WO2013135291A1 - An offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation - Google Patents

An offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013135291A1
WO2013135291A1 PCT/EP2012/054552 EP2012054552W WO2013135291A1 WO 2013135291 A1 WO2013135291 A1 WO 2013135291A1 EP 2012054552 W EP2012054552 W EP 2012054552W WO 2013135291 A1 WO2013135291 A1 WO 2013135291A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pulley means
annular recess
wind turbine
container body
loop
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2012/054552
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Felipe Prats Jove
Ricardo Prats Canos
Original Assignee
Ocean Electric Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ocean Electric Inc. filed Critical Ocean Electric Inc.
Priority to PCT/EP2012/054552 priority Critical patent/WO2013135291A1/en
Publication of WO2013135291A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013135291A1/en

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/0204Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor for orientation in relation to wind direction
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/20Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
    • F03D13/25Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors specially adapted for offshore installation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D15/00Transmission of mechanical power
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D15/00Transmission of mechanical power
    • F03D15/10Transmission of mechanical power using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03DWIND MOTORS
    • F03D80/00Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
    • F03D80/80Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05BINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00Components
    • F05B2240/90Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/93Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05BINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00Components
    • F05B2240/90Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/95Mounting on supporting structures or systems offshore
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05BINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00Function
    • F05B2260/40Transmission of power
    • F05B2260/402Transmission of power through friction drives
    • F05B2260/4021Transmission of power through friction drives through belt drives
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02EREDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70Wind energy
    • Y02E10/727Offshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • the present invention lies within the technical field of wind generators, particularly to offshore wind generators which float in masses of water such as oceans, seas and lakes, which may be grouped in offshore wind farms.
  • a typical conventional offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generator comprises a horizontal-axis rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a hub which carries rotor blades, a tower having a top portion, bottom portion and an axial inner hollow, a nacelle housing the rotor axis and mounted to the top portion of the tower, a floating base connected to the bottom portion of the tower and comprising float compartments, a ballast compartment connected underneath the floating base, an electric power generator connected to the rotor shaft, rotating means for orientating the nacelle into positions where the rotor blades are pointed into the wind, a pitch regulating mechanism connected to the rotor blades, and anchoring means for mooring the floating base to a bed of a water mass.
  • Floating offshore wind turbines must be able to point the rotor blades into the wind and avoid excess heel over caused by action of wind and waves, and to resist heavy storms and beating of waves during such storms. Further, the components of the wind turbine should be transportable as easily as possible from shore to the final offshore location of the wind turbine and allow easy and quick assembly thereof.
  • WO 2010/021655-A2 discloses an offshore floating wind turbine where the nacelle and tower are watertight.
  • the tower is mounted to a floating base comprising a lower ballast compartment, floodable pontoons and a rotating mechanism to control azimuth orientation of the wind turbine.
  • the ballast and water pontoons can be used to tilt the wind turbine from a vertical position to a horizontal position and vice versa.
  • the horizontal position includes the possibilities of the wind turbine floating horizontally at the level of the water surface which is useful for transport of the wind turbine to its offshore site and of the wind turbine floating horizontally at a depth below surface level which is useful to protect the wind turbine during heavy storms.
  • the rotating mechanism comprises at least one motor-driven propelling screw which orientates the floating base and thus the rotor blades into the wind in accordance with a control circuit that provides control signals based on input signals received from a wind vane.
  • This rotating mechanism requires a rather substantial input of electric power as the whole of the wind turbine including its floating base must be constantly brought into position, not only to react in respect of changing directions of the wind, but also with regard to changing water currents acting on the floating base.
  • the present invention is intended to overcome the afore mentioned drawbacks of prior art by providing an offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation comprising a horizontal-axis rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a hub which carries rotor blades, a tower having a top portion, bottom portion and an axial inner hollow, a nacelle housing the rotor axis and mounted to the top portion of the tower, a floating base connected to the bottom portion of the tower and comprising float compartments, a ballast compartment connected underneath the floating base, an electric power generator, rotating means for orientating the nacelle into positions where the rotor blades are pointed into the wind, a pitch regulating mechanism connected to the rotor blades, and anchoring means for mooring the floating base to a bed of a water mass, wherein
  • the bottom portion of the tower is water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body comprising an inner machine room housing the electric power generator;
  • the inner hollow of the tower extends into the machine room
  • the rotor shaft and the generator shaft are connected to each other by transmission means extending through the inner hollow of the tower, for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor to the electric power generator;
  • At least a lower portion of the container body is rotatably inserted in a receiving portion of the floating base;
  • the rotating means comprise driving means driven by at least one electric motor and arranged around a, preferably annular, outer peripheral portion of the container body to engage the peripheral portion to rotate the container body within the receiving portion.
  • the electric power generator is positioned in the machine room in a position below a maximum flotation line of the floating base to increase the weight present in the metacenter to stabilize the metacenter.
  • nacelle as used herein in connection with the wind turbine of the present invention does not refer to a housing the electric power generator.
  • the rotating means comprise a peripheral flange extending laterally from the container body, at least three upper vertical guiding wheels orientated to roll within a upper circular guide portion of the peripheral flange, and at least three lower vertical guiding wheels orientated to roll within a lower circular guide portion of the peripheral flange and on a circular upper surface portion of the floating base.
  • Each of the vertical guiding wheels is connected to a horizontal pivoting axle.
  • the horizontal pivoting axles of the upper vertical guiding wheels are radially concentric and mounted to an upper wheel support structure, and the horizontal pivoting axles of the lower vertical guiding wheels are radially concentric and mounted to a lower wheel support structure.
  • the rotating means may further comprise at least three radially equidistant horizontal wheels positioned around the container body in the receiving portion for vertically guiding rotation of the of the contained body within the receiving portion, each of the vertical wheels being pivotally mounted on a vertical axle.
  • At least some of the vertical axles of the horizontal wheels may be mounted to side wall portions of the receiving portion such that each of the horizontal wheels rolls on an outer surface portion of the container body, or at least some of the vertical axles of the horizontal wheels may be mounted to recessed outer surface portions of the container body such that each of the horizontal wheels rolls on wall portions of the receiving portion.
  • at least three upper horizontal wheels positioned equidistantly around an upper plane of the container body, and at least three lower horizontal wheels located around a lower plane of the container body.
  • each electric motor may be mounted to the floating base and connected by a chain drive to at least one horizontal driving chain loop made of a chain links engaged to said outer peripheral portion by radial connecting elements, such that motor-driven movement of the driving chain loop rotates the container body in the receiving portion.
  • the radial connection elements may comprise pairs of vertically opposed radial protrusions, the pairs being equidistantly located at a circumference and separated from each other intermediate spacings, such that the protrusions of each pair enclose a horizontal channel for the driving chain loop such that the chain links abut against the pairs of radial protrusions when the driving chain loop rotates the container body.
  • the container body may comprise a circumferential outer gearing comprising vertical teeth, and the each electric motor is connected to a gear transmission comprising at least one driving gear engaging with the circumferential gearing.
  • the transmission means comprise an upper pulley train comprising upper input pulley means directly connected to the rotor shaft upper intermediate pulley means arranged below the upper input pulley means, and an upper pulley train support to which the upper input pulley means and the upper intermediate pulley means are mounted;
  • a lower pulley train comprising lower intermediate pulley means, lower output pulley means connected to an input shaft of multiplier which is connected to the generator shaft, and a lower pulley train support to which the lower output pulley means and the lower intermediate pulley means are mounted;
  • a non-elastic flexible linear loop-forming element such as a cable, or a belt which is guided helicoidally in said annular recesses such that the linear loop-forming element is arranged in the annular recesses in such a manner that at least a first set of helical vertical loops is formed, the loops comprising a first section and an end section; lower guide means arranged below the lower pulley train and comprising a first lateral guide element and a second lateral guide element.
  • the first set of loops formed by the linear loop-forming element comprises said first section extending through a first annular recess of the upper input pulley means and a first annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means,
  • the linear loop-forming element is guided downwards to a lower guiding element.
  • the first lateral guide element is arranged to receive the loop-forming element after having formed said end section and to guide the loop-forming element towards the second lateral guide element.
  • the second lateral guide element is arranged to guide the loop-forming element towards said first annular recess of the upper input pulley means.
  • the lower guide element is the first lateral guide element of the lower guide means.
  • the lower guide element is a second annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means, such that the loop-forming element forms
  • the lower guide element is the first lateral guide element of the lower guide means, whilst, when the loop forming- element is arranged to form a further subsequent sets of loops, the lower guide element is a further annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means.
  • One or more additional sets of loops can be arranged in an analogous manner where the loop-forming element is guided in successive annular recesses in the upper input pulley means, the upper intermediate pulley means, the lower intermediate pulley means and the lower output pulley means, until an end section has been provided.
  • the loop-forming element is then guide by the first lateral guide element towards the second lateral guide element, and the second lateral guide element guides the loop- forming element towards said first annular recess of the upper input pulley means.
  • a snatch block connected to the loop-forming element can be provided between the first and the second lateral guide element.
  • the snatch bock is connected to a tensioning member, such as a counterweight or a pulling spring means connected to a portion of the container body underneath the lateral guide elements.
  • the tensioning member is designed to pull the snatch block downwards to that the loop- forming element is constantly and automatically tensioned.
  • the upper intermediate pulley means serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the loop-forming element exerts on the rotor shaft.
  • the lower intermediate pulley means serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the loop-forming element exerts on the input shaft of the multiplier.
  • the pulley means i .e.
  • any of the upper input pulley means, the upper intermediate pulley means, the lower intermediate pulley means and the lower output pulley means may be comprised of individual sheaves each comprising one or more of the annular recesses, or cylinder members comprising all or at least some of the annular recesses or of combinations of such sheaves and cylinder such as, for example, respective lateral sheaves respectively provided with the first and the last annular recess of a pulley means and a cylinder comprising the annular recesses which guide the loop-forming element between the first section and the end section.
  • the loop-forming element is a cable
  • the loop-forming element is a cable
  • a synthetic material as for example DYNEEMA, an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene manufactured by the Dutch company DSM N.V., or DiNAFORT.
  • the pulleys may be made of light-weight PVC.
  • the floating base further comprises flooding means for controllably filling the water-fillable float compartments with water; pumping means for controllably pumping water out of the float compartments and air vent means to allow air entering the float compartments.
  • the ballast compartment may comprise at least one ballast inlet connected to a filling chute having a chute inlet connected to the floating base above water level, for filling the ballast compartment with bulk ballast material, for example after the wind turbine has been towed floating in a horizontal position to its site of erection, so that filling the ballast material into the ballast tank erects the wind turbine into its vertical working position. .
  • the ballast compartment may comprise an outlet gate to release the solid ballast from the ballast compartment, so as to allow the wind turbine again into its horizontal transport position. This is useful, for example, when the wind turbine has to be carried to a dock for repair works.
  • the nacelle is water-tightly mounted to the top portion of the tower, and the hub is water tightly mounted to the nacelle.
  • figure 1 is a partially sectioned elevational front view of an embodiment of an offshore floating wind turbine in accordance with the invention
  • figure 2 is a partially section elevational rear view of the lower portion of the wind turbine shown in figure 1 ;
  • figure 3 is a partial view of detail I marked in figure 2;
  • figure 4 is a partial view of detail II marked in figure 2;
  • figure 5 is another rear elevational view corresponding to figure 2 showing further details
  • figure 6 is a sectional view along line A-A shown in figure 5;
  • figure 7 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the drive mechanism of the rotating means, including electric motors and a drive chain;
  • figure 8 is a detail view showing how the drive chain shown in figure 3 is inserted into the peripheral annular portion of the container body;
  • figure 9 is a detail view showing two drive chains as that shown in figure 3 engaging the peripheral annular portion of the container body;
  • figure 10 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of drive mechanism of the rotating means
  • figure 1 1 is a side view of the drive mechanism shown in figure 10,
  • figure 12 is a front view of an arrangement of the loop-forming element in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • figure 13 is a front view showing the loop-forming element of figure 14 connected to an upper and a lower pulley train;
  • figure 14 is a side view of the arrangement shown in figure 13.
  • an offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation comprising a horizontal-axis rotor -25- with a rotor shaft -25a- connected to a rotor hub -25b- which carries rotor blades -25c-, and a nacelle housing -19- the rotor shaft -25a- and mounted to a top portion -1 a- of a tower -1 -.
  • the tower -1 - has an axial inner hollow -1 c- and a bottom portion -1 b- connected to a floating base -2- comprising four water-fillable float compartments -7-, a ballast compartment -10- connected underneath the floating base -2- by means of support columns -9-, and anchoring means -24, 24a- including an anchor -24- and an anchor chain -24a- for mooring the floating base -2- to a bed -18a- of a water mass -18-.
  • the rotor shaft -25a- and the input shaft -22a- of the multiplier are connected to each other by transmission means in the form of a flexible linear loop-forming element, i.e. a cable -4- extending through the inner hollow -1 c- of the tower -1 -, for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor -25- to the electric power generator -22-.
  • the nacelle -19- may be water-tightly connected to the top portion -1 a- of the tower -1 -, and the rotor hub -25b- is water-tightly connected to the nacelle -19-.
  • the bottom portion -1 b- of the tower -1 - is in turn water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body -1d- comprising an inner machine room -12- housing the electric power generator -22- such that the inner hollow -1 c- of the tower -1 - extends into the machine room -12-.
  • the electric power generator -22- is positioned in the machine room -12- in a position below a maximum flotation line -18- of the floating base -2- to increase the weight present in the metacenter to stabilize the metacenter.
  • the floating base -2- further comprises flooding means -13- for controllably filling the water-fillable float compartments -7- with water, pumping means -15- for controllably pumping water into and out of the float compartments -7-, and air vent pipe -14- to evacuate air from the float compartments - ⁇ -.
  • the ballast compartment -10- comprises an outlet gate -10a- to release the solid ballast -21 - from the ballast compartment -10-, to enhance buoyancy of the wind turbine.
  • the ballast compartment -10- comprises at least one ballast inlet -10b- connected to a filling chute -20- having a chute inlet -20a- connected to the floating base -2- above water level, for filling the ballast compartment -10- with bulk solid ballast -21 -.
  • the outlet gate -10a- may be opened by pulling the gate opening wire -10c-.
  • the bulk solid ballast -21 - may be, for example, stones or gravel.
  • a lower portion of the container body -1d- is rotatably inserted in a receiving portion -2a- of the floating base -2-.
  • Rotating means are provided to rotate the contained body -1 d- and thus the tower -1 - and the nacelle- 19- into the wind,
  • the rotating means comprise driving means -1 1 , 27- driven by at least one electric motor -3- and arranged around an outer peripheral portion -1 e- of the container body -1 d- to engage the peripheral portion -1 e- to rotate the container body -1 d- within the receiving portion -2a-.
  • the rotation means further comprise a peripheral flange -1 f- extending laterally from the container body -1 d-, a plurality of upper vertical guiding wheels -5- orientated to roll within a upper circular guide portion of the peripheral flange -1 f-, and a plurality of three lower vertical guiding wheels -5'- orientated to roll within a lower circular guide portion of the peripheral flange -1 f- and on a circular upper surface portion -2b- of the floating base -2-.
  • Each of the vertical guiding wheels -5, 5'- is connected to a horizontal pivoting axle -5a, 5a'-.
  • the horizontal pivoting axles -5a- of the upper vertical guiding wheels -5- are radially concentric and mounted to an upper wheel support structure
  • the rotating means further comprises equidistant horizontal wheels -6- positioned around the container body -1d- in the receiving portion -2a- for vertically guiding rotation of the of the contained body -1d- within the receiving portion -2a-, each of the vertical wheels -6- being pivotal ly mounted on a vertical axle -6a-.
  • the vertical axles -6a- of the horizontal wheels -6- are mounted to recessed side wall portions -2c- of the receiving portion -2a- such that each of the horizontal wheels -6- rolls on an outer surface portion of the container body -1 d-.
  • a plurality of upper horizontal wheels -6- is positioned equidistantly around an upper plane of the container body -1 d-, whilst a plurality of lower horizontal wheels -6- is positioned equidistantly around a lower plane of the container body -1 d-.
  • each electric motor -3- is mounted to the floating base -2- and connected by a chain drive to at least one horizontal driving chain loop -1 1 - made of a chain links engaged to said outer peripheral portion -1 e- by radial connecting elements -26-, such that motor-driven movement of the driving chain loop -1 1 - rotates the container body -1 d- in the receiving portion -2a-.
  • the radial connection elements -26- comprise pairs of vertically opposed radial protrusions -26-, the pairs being equidistantly located at a circumference and separated from each other intermediate spacings -26a- such that a horizontal channel is formed at said circumference.
  • the driving chain loop -1 1 - extends through said channel such that the chain links abut against the pairs of radial protrusions -26- when the driving chain loop -1 1 - rotates the container body -1 d-.
  • the container body in the embodiment of the rotating means according to figures 10 and 1 1 , the container body
  • Each electric motor -3- is connected to a gear transmission comprising at least one driving gear -27- engaging with the circumferential gearing -27a-.
  • Figures 12 to 14 show an embodiment of the transmission means according to the invention.
  • the transmission means comprise an upper pulley train -26, 29- comprising upper input pulley means -28- directly connected to the rotor shaft -25a- and upper intermediate pulley means -29-which comprise an upper intermediate shaft and arranged below the upper input pulley means -28- and a lower pulley train -30, 31 - comprising lower intermediate pulley means -30- which comprise a lower intermediate shaft -39- and lower output pulley means -31 - connected to an input shaft -22a- of a multiplier which is connected to the generator shaft.
  • the rotor shaft -25a- and the upper intermediate shaft -38- are mounted to an upper pulley train support -36- which keeps the shafts -25a, 38- distanced from each other, whilst the input shaft -22a- and the lower intermediate shaft -39- are mounted to a lower pulley train support -37- such that the shafts -22a, 39- are kept distanced from each other..
  • a first plurality of annular recesses -28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, 28g, 28h- is provided in said upper input pulley means -28-, a second plurality of annular recesses -29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e- provided in said upper intermediate pulley means -23-, a third plurality of annular recesses -30a, 30b, 30c, 30d- provided said lower intermediate pulley means -30- and a fourth plurality of annular recesses -31 a, 31 b, 31 c, 31 d, 31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h- provided said lower output pulley means -31 -, the upper input pulley means -28- having a larger diameter than the upper intermediate pulley means -29-, the lower intermediate pulley means -29- and lower output pulley means -31 -.
  • Lower guide means comprising a first lateral guide
  • a non-elastic flexible linear loop-forming element -4- namely a cable, is guided helicoidally in said annular recesses such that the cable -4- is arranged in the annular recesses in such a manner that it forms at least a first set and various subsequent sets of helical vertical loops ,
  • the cable -4- further forms a first set of subsequent helical loops comprising
  • additional sets of loops are arranged in an analogous manner where the cable -4- is guided in successive annular recesses -28f, 28g, 28h, 28i, 28j- in the upper input pulley means, -28- successive annular recesses -29c, 29d, 29e- in the upper intermediate pulley means -29-, successive annular recesses -30c, 30d- in the lower intermediate pulley means -30- and successive annular recesses -31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h- in the lower output pulley means -31 -, until an end section -4m- has been reached.
  • the first lateral guide element -32a- is arranged to receive the cable -4- after having formed said end section -4m- and to guide the cable -4- towards the second lateral guide element -32b- which is arranged to guide the cable -4- towards the first annular recess -28a- of the upper input pulley means -28- .
  • a snatch block -35- comprising a guiding sheave -35a- and connected to the loop-forming element -4- can be provided between the first -32a- and the second lateral guide element -32b-.
  • the snatch bock -35- is connected to a tensioning member
  • the tensioning member -34, 35- is designed to pull the snatch block -33- downwards to that the cable -4- is constantly and automatically tensioned.
  • the upper intermediate pulley means -29- serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the cable -4- exerts on the rotor shaft -22- when rotating.
  • the lower intermediate pulley means -30- serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the cable -4- exerts on the input shaft -22a- of the multiplier.
  • the pulley means i .e.
  • any of the upper input pulley means -28-, the upper intermediate pulley means -28-, the lower intermediate pulley means -29- and/or the lower output pulley means -31 - may be comprised of individual sheaves each comprising one or more of the annular recesses, or cylinder members comprising all or at least some of the annular recesses or of combinations of such sheaves and cylinders such as, for example, respective lateral sheaves respectively provided with the first and the last annular recess of a pulley means and a cylinder comprising the annular recesses which guide the loop-forming element between the first section and the end section.

Abstract

An offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation comprising a tower (1) with a bottom portion (1 b) water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body (1d) which comprises an inner machine room (12) housing an electric power generator (22); an inner hollow (1c) of the tower (1) extending into the machine room (12); transmission means (4) extending through the inner hollow (1c) of the tower (1), for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor (25) to the electric power generator (22); receiving portion (2a) of the floating base (2) into which at least a lower portion of the container body (1d) is rotatably inserted; driving means (11) driven by at least one electric motor (3) and arranged around an outer peripheral portion (1 e) of the container body (1d) to engage the peripheral portion (1e) to rotate the container body (1d) within the receiving portion (2a).

Description

AN OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND TURBINE FOR ELECTRIC POWER
GENERATION
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention lies within the technical field of wind generators, particularly to offshore wind generators which float in masses of water such as oceans, seas and lakes, which may be grouped in offshore wind farms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generation of electricity by means of offshore wind turbines is becoming increasingly important in the use of green power generation. Most of the offshore wind turbines are nowadays fixedly set on the bed of water mass by means of foundations, tripods or jackets. The fixed setting has limitations rendering them commercially unsuitable for installing them in water masses which have a depth of more than 50 m.
To solve this problem, offshore wind turbines comprising floating bases moored to the bed of the water mass by flexible cables. A typical conventional offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generator comprises a horizontal-axis rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a hub which carries rotor blades, a tower having a top portion, bottom portion and an axial inner hollow, a nacelle housing the rotor axis and mounted to the top portion of the tower, a floating base connected to the bottom portion of the tower and comprising float compartments, a ballast compartment connected underneath the floating base, an electric power generator connected to the rotor shaft, rotating means for orientating the nacelle into positions where the rotor blades are pointed into the wind, a pitch regulating mechanism connected to the rotor blades, and anchoring means for mooring the floating base to a bed of a water mass. Conventional offshore wind turbines are disclosed for example in GB-2378679-A, EP- 1429024-A2, US-7456515-B2, US 2004/0169376-A1 , US 2005/0229836-A1 , WO 03/004869-A1 , WO 2006/038091 -A2, WO 2008/122004, WO 2010/021655-A2 and WO 2010/093253-A1 .
Floating offshore wind turbines must be able to point the rotor blades into the wind and avoid excess heel over caused by action of wind and waves, and to resist heavy storms and beating of waves during such storms. Further, the components of the wind turbine should be transportable as easily as possible from shore to the final offshore location of the wind turbine and allow easy and quick assembly thereof.
WO 2010/021655-A2 discloses an offshore floating wind turbine where the nacelle and tower are watertight. The tower is mounted to a floating base comprising a lower ballast compartment, floodable pontoons and a rotating mechanism to control azimuth orientation of the wind turbine. The ballast and water pontoons can be used to tilt the wind turbine from a vertical position to a horizontal position and vice versa. The horizontal position includes the possibilities of the wind turbine floating horizontally at the level of the water surface which is useful for transport of the wind turbine to its offshore site and of the wind turbine floating horizontally at a depth below surface level which is useful to protect the wind turbine during heavy storms. The rotating mechanism comprises at least one motor-driven propelling screw which orientates the floating base and thus the rotor blades into the wind in accordance with a control circuit that provides control signals based on input signals received from a wind vane. This rotating mechanism requires a rather substantial input of electric power as the whole of the wind turbine including its floating base must be constantly brought into position, not only to react in respect of changing directions of the wind, but also with regard to changing water currents acting on the floating base.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to overcome the afore mentioned drawbacks of prior art by providing an offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation comprising a horizontal-axis rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a hub which carries rotor blades, a tower having a top portion, bottom portion and an axial inner hollow, a nacelle housing the rotor axis and mounted to the top portion of the tower, a floating base connected to the bottom portion of the tower and comprising float compartments, a ballast compartment connected underneath the floating base, an electric power generator, rotating means for orientating the nacelle into positions where the rotor blades are pointed into the wind, a pitch regulating mechanism connected to the rotor blades, and anchoring means for mooring the floating base to a bed of a water mass, wherein
the bottom portion of the tower is water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body comprising an inner machine room housing the electric power generator;
the inner hollow of the tower extends into the machine room;
the rotor shaft and the generator shaft are connected to each other by transmission means extending through the inner hollow of the tower, for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor to the electric power generator;
at least a lower portion of the container body is rotatably inserted in a receiving portion of the floating base;
the rotating means comprise driving means driven by at least one electric motor and arranged around a, preferably annular, outer peripheral portion of the container body to engage the peripheral portion to rotate the container body within the receiving portion.
Preferably, the electric power generator is positioned in the machine room in a position below a maximum flotation line of the floating base to increase the weight present in the metacenter to stabilize the metacenter.
It should be noted that the term "nacelle" as used herein in connection with the wind turbine of the present invention does not refer to a housing the electric power generator.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotating means comprise a peripheral flange extending laterally from the container body, at least three upper vertical guiding wheels orientated to roll within a upper circular guide portion of the peripheral flange, and at least three lower vertical guiding wheels orientated to roll within a lower circular guide portion of the peripheral flange and on a circular upper surface portion of the floating base. Each of the vertical guiding wheels is connected to a horizontal pivoting axle. The horizontal pivoting axles of the upper vertical guiding wheels are radially concentric and mounted to an upper wheel support structure, and the horizontal pivoting axles of the lower vertical guiding wheels are radially concentric and mounted to a lower wheel support structure.
In the afore mentioned preferred embodiment, the rotating means may further comprise at least three radially equidistant horizontal wheels positioned around the container body in the receiving portion for vertically guiding rotation of the of the contained body within the receiving portion, each of the vertical wheels being pivotally mounted on a vertical axle. At least some of the vertical axles of the horizontal wheels may be mounted to side wall portions of the receiving portion such that each of the horizontal wheels rolls on an outer surface portion of the container body, or at least some of the vertical axles of the horizontal wheels may be mounted to recessed outer surface portions of the container body such that each of the horizontal wheels rolls on wall portions of the receiving portion. Preferably, at least three upper horizontal wheels positioned equidistantly around an upper plane of the container body, and at least three lower horizontal wheels located around a lower plane of the container body.
According to the invention, each electric motor may be mounted to the floating base and connected by a chain drive to at least one horizontal driving chain loop made of a chain links engaged to said outer peripheral portion by radial connecting elements, such that motor-driven movement of the driving chain loop rotates the container body in the receiving portion. The radial connection elements may comprise pairs of vertically opposed radial protrusions, the pairs being equidistantly located at a circumference and separated from each other intermediate spacings, such that the protrusions of each pair enclose a horizontal channel for the driving chain loop such that the chain links abut against the pairs of radial protrusions when the driving chain loop rotates the container body.
Alternatively, the container body may comprise a circumferential outer gearing comprising vertical teeth, and the each electric motor is connected to a gear transmission comprising at least one driving gear engaging with the circumferential gearing.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission means comprise an upper pulley train comprising upper input pulley means directly connected to the rotor shaft upper intermediate pulley means arranged below the upper input pulley means, and an upper pulley train support to which the upper input pulley means and the upper intermediate pulley means are mounted;
a lower pulley train comprising lower intermediate pulley means, lower output pulley means connected to an input shaft of multiplier which is connected to the generator shaft, and a lower pulley train support to which the lower output pulley means and the lower intermediate pulley means are mounted;
a plurality of annular recesses respectively provided in said upper input pulley means, said upper intermediate pulley means, said lower intermediate pulley means and said lower output pulley means, the upper input pulley means having a larger diameter than the upper intermediate pulley means, the lower intermediate pulley means and the lower output pulley means;
a non-elastic flexible linear loop-forming element such as a cable, or a belt which is guided helicoidally in said annular recesses such that the linear loop-forming element is arranged in the annular recesses in such a manner that at least a first set of helical vertical loops is formed, the loops comprising a first section and an end section; lower guide means arranged below the lower pulley train and comprising a first lateral guide element and a second lateral guide element.
The first set of loops formed by the linear loop-forming element comprises said first section extending through a first annular recess of the upper input pulley means and a first annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means,
a second section extending through said first annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means and a second annular recess of the upper input pulley means,
a third section extending through said second annular recess of the upper input pulley means and a first annular recess of the lower output pulley means,
a fourth section extending through said first annular recess of the lower output pulley means, and a first annular recess of the lower intermediate pulley means,
a fifth section extending through said first annular recess of the lower intermediate pulley means and a second annular recess of the lower output pulley means.
a sixth section extending through the second annular recess of the lower output pulley means and a third annular recess of the upper output pulley means.
From the third annular recess, the linear loop-forming element is guided downwards to a lower guiding element.
The first lateral guide element is arranged to receive the loop-forming element after having formed said end section and to guide the loop-forming element towards the second lateral guide element. The second lateral guide element is arranged to guide the loop-forming element towards said first annular recess of the upper input pulley means.
When the linear loop-forming element is arranged to form only the first set of loops so that the sixth annular section is an end section, the lower guide element is the first lateral guide element of the lower guide means.
However, when the loop forming-element is arranged to form a first subsequent set of loops, the lower guide element is a second annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means, such that the loop-forming element forms,
a subsequent first section extending through said third annular recess of the upper output pulley means and the second annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means;
a subsequent second section extending through said second annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means and a fourth annular recess of the upper input pulley means,
a subsequent third section extending through said fourth annular recess of the upper input pulley means and a third annular recess of the lower output pulley means, a subsequent fourth section extending through said first annular recess of the lower output pulley means, and a second annular recess of the lower intermediate pulley means,
a subsequent fifth section extending through said second annular recess of the lower intermediate pulley means and a fourth annular recess of the lower output pulley means.
a subsequent sixth section extending through fourth annular recess of the lower output pulley means and a sixth annular recess of the upper output pulley means.
In analogy with what has been described with regard to the first set of loops, when the subsequent sixth section is an end section, the lower guide element is the first lateral guide element of the lower guide means, whilst, when the loop forming- element is arranged to form a further subsequent sets of loops, the lower guide element is a further annular recess of the upper intermediate pulley means.
One or more additional sets of loops can be arranged in an analogous manner where the loop-forming element is guided in successive annular recesses in the upper input pulley means, the upper intermediate pulley means, the lower intermediate pulley means and the lower output pulley means, until an end section has been provided. The loop-forming element is then guide by the first lateral guide element towards the second lateral guide element, and the second lateral guide element guides the loop- forming element towards said first annular recess of the upper input pulley means.
A snatch block connected to the loop-forming element can be provided between the first and the second lateral guide element. The snatch bock is connected to a tensioning member, such as a counterweight or a pulling spring means connected to a portion of the container body underneath the lateral guide elements. The tensioning member is designed to pull the snatch block downwards to that the loop- forming element is constantly and automatically tensioned.
The upper intermediate pulley means serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the loop-forming element exerts on the rotor shaft. On the other hand, the lower intermediate pulley means serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the loop-forming element exerts on the input shaft of the multiplier. The pulley means, i .e. any of the upper input pulley means, the upper intermediate pulley means, the lower intermediate pulley means and the lower output pulley means, may be comprised of individual sheaves each comprising one or more of the annular recesses, or cylinder members comprising all or at least some of the annular recesses or of combinations of such sheaves and cylinder such as, for example, respective lateral sheaves respectively provided with the first and the last annular recess of a pulley means and a cylinder comprising the annular recesses which guide the loop-forming element between the first section and the end section.
In a preferred embodiment, the loop-forming element is a cable may made of a synthetic material, as for example DYNEEMA, an Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene manufactured by the Dutch company DSM N.V., or DiNAFORT. The pulleys may be made of light-weight PVC.
According to an embodiment of the invention, some of the float compartments are at least partially tillable with water and dimensioned so that buoyancy of the floating base can be adjusted. According to this embodiment, the floating base further comprises flooding means for controllably filling the water-fillable float compartments with water; pumping means for controllably pumping water out of the float compartments and air vent means to allow air entering the float compartments.
The ballast compartment may comprise at least one ballast inlet connected to a filling chute having a chute inlet connected to the floating base above water level, for filling the ballast compartment with bulk ballast material, for example after the wind turbine has been towed floating in a horizontal position to its site of erection, so that filling the ballast material into the ballast tank erects the wind turbine into its vertical working position. .
The ballast compartment may comprise an outlet gate to release the solid ballast from the ballast compartment, so as to allow the wind turbine again into its horizontal transport position. This is useful, for example, when the wind turbine has to be carried to a dock for repair works.
To prevent water from damaging the inside of the tower and nacelle, the nacelle is water-tightly mounted to the top portion of the tower, and the hub is water tightly mounted to the nacelle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Hereinafter, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described on the grounds of schematic drawings wherein figure 1 is a partially sectioned elevational front view of an embodiment of an offshore floating wind turbine in accordance with the invention;
figure 2 is a partially section elevational rear view of the lower portion of the wind turbine shown in figure 1 ;
figure 3 is a partial view of detail I marked in figure 2;
figure 4 is a partial view of detail II marked in figure 2;
figure 5 is another rear elevational view corresponding to figure 2 showing further details;
figure 6 is a sectional view along line A-A shown in figure 5;
figure 7 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the drive mechanism of the rotating means, including electric motors and a drive chain;
figure 8 is a detail view showing how the drive chain shown in figure 3 is inserted into the peripheral annular portion of the container body;
figure 9 is a detail view showing two drive chains as that shown in figure 3 engaging the peripheral annular portion of the container body;
figure 10 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of drive mechanism of the rotating means;
figure 1 1 is a side view of the drive mechanism shown in figure 10,
figure 12 is a front view of an arrangement of the loop-forming element in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
figure 13 is a front view showing the loop-forming element of figure 14 connected to an upper and a lower pulley train;
figure 14 is a side view of the arrangement shown in figure 13.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Shown in the figures is an offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation, comprising a horizontal-axis rotor -25- with a rotor shaft -25a- connected to a rotor hub -25b- which carries rotor blades -25c-, and a nacelle housing -19- the rotor shaft -25a- and mounted to a top portion -1 a- of a tower -1 -. The tower -1 - has an axial inner hollow -1 c- and a bottom portion -1 b- connected to a floating base -2- comprising four water-fillable float compartments -7-, a ballast compartment -10- connected underneath the floating base -2- by means of support columns -9-, and anchoring means -24, 24a- including an anchor -24- and an anchor chain -24a- for mooring the floating base -2- to a bed -18a- of a water mass -18-. The rotor shaft -25a- and the input shaft -22a- of the multiplier are connected to each other by transmission means in the form of a flexible linear loop-forming element, i.e. a cable -4- extending through the inner hollow -1 c- of the tower -1 -, for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor -25- to the electric power generator -22-.
The nacelle -19- may be water-tightly connected to the top portion -1 a- of the tower -1 -, and the rotor hub -25b- is water-tightly connected to the nacelle -19-. The bottom portion -1 b- of the tower -1 - is in turn water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body -1d- comprising an inner machine room -12- housing the electric power generator -22- such that the inner hollow -1 c- of the tower -1 - extends into the machine room -12-. The electric power generator -22- is positioned in the machine room -12- in a position below a maximum flotation line -18- of the floating base -2- to increase the weight present in the metacenter to stabilize the metacenter.
The floating base -2- further comprises flooding means -13- for controllably filling the water-fillable float compartments -7- with water, pumping means -15- for controllably pumping water into and out of the float compartments -7-, and air vent pipe -14- to evacuate air from the float compartments -Ί-. The ballast compartment -10- comprises an outlet gate -10a- to release the solid ballast -21 - from the ballast compartment -10-, to enhance buoyancy of the wind turbine. Further, the ballast compartment -10- comprises at least one ballast inlet -10b- connected to a filling chute -20- having a chute inlet -20a- connected to the floating base -2- above water level, for filling the ballast compartment -10- with bulk solid ballast -21 -. In the embodiment shown in figures 2 and 5, the outlet gate -10a- may be opened by pulling the gate opening wire -10c-. The bulk solid ballast -21 - may be, for example, stones or gravel.
A lower portion of the container body -1d- is rotatably inserted in a receiving portion -2a- of the floating base -2-. Rotating means are provided to rotate the contained body -1 d- and thus the tower -1 - and the nacelle- 19- into the wind, The rotating means comprise driving means -1 1 , 27- driven by at least one electric motor -3- and arranged around an outer peripheral portion -1 e- of the container body -1 d- to engage the peripheral portion -1 e- to rotate the container body -1 d- within the receiving portion -2a-.
The rotation means further comprise a peripheral flange -1 f- extending laterally from the container body -1 d-, a plurality of upper vertical guiding wheels -5- orientated to roll within a upper circular guide portion of the peripheral flange -1 f-, and a plurality of three lower vertical guiding wheels -5'- orientated to roll within a lower circular guide portion of the peripheral flange -1 f- and on a circular upper surface portion -2b- of the floating base -2-. Each of the vertical guiding wheels -5, 5'- is connected to a horizontal pivoting axle -5a, 5a'-. The horizontal pivoting axles -5a- of the upper vertical guiding wheels -5- are radially concentric and mounted to an upper wheel support structure
-17a-, whilst the horizontal pivoting axles -5a'- of the lower vertical guiding wheels -5'- are radially concentric and mounted to a lower wheel support structure -17b-. The wheel support structures -17a, 17b- are fixedly connected to the floating base -2-.
The rotating means further comprises equidistant horizontal wheels -6- positioned around the container body -1d- in the receiving portion -2a- for vertically guiding rotation of the of the contained body -1d- within the receiving portion -2a-, each of the vertical wheels -6- being pivotal ly mounted on a vertical axle -6a-. The vertical axles -6a- of the horizontal wheels -6- are mounted to recessed side wall portions -2c- of the receiving portion -2a- such that each of the horizontal wheels -6- rolls on an outer surface portion of the container body -1 d-. Particularly, a plurality of upper horizontal wheels -6- is positioned equidistantly around an upper plane of the container body -1 d-, whilst a plurality of lower horizontal wheels -6- is positioned equidistantly around a lower plane of the container body -1 d-.
In the embodiment of the rotating means according to figures 1 to 9, each electric motor -3- is mounted to the floating base -2- and connected by a chain drive to at least one horizontal driving chain loop -1 1 - made of a chain links engaged to said outer peripheral portion -1 e- by radial connecting elements -26-, such that motor-driven movement of the driving chain loop -1 1 - rotates the container body -1 d- in the receiving portion -2a-. The radial connection elements -26- comprise pairs of vertically opposed radial protrusions -26-, the pairs being equidistantly located at a circumference and separated from each other intermediate spacings -26a- such that a horizontal channel is formed at said circumference. The driving chain loop -1 1 - extends through said channel such that the chain links abut against the pairs of radial protrusions -26- when the driving chain loop -1 1 - rotates the container body -1 d-. On the other hand, in the embodiment of the rotating means according to figures 10 and 1 1 , the container body
-1d- comprises a circumferential gearing -27a- comprising vertical teeth. Each electric motor -3- is connected to a gear transmission comprising at least one driving gear -27- engaging with the circumferential gearing -27a-.
Figures 12 to 14 show an embodiment of the transmission means according to the invention. As apparent, that the transmission means comprise an upper pulley train -26, 29- comprising upper input pulley means -28- directly connected to the rotor shaft -25a- and upper intermediate pulley means -29-which comprise an upper intermediate shaft and arranged below the upper input pulley means -28- and a lower pulley train -30, 31 - comprising lower intermediate pulley means -30- which comprise a lower intermediate shaft -39- and lower output pulley means -31 - connected to an input shaft -22a- of a multiplier which is connected to the generator shaft. The rotor shaft -25a- and the upper intermediate shaft -38- are mounted to an upper pulley train support -36- which keeps the shafts -25a, 38- distanced from each other, whilst the input shaft -22a- and the lower intermediate shaft -39- are mounted to a lower pulley train support -37- such that the shafts -22a, 39- are kept distanced from each other..
A first plurality of annular recesses -28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, 28g, 28h- is provided in said upper input pulley means -28-, a second plurality of annular recesses -29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e- provided in said upper intermediate pulley means -23-, a third plurality of annular recesses -30a, 30b, 30c, 30d- provided said lower intermediate pulley means -30- and a fourth plurality of annular recesses -31 a, 31 b, 31 c, 31 d, 31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h- provided said lower output pulley means -31 -, the upper input pulley means -28- having a larger diameter than the upper intermediate pulley means -29-, the lower intermediate pulley means -29- and lower output pulley means -31 -. Lower guide means comprising a first lateral guide element -32a- and a second lateral guide element -32b-are arranged below the lower pulley train -31 -.
A non-elastic flexible linear loop-forming element -4- , namely a cable, is guided helicoidally in said annular recesses such that the cable -4- is arranged in the annular recesses in such a manner that it forms at least a first set and various subsequent sets of helical vertical loops ,
In the embodiment shown in figures 12 to 14, the cable -4- further forms a first set of subsequent helical loops comprising
a subsequent first section -4g- extending through said third annular recess -28f- of the upper output pulley means -28- and the second annular recess -29b- of the upper intermediate pulley means -29-;
a subsequent second section -4h- extending through said second annular recess -29b- of the upper intermediate pulley means -29- and a fourth annular recess -28d- of the upper input pulley means -28-,
a subsequent third section -4i- extending through said fourth annular recess -28d- of the upper input pulley means -28- and a third annular recess -31 c- of the lower output pulley means -31 -,
a subsequent fourth section -4j- extending through said third annular recess -31c- of the lower output pulley means -31 -, and a second annular recess -30b- of the lower intermediate pulley means -30-,
a subsequent fifth section -4k- extending through said second annular recess -29b- of the lower intermediate pulley means -30- and a fourth annular recess -31 d- of the lower output pulley means -31 -.
a subsequent sixth section -4I- extending through fourth annular recess -31 d- of the lower output pulley means -31 - and a fifth annular recess -28e- of the upper output pulley means -28-.
As shown in figures 12 and 13, additional sets of loops are arranged in an analogous manner where the cable -4- is guided in successive annular recesses -28f, 28g, 28h, 28i, 28j- in the upper input pulley means, -28- successive annular recesses -29c, 29d, 29e- in the upper intermediate pulley means -29-, successive annular recesses -30c, 30d- in the lower intermediate pulley means -30- and successive annular recesses -31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h- in the lower output pulley means -31 -, until an end section -4m- has been reached.
The first lateral guide element -32a- is arranged to receive the cable -4- after having formed said end section -4m- and to guide the cable -4- towards the second lateral guide element -32b- which is arranged to guide the cable -4- towards the first annular recess -28a- of the upper input pulley means -28- .
A snatch block -35- comprising a guiding sheave -35a- and connected to the loop-forming element -4- can be provided between the first -32a- and the second lateral guide element -32b-. The snatch bock -35- is connected to a tensioning member
-34, 35-, such as a counterweight -35- or a pulling spring means -34- connected to a portion of the container body -1 d- underneath the lateral guide elements -30a, 30b-. The tensioning member -34, 35- is designed to pull the snatch block -33- downwards to that the cable -4- is constantly and automatically tensioned.
The upper intermediate pulley means -29- serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the cable -4- exerts on the rotor shaft -22- when rotating. On the other hand, the lower intermediate pulley means -30- serve to counteract to the axial force which the helical arrangement of the cable -4- exerts on the input shaft -22a- of the multiplier. The pulley means, i .e. any of the upper input pulley means -28-, the upper intermediate pulley means -28-, the lower intermediate pulley means -29- and/or the lower output pulley means -31 -, may be comprised of individual sheaves each comprising one or more of the annular recesses, or cylinder members comprising all or at least some of the annular recesses or of combinations of such sheaves and cylinders such as, for example, respective lateral sheaves respectively provided with the first and the last annular recess of a pulley means and a cylinder comprising the annular recesses which guide the loop-forming element between the first section and the end section.

Claims

1 . An offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation comprising a horizontal-axis rotor (25) with a rotor shaft (25a) connected to a rotor hub (25b) which carries rotor blades (25c), a tower (1 ) having a top portion (1 a), bottom portion (1 b) and an axial inner hollow (1 c) , a nacelle housing (19) the rotor shaft (25a) and mounted to the top portion (1 a) of the tower (1 ), a floating base (2) connected to the bottom portion (1 b) of the tower (1 ) and comprising float compartments (7), a ballast compartment (10) connected underneath the floating base (2), an electric power generator (22) comprising a generator shaft (22a), rotating means for orientating the nacelle (19) into positions where the rotor blades (25c) are pointed into the wind, a pitch regulating mechanism connected to the rotor blades (25c), and anchoring means (24, 24a) for mooring the floating base (2) to a bed (18a) of a water mass (18), characterized in that
the bottom portion (1 b) of the tower (1 ) is water-tightly connected to an upper portion of a water-tight container body (1d) comprising an inner machine room (12) housing the electric power generator (22);
the inner hollow (1 c) of the tower (1 ) extends into the machine room (12);
the rotor shaft (25a) and the generator shaft (22a) are connected to each other by transmission means (4) extending through the inner hollow (1 c) of the tower (1 ), for transmitting rotational movement of the rotor (25) to the electric power generator (22); at least a lower portion of the container body (1d) is rotatably inserted in a receiving portion (2a) of the floating base (2);
the rotating means comprise driving means (1 1 ) driven by at least one electric motor (3) and arranged around an outer peripheral portion (1 e) of the container body (1 d) to engage the peripheral portion (1 e) to rotate the container body (1 d) within the receiving portion (2a).
2. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the rotating means comprise
a peripheral flange (1f) extending laterally from the container body (1 d);
at least three upper vertical guiding wheels (5) orientated to roll within an upper circular guide portion of the peripheral flange (1 f);
at least three lower vertical guiding wheels (5') orientated to roll within a lower circular guide portion of the peripheral flange (1 f) and on a circular upper surface portion (2b) of the floating base (2);
wherein
each of the vertical guiding wheels (5, 5') is connected to a horizontal pivoting axle (5a, 5a');
the horizontal pivoting axles (5a) of the upper vertical guiding wheels (5) are radially concentric and mounted to an upper wheel support structure (17a), and the horizontal pivoting axles (5a') of the lower vertical guiding wheels (5') are radially concentric and mounted to a lower wheel support structure (17b);
the wheel support structures (17a, 17b) are fixedly connected to the floating base (2).
3. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotating means comprise at least three radially equidistant horizontal wheels (6) positioned around the container body (1 d) in the receiving portion (2a) for vertically guiding rotation of the of the contained body (1d) within the receiving portion (2a), each of the vertical wheels (6) being pivotally mounted on a vertical axle (6a).
4. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 3, characterized in that at least some of the vertical axles (6a) of the horizontal wheels (6) are mounted to recessed side wall portions (2c) of the receiving portion (2a) such that each of the horizontal wheels (6) rolls on an outer surface portion of the container body (1 d).
5. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at least some of the vertical axles (6a) of the horizontal wheels (6) are mounted to recessed outer surface portions of the container body (1 d) such that each of the horizontal wheels (6) rolls on wall portions of the receiving portion (2a).
6. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that at least three upper horizontal wheels (6) positioned equidistantly around an upper plane of the container body (1 d), and at least three lower horizontal wheels (6) positioned equidistantly around a lower plane of the container body (1 d).
7. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each electric motor (3) is mounted to the floating base (2) and connected by a chain drive to at least one horizontal driving chain loop (1 1 ) made of a chain links engaged to said outer peripheral portion (1 e) by radial connecting elements (26), such that motor-driven movement of the driving chain loop (1 1 ) rotates the container body (1 d) in the receiving portion (2a).
8. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 7, characterized in that
the radial connection elements (26) comprise pairs of vertically opposed radial protrusions (26), the pairs being equidistantly located at a circumference and separated from each other intermediate spacings (26a) such that a horizontal channel is formed at said circumference,
the driving chain loop (1 1 ) extends through said channel such that the chain links abut against the pairs of radial protrusions (26) when the driving chain loop (1 1 ) rotates the container body (1 d).
9. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that
the container body (1 d) comprises a circumferential gearing (27a) comprising vertical teeth;
each electric motor (3) is connected to a gear transmission comprising at least one driving gear (27) engaging with the circumferential gearing (27a).
10. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission means comprise
an upper pulley train (28, 29) comprising upper input pulley means (28) directly connected to the rotor shaft (25a) upper intermediate pulley means (29) arranged below the upper input pulley means (28), and an upper pulley train support (36) to which the upper input pulley means (28) and the upper intermediate pulley means (29) are mounted;
a lower pulley train (30, 31 ) comprising lower intermediate pulley means (30), lower output pulley means (31 ) connected to an input shaft of multiplier (22) which is connected to the generator shaft, and a lower pulley train support (37) to which the lower output pulley means (31 ) and the lower intermediate pulley means (30) are mounted;
a first plurality of annular recesses (28a, 28b, 28c, 28d, 28e, 28f, 28g, 28h) respectively provided in said upper input pulley means (28), a second plurality of annular recesses (29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e) provided in said upper intermediate pulley means (23), a third plurality of annular recesses (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) provided said lower intermediate pulley means (30) and a fourth plurality of annular recesses (31 a, 31 b, 31 c, 31 d, 31 e, 31 f, 31 g, 31 h) provided said lower output pulley means (31 ), the upper input pulley means (28) having a larger diameter than the upper intermediate pulley means (29), the lower intermediate pulley means (29) and lower output pulley means (31 );
a non-elastic flexible linear loop-forming element (4) which is guided helicoidally in said annular recesses such that the linear loop-forming element (4) is arranged in the annular recesses in such a manner that it forms at least a first set of vertical helical loops , the loops comprising a first section (4a) and an end section (4m).
1 1 . An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 10, characterized in that the transmission means further comprise lower guide means arranged below the lower pulley train (31 ) and comprising a first lateral guide element (32a) and a second lateral guide element (32b). the first lateral guide element (32a) being arranged to receive the loop-forming element (4) after having formed said end section (5m) and to guide the loop-forming element (4) towards the second lateral guide element (32b) which is arranged to guide the loop-forming element (4) towards said first annular recess (28a) of the upper input pulley means (28) .
12. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 10, or 1 1 characterized in that the first set of loops formed by the linear loop-forming element (4) comprises
said first loop (4a) extending through a first annular recess (28a) of the upper input pulley means (28) and a first annular recess (29a) of the upper intermediate pulley means (29),
a second loop (4b) extending through said first annular recess (29a) of the upper intermediate pulley means (29) and a second annular recess (28b) of the upper input pulley means (28),
a third loop extending (4c) through said second annular recess (28b) of the upper input pulley means (28) and a first annular recess (31 a) of the lower output pulley means (31 ),
a fourth section (4d) extending through said first annular recess (31 a) of the lower output pulley means, (31 ) and a first annular recess (30a) of the lower intermediate pulley means (30),
a fifth section (4e) extending through said first annular recess (31 a) of the lower intermediate pulley means (31 ) and a second annular recess (30b) of the lower output pulley means (30).
a sixth section (4f) extending through the second annular recess (31 b) of the lower output pulley means (31 ) and a third annular recess (28c) of the upper output pulley means (28).
13. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 12, characterized in that the loop-forming element forms at least one subsequent set o helical f loops, each , each subsequent set comprising
a subsequent first section (4g) extending through said third annular recess (28f) of the upper output pulley means (28) and a further annular recess (29b) of the upper intermediate pulley means (29);
a subsequent second section (4h) extending through said further annular recess (29b) of the upper intermediate pulley means (29) and a further annular recess (28d) of the upper input pulley means (28),
a subsequent third section (4i) extending through said further annular recess (28d) of the upper input pulley means (28) and a further annular recess (31 c) of the lower output pulley means (31 ),
a subsequent fourth section (4j) extending through said further annular recess (31c) of the lower output pulley means (31 ) and a further annular recess (30b) of the lower intermediate pulley means (30),
a subsequent fifth section (4k) extending through said further annular recess
(30b) of the lower intermediate pulley means (30) and a still further annular recess (31 d) of the lower output pulley means (31 ).
a subsequent sixth section (4I) extending through the still further annular recess (31 d) of the lower output pulley means (31 ) and a still further annular recess (28e) of the upper input pulley means (28).
14. An offshore floating wind turbine according to claim 12, characterized in that the transmission means comprise
a anatch block (33) connected to the loop-forming element (4) between the first (32a) and the second lateral guide element (32b);
a tensioning member (34, 35) coupled to the snatch block (33).
15. An offshore floating wind turbine according to any of claims 1 1 to 14, characterized in that the loop-forming element is a cable or a belt.
PCT/EP2012/054552 2012-03-15 2012-03-15 An offshore floating wind turbine for electric power generation WO2013135291A1 (en)

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