Tower for a wind turbine and a wind turbine

Abstract

A tower for wind turbine is provided, including an outer wall encompassing an inner space and including a through-hole having a central axis, and a light source configured to emit light through the through-hole into an environment surrounding the tower, wherein the light source lies on the central axis of the through-hole and is arranged inside the inner space of the outer wall. The serviceability and maintenance of the light source is improved since the light source can be easily accessed by maintenance personnel operating inside the tower.

Claims

1. A tower for a wind turbine, comprising: an outer wall encompassing an inner space and including a through-hole having a central axis; a housing comprised of a cylindrical portion and a flange, the cylindrical portion arranged at least partially inside the through-hole and the flange vertically extending from the cylindrical portion within the inner space; a seal configured to seal the through-hole of the outer wall with the housing, the seal comprising a first portion arranged between an inner surface of the through-hole and an outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the housing; and a light source operably attached to the flange and configured to emit light through the housing into an environment surrounding the tower; a first lens disposed at an outer end of the housing and configured to modify the light on a path into the environment; a second lens disposed within the housing, wherein the second lens is smaller than the first lens; a reflective tube disposed proximate the light source within the through-hole, the reflective tube converging toward the second lens; wherein the light source lies on the central axis of the through-hole and is arranged inside the inner space of the outer wall.

2. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the housing supports the light source at an inner end of the housing.

3. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the first lens is configured to disperse the light.

4. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the second lens is arranged in the light path from the light source towards the first lens.

5. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the flange is connected to the cylindrical portion and extends radially along an inner surface of the outer wall.

6. The tower according to claim 5, further comprising at least one strut supporting the light source, the strut being attached to the flange portion and/or the inner surface of the outer wall and to the light source.

7. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the light source is mounted detachably to the housing.

8. A wind turbine comprising a tower according to claim 1.

9. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged entirely inside the inner space.

10. The tower according to claim 1, wherein the seal includes a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion arranged against an inner surface of the outer wall.

11. The tower according to claim 10, wherein the second portion is arranged between the inner surface of the outer wall and the flange of the housing.

12. A tower for a wind turbine, comprising: an outer wall encompassing an inner space and having a through-hole; a mirror; a housing comprised of a cylindrical portion and a flange, the cylindrical portion arranged at least partially inside the through-hole and the flange vertically extending from the cylindrical portion within the inner space; a seal configured to seal the through-hole of the outer wall with the housing, the seal comprising a first portion arranged between an inner surface of the through-hole and an outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the housing; and a light source configured to emit light towards the mirror and arranged inside the inner space, the light source located entirely within the inner space; a first lens disposed at an outer end of the housing and configured to modify the light on a path into the environment; a second lens disposed within the housing, wherein the second lens is smaller than the first lens; wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the light through the through-hole into the environment.

13. The tower according to claim 12, wherein the light source is arranged inside the inner space at a vertical distance from the through-hole.

14. The tower according to claim 12, wherein the light source is configured to emit light indirectly through the through-hole.

15. The tower according to claim 12, wherein the seal includes a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion arranged against an inner surface of the outer wall.

16. The tower according to claim 15, wherein the second portion is arranged between the inner surface of the outer wall and the flange of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a wind turbine according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows, in a cross-sectional view II-II from FIG. 1, a first embodiment; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows, in a cross-sectional view II-II from FIG. 1, a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a wind turbine 1 comprising a rotor 2 connected to a generator (not shown) arranged inside a nacelle 3. The nacelle 3 is arranged at the upper end of a tower 4 of the wind turbine 1.

(6) The rotor 2 comprises three rotor blades 5. Alternatively, only two or more than three rotor blades 5 can be provided. The rotor blades 5 are connected to a hub 6 of the wind turbine 1. Rotors 2 of this kind may have diameters ranging from, for example, 30 to 200 meters or even more.

(7) Further, the tower comprises an obstruction light 7 for warning approaching objects. The tower 4 may comprise several obstruction lights 7 arranged around a circumference of the tower and/or arranged at different heights of the tower 4.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view II-II from FIG. 1.

(9) The tower 4 comprises an outer wall 8 encompassing an inner space 9 by means of its inner surface 10. The outer wall 8 includes a through-hole 11 having a central axis 12. The through-hole 11 has a circular cross-section, wherein a diameter d of the through-hole 11 may vary from, for example, 20 to 60 mm or even more. The obstruction light 7 comprises a light source 13 configured to emit light 14 through the through-hole 11 into an environment 15 surrounding the tower 4. The light source 13 lies on the central axis 12 of the through-hole 11 and is arranged inside the inner space 9 of the tower 4.

(10) The obstruction light 7 further comprises a housing 16 arranged at least partially inside the through-hole 11. The housing 16 comprises a cylindrical portion 17 (e.g. a tube) arranged at least partially inside the through-hole 11 and a flange portion 18 connected to the cylindrical portion 17 and extending radially along the inner surface 10 of the outer wall 8. The light 14 emitted by the light source 7 passes through the housing 16. The housing 16 supports the light source 13 at its inner end 19.

(11) The obstruction light 7 further comprises an optical element 20. The housing 16 supports the optical element 20 at its outer end 21. A portion of the housing 16 including the optical element 20 may protrude past the outer wall 8 into the environment 15. The optical element 20, e.g. a lens or prism, is configured to modify the light 14 on its path into the environment 15. Further, the optical element 20 is configured to disperse the light 14. The light 14 travels freely through the through-hole 11 and is then dispersed on the outside of the tower 4.

(12) The obstruction light 7 further comprises a lens 22, e.g. a concave lens, arranged inside the housing 16 in the light path from the light source 13 towards the optical element 20.

(13) The obstruction light 7 further comprises a reflective tube 23 arranged between the lens 22 and the light source 13. The reflective tube 23 converges towards the lens 22. The optical element 20, the housing 16, the lens 22 and/or the tube 23 may be provided as one module which is insertable into the through-hole 11 and detachable from the through-hole 11 as one unit.

(14) The obstruction light 7 further comprises struts 24 supporting the light source 13. The struts 24 are attached to the flange portion 18 and to the light source 13. Further, the light source 13 is mounted detachably to the housing 16, e.g. by means of bolts 25. The light source 13 may be a separate module mountable to the housing 16. Alternatively, the optical element 20, the housing 16, the lens 22, the tube 23 and/or the light source 13 may be provided as one module which is insertable in the through-hole 11 and detachable from the through-hole 11 as one unit.

(15) Alternatively, the struts 24 may be attached to the inner surface 10 of the outer wall 8 and the light source 13 such that the light source 13 is mounted detachably to the outer wall 8.

(16) The obstruction light 7 further comprises a seal 26 configured to seal the through-hole 11 of the outer wall 8 against the housing 16. The seal 26 comprises a first portion 27 arranged between an inner surface 28 of the through-hole 11 and an outer surface 29 of the cylindrical portion 17 of the housing 16, and a second portion 30 arranged between the inner surface 10 of the outer wall 8 and flange portion 18 of the housing 16.

(17) FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional view II-II from FIG. 1.

(18) In contrast to FIG. 2, the obstruction light 7 comprises a mirror 31 arranged inside the inner space 9. Further, the mirror 31 may be arranged inside and connected to the housing 16. Alternatively, the mirror 31 may be arranged outside the housing 16 and connected to the outer wall 8 of the tower 4. The light source 13 is configured to emit light 14 towards the mirror 31. Further, the mirror 31 is configured to reflect the light 14 through the through-hole 11 into the environment 15. Furthermore, the mirror 31 reflects incident light at an angle α relative to a reflective mirror surface 32. The angle α equals, e.g., 45°. The angle α also may measure between 10 and 80°, 20 and 70°, 30 and 60° or 40 and 50°. Further, the mirror surface 32 may have a concave or convex shape. The light source 13 is, for example, arranged beneath the through-hole 11. Alternatively, the strut 24 may be connected to the inner surface 10 of the outer wall 8. Thus, the light source 13 can be mounted separate from the housing 16. It is understood that the light source 13 comprises a casing for safety purposes.

(19) Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail with reference to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the invention is not limited to the examples disclosed, and further variations can be inferred by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

(20) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.