Floating wind turbine having a plurality of energy conversion units

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a floating base designed as a semi-submersible, a tower arranged on the floating base, at least two arms extending from the tower, a respective energy conversion unit arranged at the free end of each arm, and a cable system connecting the base to the energy conversion units and connecting the energy conversion units to one another in order to introduce the thrust forces acting on the tower, the arms and the energy conversion units into the base, wherein the cable system has a pre-tensioning, the value of which is greater than the loads to be expected during the operation of the wind turbine and acting against the pre-tensioning.

Claims

1. A wind power plant having; a floating foundation designed to be half-submerged, wherein the floating foundation is designed as a Y-shaped platform having a long arm and two short arms, each short arm being shorter than the long arm, a tower arranged on the floating foundation, wherein the tower is arranged at a connection point of the arms and the long arm extends from the connection point to a free end of the long arm and the two short arms extend from the connection point to a respective free end of each short arm, at least two cantilevers extending from the tower to a free end of each cantilever, power converter units, wherein each power convertor unit is arranged on the free end of each cantilever, and a cable system including at least two supports connecting the foundation to each of the power convertor units and at least one support connecting the power convertor units to each other for introducing the thrust acting upon the tower, the cantilevers and the power convertor units into the foundation, wherein the cable system has a pretensioning and each power convertor unit is arranged above the respective free end of each short arm.

2. The wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein a force vector resulting from the pretensioning of the cable system during use of the wind power plant is located in the axis of one of the cantilevers.

3. The wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the wind power plant is designed having downwind turbines and the tower is inclined leeward.

4. The wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the cable system is connected by a flexible joint to the free end of the long arm and/or at free ends of the short arms.

5. The wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the cable system is connected by a flexible joint to the free end of the long arm and the power convertor units are connected via supports to free ends of the short arms.

6. The wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the floating foundation has a floater connected to each free end of the arms.

7. The wind power plant according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal axis of each floater is aligned in at least one plane with a power convertor unit.

8. The wind power plant according to claim 1, comprising two power convertor units, each having a rotor having at least one rotor blade, wherein the directions of rotation of the two rotors are in opposite directions.

9. The wind power plant according to claim 1, comprising two power convertor units, each having a rotor with at least one rotor blade, wherein the rotor blades are regulated during operation in a phase-shifted manner with respect to each other.

10. The wind power plant according to claim 1, comprising two power convertor units, each having a rotor with at least one rotor blade, wherein the rotor blades in the farm position are aligned identically.

11. A wind power plant having; a floating foundation designed to be half-submerged, wherein the floating foundation is designed as a Y-shaped platform having a long arm and two short arms, each short arm being shorter than the long arm, a tower arranged on the floating foundation, wherein the tower is arranged at a connection point of the arms and the long arm extends from the connection point to a free end of the long arm and the two short arms extend from the connection point to a respective free end of each short arm, at least two cantilevers extending from the tower to a free end of each cantilever, power converter units, wherein each power convertor unit is arranged on the free end of each cantilever, and a cable system including at least two guys connecting the foundation to each of the power convertor units and at least one guy connecting the power convertor units to each other for introducing the thrust acting upon the tower, the cantilevers and the power convertor units into the foundation, wherein the cable system has a pretensioning and at least one power convertor unit is arranged above the respective free end of each short arm.

12. The wind power plant according to claim 11, wherein a force vector resulting from the pretensioning of the cable system during use of the wind power plant is located in the axis of one of the cantilevers.

13. A wind power plant having; a floating foundation designed to be half-submerged, wherein the floating foundation is designed as a Y-shaped platform having a long arm and two short arms, each short arm being shorter than the long arm, a tower arranged on the floating foundation, wherein the tower is arranged at a connection point of the arms and the long arm extends from the connection point to a free end of the long arm and the two short arms extend from the connection point to a respective free end of each short arm, at least two cantilevers extending from the tower to a free end of each cantilever, power converter units, wherein each power convertor unit is arranged on the free end of each cantilever, and a cable system connecting the foundation to each of the power convertor units for introducing the thrust acting upon the tower, the cantilevers and the power convertor units into the foundation, wherein the cable system has at least three supports connected to each power converter unit, and at least one power convertor unit is arranged above the respective free end of each short arm.

14. The wind power plant according to claim 13, wherein a force vector resulting from the pretensioning of the cable system during use of the wind power plant is located in the axis of one of the cantilevers.

15. The wind power plant according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the supports is a guy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention is explained in detail below in reference to particularly preferably designed exemplary embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings. Shown are:

(2) FIG. 1 A first exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side;

(3) FIG. 2 The wind power plant according to the first exemplary embodiment in a perspective view from the leeward side;

(4) FIG. 3 The wind power plant according to the first exemplary embodiment in a side view;

(5) FIG. 4 The wind power plant according to the first exemplary embodiment in a front view from the lee side;

(6) FIG. 5 The wind power plant according to the first exemplary embodiment in a top view;

(7) FIG. 6 A second exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side;

(8) FIG. 7 The wind power plant according to the second exemplary embodiment in a perspective view from the leeward side;

(9) FIG. 8 The wind power plant according to the second exemplary embodiment in a side view;

(10) FIG. 9 The wind power plant according to the second exemplary embodiment in a front view from the leeward side;

(11) FIG. 10 The wind power plant according to the second exemplary embodiment in a top view;

(12) FIG. 11 A third exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side;

(13) FIG. 12 The wind power plant according to the third exemplary embodiment in a perspective view;

(14) FIG. 13 The wind power plant according to the third exemplary embodiment in a side view;

(15) FIG. 14 The wind power plant according to the third exemplary embodiment in a front view from the leeward side;

(16) FIG. 15 The wind power plant according to the third exemplary embodiment in a top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side. The subsequent drawings FIGS. 2 to 5 show the same wind power plant in the additional views mentioned above.

(18) The illustrated wind power plant 10 has a foundation designed as a half-submerged floating foundation 20 with a tower 30 arranged on foundation 20 and two cantilevers 40 extending from tower 30. On the free end of each cantilever 40, a power convertor 50 is arranged, wherein a cable system 60 made of a plurality of cables is provided, ultimately connecting foundation 20 to power convertor units 50 and power convertor units 50 to each other for introducing the thrust acting upon tower 30, cantilevers 40 and power convertor units 50 into foundation 20, wherein cable system 60 has a pretensioning greater than loads working against the pretensioning that would be expected in the operation of the wind power plant 10.

(19) In particular, cable system 60 is designed so that the force vector resulting from the pretensioning of cable system 60 is located in the axis of cantilevers 40 averaged over time during use of wind power plant 10.

(20) Floating foundation 20 is preferably designed as a Y-shaped platform having a long arm 22 and two short arms 24, 26, wherein tower 30 is arranged at the connection point of the three arms 22, 24, 26.

(21) Tower 30 can be designed as a buoyancy body 28 (a “floater”).

(22) Cable system 60 can directly abut foundation 20 or be indirectly connected to foundation 20 by cable system 60 being connected to floaters 28 arranged on the free ends of foundation 20.

(23) The drawings show that wind power plant 10 is designed having downwind turbines, and tower 30 is inclined leeward. This therefore results in the possibility of arranging power convertors 50 in such a manner that power convertors 50 are each arranged above the free ends of short arms 24, 26.

(24) As the views clearly show, the longitudinal axis of each floater 28 is aligned in at least one plane with a power convertor unit 50 so that there is an optimal introduction of force into the structures of wind power plant 10.

(25) Wind power plant 10 is designed so that the directions of rotation of the two rotors of power convertor units 50 are in opposite directions. This design as a whole has a positive effect on the dynamic behavior of floating wind power plant 10 because the gyroscopic forces are compensated.

(26) Specifically, the rotor blades are designed having a phase shift with respect to each other during operation—in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the blades of power convertor units 50 are therefore arranged having a 90° phase shift with respect to one another.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side. The subsequent drawings FIGS. 7 to 10 show the same wind power plant in the additional views mentioned above.

(28) The second exemplary embodiment differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in that the cable system is articulated at the free end of long arm 22 of foundation 20 and power convertor units 50 are connected by means of supports 70 to the free ends of short arms 24, 26.

(29) In the second exemplary embodiment, cables 60, which connect power convertor units 50 to the free ends of short arms 24, 26, are thus replaced by supports 70, which, in particular in reference to their longitudinal axis, are incompressible and torsionally rigid.

(30) This design supports the introduction of the thrust forces acting on power convertors 50 into foundation 20, but means an increased material expenditure compared to the first exemplary embodiment. This increased material expenditure is justified however, depending upon the wind loads arising in specific areas, wherein cable system 60, which connects long arm 22 of foundation 20 to power convertors 50 and power convertors 50 to each other, additionally has the advantages according to the invention.

(31) FIG. 11 finally shows a third exemplary embodiment of a particularly preferably designed wind power plant according to the invention in a perspective view from the leeward side; The subsequent drawings FIGS. 12 to 15 show the same wind power plant in the additional views mentioned above.

(32) In contrast to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 not just two power convertors 50 are provided, but three power convertors. Tower 30 is thus lengthened beyond the starting point of the two cantilevers 40 and carries an additional power convertor unit 50 at its end.

(33) This third power convertor unit 50 arranged on tower 30 is preferably designed identical to the other two power convertor units 50. Alternatively, the third power convertor unit 50 can also be equipped, for example, with a 3-bladed rotor, wherein the power convertor units arranged on cantilevers 40 are equipped with 2-bladed rotors.

(34) Cable system 60 in this exemplary embodiment is, in any case, designed in a more complex manner so that foundation 20 is tensioned along with each power convertor unit 50 and power convertor units 50 with each other via cable 60.