Strake for a wind turbine tower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567745-B2
Application number	US-201514865033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A strake for a wind turbine tower is provided A strake for a wind turbine tower is disclosed, whereby the strake is realized as a detachable strake to be mounted to a wind turbine tower to reduce vortex induced vibrations. The strake includes an outer structure and the outer structure defines three sides that are interconnected by three angles, so that the strake includes a mainly triangular shape in its cross-cut perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. The strake includes at least one element that includes a contiguous cavity that is filled with a fluid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A strake for a wind turbine tower,
wherein the strake is a strake to be mounted to a wind turbine tower to reduce vortex induced vibrations,
wherein the strake comprises an outer structure and the outer structure defines three sides that are interconnected by three angles, so that the strake comprises a mainly triangular shape in its cross-cut perpendicular to its longitudinal direction,
wherein
the strake comprises at least one detachable, inflatable and deflatable element that includes a contiguous cavity that is filled with a fluid, and
wherein the detachable, inflatable and deflatable element is elastically flexible such that it may be rolled or folded for transportation or storage.

2. The strake according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises at least 80% of the volume of the element, when the cavity is filled with fluid.

3. The strake according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid is air.

4. The strake according to claim 1 , wherein the outer structure comprises a resealable opening that connects the cavity) to the space around the strake, to allow the fluid to enter or leave the cavity in the element.

5. The strake according to claim 1 , wherein the strake comprises a plurality of elements, and that the elements comprise an elongated shape and are mounted in parallel to form the strake.

6. The strake according to claim 5 , wherein a strake comprises at least three elements.

7. The strake according to claim 1 , wherein the strake comprises a protective cover to enwrap at least one element.

8. An arrangement to mount a strake according to claim 1 ,
wherein the arrangement comprises a mounting bracket that is detachably attached to the wind turbine tower,
wherein the arrangement comprises at least one leg,
wherein the strake comprises an end, and the end is attached to the leg,
wherein the arrangement includes a device to operate the arrangement, that is connected to the leg,
wherein the device to operate the arrangement and the leg are rotatable in respect to the mounting bracket, so that the detachable strake, that is connected to the leg, is wrapped around the tower, when the leg is rotated in respect to the mounting bracket.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the mounting bracket is prepared and arranged in a way to be mountable to a flange of the wind turbine tower.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the device to operate is a lever for manual operation.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Moeller Jesper
• Nielsen Jacob Groenvald
• Svinth Kenneth Helligsoe

Classifications

• E04B2001/405

  Fixed Constructions · mapped topic

• F03D7/0296

  to prevent, counteract or reduce noise emissions · CPC title

• F05B2240/912

  on a tower · CPC title

• F03D1/005

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• E04H12/00

  Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures (cooling towers E04H5/12; derricks for oil drilling E21B15/00) · CPC title