U.S. patent application number 13/238106 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-22 for horizontal axis wind turbine.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Ikuo TOBINAGA.
Application Number | 20120066998 13/238106 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44582721 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120066998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TOBINAGA; Ikuo |
March 22, 2012 |
HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE
Abstract
The fixed structure for this horizontal axis wind turbine
comprises: a base fitting having an inner flange and that is
fastened to the base; a tower having a inner flange on the bottom
end thereof that is aligned with and connected to the top side of
the inner flange of the base fitting; and a frame that is located
inside the tower and that has a part mounting section and a leg
section that supports the part mounting section above it. An inside
end section that protrudes further inward than the inside end of
the inner flange of the tower is provided on the inside end of the
inner flange of the base fitting, and the leg section is placed on
this inside end such that the frame is supported by the base
fitting.
Inventors: |
TOBINAGA; Ikuo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Assignee: |
FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
44582721 |
Appl. No.: |
13/238106 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/651.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 10/72 20130101;
Y02E 10/728 20130101; F05B 2260/301 20130101; F03D 13/20 20160501;
F03D 9/25 20160501 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/651.01 |
International
Class: |
E04H 12/00 20060101
E04H012/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 21, 2010 |
JP |
2010-210319 |
Claims
1. A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising: a main wind turbine
unit for generating electricity; a tower having a top end section
and a bottom end section, the top end section of the tower
supporting the main wind turbine unit and the bottom end section of
the tower fixed to a base, and the lower end section side of the
tower having a hollow space formed therein; and a frame located in
the hollow space of the tower, wherein specified equipment that is
used for electrical generation performed by the main wind turbine
unit is mounted on the frame, wherein the tower is provided with a
first flange configured to extend in the horizontal direction from
the bottom end of the tower toward the inside of the hollow space,
the base is provided with a second flange configured to extend
along the first flange and substantially in the same direction with
the first flange, the second flange is fixed in the vertical
direction to the first flange, and each of the first flange and the
second flange has a proximal end and a distal end, and the frame is
supported by the distal end of the first flange or the second
flange.
2. The horizontal axis wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein a
recess is provided on the top surface of the second flange on the
distal end side, the recess is located further inside the hollow
space than the distal end of the first flange; and the frame is
supported by the recess of the second flange.
3. The horizontal axis wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein
the frame has a leg section that is supported by the distal end of
the second flange, and a mounting section that is supported by the
leg section and on which the specified equipment is mounted, the
leg section is provided with an extending section which extends
from the bottom end of the leg section toward the outside of the
tower, and a space is formed between the leg section and the
proximal end of the first flange by the extending section.
4. The horizontal axis wind turbine according to claim 1, further
comprising another frame standing on the frame.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 based
upon Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 2010-210319, filed on
Sep. 21, 2010. The entire disclosure of the aforesaid application
is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a structure for mounting
parts inside a wind turbine tower.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventionally, component parts such as a power module have
been mounted inside the tower of a wind turbine that is constructed
as a wind power generator.
[0004] In Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-503535 and
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-287563, parts such
as a power module are mounted in the space inside the tower being
arranged in a vertical layered shape. That is, in the literature
above, a part such as a power module is mounted to the base of the
tower before the tower is raised, and a frame is provided in order
to mount other parts above this part. This frame comprises a parts
mounting section in which parts are mounted, and columns that
support the parts mounting section, with the bottom ends of the
columns being fastened to the base of the tower. The parts mounting
section of the frame is placed above the part that is mounted on
the base. Therefore, it is possible to mount other parts above the
part.
[0005] However, the conventional art described above has the
following problems. In the conventional art, the bottom end of the
frame is fasted to the base of the tower, so there is a problem in
that the work of positioning and the work of fastening the frame on
site (for example, the work of fastening the frame to the base
using anchor bolts) requires time, and there is a problem in that
the precision of positioning the frame depends on on-site work.
[0006] On the other hand, the tower sways due to the wind or
movement of the wind turbine. When that happens, mainly a bending
moment is applied to the tower, thus a compression load and a
tensile load are alternately applied to the side wall sections of
the tower. Moreover, the compression load is directly transmitted
from the side wall sections to the base, and the tensile load may
concentrate in the connection section between the bottom end of the
tower and the base.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In consideration of the conventional art described above, it
is the object of the present invention to provide a structure for
mounting parts inside the tower of a wind turbine having good
workability and good positional precision, and that is capable of
reducing stresses that occur in the connection section between the
bottom end of the tower and the base.
[0008] According to a first embodiment of the present invention for
achieving the purpose described above, there is provided a
horizontal axis wind turbine comprising:
[0009] a main wind turbine unit for generating electricity;
[0010] a tower having a top end section and a bottom end section,
the top end section of the tower supporting the main wind turbine
unit and the bottom end section of the tower fixed to a base, and
the lower end section side of the tower having a hollow space
formed therein; and
[0011] a frame located in the hollow space of the tower, wherein
specified equipment that is used for electrical generation
performed by the main wind turbine unit is mounted on the
frame,
[0012] wherein
[0013] the tower is provided with a first flange configured to
extend in the horizontal direction from the bottom end of the tower
toward the inside of the hollow space,
[0014] the base is provided with a second flange configured to
extend along the first flange and substantially in the same
direction with the first flange, the second flange is fixed in the
vertical direction to the first flange, and
[0015] each of the first flange and the second flange has a
proximal end and a distal end, and the frame is supported by the
distal end of the first flange or the second flange.
[0016] According to a second embodiment of the present invention
for achieving the purpose above, there is provided the horizontal
axis wind turbine of the first embodiment, wherein
[0017] a recess is provided on the top surface of the second flange
on the distal end side, the recess is located further inside the
hollow space than the distal end of the first flange; and
[0018] the frame is supported by the recess of the second
flange.
[0019] According to a third embodiment of the present invention for
achieving the purpose described above, there is provided the
horizontal axis wind turbine of the first embodiment, wherein
[0020] the frame has a leg section that is supported by the distal
end of the second flange, and a mounting section that is supported
by the leg section and on which the specified equipment is
mounted,
[0021] the leg section is provided with an extending section which
extends from the bottom end of the leg section toward the outside
of the tower, and
[0022] a space is formed between the leg section and the proximal
end of the first flange by the extending section.
[0023] According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention
for achieving the purpose described above, there is provided the
horizontal axis wind turbine of the first embodiment, further
comprising
[0024] another frame standing on the frame.
[0025] With the present invention, a frame on which parts are
mounted is supported by the tip end section of the second flange of
the base section to which the bottom end section of the tower is
fastened. As a result, workability improves, and positioning
precision of the frames (and mounted parts) with respect to the
tower can be secured by the design and manufacturing of the base
section and the frames. Consequently, it yields an effect of
improving positioning precision without relying on on-site
installation.
[0026] With the present invention, it is possible for the load of
the frame and the parts mounted on that frame to apply an initial
stress in the reverse direction to the tensile load on the
connection section between the bottom end of the tower and the base
fitting. As a result, it is possible to reduce the stress occurring
in the connection section between the bottom end of the tower and
the base side by the amount that the tensile load is cancelled out
by the initial stress. In other words, this structure has the
effect of being able to improve durability.
[0027] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure for
mounting parts inside the tower of a wind turbine of an embodiment
of the present invention, with the tower being drawn as
transparent.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram of the structure for
mounting parts inside the tower of a wind turbine of an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the connection section
between the bottom end of the tower and the base fittings, and the
footing section of the frame in the structure for mounting parts
inside the tower of a wind turbine of an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the connection section
between the bottom end of the tower and the base fittings, and the
footing section of the frame in the structure for mounting parts
inside the tower of a wind turbine of another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the connection section
between the bottom end of the tower and the base fittings, and the
footing section of the frame in the structure for mounting parts
inside the tower of a wind turbine of an embodiment of the present
invention, and illustrates the state when a tensile load is
applied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] An embodiment of the present invention is explained below
with reference to the drawings. The following is an embodiment of
the present invention and does not limit the invention.
[0034] The structure for mounting parts inside the tower of a wind
turbine of this embodiment is applied, for example, to a large
horizontal-axis wind turbine. A horizontal-axis wind turbine
comprises a rotor having blades and a hub that holds the blades, a
nacelle that axially supports the rotor by way of a main shaft that
is connected to the hub, and a tower that supports the nacelle such
that the nacelle is capable of free yaw rotation.
[0035] The tower is erected on a base using the construction
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base fitting 2 is embedded in
and fastened to the base 1. The base fitting 2 is cylindrical in
shape, and as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an inner flange 13
is provided on the top end. The tower 3 is cylindrical in shape,
and as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is placed on the base
fitting 2. An inner flange 12 is provided on the bottom end of the
tower 3.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 side wall section 30 of
the tower 3 is placed on the side wall 20 of the base fitting 2,
and the underneath side of the inner flange 12 is placed together
with the upper side of the inner flange 13 of the base fitting
2.
[0038] Bolt insertion holes are formed in the inner flange 12 and
inner flange 13, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, bolts 9 are inserted
through the bolt insertion holes, and the inner flange 13 of the
base fitting 2 and the inner flange 12 of the tower 3 are fastened
together by the bolts 9 and nuts 11. As appropriate, washers 10 are
used.
[0039] The tower is erected with this kind of construction.
[0040] A frame A and frame B are located inside the tower 3. Frame
A is a lower frame and is supported by the base fitting 2. Frame B
is an upper frame and is located above frame A. Frame A has a part
mounting unit 5, and a plurality of leg sections 4, 4, . . . that
upwardly support that part mounting unit 5. The frame B has a part
mounting unit 7 and a plurality of leg sections 6, 6, . . . that
upwardly support that part mounting unit 7. In the figure, the leg
sections 4 and leg sections 6 are column shaped members, however
they are not limited to this form.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 3, an inside end section 13b that
protrudes further inward than the inside end of the inner flange 12
of the tower 3 is provided on the inside end of the inner flange 13
of the base fitting 2. A portion 13a of the inner flange 13 is the
connecting portion that connects to the inner flange 12. The inside
end section 13b is formed such that it protrudes even further
inward from the connecting portion 13a.
[0042] The leg sections 4, 4, . . . of frame A are placed on the
inside end section 13b, and by doing so, frame A is supported by
the base fitting 2. In this way, the inside end section 13b is used
as the footing for frame A. In other words, the leg sections 4, 4,
. . . stand on the inside end section 13b and frame A is supported
by the base fitting 2.
[0043] The inside end section 13b can be formed around the entire
circumference, or can be formed in parts that include the locations
necessary for the footings of frame A.
[0044] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the inside end section
13b is located below the surface a1 where the inner flanges 12, 13
fit together by way of a stepped section a2 from that surface a1.
The stepped section a2 is located further inside than the inner
flange 12, and this makes it possible to maintain a gap a3 between
the leg sections 4 and the inner flange 12. The leg section 4 is
separated from the nut 11 by the amount of the gap a3, so makes the
work of connection using the bolt 9 and nut 11 easier. Also contact
between the inner flange 12 and the leg section 4 when the tower is
swaying is prevented.
[0045] Similar to above, the construction illustrated in FIG. 4 is
also effective of other construction for maintaining a gap a3
between the leg section 4 and inner flange 12. The construction
illustrated in FIG. 4 has extending section 4a that extends outward
from the bottom end of the leg section 4. The extending section 4a
is placed on the inside end section 13b. A stepped section b2 is
located at the same position as the inside end of the inner flange
12, however, by forming the extending section 4a, it is possible to
maintain a gap b3 between the leg section 4 and inner flange 12.
Regardless of the construction illustrated in FIG. 4, it is
possible to locate a stepped section b2 further inside than the
inner flange 12 and to employ both types of construction described
above.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, parts 8A, 8B and 8C are
mounted on this structure. Parts 8A, 8B and 8C are devices such as
the power module that are necessary for constructing this wind
turbine as a power generator.
[0047] Part 8A is placed on the base 1 on the inside of the base
fitting 2. There is a space between the part mounting unit 5 of
frame A and the base 1, and part 8A is placed in this space.
[0048] Part 8B is mounted on the part mounting unit 5 of frame A.
There is space between the part mounting unit 7 of frame B and the
part mounting unit 5 of frame A, and part 8B is placed in this
space.
[0049] Part 8C is mounted on the part mounting unit 7 of frame
B.
[0050] As described above, this structure is constructed with
frames A and B, and has two layers of part mounting units. When the
base 1 is included, there are three layers of part mounting spaces.
Furthermore, it is possible to place a frame above frame B and
increase the part mounting layers. Regardless of this embodiment,
the invention can be embodied without employing frame B above the
frame.
[0051] The procedure for assembling this structure can be performed
as describe below, for example.
After the work of installing the base 1 and base fitting 2 has been
completed, part 8A is installed on the base 1. Next, frame A is
installed on top of the base fitting 2. Part 8B is then installed
on the part mounting 5 unit of frame A. Next, frame B is installed
on top frame A. Part 8C is installed on the part mounting unit 7 of
frame B. Finally, the tower 3 is placed on the base fitting and
connected as described above.
[0052] The invention has a structure as described above, so a
compressing load that is transmitted from the side wall section 30
of the tower 3 as the tower 3 sways is directly transmitted from
the side wall section 30 of the tower 3 to the side wall section 20
of the base fitting 2 as indicated by arrows c1 and c2 in FIG. 3,
and thus excessive stress does not occur at the connection section
between the tower 3 and the base fitting 2.
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a tensile load that is transmitted
from the side wall section 30 of the tower 3 as the tower 3 sways
is transmitted to the side wall section 20 of the base fitting 2 by
way of the connection section between the tower 3 and base fitting
2, or in other words by way of the inner flange 12, nut 11, bolt 9
and inner flange 13.
[0054] However, the weight d2 of the frames A and B and the weight
of the parts 8A, 8B and 8C placed on the frames A and B applies an
initial stress to the connection section between the tower 3 and
base fitting 2 that acts in a direction opposite of the tensile
load d1.
[0055] Therefore, even though a tensile load d1 is applied, the
stress d3 that occurs in the connection section between the tower 3
and the base fitting 2 is reduced by the amount cancelled out by
the initial stress, and thus the durability of the connection
section can be improved.
[0056] In the present embodiment, the leg section 4 of the frame A
was supported by the inside end section of the inner flange 13 of
the base fitting 2. However, it is also possible to support the leg
section 4 of the frame A by the inside end section of the inner
flange 12 of the tower 3.
[0057] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments
are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific
embodiments that can represent applications of the principles of
the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be
readily devised by those skilled in the art without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *