower mounted on top, a rotor mounted on the tower that rotates when exposed to wind, a generator that receives the rotational force of the rotor to generate electricity, and a seismic isolation device mounted between the tower and the support member.

In the wind power generation device according to the fifth aspect, when the rotor receives wind and a horizontal external force is input to the top of the tower, horizontal displacement occurs in the seismic isolation device installed between the tower and the support member, which makes it difficult for bending stress to occur in the base of the tower. This makes it possible to suppress fatigue in the tower base.

As described above, the wind power generation device disclosed herein can suppress fatigue at the tower base.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a wind turbine generator according to a reference example. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the arrangement of a secondary floating body of a wind turbine power generation device according to a reference example. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the upper side of the tower of a wind turbine generator according to a reference example. FIG. 4 is a side view showing an upper portion of a float of a wind turbine power generating device according to a reference example. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a tower base of a wind turbine power generating device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a perspective view, partially in cross section, showing the periphery of a sliding bearing of a wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a sliding bearing used in a wind turbine generator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the horizontal displacement and horizontal load curve of a vibration absorber. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a base of a wind turbine power generating device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Reference Example]
A wind turbine generator 10 according to a reference example will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the wind power generation device 10 includes, as an example, a support member 12 made of steel or concrete that is circular in plan view.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a tower 14 is erected in the center of the support member 12. The support member 12 and the tower 14 are fixed together, for example, by bolts, welding, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a nacelle 16 is provided on top of the tower 14, and the nacelle 16 houses a generator 20 that generates electricity by rotating the rotor 18. The tower 14 has a hollow structure, for example, and is made of steel or the like. The interior of the tower 14 is sealed to prevent the intrusion of rainwater, seawater, and the like. The hub 18A and the blades 18B make up the rotor 18. The tower 14, nacelle 16, and rotor 18 make up the wind turbine 11.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the wind turbine 11 in this reference example is, as an example, a horizontal axis wind turbine called a propeller type, in which blades 18B are provided on a hub 18A.

The tower 14, nacelle 16, rotor 18, and generator 20 can be of conventional structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, a float holding member 24 is attached to the support member 12. The support member 12 and the float holding member 24 are fixed together, for example, by bolts, welding, etc.

The float holding member 24 has multiple connecting members 24A (five in this example) extending radially (diametrically outward) from the support member 12, and a large-diameter annular member 24B is fixed to the end of each connecting member 24A. A small-diameter annular member 24C with a smaller diameter than the large-diameter annular member 24B is arranged inside the large-diameter annular member 24B. The small-diameter annular member 24C is fixed to the longitudinal middle of the connecting member 24A.

In this reference example, the center of the support member 12, the center of the large diameter annular member 24B, and the center of the small diameter annular member 24C are aligned.

The connecting member 24A, the large diameter annular member 24B, and the small diameter annular member 24C that constitute the float holding member 24 can be formed, for example, from steel material or the like. The float holding member 24 can also be referred to as a steel skeleton, a float support member, a reinforcing material, etc.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, in this reference example, a hollow steel float 26 is attached to the center of the lower part of the support member 12.

A plurality of elastic floats 28 are arranged along the circumferential direction on the lower part of the support member 12, the lower part of the large diameter annular member 24B, and the lower part of the small diameter annular member 24C. These elastic floats 28 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the lower part of the support member 12 and the lower part of the large diameter annular member 24B. The elastic floats 28 are an example of a float of the present disclosure.

The elastic float 28 is hollow, and its shape when in use (when filled with air) is, for example, spherical. Note that the shape of the elastic float 28 when in use is not limited to a sphere, and may be a cylinder, a barrel shape with a bulging center, a cube, etc.

The material that constitutes the elastic float 28 is an elastic material, for example, a synthetic resin (elastomer resin) having elasticity such as vulcanized rubber or urethane resin, and is a material with a lower specific gravity than metal. Reinforcing cords, woven sheets, etc. may be embedded in the elastic material that constitutes the elastic float 28.

Each elastic float 28 is detachably attached to the support member 12 and the float holding member 24 by means of an attachment member 32 such as a chain, a rope, a band, etc., so that each elastic float 28 can be individually replaced. Although not shown in the drawings, the elastic float 28 may be attached to the support member 12 and the float holding member 24 by means of a bolt or the like, not limited to a chain, a rope, a band, etc.
It is preferable that the mounting member 32 is provided so that the elastic float 28 can be attached and detached on the water, for example, on the support member 12 or the float holding member 24 .

The elastic float 28 can expand and contract by changing the amount of air filled in it, in other words, its volume can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 4, an air valve 30 is attached to the elastic float 28, and the air inside the elastic float 28 can be filled with air through the air valve 30, or the air inside the elastic float 28 can be discharged to the outside. In consideration of workability, it is preferable to provide the air valve 30 on a part of the elastic float 28 that is exposed above the water surface WF. The elastic float 28 may be attached or detached in a deflated state after the air inside has been discharged to the outside.

The number and positions of the elastic floating bodies 28 attached to the support member 12 and the floating body holding member 24 are not limited to the examples shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and can be appropriately changed as required.
In this reference example, the number of elastic floats 28, in other words, the buoyancy, is determined so that at least a portion of the elastic float 28 is exposed above the water surface WF when the wind power generation device 10 is in use offshore.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wind turbine 10 of this reference example can be moored to the seabed (not shown) by mooring lines 34, similar to conventional floating offshore wind turbines.

In addition, the electricity generated by the generator 20 can be transmitted to land via a power transmission line 36, for example.

(Action, Effect)
The elastic float 28 of this embodiment is made of elastic materials such as rubber and synthetic resin, which have a lower specific gravity than metal, and is therefore lighter than floats made of metal materials. The wind power generation device 10 of this embodiment can have a lighter overall mass than wind power generation devices that obtain buoyancy from metal floats. This makes it possible to increase the size and size of the rotor, and therefore the amount of power generation.

In a floating offshore wind power generation device in which a single metal float is fixed, when maintenance is required for the float or if the float develops a defect (e.g., a crack or a hole), it must be towed away and brought ashore for maintenance or repair, which requires a great deal of effort and cost for maintenance and repair. Furthermore, if water gets inside the metal float, the balance of buoyancy is lost, and there is a risk that the tower will tilt more than necessary.

On the other hand, the wind power generation device 10 according to this reference example uses multiple elastic floats 28, making it possible to provide a fail-safe. For example, even if a malfunction occurs in any of the elastic floats 28, the balance of buoyancy is prevented from being significantly disrupted, and the tower 14 is prevented from tilting more than necessary.

At least a portion of each elastic float 28 is exposed on the water surface WF, and mounting members 32 such as bolts, chains, ropes, bands, etc. are provided so that the elastic float 28 can be attached and detached on the water, for example, on the support member 12 or the float holding member 24, which makes it easy to maintain a defective elastic float 28 on the water or to replace it with a new elastic float 28. This makes the work easier than maintenance and replacement by towing and landing.
Furthermore, the elastic floating body 28 can be filled with air or the air inside the elastic floating body 28 can be discharged via the air valve 30. The elastic floating body 28 can be shrunk by releasing the air inside, which makes it easier to transport and attach/detach the elastic floating body 28.
Furthermore, since the air valve 30 is attached to the upper portion of the elastic floating body 28, it becomes easy to connect the hose of an air pump to the air valve 30 on the water.

The elastic float 28, made of an elastic material, is detachable and lightweight compared to metal floats, so it is easy to remove the elastic float 28 and rotate it on the ocean. For example, rotating the elastic float 28 and turning the submerged lower part to the top makes it easier to inspect the submerged part and to remove any attached matter from the lower part, making maintenance easier.

In addition, since the elastic material deforms elastically, even if an object hits the elastic float 28, it is unlikely to undergo plastic deformation, and it can also absorb the impact of an object (waves, floating objects, etc.) hitting it.

In the wind power generation device 10 according to this reference example, the elastic floats 28 are detachable, so it is easy to adjust the number and positions of the elastic floats 28 to adjust and balance the buoyancy. It is also easy to balance the buoyancy so that the foundation member on which the tower 14 is mounted is horizontal.

[First embodiment]
A wind power generating device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 8. Note that the same components as those in the above-mentioned reference example are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the wind power generation device 100 of this embodiment, the tower 14 is provided on the support member 12. More specifically, the tower 14 is supported on the support member 12 via a sliding bearing 110.

The tower 14 in this embodiment has a tower base plate 120 at the bottom. As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the sliding bearing 110 includes a bearing portion 130 attached to the tower base plate 120, and a sliding plate 140 attached to the support member 12, abutting against the bearing portion 130 and supporting the bearing portion 130.

The sliding bearing 110 can be used as a seismic isolation device installed between the tower base plate 120 and the support member 12 .
The seismic isolation device equipped with the sliding bearing 110 can allow the sliding bearing portion 130 and the sliding plate 140 to slide relative to each other when a lateral bending force acts on the tower 14 due to wind. In addition, the tower 14 fixed to the tower base plate 120 is endowed with seismic isolation performance by the sliding bearing 110.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the tower base plate 120 has bolt holes 125 formed in the bottom surface 122, and the flange 131 of the support part 130 is bolted to it, as described below.

(Support section)
The support portion 130 is a member that continues to support the tower 14. The support portion 130 is a member that transmits the load of the rotor 18, the nacelle 16, the tower 14, the tower base plate 120, etc. to the support member 12. The support portion 130 is configured to include a flange 131 that is attached to the bottom surface 122 of the tower base plate 120, a vibration absorber 132 that is formed on the lower part of the flange 131 and absorbs vibrations, and a sliding member 133 that is formed on the lower part of the vibration absorber 132 and abuts against a sliding surface 141 of the sliding plate 140.

The flange 131 has bolt holes 135, and the flange 131 and the tower base plate 120 are joined with bolts 138. The flange 131, the vibration absorber 132, and the sliding member 133 are joined to each other in the vertical direction. The vibration absorber 132 is made of laminated rubber in which rubber 132a and steel plate 132b are layered in order.

(Slide plate)
The sliding plate 140 is a plate material on which an object slides, and has a sliding surface 141 formed on its surface against which the sliding material 133 of the support part 130 abuts. The surface of the sliding surface 141 is sintered and coated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or the like. In addition, the sliding plate 140 is not joined to the support part 130, and when a horizontal force is applied, the sliding material 133 of the support part 130 can slide on the sliding surface 141.

The sliding plate 140 is formed in a rectangular shape. Bolt holes 145 are formed in the four corners of the sliding plate 140, and bolt holes 155 are formed in the support member 12. The sliding plate 140 is fixed to the support member 12 with bolts 158.

The wind power generation device 100 is equipped with a damper 160 and a displacement restriction member 162.

Dampers 160 are installed on the upper surface of the support member 12 at positions facing each side of the sliding plate 140. The dampers 160 generate a damping force that suppresses horizontal shaking of the tower base plate 120. In other words, the dampers 160 generate a damping force. As the dampers 160, oil dampers, air dampers, viscoelastic bodies such as rubber with a large damping rate, etc. can be used, and there is no particular restriction on the type.

The support member 12 and the tower base plate 120 are connected by a displacement restriction member 162 that restricts the relative displacement between the support member 12 and the tower base plate 120. One example of the displacement restriction member 162 is a metal chain covered with rubber, and it acts as a stopper that restricts the tower base plate 120 from being displaced more than necessary. The type of the displacement restriction member 162 is not particularly important, and it may be a block-shaped member that is fixed to the support member 12 and is provided at a position horizontally spaced from the end of the tower base plate 120.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outer periphery of the tower base plate 120 and the upper surface of the support member 12 are connected with a waterproof cover 164 made of a flexible material, which prevents water from getting on the sliding bearing 110, the damper 160, the displacement restriction member 162, etc.

(Action)
In the wind power generation device 100 of this embodiment, when the rotor 18 encounters wind and a horizontal external force is input to the top of the tower 14, a horizontal displacement occurs between the tower base plate 120 on which the tower 14 is mounted and the support member 12, which makes it less likely that bending stress will occur at the base of the tower 14 and improves the durability of the tower 14.
In addition, by improving the durability of the tower 14, it becomes possible to enlarge the rotor 18 and increase the amount of power generation.

When the displacement is small, the vibration absorber 132 absorbs the displacement energy by shear deformation, and when the displacement becomes large, the static friction limit between the sliding material 133 of the support part 130 and the sliding surface 141 of the sliding plate 140 is exceeded, and the support part 130 slides on the sliding plate 140.

8 shows the horizontal displacement and horizontal load curve of the vibration absorber (laminated rubber part) 132 of the support part 130, in which the laminated rubber part of the support part 130 undergoes elastic deformation in the low load region before the tower 14 starts to slide, making it possible to prevent the tower 14 from constantly moving. The elastic modulus of the laminated rubber part of the support part 130 can be adjusted by the rubber material and product shape.
Incidentally, the elastic modulus of the laminated rubber portion = shear elastic modulus x effective area of rubber portion / rubber layer thickness.

The damper 160 suppresses horizontal shaking of the tower base plate 120, and the displacement restriction member 162 restricts excessive displacement of the tower base plate 120.

In this embodiment, the tower 14 is supported by a single sliding bearing 110, but the tower 14 may be supported by multiple sliding bearings 110.

Second Embodiment
A wind turbine generator 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
The wind power generation device 100 of this embodiment is a wind power generation device for land use, and as shown in Fig. 9, the sliding plate 140 is fixed to a foundation 170 made of concrete or the like formed on the land ground (not shown) or the like. The foundation 170 of this embodiment is an example of a support member of the present disclosure.
The action and effect when the rotor 18 is subjected to wind are the same as those of the first embodiment, and it is possible to reduce the bending stress occurring in the base of the tower 14. This not only reduces fatigue in the tower base, but also prevents collapse during earthquakes.

[Other embodiments]
While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that the present disclosure can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

In the wind power generation device 100 of the above embodiment, the tower 14 is supported on the support member 12 via the sliding bearing 110, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the tower 14 may be supported by a normal seismic isolation device (the support portion 130 of the above embodiment, as an example) that does not have a sliding plate on the support member 12. Even in this case, bending stress is less likely to occur at the base of the tower 14. Note that the normal seismic isolation device referred to here corresponds to, for example, the vibration absorber 132 of the above embodiment.

The wind power generation device 100 in the first embodiment described above is a so-called floating offshore wind power generation device in which the tower 14 floats on the water surface, but it may also be an offshore wind power generation device of a type in which the tower 14 is fixed to a foundation provided on the seabed (or the lake bottom), and the type of support part that supports the tower 14 is not particularly important.

The wind turbine 11 in this embodiment is a horizontal axis wind turbine, also known as a propeller type, but the type of wind turbine 11 is not limited to that in this embodiment, and may be of other types, such as a vertical axis wind turbine.

12: Support member, 14: Tower, 18: Rotor, 20: Generator, 26: Float, 28: Elastic float (float), 100: Wind power generation device, 110: Sliding bearing, 132: Vibration absorber (seismic isolation device), 160: Damper, 162: Displacement control member, 170: Foundation (support member).

Claims (5)

Tower and
A support member having the tower mounted thereon;
A rotor that is provided on the tower and rotates by receiving wind;
a generator that receives the rotational force of the rotor and generates electricity;
a sliding bearing provided between the tower and the support member;
A wind power generation device having the above structure. a damper for inhibiting horizontal movement between the tower and the support member;
The wind turbine generator according to claim 1 . a displacement restriction member that restricts horizontal displacement between the tower and the support member;
The wind power generating device according to claim 1 or 2. A floating body having buoyancy is connected to the support member.
The wind turbine generator according to claim 1 . Tower and
A support member having the tower mounted thereon;
A rotor that is provided on the tower and rotates by receiving wind;
a generator that receives the rotational force of the rotor and generates electricity;
A seismic isolation device provided between the tower and the support member;
A wind power generation device having the above structure.