Y02E10/728

WIND TURBINE NACELLE

A wind turbine nacelle configured for mounting on a wind turbine tower and for supporting a rotor assembly, the nacelle comprising at least a first and a second nacelle module. The first nacelle module comprises a first frame structure and a main bearing system for a main shaft of the rotor assembly, and the second nacelle module comprises a second frame structure and a drive train system for the wind turbine. When the nacelle is mounted on the wind turbine tower, the main bearing system is supported by the wind turbine tower, and the drive train system is attached to the main bearing such that the weight of the drive train system is transferred to the main bearing system and thereby to the wind turbine tower. Further, the first frame structure is configured to support the main bearing system during transportation and prior to mounting of the nacelle, and the second frame structure is configured to support the drive train system during transportation and prior to mounting of the nacelle, and the first and second frame structures form a load carrying structure of a first and a second shipping freight container such that the first and second nacelle module can be transported as shipping freight containers. When the nacelle is mounted on the wind turbine tower, the first and second frame structures may be placed side by side in a direction along a rotational axis of the wind turbine rotor and may be oriented such as to have a length extending transversely to a rotational axis of the wind turbine rotor.

Systems and Methods for Offshore Power Generation Using Airborne Power Generating Craft
20170363068 · 2017-12-21 ·

A method of generating power using an airborne power generating craft connected to an anchor using a tether line. The anchor is secured to an underwater floor. Power is generated based on movement of the airborne power generating craft in response to a wind force. A constant length of the tether line is maintained between the airborne power generating craft and the anchor as the airborne power generating craft moves in response to the wind force. The airborne power generating craft is connected to an electrical transmission system through at least part of the tether line. The generated power is transmitted to the electrical transmission system.

WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE
20170363062 · 2017-12-21 ·

A rotor blade for addressing the deflection of rotor blades of a wind turbine. The rotor blade includes a plurality of exterior surfaces defining a blade body having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The blade body extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The blade body including a breakaway tip portion defined by a predetermined breaking point. The breakaway tip portion is configured to break away from the remaining portion of the blade body when subject to a predetermined tower strike load. A wind turbine including the rotor blade configuration is further disclosed.

Assessing remaining useful life for portions of wind turbine support structures
09846976 · 2017-12-19 · ·

Methods for assessing the useful life that may remain for a portion of a wind turbine support structure. The methods may include identifying an overall expected useful life for the portion of the support structure and estimating an expended life from the extent of loading that has occurred to the portion of the support structure during the operative life of a wind turbine. The useful life remaining for the portion may be determined by subtracting the expended life from the overall expected useful life.

System and method for assembling tower sections of a wind turbine lattice tower structure

A system for assembling a tower section of a lattice tower structure for a wind turbine may generally include a tower assembly fixture having a plurality of radially extending fixture arms, wherein each fixture arm extends between a first end and a second end. In addition, the system may include a plurality of trolleys. Each trolley may include a base frame configured to be coupled to one of the fixture arms between its first and second ends and a leg mount pivotally coupled to the base frame. The leg mount may be configured to be coupled to a bottom end of a support leg of the tower section such that, when each of the support legs is coupled to its respective leg mount, the support legs are supported above the tower assembly fixture at a substantially vertical orientation.

DAMPING INTEGRATED DEVICE, DAMPER AND WIND TURBINE

A damping integrated device, a damper, and a wind turbine are provided. The damping integrated device includes: a base body including an inner cavity extending in the lengthwise direction thereof; a frequency adjustment component disposed in the inner cavity and including an elastic member and a connecting member; a first connector extending into the inner cavity and at least partially protruding out of the base body in the lengthwise direction, the first connector being capable of moving relative to the base body, to make the elastic member stretch or shrink in the lengthwise direction; and a damping component disposed in the inner cavity, being connected to the connecting member and at least partially abutting against an inner wall of the base body, and the damping component being configured to absorb kinetic energy of the first connector.

METHODS FOR CONSTRUCTING TENSIONLESS CONCRETE PIER FOUNDATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS CONSTRUCTED THEREBY
20220380996 · 2022-12-01 · ·

A tensionless concrete pier foundation for supporting a tower and a method of constructing the same is provided, the foundation having an outer CMP and an inner CMP with an annular space therebetween in which a plurality of sleeved tower anchor bolts are embedded, at least the outer CMP having an upper edge that is flush with the top of the foundation after the tower has been installed. A method of plumbing a tower anchor bolt cage using a bolt alignment ring is also provided that includes coupling the upper ends of the CMPs together with lateral spacing bolts that extend across the annular space. The tower anchor bolt cage is suspended from the lateral spacing bolts by the bolt alignment ring, and the lateral spacing bolts are shimmed on a low side as necessary for leveling the alignment ring and plumbing the bolt cage, before concrete pour.

System for Detection of Foundation Movement in a Wind Turbine
20170356424 · 2017-12-14 · ·

A monitoring system (100) monitors displacement of a wind turbine tower and includes at least one plumb bob with an upper part and a lower part, each plumb bob being configured to be pivotally suspended at its upper part, via a suspension device, from a point above so as to attain a rest position in a rest situation, and each said plumb bob has one or more sensing surfaces (12, 12′). One or more suspension devices means (10) suspend the at least one plumb bob. Two or more sensors (14, 14′, 14″), each being configured to sense, in a specific sensing direction (16, 16′, 16″), a distance to a plumb bob, provide displacement data. At least two of the two or more sensors (14, 14′, 14″) are arranged in a sensing vicinity of a plumb bob, with at least two of the specific sensing directions (16, 16′, 16″) not being parallel to each other. The monitoring system includes a control unit (18) configured to receive the displacement data from two or more of the sensors, and a device for reporting, to an external unit (20), parameter(s) representing displacement of a wind turbine tower.

Banded turbine
09841001 · 2017-12-12 ·

A banded turbine configuration has an integral outer band support structure capable of providing two point simple support for a multiplicity of blades. A large scale vertical array has a set of twelve 23 m-diameter banded turbines with up to nine blades and resting on an Open Web Steel Joist (OWSJ) platform. The banded turbine configuration is supported off of a main shaft hub assembly, which is supported by forward and aft pillow block bearing assemblies. The banded turbine allows for a protective screen for bird- and bat-kill prevention. Each banded turbine employs DC alternators to provide a switchable output which is subsequently fed to a dedicated set of high efficiency grid-compatible solid state invertors or, alternatively, to energy storage.

Separable hose system for steam and vacuum cleaning
09839336 · 2017-12-12 · ·

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners with steam functionality (steam and vacuum cleaners), preferably to canister steam and vacuum cleaners, comprising a suction hose and a steam hose for respectively suctioning dirt and conveying steam, wherein the steam hose is external to the suction hose and comprises, at each end, a detachable connector, preferably a rapid-fitting detachable connector, for optionally detaching the steam hose when using only the vacuum cleaning functionality.