Abstract
The present invention relates to a tower damper adapted to be mounted in a wind turbine tower, the tower damper comprising a pendulum structure adapted to be suspended in the wind turbine tower, said pendulum structure comprising a pendulum body, a chamber holding a damping liquid into which damping liquid the pendulum structure is at least partly immersed, a plurality of damping elements arranged to dampen movements of the pendulum structure when suspended in the wind turbine tower, the plurality of damping elements comprising a foam portion composed of a resilient and porous foam material, and a suspension arrangement for suspending the pendulum structure in the wind turbine tower such that the pendulum structure is allowed to displace from a neutral position for the pendulum structure.
Claims
1. A tower vibration damper adapted to be mounted in a wind turbine tower, the tower vibration damper comprising: a pendulum structure adapted to be suspended in the wind turbine tower, said pendulum structure comprising a pendulum body, a chamber holding a damping liquid into which damping liquid the pendulum structure is at least partly immersed, a plurality of damping elements arranged to dampen movements of the pendulum structure when suspended in the wind turbine tower, and a suspension arrangement for suspending the pendulum structure in the wind turbine tower such that the pendulum structure is allowed to displace from a neutral position for the pendulum structure, wherein the plurality of damping elements each comprises a foam portion composed of a resilient and porous foam material.
2. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the pendulum body is annularly shaped.
3. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of damping elements comprise at least three damping elements, such as multiples of three damping elements.
4. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the damping elements are evenly distributed around a centre axis of the pendulum structure or around a centre axis of the wind turbine tower.
5. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of damping elements are completely immersed into the damping liquid.
6. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of damping elements further comprises a spring portion composed of a resilient and non-porous spring material.
7. The tower vibration damper according to claim 6, wherein the spring portion comprises one or more springs, such as coil springs, hydraulic springs, pneumatic springs, torsion springs, helical springs, leaf springs, volute springs or a combination thereof.
8. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of damping elements, the chamber and/or the pendulum structure comprise corresponding attachment means for attachment of the plurality of damping elements to the chamber and/or the pendulum structure.
9. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises an outer boundary, an inner boundary and a bottom part extending between the outer boundary and the inner boundary.
10. The tower vibration damper according claim 9, wherein the outer boundary of the chamber forms part of the wind turbine tower wall.
11. The tower vibration damper according to claim 9, wherein damping elements are arranged between the pendulum structure and the inner boundary of the chamber and/or wherein damping elements are arranged between the pendulum structure and the outer boundary of the chamber.
12. The tower vibration damper according to claim 9, wherein damping elements arranged between the pendulum structure and the inner boundary of the chamber are angularly shifted around a centre axis of the pendulum structure or around a centre axis of the wind turbine tower compared to damping elements arranged between the pendulum structure and the outer boundary of the chamber.
13. The tower vibration damper according to claim 9, further comprising a plurality of spring elements arranged to dampen movements of the pendulum structure when suspended in the wind turbine tower, the plurality of spring element being arranged between the pendulum structure and the inner boundary of the chamber or between the pendulum structure and the outer boundary of the chamber, the plurality of springs being arranged for pre-tensioning the pendulum structure towards a neutral position for the pendulum structure.
14. The tower vibration damper according to claim 13, wherein: each of the plurality of springs comprises a leaf spring which leaf spring, at both of its two ends, comprises leaf spring securing means for securing the leaf spring to the pendulum structure, or wherein each of the plurality of springs comprises a cantilever spring having a low-friction slide block arranged on a free end of the cantilever spring, wherein the low-friction slide block is configured for operable contact between the cantilever spring and pendulum structure.
15. The tower vibration damper according to claim 1, wherein the damping liquid comprises an oil or glycol-water mixture.
16. The wind turbine tower comprising a tower vibration damper according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The present invention will now be described in further details with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a side and a top view of a first embodiment of a foam-based tower vibration damper,
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a foam-based tower vibration damper,
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a foam-based tower vibration damper,
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a fourth embodiment of a foam-based tower vibration damper,
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a tower vibration damper applying foam-based damping elements in combination with leaf springs, and
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a tower vibration damper applying foam-based damping elements in combination with cantilever springs.
[0042] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms specific embodiments have been shown by way of examples in the drawings and will be described in details herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0043] In its broadest aspect the present invention relates to a tower vibration damper having a simple, compact and robust design. The tower vibration damper of the present invention may advantageously be mounted in for example wind turbine towers as the tower vibration damper of the present invention enables service personnel to pass by the damper when accessing the nacelle in connection with service or breakdown of a wind turbine generator.
[0044] Alternatively, as vortex induced vibrations are most pronounced before the nacelle is installed, the tower vibration damper of the present invention may thus also be installed and operated in wind turbine towers during transport and/or storage thereof. The tower vibration damper may optionally be dismantled after the wind turbine has been assembled and reused in another tower. Alternatively, the tower vibration damper of the present invention may remain installed in the wind turbine tower during its operational lifetime.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 1a a side view of a first embodiment 100 of the present invention is depicted. FIG. 1a shows a annularly shaped pendulum structure 101 being suspended in three wires 103, 104, 105. The weight of the pendulum structure may be in the range of 3-30 tons depending on the required damping performance and the size of the wind turbine tower. Typically, the weight of the pendulum structure 101 is around 6-7 tons for a vortex damper, but this depends on the characteristics of a specific tower. The length of the wires 103, 104, 105 sets the natural frequency of the vibration damper. Thus, by varying the length of the wires 103, 104, 105 the natural frequency of the vibration damper may be altered and thereby tailored to specific demands.
[0046] In the present application the term length of the wires relates to the length of the wires that are free to swing, i.e. the distance between the suspension point where the wire is attached to the tower structure or an intermediate fixation point and the pendulum structure. Common for a suspension point and a fixation point is that the wire is fixed at least in relation to lateral displacements. The wire may move angularly below the suspension point or fixation point allowing the pendulum structure to swing.
[0047] In the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1a the length of the wires 103, 104, 105 may be altered by moving the respective wire fixations arrangements 106, 107, 108 up and down, i.e. along the longitudinal direction of the wires 103, 104, 105. The natural frequency of the vibration damper is tuned to match the natural frequency of the wind turbine tower which is typically below 1 Hz, such as between 0.8 Hz and 0.9 Hz. The lengths of the three wires 103, 104, 105 are typically between 1 meter and 3 meters. During damping operations the pendulum structure 101 typically moves sideways with an amplitude of up to +/200 mm.
[0048] The three wires 103, 104, 105 are attached to the pendulum structure via brackets 109, 110, 111, respectively.
[0049] As depicted in FIG. 1a the pendulum structure 101 is at least partly positioned in a chamber or bath 102 containing a damping liquid 112. The pendulum structure 101 is at least partly immersed into this damping liquid 112 in order to dampen oscillations of the pendulum structure. The damping liquid may comprise a suitable damping oil, such as Texaco Way Lubricant x320, Exxon Mobilgear 600 XP 320 or Uno Vibration Absorber 320. Alternatively, glycol or other liquids may be used as a damping liquid.
[0050] As indicated in FIG. 1a three damping elements 113, 114, 115 are fully immersed into the damping liquid 112. As it will become evident from FIG. 1b each of the damping elements 113, 114, 115 are positioned between the pendulum structure 101 and an inner boundary (not shown) of the chamber 102. As the damping elements 113, 114, 115 are fully immersed into the damping liquid 112 the pores of the respective foam portions of the damping elements are filled with damping liquid when the pendulum structure 101 is in its neutral position where the damping elements 113, 114, 115 are uncompressed. A displacement of the pendulum structure 101 from its neutral position will however compress at least one of the damping elements 113, 114, 115 whereby damping liquid will flow and eventually empty the pores of the compressed foam portion(s) creating dissipation of energy due to viscous friction. As a result the movement of the pendulum structure is dampened.
[0051] As already addressed the foam portions of the plurality of damping elements are made of a resilient and porous foam material. Each of the foam portions thus comprises an open pore structure which at least partly collapses during compression of the damping elements. When the foam portions restore via expansion to their uncompressed state the open pore structure is re-established. The damping elements may in principle take any shape including rectangular volumes, quadratic volumes, cylindrical volumes, cones etc. The foam portions of the damping elements should be able to expand, and thereby restore, from a compressed state with a velocity being faster than the velocity at which the suspended pendulum is able to move.
[0052] As previously addressed each of the plurality of damping elements may further comprise a spring portion composed of a resilient and non-porous spring material. The spring portion can be embedded in, or integrated with, the foam portion using suitable manufacturing processes. The spring portion may comprise coil springs, leaf springs, volute springs etc.
[0053] The tower vibration damper of the present invention is adapted to be installed at a position as high as possible inside a vertical wind turbine tower. Typically, an installation of the tower vibration damper within the upper of a vertical wind turbine tower will provide effective damping of tower vibrations.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 1b a top view of the first embodiment 116 is depicted. As addressed in connection with FIG. 1a the annularly shaped pendulum structure 120 is at least partly positioned in a chamber or bath having an outer boundary 118, an inner boundary 117 and a bottom part 119. The outer boundary 118 of the chamber may be formed by the tower wall. The pendulum structure 120 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 127. This through-going opening 127 may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired. As already addressed the chamber is at least partly filled with a suitable damping liquid (not shown) into which damping liquid the pendulum structure 120 is as least partly immersed. The pendulum structure 120 is suspended in brackets 121, 122, 123.
[0055] In order to dampen movements of the suspended pendulum structure 120 three fully immersed damping elements 124, 125, 126 are arranged between the pendulum structure 120 and the inner boundary 117 of the chamber. The damping elements 124, 125, 126 which are angularly spaced by 120 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 120 and/or to the inner boundary 117. Alternatively, the damping elements 124, 125, 126 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 120 and the inner boundary 117. As it will be evident from the following figures the number of damping elements as well as the positioning thereof may be tailored to specific demands.
[0056] FIG. 2 depicts a second embodiment 200 applying six fully immersed damping elements 208-213 arranged between the pendulum structure 202 and the inner boundary 203 of the chamber. The chamber further comprises an outer boundary 201, which may form part of a tower wall, and a bottom part 204 and thus forms a bath for the damping liquid (not shown). The pendulum structure 202 is suspended in brackets 205, 206, 207 which are aligned with every second damping element 208, 210, 212. The six damping elements 208-213 which are angularly spaced by 60 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 202 and/or to the inner boundary 203 of the chamber. Alternatively, the damping elements 208-213 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 202 and the inner boundary 203. The pendulum structure 202 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 214 which may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired.
[0057] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment 300 also applying six fully immersed damping elements 308-313. As seen in FIG. 3 three damping elements 308, 310, 312 are arranged between the pendulum structure 302 and the inner boundary 303 of the chamber, whereas three other damping elements 309, 311, 313 are arranged between the pendulum structure 302 and the outer boundary 301 of the chamber which may form part of a tower wall. The chamber further comprises a bottom part 304. The pendulum structure 302 is suspended in brackets 305, 306, 307. The three damping elements 308, 310, 312 which are angularly spaced by 120 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 302 and/or to the inner boundary 303 of the chamber. Alternatively, the damping elements 308, 310, 312 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 302 and the inner boundary 303. Similarly, the three damping elements 309, 311, 313 which are also angularly spaced by 120 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 302 and/or to the outer boundary 301 of the chamber. Alternatively, the damping elements 309, 311, 313 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 302 and the outer boundary 301. The damping elements 308, 310, 312 are angularly shifted by 60 degrees relative to the damping elements 309, 311, 313. The pendulum structure 302 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 314 which may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment 400 applying six fully immersed damping elements 408-413. As seen in FIG. 4 three damping elements 408, 410, 412 are arranged between the pendulum structure 402 and the inner boundary 403 of the chamber, whereas three other damping elements 409, 411, 413 are arranged between the pendulum structure 402 and the outer boundary 401 of the chamber which may form part of a tower wall. The chamber further comprises a bottom part 404. The pendulum structure 402 is suspended in brackets 405, 406, 407. The three damping elements 408, 410, 412 which are angularly spaced by 120 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 402 and/or to the inner boundary 403 of the chamber. Alternatively, the damping elements 408, 410, 412 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 402 and the inner boundary 403. Similarly, the three damping elements 409, 411, 413 which are angularly aligned with respective damping elements 408, 410, 412 may also be secured to the pendulum structure 402 and/or to the outer boundary 401 of the chamber. Alternatively, the damping elements 409, 411, 413 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 402 and the outer boundary 401. Again, the pendulum structure 402 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 414 which may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired.
[0059] Turning now to FIG. 5a an embodiment 500 applying both foam-based damping elements and leaf springs for damping purposes is depicted in a side view perspective. FIG. 5a shows a annularly shaped pendulum structure 501 being suspended in three wires 503, 504, 505. As previously addressed the length of the wires 503, 504, 505 set the natural frequency of the vibration damper. Thus, by varying the length of the wires 503, 504, 505 the natural frequency of the vibration damper may be thereby tailored to specific demands. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5a the length of the wires 503, 504, 505 may be altered by moving the respective wire fixations arrangements 506, 507, 508 up and down, i.e. along the longitudinal direction of the wires. The natural frequency of the vibration damper in a vortex damper configuration is tuned to match the natural frequency of the wind turbine tower which is typically between 0.8 Hz and 0.9 Hz. A tower damper to be used when the turbine is in service may be tuned to a range between 0.2 Hz to 0.9 Hz. The lengths of the three wires 503, 504, 505 are typically between 1 meter and 3 meters. During damping operations the pendulum structure 501 typically moves sideways with an amplitude of up to +/200 mm.
[0060] As depicted in FIG. 5a the pendulum structure 501 is at least partly positioned in a chamber 502 containing a damping liquid 516. The pendulum structure 501 is at least partly immersed into this damping liquid 516 in order to dampen movements of the pendulum structure 501. The damping liquid 516 may be of the kind previously disclosed.
[0061] As seen in FIG. 5a leaf springs 509, 510 in the form of flat spring elements are secured to the pendulum structure at brackets 513, 514, 515. At or near the centre of each of the leaf springs 509, 510 a spring-loaded roller 511, 512 is provided. As it will become evident from FIG. 5b each of the spring-loaded rollers 511, 512 provides, via the leaf springs 509, 510 to which they are secured, pretension toward an inner boundary (not shown) of the chamber 502 as long as the pendulum structure 501 is in its neutral position.
[0062] As also indicated in FIG. 5a additional damping is provided by three fully immersed damping elements 517, 518, 519 arranged between the pendulum structure 501 and an inner boundary (not shown) of the chamber 502.
[0063] FIG. 5b shows a top view of the embodiment 520 shown in FIG. 5a. In FIG. 5b the six leaf springs 524 form a hexagonal structure within the pendulum structure 528. The six leaf springs 524 are secured to the pendulum structure 528 via brackets 529-534. The pendulum structure 528 is adapted to be suspended in a wire arrangement at brackets 532, 533, 534. Each leaf spring 524 provides pretension towards the inner boundary 521 of the chamber via a spring-loaded roller 527 as long as the pendulum structure 528 is in its neutral position. The spring-loaded rollers 527 are positioned at or near the centre of each of the leaf springs 528. In order to achieve a fully direction independent composite stiffness the properties of the six leaf springs are typically similar, and they are equally distributed around the pendulum structure 528 as well. Also, no parasitic loads are provided to the leaf springs 524. In order to limit the swing amplitude of the pendulum structure 528 and not damage the pendulum structure itself or the leaf springs 524 a resilient buffer arrangement 525, 526 is provided between the pendulum structure 528 and each of the leaf springs 524. The buffer arrangement 525, 526 may be implemented in various ways, such as a rubber material. Again, the pendulum structure 528 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 535 which may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired.
[0064] Each leaf spring may comprise a plurality of individual springs which are stacked to form the final leaf spring. The number of individual springs may be selected in accordance with specific demands, such as required stiffness, damping, natural frequency etc. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b six individual springs have been stacked to form each of the six leaf springs. The dimensions of each of the individual springs shown are 20081900 mm (hbl). The spring material may either be ultra-high strength plate material or common commercial spring steel, such as for example be UHS/Weldox 1300 plate. It should be noted however that the number and the dimensions of the individual springs are generally selected so as to meet a required stiffness in order to obtain a required natural frequency of the pendulum structure.
[0065] In order to provide additional damping of the movements of the suspended pendulum structure 528 three fully immersed damping elements 536, 537, 538 are arranged between the pendulum structure 528 and the inner boundary 521 of the chamber. The chamber further comprises an outer boundary 522 and a bottom part 523. The three damping elements 536, 537, 538 which are angularly spaced by 120 degrees may, as previously addressed, be secured to the pendulum structure 528 and/or to the inner boundary 521. Alternatively, the damping elements 536, 537, 538 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 528 and the inner boundary 521. Evidently, the number of damping elements as well as the positioning thereof may be tailored to specific demands as exemplified in FIGS. 2-4.
[0066] Turning now to FIG. 6a another embodiment 600 of the present invention is depicted. Similar to the previous embodiments the pendulum structure 601 is at least partly positioned in a chamber 602 which also contains a suitable damping liquid 612 into which damping liquid the pendulum structure 601 is at least partly immersed. The pendulum structure 601 is suspended in a wire arrangement 603, 604 which is secured to the pendulum structure 601 at respective brackets 608, 609. The length of these wires 603, 604 sets the natural frequency of the vibration damper. Thus, by changing the length of the wires 603, 604 the natural frequency of the vibration damper may be altered and thereby tailored to specific demands. The length of the wires 603, 604 may be altered by moving the respective wire fixations arrangements 605, 606 up and down.
[0067] As seen in FIG. 6a a plurality of springs 607 in the form of cantilever springs are arranged between the chamber 602 and the pendulum structure 601. Each of the cantilever springs 607 is secured to an outer boundary of the chamber at one of its ends 610 while the opposite end 611 of the cantilever spring 607 is abutting the pendulum structure 601 in its neutral position without being secured thereto. Thus, when the pendulum structure 601 is displaced, the free end 611 of the cantilever springs 607 slides across an outer surface of the pendulum structure 601.
[0068] FIG. 6b shows a top view of the embodiment 613 shown in FIG. 6a. In FIG. 6b the annularly shaped pendulum structure 617 is at least partly positioned in the chamber having an outer boundary 615, an inner boundary 614 and a bottom part 616. The outer boundary 615 of the chamber may be formed by the tower wall. Similar to the previous embodiments the pendulum structure 617 as well as the chamber has a through-going opening 624 which may be used by service personnel as an easy and safe passage through the vibration damper in case a wind turbine generator is to be serviced or repaired. As already addressed the chamber is at least partly filled with a suitable damping liquid into which damping liquid the pendulum structure 617 is as least partly immersed. The pendulum structure 617 is adapted to be suspended in a wire arrangement at brackets 620, 621, 622.
[0069] A total number of twelve cantilever springs 618 are secured at one end 619 to the outer boundary 615 of the chamber. The opposite ends of the respective cantilever springs 618 are adapted to abut and thereby slide across the outer surface of the pendulum structure 617 in response to displacements thereof. Alternatively, a through-going insert 623 may be incorporated into the pendulum structure 617 for each of the cantilever springs 618. The free end of the respective cantilever springs 618 are adapted to abut and slide on the respective inserts 623.
[0070] In order to provide additional damping of the movements of the suspended pendulum structure 617 three fully immersed foam-based damping elements 625, 626, 627 are arranged between the pendulum structure 617 and the inner boundary 614 of the chamber. The three damping elements 625, 626, 627 which are angularly spaced by 120 degrees may be secured to the pendulum structure 617 and/or to the inner boundary 614. Alternatively, the damping elements 625, 626, 627 may be kept at the respective angular positions by appropriate securing means while being unattached to the pendulum structure 617 and the inner boundary 614. Evidently, the number of damping elements as well as the positioning thereof may be tailored to specific demands as exemplified in FIGS. 2-4.
[0071] Each of the cantilever springs to be used in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 6 comprises an upper part adapted to be secured to the chamber and a lower part adapted to act as a resilient part as the lower end thereof is adapted to abut and slide across the outer surface of the pendulum structure. Each cantilever spring may comprise a plurality of individual springs which are stacked to form the final cantilever springs. The number of individual springs may be selected in accordance with specific demands. The spring material may for example be UHS/Weldox 1300 plate. A bronze pad may be provided at the lower end of the cantilever spring in order to reduce friction between the cantilever spring and the pendulum structure. Alternatively, one of the individual springs forming the cantilever spring may be extended and slightly bend to reduce friction.
