Adaptable Tower Platform Arrangement for Wind Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine tower access platforms are custom-designed for specific tower geometries, leading to high costs and inefficiencies, as well as safety concerns due to the need for expensive adaptations like rigid railings.
Innovation Solution
An adaptable tower platform arrangement comprising a set of identical circular platforms and adapter rings with varying outer diameters, allowing the platforms to be mounted at different levels within a frustoconical tower section, thereby accommodating various tower diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom-made platforms are designed for each specific tower geometry, then safety requirements are met and proper fit is achieved, but costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed with a universal interface system comprising a platform body with a first interface and an adapter ring with a second interface that matches the tower geometry. This allows a single platform design to be adapted to multiple tower geometries through interchangeable adapter rings, achieving both safety through proper fit and cost reduction through standardization
Solution Approach 2:
The platform system is segmented into separate functional components: a standardized platform body and geometry-specific adapter rings. This segmentation allows the platform body to remain unchanged while only the adapter ring needs to match the specific tower geometry, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining safety
2Ease of manufacture
If a basic platform design is used with an added flexible perimeter for wider tower levels, then cost is reduced, but safety effectiveness deteriorates as objects or people may fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The platform system separates the safety function into the adapter ring component that provides rigid structural support and proper fit to the tower geometry, while the platform body provides the working surface. This segmentation ensures safety is not compromised by using a basic platform design
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized platform body combined with geometry-specific adapter rings provides both cost efficiency through standardization and safety through proper structural fit, eliminating the need for compromised flexible perimeters
3Reliability
If rigid railings or kickplates are added to basic platforms, then safety is improved, but costs increase and compliance with safety requirements may still be problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The platform system integrates safety functionality into the adapter ring structure itself rather than adding separate rigid railings or kickplates. The adapter ring's geometry-specific design provides inherent safety through proper fit and structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The safety function is merged into the adapter ring component that also provides geometric adaptation. This eliminates the need for separate safety additions like rigid railings, reducing costs while ensuring compliance through integrated design
4Reliability
If custom platforms are designed for different tower types, then proper fit and safety are achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized platform body with interchangeable adapter rings allows rapid installation by simply changing the adapter ring for different tower geometries, rather than installing entirely custom platforms. This maintains proper fit while significantly reducing installation time
Solution Approach 2:
The segmentation of the platform into standardized body and geometry-specific adapter ring allows the majority of the platform structure to be pre-assembled and tested, with only the adapter ring needing adjustment for different tower geometries, streamlining the installation process
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention describes an adaptable tower platform arrangement (1) for use in a tower interior (20), comprising one or more circular platforms (10) with a platform diameter (D10); a plurality of annular adapter rings (11_1,..., 11_n) each with an inner diameter (Di) and an outer diameter (Do_1,..., Do_n), wherein each outer diameter (Do_1,..., Do_n) of an adapter ring (11_1,..., 11_n) exceeds the platform diameter (D10) and corresponds to a different tower interior diameter (D1,..., Dn); and an assembly interface configured to facilitate connection of a platform (10) to an adapter ring (11_1,..., 11_n) to obtain a platform assembly (12_1,..., 12_n) having the outer diameter of that adapter ring (11_1,..., 11_n).