WIND TURBINE GENERATOR ASSEMBLIES

Abstract

An offshore wind turbine generator comprises a tower 1 and a platform 2. The tower 1 is provided with a side door 4 accessed from the platform 2 using a stairway 5 leading to an upper platform 6. The upper platform 6 is formed from the upper surface of a cabinet 7 which houses a diesel backup generator. Both the backup generator and the cabinet 7 are mounted to the tower 1 by bolts, such that the cabinet and backup generator are fully supported by the tower 1. A diesel fuel tank 12 is also mounted to the tower 1 by bolts. The fuel tank supplies diesel fuel to the backup generator.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a tower for supporting a wind turbine generator, the tower comprising a wall having an outer surface which in use is oriented substantially vertically; and a backup generator mounted to the outer surface of the wall, the arrangement being such that the weight of the backup generator is supported substantially only by the wall of the tower.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup generator is mounted to the wall of the tower by one or more bolts.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup generator is housed within a cabinet.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cabinet is mounted to the wall of the tower by one or more bolts.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup generator is powered by fuel.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the backup generator is a diesel generator.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a platform mounted to the tower at a position which, in use, is below the backup generator.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a stairway arranged between the platform and an upper surface which in use is above the backup generator, the arrangement being such that the footprints of the upper surface and the backup generator overlap when viewed downwardly.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the backup generator is housed within a cabinet, and wherein the cabinet comprises the upper surface.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stairway is located adjacent the tower.

11. An assembly comprising: a tower for supporting a wind turbine generator, the tower comprising a wall having an outer surface which in use is oriented substantially vertically and; a fuel tank mounted to the outer surface of the wall, the arrangement being such that the weight of the fuel tank is supported substantially only by the wall of the tower.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank for the backup generator, the fuel tank being mounted to the outer wall of the tower (1), the arrangement being such that the weight of the fuel tank is supported substantially only by the wall of the tower.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fuel tank is mounted to the wall of the tower by bolts.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the tower defines a curved profile, and wherein the fuel tank is also curved so as to match the curved profile of the tower.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a platform mounted to the tower at a position which, in use, is below the backup generator, and wherein the platform is formed with an extended area to enable personnel to walk freely around the front of the fuel tank.

16. A wind turbine generator comprising an assembly as claimed in claim 1.

17. A method of installing a tower for a wind turbine generator, the method comprising forming an assembly as claimed in claim 1 prior to installing the tower.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the tower is to be installed at an offshore location, the method comprising forming the assembly at an onshore location.

Description

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly of a backup generator, a fuel tank and a wind turbine generator tower in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly of FIG. 1 from a different angle;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a front view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 with the backup generator door open;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of installing the assembly of FIG. 1; and

[0039] FIGS. 5(a) to 5(h) illustrate in pictorial form a method of installing the assembly of FIG. 1.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, a tower 1 for supporting a wind turbine generator (not shown) is mounted in an offshore location. A platform 2 is attached to the tower 1 and enables personnel to perform servicing operations both inside and outside the tower 1. A safety railing 3 is provided at perimeter of the platform 2.

[0041] The tower 1 is provided with a side door 4 for use by service personnel for performing maintenance operations inside the tower 1.

[0042] The side door 4 is accessed from the platform 2 by means of a stairway 5 which leads to an upper platform 6. The upper platform 6 is formed by the upper surface of a cabinet 7 which houses a diesel backup generator (not shown) for supplying auxiliary equipment within the wind turbine generator with backup power in the event of a failure in the connection to the mains electricity grid and/or when there is no wind to power the turbine. The stairway 5 is positioned immediately adjacent the tower 1 and is provided with a single handrail 8 on the left-hand side of the stairway 5 as viewed when climbing the stairway 5. A safety railing 9 is provided around the upper platform 6. As can be seen from the drawing, the cabinet 7 defines a substantially rectangular footprint on the platform 2 which does not extend beyond the sides of the upper surface of the cabinet 7.

[0043] Both the cabinet 7 and the diesel backup generator are mounted directly to the tower 1 by bolts (not shown) such that both the cabinet 7 and the backup generator are fully supported by the tower 1 and not by the platform 2.

[0044] An exhaust pipe 10 extends vertically from the backup generator and expels exhaust gases at a position well above the generator cabinet 7.

[0045] The walls of the generator cabinet 7 are provided with grilles 11 to allow for heat dissipation during operation.

[0046] Also mounted to the tower 1 is a curved fuel tank 12 containing diesel fuel for the backup generator.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, in which the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same or corresponding features, the fuel tank 12 is mounted to the wall of the tower 1 using bolts 13. As can be seen in the drawing, the fuel tank 12 is curved so as to adopt the same profile as the wall of the tower 1. A fuel pipe 14 conveys diesel fuel from the fuel tank 12 to the diesel backup generator within the generator cabinet 7.

[0048] The platform 2 is of sufficient size to enable service personnel to walk around the complete perimeter of the tower 1. Since the fuel tank 12 occupies a considerable area of the platform 2, the platform 2 is formed with an extended area 2 (illustrated in the drawing by the shaded area 2′), to enable service personnel to walk freely around the fuel tank 12.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 3, in which the same reference numbers are again used to indicate the same or corresponding features, the front wall of the generator cabinet 7 forms a door 15 which enables maintenance personnel to access the backup generator 16 inside the generator cabinet 7.

[0050] The method of installation of the assembly will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5(a) to 5(h).

[0051] Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a diesel backup generator is bolted to the outer wall of a wind turbine tower in step 17. A cabinet for housing the backup generator is then positioned over the generator and bolted to the outer wall in step 18. A diesel fuel tank is bolted to the outer wall of a wind turbine generator tower in step 19. The resulting assembly is then transported to the desired offshore location in step 20. Finally, the assembly is installed in the desired offshore location in step 21.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 5(a) to 5(h), support brackets for the diesel generator and diesel fuel tank are first bolted to the tower, in an onshore location (FIG. 5(a)). A diesel generator is then mounted on the associated support brackets (FIG. 5(b)) and bolted to the outer surface of the tower. The generator cabinet and integral stairway are positioned so as to house the diesel generator and are then bolted to the tower (FIG. 5(c)). A diesel tank is then lifted into position on the associated support brackets (FIG. 5(d)) and bolted to the outer surface of the tower. The resulting completed assembly is then lifted on to an installation vessel by a crane mounted on the vessel (FIG. 5(e)). After being transported to the desired offshore location, the assembly is lifted off the installation vessel by the crane (FIG. 5(f)) and moved towards a platform (FIG. 5(g)). Finally, the assembly is installed on the platform (FIG. 5(h)).

[0053] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is defined by the following claims.