Wind turbine dome and method of assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249776-B2
Application number	US-201414183892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2014
Priority date	Feb 19, 2014
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

An aerodynamic dome structure that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes a plurality of arcuate panels. The arcuate panels are interconnected to form a dome-shaped structure. A plurality of arcuate radial spar supports may be employed to support the arcuate panels.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aerodynamic dome, the aerodynamic dome comprising:
a plurality of arcuate radial spar supports together forming a dome-shaped frame positioned upstream of a rotor hub assembly of a wind turbine; and
at least one cover segment enveloping at least a portion of the dome-shaped frame to form at least a portion of an outer dome structure of the wind turbine,
wherein at least one of the dome shaped frame and the outer dome structure are attached to at least one of a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine rotor hub, a rotor blade, a rotor blade extension structure or a rotor hub extension structure of the wind turbine.

2. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cover segment is a metal sheet segment, a fabric segment, a composite panel segment, a composite sandwich segment, a plastic segment, a polycarbonate segment, or a combination thereof.

3. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one attachment mechanism coupling the at least one cover segment to the dome-shaped frame.

4. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one attachment mechanism is selected from a bolt, a rivet, crimping, double-sided tape, a hook and loop element, a protrusion and slot structure, and combinations thereof.

5. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cover segment comprises a pie-shaped segment when viewed from a direction substantially orthogonal to an outermost surface of the at least one cover segment and having one of a rectangular cross-section devoid of a long side, a C-shape cross-section or a U-shape cross-section.

6. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , further comprising a support structure for securing the plurality of arcuate radial spar supports proximal an apex of the aerodynamic dome.

7. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , further comprising a ring structure for securing the plurality of arcuate radial spar supports.

8. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 1 , wherein at least one spar support of the plurality of spar supports comprises at least one of a channel-frame cross-section structure, a box-frame cross-section structure, an I-beam structure, and combinations thereof.

9. An aerodynamic dome, the aerodynamic dome comprising:
a plurality of rigid arcuate panels; and
a plurality of connecting elements connecting the plurality of rigid arcuate panels together to form a dome shaped structure defining the aerodynamic dome, wherein the aerodynamic dome is positioned upstream of a rotor hub assembly of a wind turbine,
wherein at least one of the plurality of rigid arcuate panels and the plurality of connecting elements are attached to at least one of a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine rotor hub, a rotor blade, a rotor blade extension structure or a rotor hub extension structure of the wind turbine.

10. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of rigid arcuate panels comprises a metal sheet panel, a composite panel, a composite sandwich panel, a plastic panel, a polycarbonate panel, or a combination thereof.

11. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one connecting element of the plurality of connecting elements is selected from a bolt, a rivet, crimping, double-sided tape, a hook and loop element, a protrusion and slot structure, and combinations thereof.

12. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 9 , wherein at least one rigid arcuate panel of the plurality of rigid arcuate panels comprises one or more of a pie-shaped segment when viewed from a direction substantially orthogonal to an outermost surface of the at least one rigid arcuate panel, and having one of a rectangular cross-section devoid of a long side, a c-shape cross-section or a u-shape cross-section.

13. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 9 , further comprising a support structure for securing the plurality of rigid arcuate panels proximal an apex of the aerodynamic dome.

14. The aerodynamic dome according to claim 9 , further comprising at least one ring structure for securing the plurality of rigid arcuate panels.

15. A method of assembling an aerodynamic dome, the method comprising:
interconnecting a plurality of arcuate spar supports to form a dome-shaped frame positioned upstream of a rotor hub assembly of a wind turbine; and
attaching via at least one attachment mechanism, one or more cover segments to the dome-shaped frame to form at least a portion of an outer dome structure of the wind turbine,
wherein at least one of the dome shaped frame and the outer dome structure are attached to at least one of a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine rotor hub, a rotor blade, a rotor blade extension structure or a rotor hub extension structure of the wind turbine.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein each cover segment of the one or more cover segments is selected from a metal sheet segment, a fabric segment, a composite panel segment, a composite sandwich segment, a plastic segment, a polycarbonate segment, and a combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein each cover segment of the one or more cover segments comprises one or more of a pie-shaped segment when viewed from a direction substantially orthogonal to an outermost surface of the cover segment, and having one of a rectangular cross-section devoid of a long side, a c-shape cross-section or a u-shape cross-section.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein interconnecting a plurality of arcuate spar supports to form a dome-shaped frame comprises attaching the plurality of arcuate spar supports to a center structure proximal an apex of the aerodynamic dome.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein interconnecting a plurality of arcuate spar supports to form a dome-shaped frame comprises attaching the plurality of arcuate spar supports to a ring structure.

20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein attaching via at least one attachment mechanism, one or more cover segments to the dome-shaped frame to form at least a portion of an outer dome structure comprises attaching one more cover segments to at least a portion of the dome-shaped frame via at least one of a bolt, a rivet, a double-sided tape, crimping, a hook and loop element, a protrusion and slot structure, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Baehmann Peggy Lynn
• Lopez Fulton Jose
• Wilson Ian David
• Zirin Robert Michael

Classifications

• F05B2240/14

  Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within · CPC title

• Y10T29/49316

  Impeller making · CPC title

• F03D1/0691 Primary

  of the hub · CPC title

• F03D1/04 Primary

  having stationary wind-guiding means, e.g. with shrouds or channels (F03D9/35 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title