Method of retrofitting a wind turbine with an energy generating unit

Abstract

A method of retrofitting a wind turbine having a tower and a first energy generating unit with a second energy generation unit is disclosed. The wind turbine has been operated for a first period of time at a first tower life rate and has a first tower life expectancy design value. The method includes determining the tower life of the wind turbine tower used during the first period of time; determining the remaining tower life of the wind turbine tower; replacing the first energy generating unit with the second energy generating unit; and operating the retrofitted wind turbine at a second tower life rate less than the first tower life rate so as to extend the life expectancy value of the tower beyond the first tower life expectancy design value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind turbine having an original configuration and a retrofitted configuration,
 wherein the original configuration comprises:
 a first wind turbine tower; and 
 a first energy generating unit coupled to the first wind turbine tower, 
 wherein the first wind turbine tower has a total tower life, and wherein the wind turbine is operated for a first time period in the first configuration such that at least a portion of the total tower life of the first wind turbine tower is consumed during the first time period, and 
   wherein the retrofitted configuration comprises:
 a second wind turbine tower; and 
 a second energy generating unit coupled to the second tower, 
 wherein the second energy generating unit is different than the first energy generating unit, and 
 wherein the second wind turbine tower includes at least a portion of the first wind turbine tower such that a tower life of the second wind turbine tower is defined by the remaining portion of the total tower life of the first wind turbine tower. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the second wind turbine tower is different than a height of the first wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 2 , wherein the height of the second wind turbine tower is less than the height of the first wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 1 , wherein the entirety of the second wind turbine tower is formed by the first wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 2 , wherein the height of the second wind turbine tower is greater than the height of the first wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the second wind turbine tower includes a tower transition adaptor that forms no part of the first wind turbine tower. 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine of  claim 6 , wherein the tower transition adaptor comprises a first end with a first interface and a second end with a second interface, and wherein the first and second interfaces are sized to be different from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second interfaces of the tower transition adaptor include annular flanges and the diameter of the annular flanges are different from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The wind turbine of  claim 7 , wherein the first interface of the tower transition adaptor is coupled to the at least a portion of the first wind turbine tower and the second interface is coupled to the second energy generating unit. 
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine of  claim 9 , wherein the first wind turbine tower includes a plurality of tower sections stacked one on top of another to define one or more lower tower sections and an upper most tower section, wherein each tower section includes a upper end and a lower end. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least a portion of the first wind turbine tower included in the second wind turbine tower comprises the one or more lower tower sections, and wherein the first interface of the tower transition adaptor is coupled to an upper end of one of the one or more lower tower sections. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least a portion of the first wind turbine tower included in the second wind turbine tower comprises the one or more lower tower sections and a portion of the upper most tower section, and wherein the first interface of the tower transition adaptor is coupled to the portion of the upper most tower section. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein the first wind turbine tower has a first tower life rate during operation of the wind turbine in the original configuration, wherein the second wind turbine tower has a second tower life rate during operation of the wind turbine in the retrofitted configuration, and wherein the second tower life rate is less than the first tower life rate. 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a controller;   one or more sensors operatively coupled to wind turbine and operatively coupled to the controller for indicating the loads acting on the second wind turbine tower; and   at least one control mechanism for reducing the loads on the second wind turbine tower,   wherein the controller is configured to collect data from the one or more sensors and determine an effective second tower life rate, and   wherein the controller is configured to activate the at least one control mechanism to reduce the loads on the second wind turbine tower when the effective second tower life rate exceeds a predetermined threshold value.   
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one control mechanism includes a pitch mechanism.