Transition piece, tower and wind turbine generator system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a transition section, a tower and a wind turbine generator unit, the tower comprising an upper tower section, a transition section and a lower tower section, the transition section comprising: a central tower cylinder, a top end of the central tower cylinder being connected with the upper tower section; at least four connecting assemblies, the at least four connecting assemblies being arranged in an annular array around the central tower cylinder, a first end of the connecting assembly being connected with the lower tower section, a second end of the connecting assembly being connected with a lower part of the central tower cylinder, a third end of the connecting assembly being connected with an upper part of the central tower cylinder; and at least four connecting rods, one connecting rod being arranged between two adjacent connecting assemblies, two ends of each connecting rod being connected with the two adjacent connecting assemblies respectively, the connecting rod being perpendicular to an axis of the central tower cylinder, so that a projection of the whole formed by the at least four connecting assemblies and the at least four connecting rods along an axis of the central tower cylinder forms a regular polygon, and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three. The technical solution provided by the present disclosure can improve the bearing capacity while improving the utilization rate of materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the technical field of wind power equipment, and particularly to a transition section, tower, and wind turbine generator set. Background Technology

[0002] A lattice tower consists of an upper steel tower section, a lower lattice section, and a transition section connecting the steel tower section and the lattice section.

[0003] Most existing transition sections resist bending moments by stacking materials on top of the lattice section and using small spaces to form rigid supports for the upper steel tower section. This requires a large amount of material to enhance rigidity, resulting in high costs. Triangular truss structures are also used, but their load-bearing capacity is low and they cannot be adapted to high-power wind turbines. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a transition section, tower, and wind turbine that can improve load-bearing capacity while improving material utilization.

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a tower is provided, the tower including an upper tower section, a transition section, and a lower tower section, the transition section including: a central tower tube, the top end of which is connected to the upper tower section; at least four connecting components, the at least four connecting components being arranged in a circular array around the central tower tube, a first end of each connecting component being connected to the lower tower section, a second end of each connecting component being connected to the lower part of the central tower tube, and a third end of each connecting component being connected to the upper part of the central tower tube; at least four connecting rods, each connecting rod being provided between two adjacent connecting components, the two ends of each connecting rod being connected to two adjacent connecting components, the connecting rods being perpendicular to the axis of the central tower tube, such that the entire assembly consisting of the at least four connecting rods and the at least four connecting components forms a regular polygon on the outer periphery of the projection along the axis of the central tower tube, and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three.

[0006] The technical solution disclosed herein connects the first end of the connecting component to the lower tower section, the second end to the lower part of the central tower, and the third end to the upper part of the central tower. This allows the connecting component to convert the bending moment at the bottom of the upper tower section into axial force on the corresponding connecting members. The force transmission path is clear, avoiding material stacking and improving strength, resulting in high material utilization. Furthermore, at least four connecting components and the central tower can form at least four triangles sharing the same side, utilizing the stability properties of triangles to improve the overall load-bearing capacity of the entire transition section.

[0007] Furthermore, a connecting rod is provided between each pair of adjacent connecting components, with each end of the connecting rod connected to the two adjacent connecting components respectively. The connecting rods are perpendicular to the axis of the central tower, so that the projection of the entire structure composed of at least four connecting rods and at least four connecting components along the axis of the central tower forms a regular polygon. In this way, at least four connecting components can be interconnected by at least four connecting rods to form an integral structure, constraining the lateral deformation of the structure and further improving the stability of the transition section under complex loads.

[0008] Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that, compared to the equilateral triangle layout of the transition section, the transition section of this disclosure adopts a regular polygon layout with more than three sides, or a layout with four or more connecting components. This can distribute the upper load more evenly to the tower columns of the lower tower section, making the stress on each tower column more balanced, reducing the peak load of a single tower column, and improving the overall load-bearing capacity of the tower.

[0009] Optionally, the number of both the connecting components and the connecting rods is four.

[0010] The above solution can ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity while making the structure simpler and reducing the difficulty of manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

[0011] Optionally, the connecting assembly includes a corner connector, a horizontal brace, and a diagonal brace; the first end of the corner connector is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section, the second end of the corner connector is connected to the lower part of the central tower tube through the horizontal brace, the third end of the corner connector is connected to the upper part of the central tower tube through the diagonal brace, and the fourth end of the corner connector is connected to the connecting rod.

[0012] The above-described design allows the connecting components to be assembled from multiple parts, facilitating disassembly and transportation. Furthermore, the use of multi-ended corner joints at the included angles enables the connection of multiple rods, simplifying assembly.

[0013] Optionally, the cross brace and the connecting rod are located in the same plane.

[0014] With the above scheme, two adjacent cross braces and connecting rods can form a closed triangle in the same plane, thereby utilizing the stability characteristics of the triangle to further improve the overall load-bearing capacity.

[0015] Optionally, the corner joint can be detachably connected to the horizontal brace, the diagonal brace, the connecting rod, and the tower column of the lower tower section via flange connections.

[0016] The above solution achieves two key benefits. First, the flange connection reliably transmits shear force, axial force, and bending moment between the two connected members via a group of bolts, ensuring load continuity between the diagonal braces, connecting rods, and horizontal braces. This prevents interruption of load transmission at the connection point and meets the stress requirements of wind turbines under dynamic loads such as wind loads and earthquakes. Second, the flange connection allows for rapid assembly and connection, facilitating installation.

[0017] Optionally, the corner joint is provided with an anchoring end, which is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section through a pre-tightening line.

[0018] The above method can be used to pre-tighten the transition section and the lower tower section by using a pre-tightening line, thereby improving fatigue resistance.

[0019] Optionally, the end of the cross brace connected to the central tower is provided with a first adapter plate, which is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower; the transition section further includes a first clamping plate, which is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower, the first clamping plate is located inside the central tower, and a first fastener passes through the first adapter plate and the central tower and is connected to the first clamping plate.

[0020] Through the above scheme, the first adapter plate can fit against the outer wall of the central tower, and the first clamping plate can fit against the inner wall of the central tower, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. Furthermore, the connection can be achieved by the first fastener clamping the central tower together through the first adapter plate and the first clamping plate, thereby strengthening the connection area, meeting the radial force bearing requirements of the cross brace and the lower part of the central tower, and reducing the possibility of deformation and stress increase in the connection area.

[0021] Optionally, the cross brace is connected to the first adapter plate via a first transition rod, the first transition rod and the cross brace extend along the same straight line, and the outer contour dimension of the cross section of the first transition rod increases from the cross brace towards the first adapter plate.

[0022] With the above scheme, the first transition rod and the cross brace extend along the same straight line to ensure effective load transfer. The outer contour dimension of the cross section of the first transition rod increases from the cross brace towards the first transition plate to further strengthen the structural strength of the connection area between the cross brace and the central tower, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity.

[0023] Optionally, the end of the diagonal brace connected to the central tower is provided with a second adapter plate, which is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower; the transition section further includes a second clamping plate, which is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower, the second clamping plate is located inside the central tower, and a second fastener passes through the second adapter plate and the central tower and is connected to the second clamping plate.

[0024] Through the above scheme, the second transition plate can fit against the outer wall of the central tower, and the second clamping plate can fit against the inner wall of the central tower, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. Furthermore, the connection can be achieved by the second fastener clamping the central tower together with the second transition plate and the second clamping plate, thereby strengthening the connection area, meeting the radial force bearing requirements of the diagonal brace and the upper part of the central tower, and reducing the possibility of deformation and stress increase in the connection area.

[0025] Optionally, the diagonal brace is connected to the second adapter plate via a second transition rod, the second transition rod and the diagonal brace extend along the same straight line, and the outer contour dimension of the cross-section of the second transition rod increases from the diagonal brace towards the second adapter plate.

[0026] With the above scheme, the second transition rod and the diagonal brace extend along the same straight line to ensure effective load transfer. The outer contour dimension of the cross-section of the second transition rod increases from the diagonal brace towards the second transition plate to further strengthen the structural strength of the connection area between the diagonal brace and the central tower, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity.

[0027] Optionally, the lower part of the central tower is provided with an outwardly extending third transition rod, which is connected to the cross brace via a flange connection, and the third transition rod and the cross brace extend along the same straight line; and / or, the upper part of the central tower is provided with an outwardly extending fourth transition rod, which is connected to the diagonal brace via a flange connection, and the fourth transition rod and the diagonal brace extend along the same straight line.

[0028] Through the above scheme, the fourth transition rod and / or the third transition rod can be designed integrally with at least part of the central tower, avoiding the risk of stress concentration that may occur during the connection, reducing the potential for local failure. Furthermore, the fourth transition rod and the diagonal brace extend along the same straight line, and / or the third transition rod and the horizontal brace extend along the same straight line, which allows the load to be transmitted along a straight path without the need for turning to transmit force. This significantly reduces the shear force and additional bending moment at the connection between the diagonal brace and the fourth transition rod, allowing each component to mainly bear the axial force, resulting in a more reasonable force distribution and higher efficiency.

[0029] Optionally, the outer contour dimension of the cross-section of the upper part of the central tower gradually increases upward.

[0030] The above scheme allows the upper part of the central tower to form an inverted conical structure, thereby expanding the connectable diameter at the top and meeting the diameter requirements of the larger upper tower section.

[0031] Optionally, the central tower is divided into multiple segments along its axis.

[0032] The above method allows the central tower to be processed in sections and then welded together, thus reducing the difficulty of processing and production.

[0033] Optionally, the central tower is divided into three sections along its axis: an upper tower section, a middle tower section, and a lower tower section. The top of the upper tower section is connected to a connecting flange, and adjacent sections of the upper, middle, and lower tower sections are connected by a first reinforcing member. The bottom of the lower tower section is connected to a second reinforcing member.

[0034] By connecting the first and second reinforcing members, the structural strength of the central tower can be improved, thereby increasing its load-bearing capacity.

[0035] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a wind turbine generator set is provided, the wind turbine generator set including a wind turbine, a nacelle and the aforementioned tower; the nacelle is disposed at the top of the tower, the length direction of the nacelle is perpendicular to the height direction of the tower, and the wind turbine is connected to the nacelle and located at one end of the nacelle along its length direction.

[0036] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a transition section is provided, the transition section comprising: a central tower; at least four connecting components arranged in a circular array around the central tower, the second end of each connecting component being connected to the lower part of the central tower, and the third end of each connecting component being connected to the upper part of the central tower; at least four connecting rods, each connecting rod being provided between two adjacent connecting components, the two ends of each connecting rod being connected to two adjacent connecting components, the connecting rods being perpendicular to the axis of the central tower, such that the entire assembly consisting of the at least four connecting rods and the at least four connecting components forms a regular polygon on the outer periphery of the projection along the axis of the central tower, and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three. Attached Figure Description

[0037] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0038] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a portion of the structure of a tower located at a transition section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 2 A perspective view of a transition section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 3A schematic diagram of the force on a transition section subjected to bending moment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the distance between each tower column and the centroidal axis when the transition section adopts an equilateral triangle layout is shown; Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the distance between each tower column and the centroidal axis when the transition section adopts a regular quadrilateral layout is shown; Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing the distance between each tower column and the centroidal axis when the transition section adopts a regular pentagonal layout is shown; Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the distance between each tower column and the centroidal axis when the transition section adopts a regular hexagonal layout is shown; Figure 8 A partial structural schematic diagram of a transition section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 9 An exploded view of another portion of the structure of a transition section according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 10 A perspective view of a first clamping plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 11 A perspective view of a second clamping plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 12 A partial structural perspective view of a tower located at a transition section according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 13 A perspective view of the central tower according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 14 A partial structural schematic diagram of the central tower according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Figure 15 A perspective view of a central tower according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Upper Tower Section; 200. Transition section; 210. Central tower section; 211. Upper tower section; 212. Middle tower section; 213. Lower tower section; 214. Butt flange; 215. First reinforcing member; 216. Second reinforcing member; 220. Connecting assembly; 221. Corner joint; 2211. Anchoring end; 222. Horizontal brace; 2221. First transition plate; 2222. First transition rod; 2223. Third transition rod; 223. Diagonal brace; 2231. Second transition plate; 2232. Second transition rod; 2233. Fourth transition rod; 230. Connecting rod; 240. First clamping plate; 250. Second clamping plate; 300. Lower Tower Section. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of this disclosure, but not all embodiments.

[0040] This disclosure provides a tower as a lifting device used to elevate functional components to a sufficient height to meet functional requirements. For example, the tower can serve as a lifting section for a wind turbine generator, allowing the nacelle and rotor to be positioned at a high altitude to meet the needs of wind power generation. Of course, the tower can also serve as a lifting section for communication towers, transmission towers, etc., without specific limitations.

[0041] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the tower may include an upper tower section 100, a transition section 200, and a lower tower section 300. The upper tower section 100 is used to connect with functional components, such as the nacelle. The lower tower section 300 is directly connected to the foundation to reliably transfer the vertical loads, horizontal loads, and bending moments of the entire equipment to the foundation. For example, the lower tower section 300 may be a lattice section, which, through its truss structure, can provide excellent lateral and torsional stiffness, effectively resisting deformation and instability under horizontal loads such as wind loads and earthquakes, ensuring the stability of the tower's superstructure (transition section, upper tower section).

[0042] The transition section 200 connects the upper tower section 100 and the lower tower section 300, ensuring a smooth transition in structural form, stiffness, and load transfer between the two sections and reducing stress concentration. The transition section 200 may include a central tower cylinder 210, which serves as the main structure of the transition section 200. The top of the central tower cylinder 210 connects to the upper tower section 100 to bear the load of the upper tower section 100 and provides a connection node for the connecting components 220 and connecting rods 230. For example, the central tower cylinder 210 may be a cylindrical structure with internal storage space for accommodating cables and maintenance equipment.

[0043] The transition section 200 may also include at least four connecting components 220 and four connecting rods. The at least four connecting components 220 are arranged in a circular array around the central tower 210, or in other words, the interval angle between adjacent connecting components 220 is the same. The first end of each connecting component 220 is connected to the lower tower section 300, the second end is connected to the lower part of the central tower 210, and the third end is connected to the upper part of the central tower 210. Thus, the connecting components 220 can convert the bending moment at the bottom of the upper tower section 100 into axial force on the corresponding connecting rod of the connecting component 220. This results in a clear force transmission path, avoids material stacking, improves strength, and increases material utilization. For example... Figure 3 As shown in the force analysis diagram, the bending moment at the bottom of the upper tower section 100 is converted into tension / compression of the members connecting the upper part of the connecting assembly 220 and the central tower 210, and tension / compression of the members connecting the lower part of the connecting assembly 220 and the central tower 210. Simultaneously, at least four connecting assemblies 220 and the central tower 210 can form at least four triangles sharing the same side, utilizing the stability properties of triangles to improve the overall load-bearing capacity of the entire transition section 200.

[0044] Furthermore, a connecting rod 230 is provided between each pair of adjacent connecting components 220. The two ends of each connecting rod 230 are connected to the two adjacent connecting components 220 respectively. The connecting rods 230 are perpendicular to the axis of the central tower 210, so that the projection of the entire structure composed of at least four connecting rods 230 and at least four connecting components 220 along the axis of the central tower 210 forms a regular polygon with more than three sides. In this way, at least four connecting rods 230 can connect at least four connecting components 220 to form an integral structure, constraining the lateral deformation of the structure and further improving the stability of the transition section under complex loads.

[0045] It is worth mentioning that, compared with the equilateral triangle layout of the transition section 200, the transition section 200 of this disclosure adopts a regular polygon layout with more than three sides, or a layout with more than four connecting components 220. This can distribute the upper load more evenly to the tower columns of the lower tower section 300, making the stress on each tower column more balanced, reducing the peak load of a single tower column, and improving the overall load-bearing capacity of the tower.

[0046] To demonstrate that the transition section 200, with its regular polygonal layout and more than three sides, can achieve higher load-bearing capacity, such as... Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, taking the same wind direction, the same bending moment M, and a fixed circumscribed circle dimension as an example, according to the force formula:

[0047] Calculate the forces acting on the most unfavorable column in the equilateral triangle, square, pentagonal, and hexagonal layouts respectively. Here, x1 refers to the distance from the most unfavorable column to the centroidal axis, and x... j This refers to the distance between each tower column and the centroidal axis, which is a straight line perpendicular to the wind direction and passing through the center of the circle.

[0048] In the equilateral triangle layout, the most unfavorable force F3 on the tower column is:

[0049] In a square layout, the most unfavorable force F4 on the tower column is:

[0050] In a regular pentagonal layout, the most unfavorable force F5 on the tower column is:

[0051] In a regular hexagonal layout, the most unfavorable force F6 on the tower column is:

[0052] It can be seen that the most unfavorable tower column is subjected to forces F3 > F4 > F5 > F6. Under the same wind force, the tower column in the equilateral triangle layout is subjected to greater forces and its bearing capacity is relatively smaller. Therefore, the transition section 200 adopts a regular polygon layout with more than three sides, which can have a higher bearing capacity.

[0053] Preferably, there are four connecting components 220 and four connecting rods 230. This ensures sufficient load-bearing capacity while making the structure simpler and reducing the difficulty of manufacturing, installation and maintenance.

[0054] In some embodiments, the connection component 220 may be an integral design.

[0055] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, the connecting assembly 220 can also be a split design. Specifically, the connecting assembly 220 may include corner connectors 221, horizontal braces 222, and diagonal braces 223. The first end of the corner connector 221 is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section 300, the second end of the corner connector 221 is connected to the lower part of the central tower tube 210 via the horizontal brace 222, the third end of the corner connector 221 is connected to the upper part of the central tower tube 210 via the diagonal brace 223, and the fourth end of the corner connector 221 is connected to the connecting rod 230. In this way, the connecting assembly 220 is assembled from multiple parts, which facilitates disassembly and transportation. Furthermore, the use of the multi-ended corner connectors 221 located at the included angles to connect multiple rods facilitates assembly operations.

[0056] For example, the diameters of the horizontal brace 222, the diagonal brace 223, and the connecting rod 230 can be flexibly selected according to the actual load conditions. In one example, the diameter of the diagonal brace 223 can be 1200 mm, the diameter of the horizontal brace 222 can be 850 mm, and the diameter of the connecting rod 230 can be 700 mm, so that the transition section 200 has good load-bearing capacity and economy.

[0057] Preferably, the central tower 210, horizontal brace 222, diagonal brace 223, and connecting rod 230 can be manufactured using a cast steel process. The cast steel process allows for adjustment of the material distribution of components as needed, maximizing material utilization and ensuring smooth force transmission between the diagonal brace 223, horizontal brace 222, and central tower 210. No circumferential or longitudinal stiffening ribs are required to reinforce the inner side of the central tower 210. Furthermore, cast steel components exhibit strong fatigue resistance, significantly improving fatigue load-bearing capacity.

[0058] In some embodiments, the cross brace 222 and the connecting rod 230 are located in the same plane. In this way, two adjacent cross braces 222 and connecting rods 230 can form a closed triangle in the same plane, thereby utilizing the stability characteristics of a triangle to further improve the overall load-bearing capacity.

[0059] In some embodiments, the corner joint 221 is detachably connected to the horizontal brace 222, the diagonal brace 223, the connecting rod 230, and the tower column of the lower tower section 300 via flange connections. In this way, on the one hand, the flange connection reliably transmits the shear force, axial force, and bending moment of the two connected members through a group of bolts, ensuring the continuity of load between the diagonal brace 223, the connecting rod 230, and the horizontal brace 222, avoiding interruptions in load transmission at the connection points, and meeting the stress requirements of the wind turbine under dynamic loads such as wind loads and earthquakes. On the other hand, the flange connection allows for rapid assembly and connection, facilitating installation operations.

[0060] For example, the flanges on the corner joint 221, horizontal brace 222, diagonal brace 223, connecting rod 230, and lower tower section 300 can be welded to their respective main components, for example, through butt welds or fillet welds. The flanges on the corner joint 221, horizontal brace 222, diagonal brace 223, connecting rod 230, and lower tower section 300 can be integrally designed with their respective main components.

[0061] In some embodiments, the corner joint 221 is provided with an anchoring end 2211, which is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section 300 through a pre-tightening line, thereby pre-tightening the transition section 200 and the lower tower section 300 through the pre-tightening line to improve fatigue resistance.

[0062] For example, the anchoring end 2211 can be located on the side of the corner joint 221 opposite to the central tower 210. The preload wire can be steel strand. For example, if the tower column is a hollow structure, one end of the steel strand is anchored to the tower base, and the other end of the steel strand extends from the inside of the tower column to the anchoring end 2211 of the corner joint 221.

[0063] Furthermore, the transition section 200 and the lower tower section 300 can be connected by diagonal braces, thereby optimizing the load transfer path, enhancing the overall structural stiffness, and improving the resistance to deformation.

[0064] Regarding the specific connection method between the cross brace 222 and the central tower 210, this disclosure provides two feasible embodiments for reference.

[0065] Example 1, as Figures 8 to 11 As shown, the end of the cross brace 222 connected to the central tower 210 is provided with a first transition plate 2221. The first transition plate 2221 is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower 210. In other words, at least one side of the first transition plate 2221 connected to the central tower 210 is curved, and the curvature is the same as the curvature of the corresponding outer wall surface of the central tower 210. This allows the first transition plate 2221 to fit snugly against the outer wall surface of the central tower 210, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. Correspondingly, the transition section 200 may also include a first clamping plate 240. The first clamping plate 240 is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower 210. In other words, at least one side of the first clamping plate 240 connected to the central tower 210 is curved, and the curvature is the same as the curvature of the corresponding inner wall surface of the central tower 210. This allows the first clamping plate 240 to fit snugly against the inner wall surface of the central tower 210, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. The first clamping plate 240 is located inside the central tower 210, and the first fastener passes through the first adapter plate 2221 and the central tower 210 to connect with the first clamping plate 240. In this way, the central tower 210 can be connected by the first fastener clamping it together through the first adapter plate 2221 and the first clamping plate 240, thereby strengthening the connection area, meeting the radial force bearing requirements of the cross brace 222 and the lower part of the central tower 210, and reducing the possibility of deformation and stress increase in the connection area.

[0066] For example, maintenance manholes can be provided on the side walls of the first adapter plate 2221, the first clamping plate 240, and the corresponding central tower 210. These manholes allow operators to perform maintenance operations and / or reduce material usage and weight, thereby connecting the interior of the central tower 210 with the interior of the cross brace 222. The first adapter plate 2221 and the first clamping plate 240 can be ring-shaped, and each has several connecting holes arranged around the corresponding maintenance manhole.

[0067] The first transition plate 2221 can be directly connected to the cross brace 222. Alternatively, the cross brace 222 can be connected to the first transition plate 2221 via a first transition rod 2222. The first transition rod 2222 and the cross brace 222 extend along the same straight line to ensure effective load transfer. The outer contour dimension of the cross section of the first transition rod 2222 increases from the cross brace 222 towards the first transition plate 2221 to further strengthen the structural strength of the connection area between the cross brace 222 and the central tower 210, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity.

[0068] In practical applications, the two ends of the first transition rod 2222 can be connected to the first adapter plate 2221 and the cross brace 222 by welding. Alternatively, the first transition rod 2222 and the first adapter plate 2221 can be integrally cast, and then the first transition rod 2222 can be welded to the cross brace 222.

[0069] Example 2, as follows Figures 12 to 14 The lower part of the central tower 210 is provided with an outwardly extending third transition rod 2223. The third transition rod 2223 is integrally designed with at least a portion of the central tower 210. The third transition rod 2223 is connected to the cross brace 222 via a flange connection. The third transition rod 2223 and the cross brace 222 extend along the same straight line. In this way, the third transition rod 2223 can be integrally designed with at least a portion of the central tower 210, avoiding the risk of stress concentration that may occur during the connection, reducing the potential for local failure. Furthermore, the fact that the third transition rod 2223 and the cross brace 222 extend along the same straight line allows the load to be transmitted along a straight path without the need for turning force transmission. This significantly reduces the shear force and additional bending moment at the connection between the cross brace 222 and the third transition rod 2223, allowing each component to mainly bear axial force, resulting in a more reasonable and efficient force distribution.

[0070] For example, the third transition rod 2223 and the cross brace 222 are welded to their respective flanges. The central tower 210 may be divided into multiple rings circumferentially, one of which may be integrally designed with the third transition rod 2223, for example, by casting. Furthermore, the connection point between the ring and the third transition rod 2223 may be thickened and / or have rounded corners on the inner and outer sides to improve the structural strength and load-bearing capacity of the connection between the ring and the third transition rod 2223.

[0071] Regarding the specific connection method between the diagonal brace 223 and the central tower 210, this disclosure provides two feasible embodiments for reference.

[0072] Example 1, such as Figures 8 to 11As shown, the end of the diagonal brace 223 connected to the central tower 210 is provided with a second transition plate 2231. The second transition plate 2231 is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower 210. In other words, at least one side of the second transition plate 2231 connected to the central tower 210 is curved, and the curvature is the same as the curvature of the corresponding outer wall surface of the central tower 210. This allows the second transition plate 2231 to fit snugly against the outer wall surface of the central tower 210, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. Correspondingly, the transition section 200 also includes a second clamping plate 250. The second clamping plate 250 is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower 210. In other words, at least one side of the second clamping plate 250 connected to the central tower 210 is curved, and the curvature is the same as the curvature of the corresponding inner wall surface of the central tower 210. This allows the second clamping plate 250 to fit snugly against the inner wall surface of the central tower 210, which is beneficial for load transfer and improves connection stability. The second clamping plate 250 is located inside the central tower 210, and the second fastener passes through the second adapter plate 2231 and the central tower 210 to connect with the second clamping plate 250. In this way, the central tower 210 can be connected by the second fastener through the second adapter plate 2231 and the second clamping plate 250, thereby strengthening the connection area, meeting the radial force bearing requirements of the diagonal brace 223 and the upper part of the central tower 210, and reducing the possibility of deformation and increased stress in the connection area.

[0073] For example, maintenance manholes can be provided on the side walls of the second adapter plate 2231, the second clamping plate 250, and the corresponding central tower 210. These manholes allow operators to perform maintenance operations and / or reduce material usage and weight, thereby connecting the interior of the central tower 210 with the interior of the diagonal brace 223. The second adapter plate 2231 and the second clamping plate 250 can be ring-shaped, and both the second adapter plate 2231 and the second clamping plate 250 have several connection holes for second fasteners to pass through, with these connection holes surrounding the corresponding maintenance manholes.

[0074] The second transition plate 2231 can be directly connected to the diagonal brace 223. Alternatively, the diagonal brace 223 can be connected to the second transition plate 2231 via a second transition rod 2232. The second transition rod 2232 and the diagonal brace 223 extend along the same straight line to ensure effective load transfer. The outer contour dimension of the cross-section of the second transition rod 2232 increases from the diagonal brace 223 towards the second transition plate 2231 to further strengthen the structural strength of the connection area between the diagonal brace 223 and the central tower 210, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity.

[0075] In practical applications, the two ends of the second transition rod 2232 can be connected to the second adapter plate 2231 and the diagonal brace 223 by welding. Alternatively, the second transition rod 2232 and the second adapter plate 2231 can be integrally cast, and then the second transition rod 2232 can be welded to the diagonal brace 223.

[0076] Example 2, as follows Figures 12 to 14 As shown, the upper part of the central tower 210 is provided with an outwardly extending fourth transition rod 2233. The fourth transition rod 2233 is integrally designed with at least a portion of the central tower 210. The fourth transition rod 2233 is connected to the diagonal brace 223 via a flange connection. The fourth transition rod 2233 and the diagonal brace 223 extend along the same straight line. In this way, the fourth transition rod 2233 can be integrally designed with at least a portion of the central tower 210, avoiding the risk of stress concentration that may occur during the connection, reducing the potential for local failure. Furthermore, the fact that the fourth transition rod 2233 and the diagonal brace 223 extend along the same straight line allows the load to be transmitted along a straight path without the need for turning to transmit force. This significantly reduces the shear force and additional bending moment at the connection between the diagonal brace 223 and the fourth transition rod 2233, allowing each component to mainly bear axial force, resulting in a more reasonable and efficient force distribution.

[0077] For example, the fourth transition rod 2233 and the diagonal brace 223 are welded to their respective flanges. The central tower 210 may be divided into multiple rings circumferentially, one of which may be integrally designed with the fourth transition rod 2233, for example, by casting. Furthermore, the connection point between the ring and the fourth transition rod 2233 may be thickened and / or have rounded corners on the inner and outer sides to improve the structural strength and load-bearing capacity of the connection between the ring and the fourth transition rod 2233.

[0078] In some embodiments, such as Figures 12 to 13 As shown, the outer contour dimension of the upper part of the central tower 210 gradually increases upward, that is, the top diameter of the upper part of the central tower 210 is greater than the bottom diameter of the upper part of the central tower 210, so that the upper part of the central tower 210 forms an inverted conical structure to expand the connectable diameter of the top and meet the diameter requirements of the larger upper tower section 100.

[0079] For example, the top diameter of the upper part of the central tower 210 can be 5.5 meters, and the bottom diameter of the upper part of the central tower 210 can be 5 meters.

[0080] Considering the large overall volume of the central tower 210, in some embodiments, such as Figure 13 and Figure 15 As shown, the central tower 210 is divided into multiple segments along its axis, which allows the central tower 210 to be processed in segments and then welded together to reduce the difficulty of processing and production.

[0081] For example, the central tower 210 can be divided into two, three, four, five, and six sections along its axis.

[0082] Taking the central tower section 210 as an example, divided into three segments along its axis, these three segments are defined from top to bottom as the upper tower section 211, the middle tower section 212, and the lower tower section 213. The top of the upper tower section 211 is connected to a connecting flange 214, which connects it to the upper tower end 100. Adjacent segments of the upper tower section 211, middle tower section 212, and lower tower section 213 are connected by a first reinforcing member 215, and the bottom of the lower tower section 213 is connected by a second reinforcing member 216, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity of the central tower section 210.

[0083] For example, the first reinforcing member 215 and the second reinforcing member 216 can be reinforcing ribs with an L-shaped or T-shaped cross-section. The upper tower section 211, the middle tower section 212, and the lower tower section 213 can all be integrally designed. Of course, at least one of the upper tower section 211, the middle tower section 212, and the lower tower section 213 can also be formed by splicing multiple ring pieces.

[0084] In particular, when the third transition rod 2223 and the fourth transition rod 2233 are at least partially integrally designed with the central tower section 210, the upper tower section 211 and the lower tower section 213 are both divided into multiple ring pieces circumferentially for ease of manufacturing. This allows some of the ring pieces to be integrally cast with the corresponding transition rods, and then spliced ​​together circumferentially and welded into a single structure, facilitating segmented production.

[0085] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides a wind turbine generator set, which may include a wind turbine, a nacelle, and the aforementioned tower. The nacelle is located at the top of the tower, and the length direction of the nacelle is perpendicular to the height direction of the tower. The wind turbine is connected to the nacelle and is located at one end of the nacelle along its length.

[0086] It should be noted that the specific structure of the tower can be found in the detailed description in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0087] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides a transition section 200, which may include: a central tower 210; at least four connecting components 220 arranged in a circular array around the central tower 210, with the second end of the connecting component 220 connected to the lower part of the central tower 210 and the third end of the connecting component 220 connected to the upper part of the central tower 210; at least four connecting rods 230, with a connecting rod 230 provided between each two adjacent connecting components 220, and both ends of each connecting rod 230 connected to the two adjacent connecting components 220 respectively, with the connecting rods 230 perpendicular to the axis of the central tower 210, so that the whole composed of at least four connecting rods 230 and at least four connecting components 220 forms a regular polygon on the outer periphery of the projection along the axis of the central tower 210, and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three.

[0088] It should be noted that the specific structures of the central tower 210, the connecting assembly 220, and the connecting rod 230 can be found in the detailed descriptions in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0089] The terms "upper" and "lower" used in this disclosure are used to describe the relative positional relationship of the various structures in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the purpose of clarity of description and are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of this disclosure. Changes or adjustments to the relative relationships without substantially altering the technical content should also be considered as part of the scope of implementation of this disclosure.

[0090] It should be noted that, in this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0091] Furthermore, in this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0092] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0093] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and are not intended to limit them. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A tower, characterized in that, The tower includes an upper tower section (100), a transition section (200), and a lower tower section (300), wherein the transition section (200) includes: The central tower (210) is connected at its top to the upper tower section (100); At least four connecting components (220) are arranged in a ring array around the central tower (210). The first end of the connecting component (220) is connected to the lower tower section (300), the second end of the connecting component (220) is connected to the lower part of the central tower (210), and the third end of the connecting component (220) is connected to the upper part of the central tower (210). At least four connecting rods (230) are provided, with one connecting rod (230) between each two adjacent connecting components (220). The two ends of each connecting rod (230) are connected to the two adjacent connecting components (220). The connecting rods (230) are perpendicular to the axis of the central tower (210) so that the whole consisting of at least four connecting rods (230) and at least four connecting components (220) forms a regular polygon on the outer periphery of the projection along the axis of the central tower (210), and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three.

2. The tower according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the connecting components (220) and the connecting rods (230) are both four.

3. The tower according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting assembly (220) includes a corner joint (221), a cross brace (222), and a diagonal brace (223); The first end of the corner connector (221) is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section (300), the second end of the corner connector (221) is connected to the lower part of the central tower (210) through the horizontal brace (222), the third end of the corner connector (221) is connected to the upper part of the central tower (210) through the diagonal brace (223), and the fourth end of the corner connector (221) is connected to the connecting rod (230).

4. The tower according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cross brace (222) and the connecting rod (230) are located in the same plane.

5. The tower according to claim 3, characterized in that, The corner connector (221) is detachably connected to the horizontal brace (222), the diagonal brace (223), the connecting rod (230), and the tower column of the lower tower section (300).

6. The tower according to claim 3, characterized in that, The corner connector (221) is provided with an anchoring end (2211), which is connected to the tower column of the lower tower section (300) through a pre-tightening line.

7. The tower according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The end of the cross brace (222) connected to the central tower (210) is provided with a first adapter plate (2221), and the first adapter plate (2221) is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower (210); The transition section (200) further includes a first clamping plate (240), which is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower (210). The first clamping plate (240) is located inside the central tower (210), and a first fastener passes through the first adapter plate (2221) and the central tower (210) to connect with the first clamping plate (240).

8. The tower according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cross brace (222) is connected to the first adapter plate (2221) via the first transition rod (2222). The first transition rod (2222) and the cross brace (222) extend along the same straight line. The outer contour dimension of the cross section of the first transition rod (2222) increases from the cross brace (222) toward the first adapter plate (2221).

9. The tower according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The diagonal brace (223) is connected to the central tower (210) at one end, and the second transition plate (2231) is adapted to the outer wall surface of the central tower (210). The transition section (200) further includes a second clamping plate (250), which is adapted to the inner wall surface of the central tower (210). The second clamping plate (250) is located inside the central tower (210), and a second fastener passes through the second adapter plate (2231) and the central tower (210) to connect with the second clamping plate (250).

10. The tower according to claim 9, characterized in that, The diagonal brace (223) is connected to the second transition plate (2231) via the second transition rod (2232). The second transition rod (2232) and the diagonal brace (223) extend along the same straight line. The outer contour dimension of the cross section of the second transition rod (2232) increases from the diagonal brace (223) toward the second transition plate (2231).

11. The tower according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The lower part of the central tower (210) is provided with an outwardly extending third transition rod (2223), which is connected to the cross brace (222) by a flange connection. The third transition rod (2223) and the cross brace (222) extend along the same straight line; and / or, The upper part of the central tower (210) is provided with an outwardly extending fourth transition rod (2233), which is connected to the diagonal brace (223) by flange connection. The fourth transition rod (2233) and the diagonal brace (223) extend along the same straight line.

12. The tower according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The outer contour dimension of the upper part of the central tower (210) gradually increases upward.

13. The tower according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The central tower (210) is divided into multiple segments along its axis.

14. The tower according to claim 13, characterized in that, The central tower (210) is divided into three sections along its axis: the upper tower section (211), the middle tower section (212), and the lower tower section (213). The top end of the upper tower section (211) is connected to a mating flange (214). Two adjacent upper tower sections (211), middle tower sections (212) and lower tower sections (213) are connected by a first reinforcing member (215). The bottom end of the lower tower section (213) is connected to a second reinforcing member (216).

15. A wind turbine generator set, characterized in that, The wind turbine generator set includes a wind rotor, a nacelle, and a tower as described in any one of claims 1 to 14; The nacelle is located at the top of the tower, and the length direction of the nacelle is perpendicular to the height direction of the tower. The wind turbine is connected to the nacelle and is located at one end of the nacelle along its length.

16. A transition section, characterized in that, The transition section (200) includes: Central tower (210); At least four connecting components (220) are arranged in a ring array around the central tower (210), with a second end of the connecting component (220) connected to the lower part of the central tower (210) and a third end of the connecting component (220) connected to the upper part of the central tower (210). At least four connecting rods (230) are provided, with one connecting rod (230) between each two adjacent connecting components (220). The two ends of each connecting rod (230) are connected to the two adjacent connecting components (220). The connecting rods (230) are perpendicular to the axis of the central tower (210) so that the whole consisting of at least four connecting rods (230) and at least four connecting components (220) forms a regular polygon on the outer periphery of the projection along the axis of the central tower (210), and the number of sides of the regular polygon is greater than three.

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