Method for installing wind turbine tower

Abstract

A method for installing a wind turbine tower. The invention relates to a method for installing a wind turbine tower (10) wherein the tower (10) comprises a tower fastening portion (11) and a tower through-hole (12) in the tower fastening portion (11), the method comprising: providing a ship (20) having a ship fastening portion (21) and a ship through-hole (22) in the ship fastening portion (21); unloading the tower (10) onto the vessel (20), wherein the tower through-hole (12) is located at the vessel through-hole (22); positioning a stud (30) in the tower through-hole (12) and the ship through-hole (22) wherein the stud (30) comprises an upper portion (31) protruding in an upward direction from the tower through-hole (12) and a lower portion (32) protruding in a downward direction from the ship through-hole (22); the tower fastening portion (11) is fastened to the ship fastening portion (21) by means of a lower fastening element (50) attached to the lower portion (32) and an upper fastening element (60) attached to the upper portion (31), where both the lower fastening element (50) and the upper fastening element (60) can be separated from the stud (30) in a non-destructive manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for installing wind turbine towers, and particularly for seaworthy fixing of wind turbine towers so as to transport the towers on ships to the foundation. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, it is known to use screws and nuts to mount towers onto ships for transport to foundations. When securing a tower to a ship for seaworthiness, there is limited space for manipulating screws and bolts due to internal components and other equipment within the tower. Furthermore, the size and / or weight of the studs make manual manipulation of the screws difficult.

[0003] Until now, screws similar to cylinder head bolts are used to fasten the wind turbine tower to the ship fastening section via the tower fastening section. When the tower is installed at the ship fastening section, the screw is guided through the ship through-hole in the ship fastening section, with the screw head on the lower portion of the screw. That is, the screw is pushed upwards from bottom to top through the ship through-hole and the coaxially positioned tower through-hole until the upper portion of the screw protrudes upwards from the tower through-hole, and the screw head contacts the outer surface of the lower portion of the ship fastening section around the ship through-hole. Nuts are then tightened onto each upper portion of the screw protruding from the tower through-hole. After the ship with the tower on it reaches the foundation for the tower, the screws are replaced with new screws, and after the older screws are removed, these new screws are inserted downwards into the tower through-hole, i.e., from top to bottom.

[0004] Because the vessel moves on water, installation time on board must be as short as possible to prevent accidental damage to the tower. This is challenging, especially when it involves replacing old screws with new ones to lift the tower from the vessel to the foundation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above. In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for airworthy fixed wind turbine towers.

[0006] The foregoing objective is achieved by the subject matter of the claims. In particular, this objective is achieved by the method according to claim 1. Further features and details of the invention can be obtained from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0007] According to the present invention, a method for installing a wind turbine tower is provided, wherein the tower includes a tower fastening portion and a tower through hole in the tower fastening portion, the method comprising the following steps: A vessel is provided having a vessel fastening portion and a vessel through-hole in the vessel fastening portion. The tower is unloaded onto the ship, wherein the tower's through-hole is located at the ship's through-hole. The stud is positioned in the tower through hole and the ship through hole, wherein the stud includes an upper portion protruding upward from the tower through hole and a lower portion protruding downward from the ship through hole. The tower fastening portion is secured to the ship fastening portion by means of a lower fastening element attached to the lower portion and an upper fastening element attached to the upper portion, wherein both the lower fastening element and the upper fastening element can be detached from the stud in a non-destructive manner.

[0008] Within the scope of this invention, it has been found that replacing conventional screws with studs without screw heads provides the possibility of improving the method of mounting towers onto ships. In particular, the towers can be installed in a manner that provides an improved starting position for later moving the towers from the ship to the foundation.

[0009] In cases where the stud has a detachable lower fastening element—that is, without a fixed screw head—the lower fastening element can be removed and / or detached solely from the stud for lifting the tower from the ship. Furthermore, the old and / or initial studs can then be reused to fasten the tower to the foundation. Therefore, the studs can be reused during the tower installation process. Depending on the given circumstances and / or safety requirements, even the lower fastening device can be reused. Additionally, the method of the present invention not only simplifies methods known in the prior art but also provides a basis for a faster way to move the tower from the ship and install it onto the foundation.

[0010] The method described above is not limited to the order of the indentations. That is, alternative orders of the described method steps are also possible. For example, the positioning of the studs in the ship's through-hole may be performed before and / or during the unloading of the tower onto the ship. The attachment of the lower fastening element may be performed before or after positioning the studs in the ship's through-hole and / or the tower's through-hole.

[0011] A tower through-hole can be understood as at least one tower through-hole. A ship through-hole can be understood as at least one ship through-hole. A stud can be understood as at least one stud. That is, it is possible that the tower is fastened to the ship by means of a plurality of studs in corresponding plurality of tower through-holes and ship through-holes. The described steps can then be performed one after another or in combination. For example, in one alternative, each stud can be inserted into the hole, and when each stud is in place, the fastening element is attached and secured. According to another alternative, the tower can be fastened to the ship in the described manner by means of one stud, and fastened to the ship in the same manner by means of at least one other stud.

[0012] The upper portion can be understood as the upper end of the stud. The lower portion can be understood as the lower end of the stud. The stud may include external threads in the lower portion, the upper portion, and / or along the entire length of the stud. The stud may be configured as a rod-shaped and / or pin-shaped stud.

[0013] Tower fastenings can be understood as fastening portions in the lower and / or bottom sections of the tower, such as flange portions. Therefore, tower through-holes can be located within the tower flanges of the tower fastenings. This prevents interference with internal tower components when manipulating one or more studs. Ship through-holes can be located within the ship flanges of the ship fastenings.

[0014] A ship can be understood as a floating and / or boat-shaped platform used to transport towers to the sea. However, a ship can also be understood as a land-based transport platform. Landing the tower onto the ship can be understood as moving and / or lifting the tower onto the ship. Fastening the tower's fastening components to the ship's fastening components can be understood as fixing and / or installing the tower's fastening components to the ship's fastening components. Fastening the tower's fastening components to the ship's fastening components using lower and upper fastening elements can be understood as using lower and upper fastening elements, in addition to other fastening tools such as studs and fastening components, to fasten the tower to the ship.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the stud may be located in the ship's through-hole such that, before the tower is unloaded onto the ship, the lower portion protrudes downward from the ship's through-hole, and a lower fastening element may be attached to the lower portion. In this way, once the tower fastening portion is properly positioned at the ship fastening portion, the stud with the attached lower fastening element can be pushed into the tower through-hole, while simultaneously providing mechanical locking by means of the lower fastening element.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, it is possible that, before and / or while the tower is being unloaded onto the ship, the stud moves downward until the upper portion is within the ship's through-hole, and after the tower is unloaded onto the ship, the stud moves upward until the upper portion passes through the tower's through-hole and moves outside the through-hole. In this way, the stud can be easily held in the desired position until the tower contacts the ship, and subsequently, it can be quickly pushed into the tower's through-hole.

[0017] Furthermore, the method of the present invention can be performed such that the lower fastening element is attached to the lower portion by screwing it onto the lower portion, and the upper fastening element is attached to the upper portion by screwing it onto the upper portion. That is, both the upper and lower fastening elements may each include internal threads, by means of which they can be screwed onto the stud and external threads respectively. Both the lower and upper fastening elements can be configured as nuts. In this way, the lower and upper fastening elements can be easily attached to and separated from the stud. Therefore, the ability of the lower and upper fastening elements to be separated from the stud in a non-destructive manner can be understood as allowing them to be loosened and / or unscrewed from the stud.

[0018] Furthermore, by using a mechanical rotating device, the stud can be rotated into the lower fastening element. By automatically rotating the stud into the lower fastening device, the process is faster, more consistent, and performed with greater safety compared to conventional methods. Additionally, heavier studs, such as those weighing over 10 kg or 15 kg, can be used. This mechanical rotating device can be configured as a robot for rotating and / or turning the stud.

[0019] Alternatively, or alternatively, the lower fastening element can be attached to and / or attached to the lower portion using a mounting bracket for holding and / or lifting the lower fastening element. Specifically, the mounting bracket can be used to lift the lower fastening element using a stud on the lower fastening element. For example, the lower fastening element can be supported at the mounting bracket, which may be part of a robot and / or machine. The stud can then be inserted into the through-hole and placed onto the lower fastening element. That is, the stud is subsequently supported by the lower fastening element and the mounting bracket. The stud can then be attached to the lower mounting element, for example, by manually screwing it into the lower mounting element, which may be configured as a nut. Using a mounting bracket provides an improved method of attaching the lower fastening element to the stud. In particular, by supporting the stud accordingly on the lower fastening element and the mounting bracket, easier manipulation of the stud is achieved during the process of attaching the lower fastening element to the stud. The mounting bracket may include mechanical, hydraulic and / or pneumatic lifting devices for raising and / or lowering the lower fastening elements.

[0020] The method of the present invention may further include the following steps for mounting the tower on a foundation, particularly on an offshore foundation: This allows the lower fastening element to separate from the stud. With the stud located at the tower fastening portion and the upper fastening element located at the upper portion, the tower is lifted from the ship. Provides a foundation having a foundation fastening portion and a foundation through-hole in the foundation fastening portion. The tower is removed onto the foundation, wherein the tower through-hole is located at the foundation through-hole, while the lower portion of the stud, still attached to the tower fastening portion, is guided through the foundation through-hole. The lower fastening element is attached to the lower portion. The tower fastening portion is secured to the base fastening portion by means of the lower fastening element and the upper fastening element.

[0021] By installing the lower fastening element instead of a conventional screw head, the lower fastening element can be easily detached from the studs to allow for the lifting of the tower, which includes one or more studs and one or more upper fastening elements, from the vessel. In this way, the critical time for fastening the tower to the foundation can be kept relatively short. A foundation through-hole may be located in the foundation flange of the foundation fastening section. The foundation can be understood as an offshore foundation, but can also be understood as the platform on which the tower will ultimately be installed.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, the tower includes a plurality of tower through holes, the ship includes a plurality of ship through holes, and / or the foundation includes a plurality of foundation through holes, wherein a plurality of studs are positioned in the tower through holes and the ship through holes, wherein each stud includes an upper portion projecting upward from each tower through hole and a lower portion projecting downward from each ship through hole. Furthermore, before and / or when the tower is unloaded onto the ship, each stud is movable downward until each upper portion is located in each corresponding ship through hole, and after the tower is unloaded onto the ship, each stud is movable upward until each upper portion passes through each corresponding tower through hole and moves out of each corresponding tower through hole. That is, during the unloading of the tower, no stud can protrude from these holes. Furthermore, with each stud at a tower fastening portion and a corresponding upper fastening element attached to each upper portion, the tower can be lifted from the ship. In this way, the tower can be installed in an even safer and still easy and space-saving manner. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Other measures to improve the inventive concept can be derived from the following description of the preferred method, which is schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Features and advantages that can be obtained from the claims, description, and drawings may be considered essential individually or in combination with each other.

[0024] In the attached diagram: Figure 1-16 The tower, vessel, and foundation are illustrated to explain the preferred method for installing a wind turbine tower according to the present invention, and Figures 17 and 18 illustrate the tower, vessel, and foundation to explain how a wind turbine tower is installed according to existing technology.

[0025] Components and features with the same function and operating principle are labeled with the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0026] exist Figure 1 The image shows a portion of a ship 20, which has a ship fastening portion 21 and a ship through-hole 22 in the ship fastening portion 21. The ship fastening portion 21 includes a ship flange 24. Figure 1 A stud 30 in the ship through-hole 22 is also shown, comprising an upper portion 31 projecting upward from the tower through-hole 12 and a lower portion 32 projecting downward from the ship through-hole 22. Furthermore, a lower fastening element 50 and a mounting bracket 80 are also shown. In the first step of installation, the stud 30 moves downward through the ship through-hole 22 into the lower fastening element 50, which is supported at the mounting bracket 80. The stud 30 is configured as a threaded rod, and the lower fastening element 50 is configured as a nut.

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, the stud 30 is rotated into the lower fastening element 50 using a mechanical rotating device 70. Depending on the weight of the stud 30, it can be manually screwed into the nut, or the lower fastening element 50 can be screwed onto the stud 30 by keeping the stud 30 stationary and rotating the lower fastening element 50 (manually or by means of the mounting bracket 80).

[0028] Figure 3 This shows that the stud 30 moves in the downward direction, and... Figure 4 In this process, the wind turbine tower 10 is unloaded onto the vessel 20. Specifically, the tower fastening portion 11 is unloaded onto the vessel fastening portion 21. The tower fastening portion 11 includes a tower through-hole 12 and a tower flange 14, with the tower through-hole 12 located within the tower flange 14. In the example shown, studs 30 are located in the vessel through-hole 22, such that before the tower 10 is unloaded onto the vessel 20, a lower portion 32 protrudes downward from the vessel through-hole 22, and a lower fastening element 50 is attached to the lower portion 32. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, before the tower 10 is unloaded onto the ship 20, the stud 30 moves downward until the upper part 31 is located in the ship through hole 22.

[0029] like Figure 5As shown, after the tower 10 is unloaded onto the ship 20 at the desired position, the stud 30 moves upward until the upper portion 31 passes through the tower through-hole 12 and moves out of the tower through-hole 12. That is, after the stud 30 is located in the tower through-hole 12 and the ship through-hole 22, the upper portion 31 protrudes upward from the tower through-hole 12, and the lower portion 32 protrudes downward from the ship through-hole 22.

[0030] Subsequently, as Figure 6 As shown, the upper fastening element 60 is attached to the upper portion 31 of the stud 30. The upper fastener 60 is configured as a nut, which is screwed onto the stud 30. Subsequently, the tower fastening portion 11 is secured to the ship fastening portion 21 by further screwing the upper fastening element 60 onto the stud 30 using a tensioning tool 90. Figure 8 Another stud 30 is shown, which is located in another tower through hole 12 and another ship through hole 22, so as to secure the tower 10 to the ship 20 more firmly by means of additional fastening elements 50, 60. Figure 7 The fastening in the middle can be regarded as the so-called survival mode, and Figure 8 The additional fastening shown can be considered a so-called transit mode. As another safety measure, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the tensioning tool 90 is also used to further tighten the lower fastening element 50. Figure 10 The image shows the sea transport of tower 10 on ship 20, during which the installation frame is moved and / or relocated to a lower position.

[0031] Figure 11 The following state is shown: Ship 20 has reached base 40 ( Figure 14 (as shown in the diagram), and the lower fastening element 50 is removed from the lower portion 32 of the first stud 30 by means of the mounting bracket in transport mode. Figure 12 The steps for removing another lower fastening element 50 from the other stud 30 in survival mode are shown.

[0032] As in Figure 13 As can be seen, once each lower fastening element 50 has been removed from each stud 30, the tower 10 will be raised from the vessel 20, with the stud 30 positioned at the tower fastening portion 11. Figure 13 As shown, when the tower 10 is lifted from the ship 20, the upper fastening element 60 will be held at the stud 30 and the upper part 31 accordingly.

[0033] After tower 10 is lifted from vessel 20, it will be unloaded onto foundation 40. The foundation 40 described in the example includes a foundation fastening portion 41 and a foundation through-hole 42 within the foundation fastening portion 41. Specifically, the foundation through-hole 42 is located within a foundation flange 44 of the foundation fastening portion 41. Figure 14 As shown, the tower 10 is removed onto the foundation 40, with the tower through-hole 12 located at the foundation through-hole 42, while the lower portion 32 of the stud 30, still located at the tower fastening portion 11, is guided through the foundation through-hole 42.

[0034] After tower 10 is unloaded onto foundation 40, as Figure 15 As shown, the lower fastening element 50 is attached to the lower portion 32. Specifically, the nut-shaped lower fastening element 50 is screwed onto the lower portion 32 of the stud 30 by means of the mounting bracket 80. Finally, the tower fastening portion 11 is fastened to the base fastening portion 41 by means of the lower fastening element 50 and the upper fastening element 60. Figure 16 As shown, in order to secure the tower 10 to the foundation 40, the upper fastening element 60 is tensioned by the tensioning tool 90.

[0035] The foregoing description of the accompanying drawings is for details and examples only. Each aspect of the invention and the specific features of the drawings can be combined with each other if of technical significance.

[0036] Figures 17 and 18 show a portion of the tower 10 and the vessel 20 according to the prior art, in order to illustrate the main differences between the conventional method of mounting the tower 10 on the vessel 20 and the method of the present invention. As can be seen in Figure 17, the screws 30a used to fasten the tower 10 to the vessel 20 have robust screw heads 50a. Subsequently, when the tower 10 is moved from the vessel 20 to the base 40, as shown in Figure 18, screws 30a must be replaced by another screw 30a. This process is described in more detail in the introductory section of the description above.

Claims

1. A method for installing a wind turbine tower (10), wherein, The tower (10) includes a tower fastening portion (11) and a tower through hole (12) in the tower fastening portion (11), and the method includes: - Provide a vessel (20) having a vessel fastening portion (21) and a vessel through-hole (22) in the vessel fastening portion (21). - The tower (10) is unloaded onto the ship (20), wherein the tower through-hole (12) is located at the ship through-hole (31). - Position the stud (30) in the tower through hole (12) and the ship through hole (22), wherein the stud (30) includes an upper portion (31) protruding upward from the tower through hole (12) and a lower portion (32) protruding downward from the ship through hole (22). - The tower fastening portion (11) is fastened to the ship fastening portion (21) by means of a lower fastening element (50) attached to the lower portion (32) and an upper fastening element (60) attached to the upper portion (31), wherein both the lower fastening element (50) and the upper fastening element (60) can be separated from the stud (30) in a non-destructive manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The stud (30) is positioned in the ship through hole (22) such that before the tower (10) is unloaded onto the ship (20), the lower portion (32) protrudes from the ship through hole (22) in the downward direction, and the lower fastening element (50) is attached to the lower portion (32).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, Before and / or when the tower (10) is unloaded onto the ship (20), the stud (30) moves in the downward direction until the upper portion (31) is located in the ship through hole (22), and after the tower (10) is unloaded onto the ship (20), the stud (30) moves in the upward direction until the upper portion (31) passes through the tower through hole (12) and moves out of the tower through hole (12).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The lower fastening element (50) is attached to the lower portion (32) by screwing it onto the lower portion (32), and the upper fastening element (60) is attached to the upper portion (31) by screwing it onto the upper portion (31).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The stud (30) is rotated into the lower fastening element (50) by using a mechanical rotating device (70).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The lower fastening element (50) is attached to the lower portion (32) by using a mounting bracket (80) for holding the lower fastening element (50) and / or for lifting the lower fastening element (50).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprises: - To separate the lower fastening element (50) from the stud (30), - With the stud (30) at the tower fastening portion (11) and the upper fastening element (60) at the upper portion (31), the tower (10) is lifted from the ship (20). - Provide a base (40) having a base fastening portion (41) and a base through hole (42) in the base fastening portion (41). - Remove the tower (10) onto the foundation (40), wherein the tower through hole (12) is located at the foundation through hole (42), while guiding the lower portion (32) of the stud (30) still located at the tower fastening portion (11) through the foundation through hole (42). - Attach the lower fastening element (50) to the lower portion (32). - The tower fastening portion (11) is fastened to the base fastening portion (41) by means of the lower fastening element (50) and the upper fastening element (60).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tower (10) includes a plurality of tower through holes (12), and / or the ship (20) includes a plurality of ship through holes (22), wherein a plurality of studs (30) are positioned in the tower through holes (12) and the ship through holes (22), wherein each stud (30) includes an upper portion (31) protruding upward from each tower through hole (12) and a lower portion (32) protruding downward from each ship through hole (22).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tower (10) includes a plurality of tower through holes (12), and / or the vessel (20) includes a plurality of vessel through holes (22), wherein a plurality of studs (30) are positioned in the tower through holes (12) and the vessel through holes (22), wherein before the tower (10) is unloaded onto the vessel (20) and / or when the tower (10) is unloaded onto the vessel (20), each stud (30) moves in a downward direction until each upper portion (31) is located in each corresponding vessel through hole (22), and after the tower (10) is unloaded onto the vessel (20), each stud (30) moves in an upward direction until each upper portion (31) passes through each corresponding tower through hole (12) and moves out of each corresponding tower through hole (12).

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tower (10) includes a plurality of tower through holes (12), and / or the vessel (20) includes a plurality of vessel through holes (22), wherein a plurality of studs (30) are positioned in the tower through holes (12) and the vessel through holes (22), wherein the tower is lifted from the vessel (20) with each stud (30) located at the tower fastening portion (11) and a corresponding upper fastening element (60) attached at each upper portion (31).

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