Wind farm

• US 7,337,726 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Wobben, Aloys
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/399,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,369 Days
• Field of Search: 104/106, 104/111, 104/112, 104/183, 104/173.1, 104/173.2, 104/115, 104/114, 104/88.02, 104/88.03, 104/88.04, 104/122, 104/251, 104/249, 104/250, 104/252, 104/253, 104/113, 104/180, 290/44, 290/55, 105/30, 410/96, 246/122.R, 293/21, 212/76, 212/77, 212/78, 212/71, 212/72, 212/79, 212/83, 212/87, 212/94, 212/97, 212/98, 212/328
• US Class Current: 104/112
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 7/00 Rope railway systems with suspended flexible tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/25 specially adapted for offshore installation
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/257 the wind motor being part of a wind farm
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/95 offshore
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/96 as part of a wind turbine farm
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/727 Offshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An offshore wind farm comprises a plurality of wind turbines. In order to provide such a wind farm with transport between separate wind turbines that can be effected more safely and with less dependence on weather, cable connection is provided between the wind turbines of the wind farm, and a gondola is disposed on the cable connection to carry cargo or personnel from one wind turbine to another.

Claims

1. An off-shore wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines positioned over water to be in the form of an off-shore wind farm;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection; and

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines.

2. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the cable connection is spanned as an endless cable loop between deflection members at the wind turbines and by a rigid connection between the cable connection and the gondola.

3. The wind farm according to claim 2 wherein the cable connection comprises a main cable, a traction cable, and the gondola, the gondola being moveably connected to the main cable and fixedly connected to the traction cable, which extends as an endless cable loop along the deflection members.

4. The wind farm according to claim 2 wherein the deflection members include two independently rotatable deflection pulleys.

5. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the cable connection comprises a main cable, a traction cable, and the gondola, the gondola being moveably connected to the main cable and fixedly connected to the traction cable.

6. The wind farm according to claim 5 wherein the traction cable is driven by a motor.

7. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the gondola moves along the cable connection under its own power.

8. The wind farm according to claim 7, further comprising an electric motor drive for moving the gondola along the cable connection.

9. The wind farm according to claim 8 wherein the motor drive receives drive power from a store of energy carried in the gondola.

10. The wind farm according to claim 8 wherein electrical energy generated in the wind farm is used to power the electric motor drive.

11. The wind farm according to claim 10 wherein the electrical energy is selectively drawn at a generator or an intermediate DC circuit of one of the plurality of wind turbines.

12. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a manually operable drive for moving the gondola along the cable connection.

13. The wind farm according to claim 1 further comprising a remotely controllable drive for moving the gondola.

14. The wind farm according to claim 13, wherein a portion of the cable connection is configured to serve as an electrical conductor.

15. The wind farm according to claim 14, further comprising an electrical cable integrated into the cable connection.

16. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the cable connection is configured as the network configuration, each of the plurality of wind turbines forms a node in the network configuration.

17. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein a single cable connection connects each of the plurality wind turbines of the wind farm in a predeterminable sequence.

18. The wind farm according to claim 1 further comprising a locking device between the gondola and a tower of one of the plurality of wind turbines.

19. The wind farm according to claim 18 wherein the locking device is a electromagnetically operable holding magnet.

20. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a holding cable extending parallel to the cable connection at a predefined distance therefrom.

21. The wind farm according to claim 20, further comprising deflection members coupled to each of the plurality of wind turbines for accommodating the holding cable.

22. The wind farm according to claim 20 wherein the cable connection and the holding cable are parts of an endless cable loop.

23. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the cable connection extends at a predefined horizontal distance from the tower of one of the plurality of wind turbines, and further comprising a holding cable extending at a predefined horizontal distance from the tower.

24. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the gondola includes a flywheel mass rotating about a vertical axis.

25. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a set of points at the tower of each of the plurality of wind turbines along the cable connection.

26. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising load anchoring facilities and lashing means for securing objects to the anchoring facilities in the gondola.

27. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a hoisting device located on the gondola for handling the load being carried.

28. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising hoisting apparatus at the tower of one of the plurality of wind turbines.

29. The wind farm according to claim 1, wherein the gondola includes an enclosed gondola cabin.

30. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic coating at a location on the gondola where a risk of collision with other wind farm facilities is greatest.

31. The wind farm according to claim 30 wherein the elastic coating serves simultaneously as a float.

32. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein the gondola is buoyant.

33. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a control coupled to actuators.

34. The wind farm according to claim 33 wherein the central control device is disposed in one of the plurality of wind turbines of the wind farm.

35. The wind farm according to claim 33, further comprising a sensor configured to detect when the gondola passes by.

36. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a GPS module disposed in the gondola.

37. The wind farm according to claim 1 wherein energy is transported within the wind farm in a form other than electricity.

38. The wind farm according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of wind turbines includes an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person.

39. The wind farm according to claim 38, wherein the accommodation area is equipped with a sanitary area, and a kitchen area, a pantry area or a rest area.

40. The wind farm according to claim 38 wherein the accommodation area is integrated into the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines.

41. The wind farm according to claim 40 wherein the accommodation area is arranged in a plurality of interconnected levels.

42. The wind farm according to claim 38, further comprising a device for signalling predefined data or a device for influencing predefined operating parameters within the accommodation area.

43. The wind farm according to claim 38, further comprising a communications facility for exchanging information.

44. The wind farm according to claim 38, further comprising a water treatment plant for supplying personnel with drinking water and service water.

45. The wind farm according to claim 38, further comprising energy storage means for storing energy to bridge gaps in power supply.

46. The wind farm according to claim 38, further comprising devices for weather observation.

47. The wind farm according to claim 38 wherein the accommodation area includes navigational aids for shipping or equipment for helping injured or shipwrecked persons.

51. The wind farm according to claim 1 further comprising a closable opening in a tower of at least one of the plurality of wind turbines at a height at which the gondola reaches the towers.

52. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a locking device coupled to the tower of one of the plurality of wind turbines at the height of the gondola near the opening.

53. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a cover of substantially horizontal extension disposed above the opening on the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines.

54. The wind farm according to claim 53, further comprising a first protective wall disposed on the side of the cover facing away from the tower, said protective wall extending substantially vertically and at a predefined distance parallel to the cable connection.

55. The wind farm according to claim 54, further comprising a second protective wall disposed at the tower of the wind turbine at the height of the opening and extending substantially parallel to the cable connection.

56. The wind farm according to claim 55 wherein the second protective wall comprises two parts extending a predefined length on both sides of the opening.

57. The wind farm according to claim 55, further comprising a gap between the first protective wall and the second protective wall, said gap increasing in size in a predefined portion at a distance from the opening.

58. The wind farm according to claim 55, further comprising an elastic coating of predefined thickness on at least one of the protective walls.

59. The wind farm according to claim 55, further comprising a light on the cover or the protective walls.

60. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a gangboard extending substantially parallel to the cable connection, said gangboard being reachable from the opening and having at least one retention facility along its entire length.

61. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a working platform coupled to the outside of the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines, wherein said platform can be reached from the opening.

62. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a crown safety platform outside the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines, wherein said platform can be reached from the opening.

63. The wind farm according to claim 51, further comprising a first guide rail disposed on the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines close to the opening and extending substantially parallel to the cable connection.

64. The wind farm according to claim 63, further comprising a second guide rail extending at a predefined distance substantially parallel to the first guide rail.

65. The wind farm according to claim 64, further comprising a gap between the first guide rail and the second guide rail, said gap increasing in size in a predefined portion at a distance from the opening.

66. The wind farm of claim 64 wherein the guide rails support the protective walls.

67. The wind farm according to claim 51 wherein the closeable opening is larger than the gondola and the cable connection extends through the opening into the inside of the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines.

68. The wind farm according to claim 1, further comprising a mast disposed between towers of two of the plurality of wind turbines for supporting the cable connection.

48. The wind farm according to 38 wherein the accommodation area includes a viewing platform.

49. The wind farm according to claim 48, wherein the viewing platform includes windows to enable the surroundings of the one of the plurality of wind turbines to be monitored.

50. The wind farm according to claim 48, further comprising an elevator between the accommodation area and the viewing platform.

69. A method of transport between individual ones of a plurality of wind turbines, comprising:

positioning an object to be transported in a gondola coupled to a cable that spans the individual ones of the plurality of wind turbines;

moving the gondola from a first one of the plurality of turbines to a second one of the plurality of turbines along the cable;

removing the object from the gondola;

wherein, said cable being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the object is a person.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the cable is a continuous loop and configured to circulate between the first and second ones of the plurality of turbines with the gondola affixed to a point on the cable.

72. The method of claim 69, further comprising controlling movement of the gondola from within the gondola.

73. The method of claim 69, further comprising moving the gondola from the second one of the plurality of turbines to a third one of the plurality of turbines.

74. The method of claim 69 wherein one of the plurality of wind turbines is standing in water.

75. The method according to claim 69 further comprising a step of moving the object through a closeable opening in the tower of at least one of the plurality of wind turbines at a height at which the gondola reaches the tower.

76. A system, comprising:

a plurality of off-shore wind turbines, each of the plurality including a tower located over the water and a rotor at the top of the tower;

a cable connection including cables, each cable extending over water and coupled at a first end to a first one of the plurality of wind turbines and at a second end to a second one of the plurality of wind turbines;

a gondola coupled to the cable and configured to travel along the cable from the first turbine to the second turbine; and

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines.

77. The system according to claim 76 further comprising a closeable opening in the tower of at least one of the plurality of wind turbines at a height at which the gondola reaches the tower.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein the plurality of wind turbines are standing offshore.

79. An off-shore wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines positioned over water;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

an elastic coating on an outside surface of the gondola that acts as a float for the gondola, the gondola being buoyant in water.

80. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

a control device including a central control unit and actuators, the central control unit being disposed in one of the plurality of wind turbines of the wind farm.

81. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person in the turbine structure of at least one of the wind turbines, the accommodation area being equipped with a sanitary area, and a kitchen area, a pantry area or a rest area.

82. An off-shore wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines positioned over water provided with a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines, and a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person in the wind turbine structure of at least one of the wind turbines, the accommodation area including navigational aids for ships and equipment for helping injured or shipwrecked persons.

83. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person in at least one of the wind turbines, the accommodation area being integrated into the tower of the one of the plurality of wind turbines.

84. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines;

an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person in the turbine structure of at least one of the wind turbines; and

a communications facility for exchanging information positioned within the accommodation area.

85. An off-shore wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines positioned over water provided with a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines, and a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines;

an accommodation area for accommodating at least one person in the wind turbine structure of at least one of the wind turbines; and

a water treatment plant for supplying personnel with drinking water and service water from the water over which the wind turbine is positioned.

86. The off-shore wind farm according to claim 85 further comprising a closeable opening in a tower of at least one of the plurality of wind turbines at a height at which a gondola reaches the tower.

87. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines provided with a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines, and a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines, at least a endless cable connection in said cable connection in the form of a loop interconnecting the wind turbines at a predetermined height.

88. The wind farm according to claim 87 wherein the endless cable is a traction cable in a loop to provide the power to move the gondola and further including a support cable to support the weight of the gondola, the support cable extending between adjacent wind turbines.

89. A wind farm, comprising:

a plurality of wind turbines;

a cable connection interconnecting the plurality of wind turbines at a predetermined height;

a gondola disposed on said cable connection for traveling along said cable connection;

said cable connection being configured as either a star configuration or a network configuration, where in the network configuration the cable connection provides direct cable travel paths for the gondola from any one of the wind turbines directly to at least three other ones of the wind turbines; and

a flywheel mass rotating about a vertical axis, the flywheel mass being coupled to the gondola.