CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR CONNECTING TOWER SECTIONS, TOWER SECTION, TOWER, WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A TOWER SECTION AND FOR CONNECTING TOWER SECTIONS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a connecting element for connecting tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine, a part of a tower of a wind turbine, a tower of a wind turbine, and a wind turbine. The invention further relates to a method for producing a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine and a method for connecting tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine.

[0002] Tower sections of a wind turbine tower, particularly a steel tower, are typically connected to one another via connecting flanges. Such connecting flanges for attachment to one end of a tower section are known, for example, from DE 101 26 049 A1 or DE 103 25 032 B3. However, the manufacture and transport of annular connecting flanges are complex and expensive, especially for large diameters, such as those found at the lower ends of tall towers. Furthermore, an improvement in the reliability and / or load-bearing capacity of the connection is also desirable.

[0003] The German Patent and Trademark Office searched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application: DE 10 2010 025 840 A1. WO 2013 / 097865 A1 discloses a ring segment for a flange for arranging one tower segment to another. US 2006 / 0213145 A1 describes a lattice-shaped tower for a wind turbine. KR 2012 0073785 A teaches a tower for a wind turbine with a specific design of the tower head.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element for connecting tower sections, a tower section, a part of a tower, a tower, and a wind turbine, as well as a method for producing a tower section and a method for connecting tower sections, which reduce or eliminate one or more disadvantages of existing solutions. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element for connecting tower sections, a tower section, a part of a tower, a tower, and a wind turbine, as well as a method for producing a tower section and a method for connecting tower sections, which improve the reliability and / or load-bearing capacity of the connection between tower sections.

[0005] A connecting element for connecting tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine is described, comprising a fastening surface which has the shape of a segment of a circumferential surface of the tower and is designed to be arranged on a circumferential surface of a tower section, a connecting surface which is arranged at an angle to the fastening surface and has receptacles for receiving fastening elements.

[0006] The connecting element has a fastening surface that can be arranged on a peripheral surface of a tower section, in particular a steel tower. Furthermore, the connecting element according to the invention has a shape that corresponds to a segment of a peripheral surface of the tower. The fastening surface thus preferably corresponds substantially to the geometry of a part of the peripheral surface of the tower section. If the tower section is substantially tubular and / or hollow-cylindrical, the fastening surface thus preferably has the shape of a shell segment of a cylinder. If the tower section is substantially frustoconical, the fastening surface thus preferably has the shape of a shell segment of a cone, in particular a truncated cone.If the tower section is polygonal, the fastening surface thus preferably has a flat extension which corresponds to a peripheral surface of one of the sides of the polygonal tower section.

[0007] The shape of the fastening surface as a segment of a circumferential surface of the tower refers in particular to a segment in the circumferential direction of the tower, which means in particular that the fastening surface of an individual connecting element does not form a ring, in particular a circular ring or polygon, but covers the circumferential surface of a tower section only to part of its circumference.

[0008] The fastening surface can be flat, in particular non-curved, or have a radius, wherein this radius preferably corresponds to or is slightly smaller than the radius of the peripheral surface of the tower section. In particular, if the fastening surface has the shape of a shell segment of a cone, this radius can change in a vertical direction in the installed state, in particular taper upwards.

[0009] Wind turbine towers, both in their installed state and in operation, typically have a vertical longitudinal axis and an annular cross-section orthogonal to this longitudinal axis. This annular cross-section can be circular or polygonal. Therefore, in this application, the term "annular" refers not only to a circular configuration, but also to a polygonal and / or polygonal configuration with multiple straight sections.

[0010] If reference is made here to the tower section and the connecting element in relation to the tower section, this refers in particular to the installed state of the connecting element, in which the connecting element is arranged on the circumferential surface of the tower section. In particular, directional information such as radial, tangential, in the circumferential direction, etc. preferably refers to a tower, in particular to a substantially vertical longitudinal axis of a tower, and refers to any cross-sectional shape of such a tower, in particular both to circular cross-sections and to polygonal cross-sections. Furthermore, information such as horizontal, vertical, bottom, top, etc. also preferably refers to the installed state of a connecting element on a tower section in a tower of a wind turbine.

[0011] A tower section is understood here as an annular element that may have a circular or polygonal cross-section. A tower section with a circular cross-section may, for example, have the external shape of a cylinder or truncated cone (particularly in the case of tapered towers).

[0012] A tower comprises several tower sections arranged vertically one above the other in the installed and operating state of the wind turbine. The installed state is understood here in particular to be a state that refers to the vertically aligned tower, which - provided a nacelle with a rotor that is ready for operation is arranged on the tower - also corresponds to the operating state of the wind turbine. A substantially horizontal alignment of the longitudinal axis, e.g. during manufacture and / or transport of the tower or parts thereof, is not meant here as the installed state. The alignments described for the installed state must be adapted accordingly in the manufacturing and / or transport state to the temporarily non-vertically aligned longitudinal axis of the tower or part thereof.

[0013] Wind turbine towers typically taper from their bottom to their top. The alignment of the tower wall of a tapered tower typically deviates from the vertical by only a few degrees. When reference is made in this application to alignments, particularly in the installed state, such as top, bottom, radial, horizontal, vertical, etc., this is intended to apply accordingly to tapered towers and correspondingly slightly inclined tower walls relative to the vertical.

[0014] Various designs for wind turbine towers are known. In particular, towers of solid construction, made of concrete and / or reinforced concrete and / or prestressed concrete and / or steel, have become established. The present invention relates in particular to steel towers or parts of steel towers, in which the connecting elements can be attached, in particular welded, to steel tower sections. However, connecting elements can also be attached to tower sections made of concrete and / or reinforced concrete and / or prestressed concrete, for example, by encasing parts of the connecting elements in concrete.

[0015] The fastening surface serves, in particular, to attach or fasten the connecting element to a tower section. In particular, a substantially linear fastening can also be provided for this purpose, in particular at an upper and / or lower edge of the fastening surface when the connecting element is installed.

[0016] In addition to the fastening surface, the connecting element has a connecting surface arranged at an angle to the fastening surface. The arrangement of the fastening surface and the connecting surface at an angle to one another means, in particular, that the two surfaces do not lie in the same plane. In the case of a connecting element whose fastening surface has the shape of a shell segment of a cylinder or is flat, the connecting surface can preferably be aligned orthogonally to the fastening surface. In the case of a connecting element which is intended for a tapered tower section and whose fastening surface, for example, has the shape of a shell segment of a cone or is flat, the connecting surface can preferably also be aligned at an angle other than 90° to the fastening surface, for example at an angle of 60° to 90°.

[0017] The receptacles arranged in the connecting surface serve to accommodate fastening elements. In particular, it is preferred that the receptacles are arranged and configured to accommodate fastening elements that are arranged in receptacles of a connecting surface of another connecting element arranged on another tower section.

[0018] A particular advantage of the connecting element is that the formation of an annular, in particular circular, flange can be dispensed with. The extension of a connecting element in the circumferential direction of the tower section preferably corresponds to less than 360 degrees of arc, in particular less than 180 degrees of arc, preferably less than 90 degrees of arc. An extension of the connecting element in the circumferential direction of the tower section corresponds to less than 60 degrees of arc. In particular, the extension of the connecting element in the circumferential direction of the tower section can be less than 45 degrees of arc, for example less than 30 degrees of arc.

[0019] Such individual connecting elements can be manufactured and / or transported significantly more cost-effectively than annular, particularly circular, connecting flanges. Furthermore, such individual connecting elements can also be connected to tower sections more cost-effectively and / or with greater reliability. For example, a material-to-material connection, such as by welding, of connecting elements to a tower section can preferably be made under secure production conditions before the tower section is transported to the construction site where the tower is to be erected.

[0020] Furthermore, this method allows the production of connecting elements with a greater axial and / or radial expansion than would be economically and / or technically feasible with a corresponding annular, in particular circular, connecting flange. This allows a higher load-bearing capacity of a connection made with such connecting elements to be achieved.

[0021] The fastening surface can be in the form of a segment of an inner peripheral surface of the tower and can be configured to be arranged on an inner peripheral surface of a tower section. In this embodiment, the connecting elements are preferably not visible on the outer peripheral surface of the tower. Furthermore, the arrangement of individual connecting elements allows for greater flexibility with regard to the interior design of the tower. For example, certain segments of the tower's inner surface can be kept free for installations such as cables, climbing aids, or the like.

[0022] The attachment surface may also have the shape of a segment of an outer peripheral surface of the tower and be designed to be arranged on an outer peripheral surface of a tower section.

[0023] A combination of connecting elements on the inner peripheral surface and on the outer peripheral surface may also be preferred, for example to replace a T-flange.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element has an extension in a tangential direction and / or along its main extension direction that corresponds to a circular ring segment. The main extension direction of the connecting element is preferably in a tangential direction. In particular, it is preferred that not only the fastening surface has the shape of a shell segment of a cylinder or cone, but that the connecting element as a whole only corresponds to a circular ring segment, i.e., is not circular in shape.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting element has an extension in a tangential direction and / or along its main extension direction that corresponds to a segment of a polygon. The main extension direction of the connecting element preferably lies in or parallel to the direction of one of the polygon sides, which can also be referred to here as the tangential direction. In particular, it is preferred that not only the fastening surface has the shape of a segment of a polygon, but the connecting element as a whole corresponds only to one segment, i.e., is not annular in the sense of a polygon.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the receptacles are designed as through holes and / or as blind holes. The receptacles can all be designed as through holes or all as blind holes. The receptacles can also be designed partly as through holes and partly as blind holes. The receptacles can preferably be designed as bores, in particular threaded bores, and / or threaded holes and preferably have an internal thread. Furthermore, the receptacles are preferably arranged and designed to receive fastening elements with an external thread, in particular screws, threaded bolts or the like.

[0027] According to the invention, the receptacles are arranged in two, three, or more rows. It is particularly preferred that the two, three, or more rows be spaced apart from one another in the radial direction.

[0028] The provision of several rows of receptacles, particularly if they are spaced apart in the radial direction, can significantly increase the load-bearing capacity of a connection made with the connecting elements. Compared to annular, in particular circular, connecting flanges, a radial enlargement of the connecting elements is significantly easier from an economic and / or production-technical and / or transport perspective. It is therefore easier, or even possible and / or economically sensible, to provide two or even more rows of receptacles spaced apart in the radial direction - and thus a correspondingly higher number of fastening elements - for a single connecting element. In particular, due to the resulting enlargement of the lever, the load-bearing capacity of connections made with such connecting elements can be significantly increased.Furthermore, the connecting elements can be manufactured more easily with a higher tolerance than annular, particularly circular, connecting flanges. Spacing the connecting elements in the tangential direction and / or in the circumferential direction on the tower section can result in advantages with regard to the required dimensional accuracy, particularly in this direction. Providing individual connecting elements also has advantages for tower sections divided vertically, since this eliminates the need to first laboriously manufacture an annular, particularly circular, connecting flange and then divide it.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the row(s) is / are aligned in a straight line or tangentially. A tangential or straight line alignment of the row(s) preferably corresponds to an arrangement of the row(s) coaxial or parallel to the mounting surface. The arrangement of a row in a straight line corresponds in particular to the alignment of a row as the shortest connection between its two endpoints.

[0030] In particular, it is provided that the receptacles of a row are arranged equidistantly and / or spaced from one another at regular intervals. The receptacles of a row are preferably spaced from one another in the tangential direction. The receptacles of different rows are preferably spaced from one another in the radial direction.

[0031] A further preferred development is characterized by a front surface, which is preferably arranged substantially opposite the fastening surface, and / or by a counter-surface, which is preferably arranged substantially opposite the connecting surface. The connecting surface is connected to the fastening surface and the front surface. Furthermore, the counter-surface is connected to the fastening surface and the front surface.

[0032] A further preferred embodiment comprises two side surfaces, which are preferably substantially opposite one another and / or are preferably arranged substantially radially and / or vertically in the installed state. Preferably, the two side surfaces are each connected to the fastening surface, the front surface, the connecting surface, and the counter surface.

[0033] It is further preferred that the connecting surface and the counter surface are arranged substantially parallel to one another. In the installed state, the connecting surface and the counter surface are arranged substantially horizontally.

[0034] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that in the installed state, a main extension direction of the connecting surface and / or a main extension direction of the counter surface and / or a main extension direction of the fastening surface and / or a main extension direction of the front surface is / are arranged substantially tangentially.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the fastening surface and the front surface are arranged substantially coaxially to one another and / or the front surface is formed substantially rectilinearly.

[0036] A straight design of the front surface is preferably given in particular when the front surface is not curved.

[0037] When installed, the mounting surface and the front surface are arranged essentially vertically. In the case of a tower that tapers upwards and has tower sections shaped like a truncated cone, an alignment of the mounting surface and / or the front surface parallel to the conical surface or coaxial to the tower section is also referred to as essentially vertical when installed.

[0038] When the mounting surface is designed in the shape of a conical shell segment, the radius of the mounting surface generally differs at the upper and lower ends in the installed state. For example, the radius of the mounting surface at the transition from the mounting surface to the connecting surface may differ from the radius of the mounting surface at the transition from the mounting surface to the counter surface. Which radius is larger or smaller depends in particular on the installed state and / or the direction in which the tower tapers.

[0039] A preferred development is characterized in that the fastening surface and / or the front surface and / or the connecting surface and / or the counter surface and / or the two side surfaces are not arranged in the same plane.

[0040] Furthermore, it is preferred that the fastening surface and / or the front surface and / or the connecting surface and / or the counter surface and / or the two side surfaces enclose a three-dimensional body. The main extension direction of the body is preferably in the tangential direction.

[0041] According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the fastening surface and / or the front surface and / or the counter surface and / or the two side surfaces is / are free of receptacles.

[0042] If the receptacles are designed as through holes, they preferably extend from the connecting surface to the mating surface. If the receptacles are designed as blind holes, they preferably end before the mating surface, so that in this case the mating surface is free of receptacles.

[0043] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the fastening surface has a greater tangential extent than the front surface and / or the connecting element has one or more lip extensions in the tangential direction. The greater tangential extent of the fastening surface is preferably not based, or not solely based, on the radial extent of the connecting element and a correspondingly smaller tangential extent of the front surface. Rather, tangential lip extensions are provided, preferably adjacent to the fastening surface in the radial direction, preferably on both tangential ends and / or side surfaces of the connecting element. This makes it possible to reduce or eliminate the space in the circumferential direction between adjacent connecting elements.This may advantageously reduce the thickness requirements of the tower section in this area and / or improve the load-bearing capacity of the tower section in this area.

[0044] In the installed state, the receptacles preferably extend in a substantially vertical direction from the connecting surface into the three-dimensional body. Furthermore, the receptacles preferably extend parallel to the fastening surface and / or the front surface and / or the side surfaces. It is further preferred that the receptacles preferably extend orthogonally to the connecting surface and / or the counter surface.

[0045] The object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine, comprising two, three or more previously described connecting elements arranged on a circumferential surface of the tower section.

[0046] The connecting elements are preferably arranged at one or both axial ends of the tower section. Furthermore, the connecting elements are preferably arranged on the peripheral surface of the tower section such that the connecting surfaces of the connecting elements face outward and / or inward in the axial direction.

[0047] The connecting elements are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. A preferred embodiment of the tower section provides that the connecting elements are spaced apart from one another, preferably equidistantly, in the circumferential direction and / or in the tangential direction.

[0048] Individual or all connecting elements of a tower section can also be offset in the axial direction relative to an axial end of the tower section, in particular upwards or downwards in the axial direction relative to a vertical orientation of the tower section. Preferably, the connecting elements of an axially adjacent end of an adjacent tower section are offset in the opposite axial direction. In this way, the connecting elements can simplify the positioning and / or centering of the tower sections relative to one another, for example, during assembly.

[0049] A further preferred embodiment of the tower section provides that the connecting elements are integrally connected, in particular welded, to the inner surface of the tower section. The connection is preferably made under secure production conditions, for example by a welding robot. A welded connection of the connecting elements to the peripheral surface of the tower section can be made, for example, by butt welds and / or fillet welds and / or (double) HV welds and / or J-welds. A connection of the connecting elements to the tower sections is preferably made at an upper edge of the fastening surface in the installed state and / or at a lower edge of the fastening surface in the installed state.

[0050] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a part of a tower of a wind turbine, comprising two previously described tower sections which are connected to one another via fastening means arranged in the receptacles of the two tower sections.

[0051] The two tower sections are preferably arranged coaxially one above the other. Furthermore, the two tower sections with the connecting elements arranged thereon are preferably aligned in such a way that the receptacles of connecting elements arranged one above the other of the two tower sections are each coaxially aligned, so that a fastening element in a receptacle of a

[0052] connecting element of the lower tower section and in a receptacle of a connecting element of the upper tower section and / or can penetrate these receptacles of the upper and lower connecting elements.

[0053] A further preferred embodiment of the part of a tower provides that the fastening means are designed as screws and / or threaded bolts.

[0054] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a tower of a wind turbine, comprising at least one previously described part of a tower, and / or at least one previously described tower section, and / or at least one previously described connecting element.

[0055] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a wind turbine comprising at least one previously described tower, and / or at least one previously described part of a tower, and / or at least one previously described tower section, and / or at least one previously described connecting element.

[0056] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned at the outset is achieved by a method for producing a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine, comprising providing a tower section, arranging a previously described connecting element on a peripheral surface of the tower section.

[0057] The method for producing a tower section of a tower of a wind turbine can preferably be further developed by preferably transporting the tower section from a first assembly location to a second assembly location, connecting the tower section to a further tower section which preferably has a greater axial extent.

[0058] In this embodiment, a tower section with a small axial extent, for example less than 5 m, in particular less than 2 m, preferably less than 1 m, is first provided with connecting elements. This preferably takes place at a first assembly point, which can, for example, be specially designed for the assembly of individual connecting elements distributed over a circumferential surface. This tower section with the connecting elements arranged thereon can then be transported, for example, to a second assembly point, where this tower section is then connected to a further tower section. The further tower section preferably has a greater axial extent, in particular an axial extent that corresponds to a multiple of the tower section with the connecting elements arranged thereon.This method thus makes it possible to first connect the connecting elements to a tower section and then transport such a - comparatively short - tower section in order to connect it to a - significantly longer - tower section. Transporting such a short tower section with connecting elements is significantly easier than transporting the long, wider tower section. Attaching the individual connecting elements to a short tower section is also significantly easier. The connection of the short tower section with connecting elements to the long, wider tower section is preferably carried out by welding and / or further preferably along the entire circumferential surface of the tower sections.

[0059] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object mentioned above is achieved by a method for connecting tower sections of a tower of a wind turbine, comprising arranging two previously described tower sections one above the other, connecting the two tower sections by arranging fastening elements in the receptacles of the connecting elements of the two tower sections. The tower sections are arranged one above the other in particular in such a way that they are arranged vertically one above the other in the operating state of the wind turbine. During manufacture and / or transport, this can also correspond to an arrangement in a vertical direction, for example during the offshore transport of offshore towers, but also to an arrangement in a substantially horizontal direction if the towers or tower sections are transported lying down or inclined.

[0060] The devices and methods of these further aspects of the invention preferably have features or method steps that make them particularly suitable for use with a connecting element according to the invention and its further developments. For the advantages, embodiment variants, and details of these further aspects of the invention and their possible developments, reference is also made to the preceding description of the corresponding features of the connecting element and its possible developments.

[0061] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Figure 1: a three-dimensional view of a wind turbine with a tower and a nacelle; Figure 2: a three-dimensional view of a third of a longitudinally divided tower section with four connecting elements; Figure 3: a three-dimensional view of a part of a tower with two not yet connected tower sections; Figure 4: the part of a tower according to Figure 3 , in which the upper tower section, the connecting elements and the fastening elements are each shown only with their edges; Figure 5: a three-dimensional view of three connecting elements, in particular of a lower tower section; Figure 6: a three-dimensional view of three connecting elements, in particular of an upper tower section; Figure 7: a three-dimensional view of a further embodiment of a connecting element; and Figure 8: a three-dimensional view of a further embodiment of connecting elements.

[0062] Figure 1shows a wind turbine 100 with a tower 102 and a nacelle 104. A rotor 106 with three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110 is arranged on the nacelle 104. During operation, the rotor 106 is set into rotation by the wind and thereby drives a generator in the nacelle 104. The tower 102 has two or more of the Figure 2 and 3 shown tower sections 101.

[0063] Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of one third (120°) of a longitudinally divided tower section 101 for a tower 102 of a wind turbine 100 with four connecting elements 200. In one of the connecting elements 200, fastening elements 300 are arranged in the receptacles 210.

[0064] The Figure 3 and 4 show a part of a tower with two vertically stacked, coaxial tower sections 101. In Figure 4The upper tower section 101, the connecting elements 200, and the fastening elements 300 are shown only with their edges. In particular, the rings 103 mark the upper and lower axial ends of the upper tower section 101. 301 and 302 denote the upper and lower ends of the fastening elements 300.

[0065] Both tower sections 101 each have twelve connecting elements 200, which are spaced apart from one another in the tangential direction and / or in the circumferential direction and arranged equidistantly. The connecting elements 200 have an extension in the circumferential direction of the tower section 101 of less than 30 degrees of arc.

[0066] On the lower tower section 101, the connecting elements 200 are arranged at an upper axial end. On the lower tower section 101, the connecting elements 200 are arranged at a lower axial end.

[0067] The two tower sections 101 are aligned with each other in such a way that the fastening elements 300 - shown here only for one connecting element 200 - can engage in the receptacles of the connecting element axially below them.

[0068] In the Figure 5 and 6 The connecting elements of the lower and upper tower sections 101 are shown in more detail. Fastening elements 300 are shown only for one connecting element 200, but are preferably located in the receptacles of all connecting elements 200. Fastening elements 300 are preferably arranged and designed such that they can connect two connecting elements arranged vertically one above the other.

[0069] Each of the connecting elements 200 has a fastening surface 201, which has the shape of a segment of an inner circumferential surface of the tower, in the exemplary embodiment shown here, the shape of a shell segment of a cylinder. The fastening surface is designed to be arranged on the inner surface of a tower section 101. Connecting elements are also possible whose fastening surface has the shape of a segment of an outer circumferential surface of the tower. A front surface opposite the fastening surface would face outwards if arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the tower.

[0070] Each of the connecting elements 200 further comprises a connecting surface 202 with receptacles 210 and a counter surface 204 opposite this connecting surface 202. The connecting surfaces 202 of the connecting elements 200 face outward in the axial direction.

[0071] The receptacles 210 can be through holes or blind holes. Figure 6 In the connecting elements 200 shown, the receptacles are designed as blind holes, since the counter surface 204 does not have any openings. Figure 5 In the connecting elements 200 shown, the receptacles 210 can be designed as through holes or blind holes.

[0072] Each of the connecting elements 200 further has a front surface 203 substantially opposite the fastening surface 201. In the fastening elements 200 shown here, the front surfaces 203 are rectilinear, i.e., not curved, and parallel to the rectilinear alignment of the two rows of receptacles 210. Likewise, a tangential or coaxial alignment or curvature of the rows and / or front surfaces 203 is also possible.

[0073] Each of the connecting elements 200 further comprises two side surfaces 205 that are substantially opposite one another and arranged both substantially radially and substantially vertically. The two side surfaces 205 are respectively connected to the fastening surface 201, the front surface 203, the connecting surface 202, and the counter surface 204.

[0074] The side surfaces 205, the fastening surfaces 201 and the front surfaces 203 are free of receptacles.

[0075] The fastening surface 201, the front surface 203, the connecting surface 202, the counter surface 204, and the side surfaces 205 are not arranged in the same plane and enclose a three-dimensional body. The main extension direction of this body, as well as a main extension direction of the fastening surface 201 and a main extension direction of the front surface 203 and a main extension direction of the connecting surface 202 and a main extension direction of the counter surface 204, lies in a substantially tangential direction in the installed state illustrated here in the figures. In addition to the fastening surface 201, front surface 203, and side surfaces 205, which are substantially vertically aligned in the installed state, the connecting surface 202 and the counter surface 204 are substantially horizontally aligned in the installed state.

[0076] The receptacles 210 of the connecting elements 200 are arranged in two rows spaced apart from one another in the radial direction. The two rows are arranged in a straight line, i.e., they are not arranged in a tangential and / or circumferential direction and are not arranged coaxially with the fastening surfaces 201. In the straight arrangement of the rows shown here, the alignment of the rows corresponds only to a tangent to the fastening surface 201 at their center point and otherwise deviates from the tangential alignment. The arrangement of the rows in a straight line also corresponds to the alignment of the rows as the shortest connection between their respective endpoints, in particular the respective outer receptacles 210.

[0077] In the installed state, the receptacles 210 extend in a substantially vertical direction from the connecting surface 202 into the three-dimensional body. Furthermore, the receptacles 210 extend parallel to the fastening surface 201, to the front surface 203, and to the side surfaces 205. Furthermore, the receptacles 210 extend orthogonally to the connecting surface 202 and to the counter surface 204.

[0078] The connecting elements 200 are connected to the inner surfaces of the tower sections 101 by this fastening surface 201, preferably by a material connection, in particular by a linear connection in the form of weld seams on the upper and lower edges of the fastening surfaces 201. At its upper and lower edges, the fastening surface 201 merges into the connecting surface 202 and the counter surface 204.

[0079] Figure 7shows a possible alternative embodiment of connecting elements 200', which can be used in addition to or as an alternative to the connecting elements 200 shown in the other drawings. Similar to a connecting element 200, the connecting element 200' has a fastening surface 201', a front surface 203', a connecting surface 202', a counter surface 204', and side surfaces 205'. The fastening surface 201' has a greater tangential extension than the front surface 203'. This is due in particular to the fact that the connecting element 200' has two lip extensions 206', which can serve to stabilize the tower section in the areas between two connecting elements and can reduce the demands on the ceiling of the tower section in this area.

[0080] As an alternative to the embodiment shown in the figures, in which the tower sections are hollow cylindrical and the fastening surfaces 201 have the shape of a cylindrical shell segment, the fastening surfaces 201 can also have the shape of a conical shell segment in order to be arranged on the inner surfaces of tower sections in the shape of a truncated cone. Furthermore, the tower sections can be polygonal and the fastening surfaces can be flat, without curvature.

[0081] Another possible embodiment is in Figure 8, in which a connecting element 200a is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the tower section 101 and a connecting element 200b is arranged on an inner receiving surface of the tower section 101. The fastening surface 201a of the connecting element 200a has the shape of a circular ring segment and is the outer peripheral surface of the tower section 101. A front surface of the connecting element 200a opposite the fastening surface 201a faces outwards. The fastening surface 201b of the connecting element 200b also has the shape of a circular ring segment, but is arranged on the peripheral surface of the tower section 101. The front surface 203b of the connecting element 200b faces inwards.

[0082] The connecting surfaces 202a, b of the two connecting elements 200a, b point substantially upward and have receptacles 210a, b. The side surfaces 205a, b are oriented tangentially.

[0083] In the Figure 8It is further clear from the example shown that the tower section 101 is composed of several parts which are joined together at a substantially vertical joint 111. As in Figure 8 As shown using the example of the connecting element 200a, it may be very preferable that one or more connecting elements are arranged such that they overlap such a vertical joint of the tower section.

[0084] The connecting elements and the associated tower sections, as well as a tower with such tower sections, have various advantages. In particular, such individual connecting elements can be manufactured and transported much more cost-effectively than annular connecting flanges. Furthermore, the radial and axial extension of the connecting elements can be increased much more easily than with annular connecting flange, allowing the arrangement of two rows of receptacles and thus also two rows of fastening elements, thus improving the reliability and load-bearing capacity of the connection. A greater radial extension of the connecting pieces leads, in particular, to a better span length of the connections. Furthermore, the arrangement of individual connecting elements allows greater flexibility with regard to the interior design of the tower.

Claims

1. A tower portion (101) of a tower of a wind turbine (100), comprising two, three or more connecting elements (200) that are arranged on a circumferential surface of the tower portion (101) for connecting tower portions (101) of a tower of a wind turbine (100), each comprising a fastening surface (201) which has the form of a segment of a circumferential surface of the tower and is designed to be arranged on a circumferential surface of a tower portion (101), and a connecting surface (202) which is arranged at an angle to the fastening surface (201) and which has receptacles (210) for receiving fastening elements (300), wherein the fastening surface (201), a front surface (203), the connecting surface (202), a further front surface (204) and two lateral surfaces (205) enclose a three-dimensional body, wherein the connecting elements (200) are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, characterized in that one extent of each connecting elements in the circumferential direction of a tower portion (101) corresponds to less than 60 degrees, wherein, in the installed state, the connecting surface (202) and the counter-surface (204) are arranged substantially parallel to one another, wherein, in the installed state, the fastening surface (201) and the front surface (203) are arranged substantially vertically, wherein the connecting surface is connected to the fastening surface and to the front surface, wherein the counter-surface is connected to the fastening surface and to the front surface, and wherein the receptacles (210) are arranged in two, three or more rows.

2. Tower portion (101) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the fastening surface (201) has the form of a segment of an inner circumferential surface of the tower and is designed to be arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the tower portion (101), and / or characterized in that the fastening surface (201) has the form of a segment of an outer circumferential surface of the tower and is designed to be arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the tower portion (101).

3. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (200) each have, in a tangential direction and / or along its main direction of extent, an extent which corresponds to a circular ring segment.

4. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacles (210) take the form of through-holes and / or blind holes.

5. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two rows are spaced apart from one another in the radial direction, and / or characterized in that the row(s) is or are oriented rectilinearly or tangentially.

6. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the front surface (203) is arranged substantially opposite to the fastening surface (201), and / or wherein the front surface (204) is arranged substantially opposite to the connecting surface (202), and / or wherein the two lateral surfaces (205) are substantially opposite to one another and / or are preferably arranged substantially radially and / or vertically.

7. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the installed state, the connecting surface (202) and the counter-surface (204) are arranged substantially parallel to one another, and / or characterized in that, in the installed state, a main direction of extent of the connecting surface (202) and / or a main direction of extent of the counter-surface (204) and / or a main direction of extent of the fastening surface (201) and / or a main direction of extent of the front surface (203) are or is arranged substantially tangentially, and / or characterized in that the fastening surface (201) and the front surface (203) are arranged substantially coaxially to one another, and / or the front surface (203) is formed substantially rectilinearly.

8. Tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening surface (201) and / or the front surface (203) and / or connecting surface (202) and / or the front surface (204) and / or the two lateral surfaces (205) are or is not arranged in the same plane, and / or characterized in that the fastening surface (201) and / or the front surface (203) and / or the front surface (204) and / or the two lateral surfaces (205) are or is free of receptacles (210), and / or characterized in that the fastening surface (201) has a larger tangential extent than the front surface (203) and / or the connecting element (200) has one or more lip extensions (206') in the tangential direction.

9. The tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (200) are spaced apart from one another equidistantly in the circumferential direction, and / or characterized in that the connecting elements (200) are integrally bonded, in particular welded, to the circumferential surface of the tower portion (101).

10. A part of a tower of a wind turbine (100), comprising two tower portions (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims which are connected to one another via fastening means which are arranged in the receptacles (210) of the two tower portions (101).

11. A tower of a wind turbine (100), comprising at least one part of a tower as claimed in the preceding claim, and / or at least one tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1-9.

12. A wind turbine (100), comprising at least one tower as claimed in the preceding claim, and / or at least one part of a tower as claimed in claim 10, and / or at least one tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1-9.

13. A method for producing a tower portion (101) of a wind turbine (100), comprising: - providing a tower portion (101), characterized by - arranging a connecting element on a circumferential surface of the tower portion (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1-9.

14. The method as claimed in the preceding claim, comprising: - preferably transporting the tower portion (101) from a first assembly site to a second assembly site, - connecting the tower portion to a further tower portion which preferably has a greater axial extent.

15. A method for connecting tower portions (101) of a wind turbine (100), characterized by: - arranging two tower portions (101) as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims 1-9 one above the other, - connecting the two tower portions (101) by arranging fastening elements (300) in the receptacles (210) of the connecting elements (200) of the two tower portions (101).