Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 14: Calculated tower and THM results for the 10-turbine analysis group.
5.
Typical cast or large fabricated bedplate used in today's workhorse turbines.
6.
Tubular steel tower, with the tower bottom diameter scaled for the same aspect
ratio versus height, with the height taken along the industry study set trend as a
function of turbine net power rating.
Simple scaling rules for shipping logistics assumed to apply across all the com-
7.
ponents, even for the high end of the rated power range. This last assumption
is the most diffi cult to accept as the larger onshore machines in the 7
10 MW
size range could not actually ship 80 m long blades or tower bottom diameters
approaching 7 m. However, the turbine solutions are valid in terms of physical
parameters in situ, and provide a convenient benchmark for the turbine designer
striving to overcome the logistics problem with new technology and innovation.
The effect of including the converter up-tower is hardly noticeable but the tower
itself outweighs the THM by 25% in the higher 7
10 MW size range. Tower and
THM in the 500
16 Abrams M1A2 tanks) are not
economically viable using today's readily available technologies. This view pro-
vides a starting point for imagining what materials and construction technologies
are needed to make these large machines possible.
Figure 15 further breaks down the THM into the major sub-systems. The partial
nacelle is the heaviest and includes the massive bedplate for transferring the rotor
bending moments into the tower structure, as well as the covering (i.e. nacelle) that
keeps the weather from the drivetrain components. The lightest components are the
generator, bearing and converter. As mentioned before, the converter is positioned
up-tower in some designs, although the most prevalent location is down-tower.
1000 tonne range (weight of 9
Search WWH ::




Custom Search