Extendible and reinforceable nacelle and method for making same

Abstract

A nacelle for a wind turbine includes a cover defining an internal volume. The cover extends along a longitudinal direction, and the cover has a predefined length, a predefined width and a predefined height. The cover has multiple sections configured to be fastened together to form the cover. The multiple sections are configured to fasten to one or more longitudinal extension sections. The longitudinal extension sections are configured to fasten to the cover and extend a longitudinal length of the cover to a second length. The second length is greater than the predefined length.

1 . A nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle comprising:
 a cover defining an internal volume, the cover extending along a longitudinal direction, the cover having a predefined length, a predefined width and a predefined height;   the cover having multiple sections, the multiple sections configured to be fastened together to form the cover, the multiple sections are configured to fasten to one or more longitudinal extension sections, the one or more longitudinal extension sections are configured to fasten to the cover and extend a longitudinal length of the cover to a second length, the second length being greater than the predefined length.   
     
     
         2 . The nacelle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the one or more longitudinal extension sections fastened to the cover; and   wherein the cover has the second length.   
     
     
         3 . The nacelle of  claim 2 , wherein the cover maintains the predefined width and the predefined height. 
     
     
         4 . The nacelle of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more longitudinal extension sections are fastened to at least one of:
 a middle portion of the cover or a rear portion of the cover.   
     
     
         5 . The nacelle of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more longitudinal extension sections form a rear portion of the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The nacelle of  claim 1 , the cover further comprising:
 a laminated wall having multiple layers; and   reinforcement inserts mounted inside the laminated wall, the reinforcement inserts configured for attachment to reinforcement braces.   
     
     
         7 . The nacelle of  claim 6 , the cover further comprising:
 the reinforcement braces fastened to the reinforcement inserts;   wherein the reinforcement braces and the reinforcement inserts are configured to increase structural rigidity and increase strength of the cover.   
     
     
         8 . The nacelle of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement braces have a cross-sectional shape of at least one of:
 generally U-shaped, generally V-shaped, generally I-shaped or generally Z-shaped.   
     
     
         9 . The nacelle of  claim 8 , the nacelle further comprising:
 one or more reinforcement panels fastened to the reinforcement braces; and   wherein the one or more reinforcement panels are configured to increase a shear strength of the laminated wall of the cover.   
     
     
         10 . A nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle comprising:
 a cover defining an internal volume, the cover extending along a longitudinal direction, the cover having a predefined length, a predefined width and a predefined height, the cover having multiple sections, the multiple sections configured to be fastened together to form the cover;   one or more longitudinal extension sections configured to be fastened to the cover, the one or more longitudinal extension sections are configured to extend a longitudinal length of the cover to a second length, the second length being greater than the predefined length; and   wherein the cover maintains the predefined width and the predefined height, the predefined width and the predefined height being equal to or less than a predefined maximum dimension for truck or rail transport.   
     
     
         11 . The nacelle of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more longitudinal extension sections are:
 fastened to a middle portion of the cover or a rear portion of the cover; or   form a rear portion of the cover.   
     
     
         12 . The nacelle of  claim 11 , the cover further comprising:
 a laminated wall having multiple layers;   a plurality of reinforcement inserts mounted inside the laminated wall, the reinforcement inserts configured for attachment to reinforcement braces;   the reinforcement braces fastened to the reinforcement inserts; and   wherein the reinforcement braces and the reinforcement inserts are configured to increase structural rigidity and increase strength of the cover.   
     
     
         13 . The nacelle of  claim 12 , the nacelle further comprising:
 one or more reinforcement panels fastened to the reinforcement braces; and   wherein the one or more reinforcement panels are configured to increase a shear strength of the laminated wall of the cover.   
     
     
         14 . A method for extending a nacelle, the nacelle having a predefined length, the method comprising:
 dividing the nacelle at a specified location into a first nacelle segment and a second nacelle segment;   coupling one or more longitudinal extension sections to at least one of the first nacelle segment and the second nacelle segment; and   wherein the nacelle is lengthened to a second length, the second length being greater than the predefined length.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the dividing step further comprising:
 dividing the nacelle at a middle portion or a rear portion of the nacelle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , the coupling step further comprising coupling the one or more longitudinal extension sections to at least one of:
 the first nacelle segment and the second nacelle segment, or the second nacelle segment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adding a plurality of reinforcement inserts to the nacelle; and   wherein the plurality of reinforcement inserts are mounted inside a nacelle wall.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 adding a plurality of reinforcement braces to the nacelle; and   coupling the plurality of reinforcement braces to the plurality of reinforcement inserts; and   wherein the plurality of reinforcement braces and the plurality of reinforcement inserts are configured to increase structural rigidity and increase strength of the nacelle.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of reinforcement braces have a cross-sectional shape of at least one of:
 generally U-shaped, generally V-shaped, generally I-shaped or generally Z-shaped.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling one or more reinforcement panels to the reinforcement braces; and   wherein the one or more reinforcement panels are configured to increase a shear strength of the nacelle wall.