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
  • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
  • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
  • F03D7/0264—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor for stopping; controlling in emergency situations
  • F03D7/0268—Parking or storm protection
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
  • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
  • E04H12/34—Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
  • E04H12/345—Arrangements for tilting up whole structures or sections thereof
• • 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
  • F03D13/22—Foundations specially adapted for wind motors
• • 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
  • F05B2240/915—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable
  • F05B2240/9152—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable by being hinged
  • F05B2240/91521—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable by being hinged at ground level
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
  • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to wind generators with folding masts.
• the invention relates to a wind generator comprising: - a mast extending along a longitudinal axis between a lower end and an upper end, said mast being connected to the ground by an articulation and pivotally mounted about said articulation between a substantially vertical erect position and a substantially horizontal folded-down position, the articulation being positioned between the lower and upper ends of the mast, the mast comprising a lower part, situated between the articulation and the lower end, which counterweights the nacelle and an upper part of the mast situated between the articulation and the nacelle, a counterweight being movably connected to the lower part of the mast, a nacelle borne by the upper end of the mast, this nacelle comprising a rotor bearing a turbine, - at least one main ram connected to the mast and adapted to make said mast pivot between the erect position and the folded-down position.
• Wind generators of this type can thus be folded down when the wind is strong, particularly in areas prone to cyclones .
• a wind generator of the kind in question is characterized in that said main ram is connected between a fixed support and the lower part of the mast.
• the stroke of the ram can be less than in the prior art, and therefore the ram can be less expensive and more reliable, and this can be achieved without the need for particularly complex arrangements.
• the main ram is hydraulic; the main ram extends under the lower part of the mast up to a pivot connected to the lower end of the mast; - the main ram extends in a longitudinal direction which is inclined of less than 30° with a horizontal plane; a counterweight is movably connected to the lower part of the mast, and the wind generator comprises a control device including at least one actuator connecting the moving counterweight to the mast and adapted to move the counterweight so that a center of gravity of the counterweight is moved toward and away from said articulation along the longitudinal axis of the mast; the control device is adapted to move the counterweight in synchronism with pivoting of the mast so as to move said center of gravity progressively: - away from the articulation as the mast is pivoting into the folded-down position,
• the control device is adapted to move the counterweight as a function of a tilt angle of the mast so as to balance at least partially a torque applied to said mast by gravity during pivoting of the mast;
• the control device is adapted to move the counterweight as a function of an external force applied to the mast by the wind so as to balance at least partially a torque applied to said mast by said external force during pivoting of the mast;
• the counterweight is mounted on a pivot at the lower end of the mast and the main ram is pivotally connected to said pivot;
• the counterweight extends under the lower end of the mast and forms a vertical slot, and the main ram extends in said slot under the lower part of the mast up to said pivot;
• the lower part of the mast with the counterweight have a first mass, the upper part of the mast and the nacelle together having a second mass, the first mass ranging between 30% and 300% of the second mass, preferably between 50% and 150% of the second mass;
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a wind generator according to a first embodiment of the invention, with its mast in the erect position;
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing part of the device for controlling the wind generator of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an elevation of the wind generator of Figure 1, in the erect position, one of the mast cheek plates having been omitted for greater clarity;
• Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 3 of the wind generator in the process of being folded down and in the folded-down position, respectively;
• Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views, viewed in two different directions, of the lower part of the mast of the wind generator of Figure 1 in the erect position,
• Figure 8 is a vertical section of the lower part of the mast of the wind generator of Figures 6 and 7;
• Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the lower part of the mast of the wind generator of Figures 6-8, respectively in the process of being folded down and in the folded-down position; and - Figure 11 is view similar to Figure 3 in a second embodiment of the invention.
• the invention relates to a wind generator comprising: - a support mast 1 extending between a lower end Ia and an upper end Ib, a nacelle 2 pivotally mounted at the upper end of the support mast 1 about a vertical axis Z, the nacelle 2 containing, in particular, an alternator, - a rotor 3 mounted to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis R and borne by the nacelle 2, the rotor 3 bearing a turbine 4 with several blades Aa which is designed to run the alternator contained in the nacelle 2.
• the support mast 1 may extend over a height to about 50 to 100 m and its metallic structure may for example weigh around 50 tons
• the support mast 1 may be a hollow mast of, for example, circular or some other cross section, of a width which may be of the order of 3 to 4 m at its bottom.
• the mast 1 is pivotally mounted about an articulation 5, for example a simple pivot, which allows the mast 1 to pivot about a horizontal axis Y.
• the mast 1 can thus pivot in a vertical plane X, Z between the erect position depicted in Figure 1 and a folded-down position depicted in Figure 5.
• the articulation 5 may connect the mast 1 for example to two vertical cheek plates 6 which are anchored in a support pedestal 7 (of concrete or metal for instance) fixed to the ground 8.
• the mast 1 is made to pivot by an actuator Vl, for example one or more main hydraulic ram(s) which connects/connect the mast 1 to the aforementioned pedestal 7.
• actuator Vl for example one or more main hydraulic ram(s) which connects/connect the mast 1 to the aforementioned pedestal 7.
• This ram Vl can be controlled, for example from a control station 10 situated near the wind generator or remotely, by a control device which may in particular, as depicted in Figure 2, comprise a microcomputer 12 or the like, provided with the customary interfaces such as a screen 13, a keyboard 14 and the like and controlling, for example, a controller 15 (A) which itself controls the ram Vl.
• a control device which may in particular, as depicted in Figure 2, comprise a microcomputer 12 or the like, provided with the customary interfaces such as a screen 13, a keyboard 14 and the like and controlling, for example, a controller 15 (A) which itself controls the ram Vl.
• the articulation 5 is positioned at a location some way between the lower Ia and upper Ib ends of the mast 1 such that the lower part of the mast, situated between the articulation 5 and the lower end Ia counterweights the nacelle and the upper part of the mast situated between the articulation 5 and the upper end Ib of the mast.
• the ratio 11/12 between the height 11 of the lower part of the mast and the height 12 of the upper part of the mast may for example range between 10 and 50% and in particular between 15 and 25%.
• the lower part of the mast is preferably weighted with a counterweight 27 based a dense material, for example cast iron, concrete, clinker, sand or the like (when said dense material is a non-cohesive material such as sand or clinker for example, the dense material in question is contained in a rigid casing made of steel or the like) .
• the counterweight 27 may for example have a mass ranging between 30 and 300 tons according to the situation, namely approximately 30 to 300% of the mass of the upper part of the mast and of the nacelle 2, or preferably approximately 50 to 150% of this mass represented by the upper part of the mast 1 and the mass 12.
• the lower part of the mast 1 with the counterweight 27 may have a first mass, the upper part of the mast 1 and the nacelle 2 together having a second mass, the first mass ranging between 30% and 300% of the second mass, preferably between 50% and 150% of the second mass.
• the counterweight 27 is a moving counterweight, the center of gravity G of which can be positioned a variable distance from the articulation 5.
• the moving counterweight 27 is pivotally mounted about an articulation 28 at the lower end Ia of the mast 1.
• the moving counterweight 27 can be operated by an actuator V2 such as a hydraulic ram for example, which connects said moving counterweight to the mast 1.
• Actuator V2 is itself incorporated into the control device 11 described previously ( Figure 2) and controlled by the aforementioned controller 15.
• the lower part 25 of the mast 1 may form a ballast which is fixed with regard to the mast and which may be made for instance of cast iron, concrete or other dense material as previously described for the first embodiment, said ballast having a center of gravity which is situated under the articulation 5 in the erect position of the mast.
• the lower portion 25 of the mast may be extended opposite the ram Vl, by a lateral extension 26.
• the movable counterweight 27 is pivotally mounted at the lower end of the extension 26 (i.e. at the lower end Ia of the mast 1), by said pivot 28.
• the stem of the ram Vl may be pivotally connected to said pivot 28 and may extend under the ballast 25, toward a support 29 on which the cylinder of the ram Vl is pivotally mounted around an articulation 30.
• the support 29 is offset laterally from the mast 1 in the direction X, opposite the pivot 28.
• the counterweight 27 may for instance include two vertical side plates 31 which extend parallel to the plane X, Z and which define a vertical slot 32 in- between.
• the ram Vl extends in said slot 32 up to the pivot 28.
• the vertical side plates 31 may for instance each include a central main portion 33 extending in the X direction between: a front portion 34, protruding horizontally toward the support 29, and a rear arm 35 extending opposite the support 29 up to a rear end which is connected to the pivot 28.
• the central main portions 33 of the side plates 31 are connected together by an upper bridge 36 extending between the side plates in the Y direction, and the hydraulic ram V2 may be connected for instance between said bridge 36 and the lower portion 25 of the mast, so as to control the pivoting of the counterweight 27 in a similar fashion as in the first embodiment.
• the ram V2 may be received for instance in a recess 40 hollowed out in the lower portion 25 of the mast.
• the side plates 31 of the counterweight 27 may further include respectively two lower notches 37 which are disposed in mutual correspondence and which are adapted to engage by fitting on a corresponding transverse rib 38 belonging to the pedestal 7.
• This transverse rib may for instance be a concrete rib (specially when the pedestal 7 is itself made out of concrete) and may be covered by a metal profile 39 on which the notches 37 of the side plates may engage.
• the wind generator may be operated as follows.
• the counterweight When the mast 1 is in the erect position as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6-8, the counterweight is pushed downward by the ram V2 so as to maintain the notches 37 of the counterweight engaged on the transverse rib 38, thereby locking the mast 1 in the erect position.
• the transverse rib 38 thus constitutes a fixed anchoring device with which the counterweight 27 cooperates by fitting engagement when the mast 1 is erect, in order to lock said mast in the erect position.
• the ram V2 When the mast 1 has to be folded down, the ram V2 initially raises the counterweight 27 so that the notches 37 of the counterweight disengage from the transverse rib 38, the ram Vl pivots the mast 1 downward as shown in Figures 4 and 9, until the mast 1 is completely folded down in the horizontal position as shown in Figures 5 and 10.
• the ram V2 is controlled so as to pivot the counterweight 27 during the pivoting of the mast, to move progressively the center of gravity G of the counterweight 27 away from the articulation 5 along the longitudinal axis A of the mast when the mast 1 is pivoting downward toward the folded down position.
• the counterweight 27 is pivoted in its position farthest from the articulation 5 when the mast is in the folded down position ( Figures 5 and 10) .
• the counterweight 27 is progressively pivoted toward the lower portion 25 of the mast, i.e. toward a position where the center of gravity G is closest to the articulation 5.
• the movement of the counterweight 27 may be controlled according to the tilting of the mast 1, so that said movement compensates at least partially for the torque created by the mast 1, the nacelle 2, the rotor 3 and the turbine 4 when the mast 1 is inclined.
• the movements of the counterweight 27 are computed by the computer 12 and/or controller 15 based on the tilting of the mast 1, and the controller 15 then controls the ram V2 to actuate the counterweight so that it follows the necessary movements.
• the movement of the counterweight 27 could be controlled not only according to the tilting of the mast 1, but also according to the additional external forces which may be applied to the wind generator during the pivoting movements of the mast, for instance according to the efforts applied by the wind.
• additional external forces may be measured through the efforts applied to the ram Vl or computed from the outputs of various sensors (e.g. an anemometer - not shown in the drawings) .
• the movements of the counterweight 27 are computed by the computer 12 and/or controller 15 based on the tilting of the mast 1 and on said additional external forces, and the controller 15 then controls the ram V2 to actuate the counterweight so that it follows the necessary movements .
• the ram Vl may for instance be such that it is able to exert an effort of 500 to 1000 t, and such that the stem of the ram may have a maximum extension (when the mast 1 is erect) of 7 to 12 m (i.e. the stem is moved 7 to 12 m in the longitudinal direction of the ram Vl batween the extended and retracted positions of the stem) .
• the connection of the ram to the lower part of the mast 1 thus enables to limit the necessary extension of the stem between the retracted and extended positions thereof, therefore enabling to use existing rams of high power, and therefore to limit costs, by enabling to limit the extension of the ram to reasonable values.
• the hydraulic ram V2 could, if appropriate, be replaced by a winch associated with a cable, the winch being fixed for example to the mast 1 and the free end of the cable fixed to the moving counterweight 27 (or conversely, the winch could be fixed to the moving counterweight and the free end of the cable could be fixed to the mast 1) .
• the counterweight 27 could be fixed with regard to the mast 1 instead of being pivotally mounted at the lower end of the mast 1, in which case the ram V2 and the transverse rib 38 and profile 39 would be omitted.
• the mast 1 When the mast 1 is in the folded-down position as depicted in Figure 5, it may if appropriate rest on a support cradle 17 fixed to the ground, and the blades 4a of the turbine may also, if appropriate, rest on bearers 18 also fixed to the ground.
• These bearers 18 intended to accept the blades 4a of the turbine may if appropriate be made of a soft material or have bearing regions made of soft material, to avoid damage to the turbine blades 4a.
• the pedestal 7 may be made in a depression 9 dug into the ground, this depression having a shape that substantially complements the shape of the wind generator once it is in the folded-down position, so that this wind generator offers little wind resistance and does not visually pollute the landscape when in the folded-down position.
• the second embodiment of the invention is similar to the first embodiment in its structure and operation, and will therefore not be described in detail here.
• This second embodiment distinguishes from the first embodiment in that the nacelle 2 does not include anymore the electrical generator 45, which is included in the ballast 26 of the lower part of the mast .
• the rotor 3 drives said electrical generator 45 through a transmission device 42, 43 extending along the mast.
• a transmission device may for instance include an angle transmission 42 connecting the rotor 3 to a vertical rotary shaft 43 extending vertically along the mast 1 up to the generator 45.
• the shaft 43 may be borne by bearings 44 inside the mast 1.
• the angle transmission 42 and shaft 43 could be replaced by another transmission, e.g. a belt or chain transmission, or a hydraulic transmission.
• the electrical generator may include a gearbox 46 driven by the shaft 43 and an alternator 47 which is in turn driven by the gearbox.

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• 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)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Wind Motors (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (5)

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Citations (5)

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• 2008
  • 2008-09-19 JP JP2011513890A patent/JP5419972B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-09-19 MX MX2010014395A patent/MX2010014395A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2008-09-19 BR BRPI0822463A patent/BRPI0822463A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-09-19 KR KR1020117001498A patent/KR101412686B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-09-19 WO PCT/EP2008/062583 patent/WO2009152869A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-09-19 AU AU2008357947A patent/AU2008357947B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-09-19 DK DK08804511.7T patent/DK2310675T3/en active
  • 2008-09-19 ES ES08804511.7T patent/ES2562221T3/es active Active
  • 2008-09-19 KR KR1020147009025A patent/KR20140052078A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

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