Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Mhi Vestas Offshore Wind A/s

Niels Christian Olsen

Gerner Larsen

Frank Møller Hansen

Michael Staghøj

Jörg Wadehn

Peter Albæk Riisager

The present invention provides a method of installing a foundation for an offshore wind turbine and a template for use herein. In illustrative embodiments, the template is releasably anchored in a seafloor and the template is leveled before installing a pile. In a method according to some illustrative embodiments herein, a template may be provided, the template comprising at least one hollow guiding element for receiving the pile, at least one suction bucket, a frame body to which the at least one hollow guiding element and the at least one suction bucket are coupled, and controlling means configured to supply a pressure to the at least one suction bucket. The method may comprise disposing the template on the seafloor, supplying a negative pressure to the at least one suction bucket for driving the suction bucket in to the seafloor, and controlling the negative pressure supplied to the at least one suction bucket to adjusting a penetration depth of the at least one suction bucket so as to level the frame relative to the seafloor.

Method of installing an offshore foundation and template for use in installing an offshore foundation

A node structure () for connecting two or more convergent members () of a lattice frame to each other and to one or more other members of the lattice frame. The node structure () comprises a pair of opposed spaced-apart faces () that are substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other. At least one pair of root formations () with respective central longitudinal axes define an interior angle between them, those axes diverging outwardly for alignment with respective members of the lattice frame and converging inwardly between the faces (). An inner connecting wall () between the root formations () of the pair connects concave-curved inner edges () of the faces and extends in a concave curve around the interior angle to join the root formations () of that pair.

Node structures for lattice frames

A node structure for connecting a member of a lattice frame to one or more other members of the frame comprises a hollow brace having opposed walls that converge outwardly at an acute angle in cross-section toward a central plane to connect at an outer edge. At least one root portion has a central longitudinal axis extending outwardly in the central plane of the brace for alignment with a member of the frame. The root portion has an inner end cut away at opposite sides around the central plane to leave a joining surface that intersects the converging walls of the brace while embracing an outer region of the brace extending inwardly from the outer edge.

A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.

Wind turbine generator with fluid film bearing units

A generator () for a wind turbine () is disclosed. The generator () comprises a rotor () configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator () arranged next to the rotor (). Each stator () comprises at least two subunits (), the subunits () being arranged side-by-side along a moving direction of the rotor (). Each subunit () comprises at least one flux-generating module () facing the rotor () but spaced therefrom, thereby defining an air gap between the rotor () and each flux-generating module (). The subunits () are movable relative to each other along a direction which is substantially transverse to the moving direction of the rotor (). This allows a subunit () to move in a manner which adjusts the air gap without affecting the position and the air gap of a neighboring subunit (). Thereby variations in the rotor () can be compensated and a uniform and constant air gap can be maintained. The invention further provides a wind turbine () comprising such a generator () and a method for performing service on a generator ().

Wind turbine generator with movable stator subunits

A transition structure for a tower comprises a plurality of panels that each includes a panel body having opposed upper and lower ends, a lower mounting surface at the lower end, an upper mounting surface at the upper end, and a pair of lateral mounting surfaces at lateral edges. The upper mounting surfaces are generally planar, and the panel bodies taper from their upper mounting surface to their lower mounting surface. Each panel is mounted to at least another of the panels at corresponding lateral surfaces to form, with the upper ends, the shape that conforms to the lower end of the tower to be supported. The transition structure also comprises a plurality of footings, each having an upper end mated to the lower mounting surface of one of the panels, a lower end configured to mate with a post of a foundation, and a footing body between the upper and lower ends.

Transition structure for a wind turbine tower

A connection for connecting shafts in a wind turbine includes a first shaft and a second shaft which are inter-connectable by connecting an interconnection part of the first shaft and an interconnection part of the second shaft, and a shrinkable disk positioned and adapted so as to lock the first shaft to the second shaft by providing pressure to the interconnection parts of the first and second shaft when the interconnection parts are interconnected, and where the interconnection part of each of the first and second shafts comprises a plurality of friction surfaces transferring moment between the first and second shafts by friction.

Shrink disk connection for a wind turbine

The invention relates to a bearing for a wind turbine comprising bearing rings with raceways, and at least one row of bearing balls or rollers positioned between said raceways. At least one of said raceways comprises one or more indentation areas in relation to a standard shape of the raceways. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and methods for manufacturing a bearing.

Growing community of inventors

Tjele, Denmark

Niels Christian Olsen