Housing for the nacelle of a wind turbine

Abstract

Disclosed is a housing for the nacelle of a wind turbine, comprising a support structure ( 15 ) composed of tubes and braces, preferably made of metal, especially steel, or plastic, especially fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), and covering segments ( 2, 3, 4 ) which are fastened to said support structure ( 15 ). The housing is characterized in that the covering elements ( 2, 3, 4 ) have a coating surface made of plastic, especially FRP, and are self-supporting. Such a housing for the nacelle of a wind turbine can be manufactured with little effort from inexpensively produced parts and is easy to assemble. In particular, said housing combines the advantages of previously known structures that are self-supporting as a whole and the paneling of a support structure comprising parts that are not self-supporting without having the disadvantages thereof.

1 . A housing for the nacelle of a wind turbine, having a support structure comprising tubes or braces, and covering segments affixed to the support structure wherein the covering segments have a covering surface of plastic, and are embodied as self-supporting. 
     
     
         2 . The housing as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the covering segments each have a reinforcing frame and each have a shell element of plastic, placed two-dimensionally on this frame on a frame face, and the frames are connected to the support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The housing as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the covering segments are composite components, with frames of metal tubes or braces, onto which the shell elements are placed, and the frames are connected to the support structure via construction means. 
     
     
         4 . The housing as defined by  claim 2 , wherein the frames of the covering segments comprise plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The housing as defined by  claim 2  wherein the shell element and the respective associated frame are connected by overlaps of the plastic material via parts of the frame, and at least in regions serving to connect the frame to the support structure, parts of the frame are exposed. 
     
     
         6 . The housing as defined by  claim 5 , wherein the overlaps are embodied such that relative motions between the frame and the shell element are enabled. 
     
     
         7 . The housing as defined by  claim 2  wherein the frames of the covering segments are fabricated as closed, encompassing frames. 
     
     
         8 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein between the covering segments, at abutting points, air gaps with a gap width of 5 mm to 20 mm are left. 
     
     
         9 . The housing as defined by  claim 8 , wherein a first covering segment, disposed in a fall line of the housing above a second covering segment, protrudes with an edge past an edge of the second covering segment. 
     
     
         10 . The housing as defined by  claim 8  wherein sealing lips for closing the air gaps are disposed with at least at some of the abutting points. 
     
     
         11 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein covering surface portions of the covering segments have smooth surfaces, with a thickness of less than 10 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein the support structure has a lower carrier portion, extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and at least two portals, spanning this support structure in the transverse direction of the housing, to which portals at least lateral and upper covering segments are affixed. 
     
     
         13 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein at least one of the covering segments is affixed detachably to the support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein a total of twelve covering segments are disposed, two each for covering a top side, an underside, and rear, left, front and back face ends of the nacelle. 
     
     
         15 . The housing as defined by  claim 1  wherein the size of the covering segments is dimensioned such that, they can be received in a 40-foot container. 
     
     
         16 . The housing as defined by  claim 3  wherein the shell element and the respective associated frame are connected by overlaps of the plastic material via parts of the frame, and at least in regions serving to connect the frame to the support structure, parts of the frame are exposed. 
     
     
         17 . The housing as defined by  claim 4  wherein the shell element and the respective associated frame are connected by overlaps of the plastic material via parts of the frame, and at least in regions serving to connect the frame to the support structure, parts of the frame are exposed. 
     
     
         18 . The housing as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the overlaps are embodied such that relative motions between the frame and the shell element are enabled. 
     
     
         19 . The housing as defined by  claim 17 , wherein the overlaps are embodied such that relative motions between the frame and the shell element are enabled. 
     
     
         20 . The housing as defined by  claim 3  wherein the frames of the covering segments are fabricated as closed, encompassing frames.