Clamping Plate for Wind Turbine Tower Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Larger wind turbines require more robust and efficient mounting systems to resist wind forces without exceeding practical limits of steel strength or anchor bolt diameter/grade, as taller towers capture more energy but pose challenges in shipping and foundation stability.
Innovation Solution
A clamper plate system that secures a tower flange to a pedestal using embedded bolts and additional clamper bolts, allowing for a larger tower size with less expensive anchor bolts and without needing a larger pedestal or tower diameter, by clamping around the flange with a specially designed plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the tower diameter and anchor bolt size are increased to support larger wind turbines, then the wind load resistance and foundation stability are improved, but the cost and practicality deteriorate due to excessive material requirements and shipping limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into two independent functional components: anchor bolts that provide vertical lifting and positioning, and a clamper plate that provides horizontal clamping force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, using smaller, more practical anchor bolts combined with a relatively simple clamper plate structure to achieve the required wind load resistance without excessive material requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from relying solely on vertical anchor bolt strength to incorporating horizontal clamping force through the clamper plate. By adding this dimensional aspect to the mounting system, the patent achieves improved wind load resistance without increasing anchor bolt diameter or pedestal size, maintaining practicality while enhancing strength
2Productivity
If the tower height is increased to capture more kinetic energy, then the electricity generation efficiency is improved, but the foundation stability and shipping ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system separates vertical support functions (anchor bolts) from horizontal stabilization functions (clamper plate). This allows the foundation to reliably support taller towers by providing both vertical anchoring and horizontal clamping, enabling increased tower height for better energy capture while maintaining foundation stability
Solution Approach 2:
The clamper plate acts as an intermediary element between the tower flange and the pedestal. It distributes and transfers loads more effectively, providing enhanced stability that enables taller towers to be safely supported and shipped without compromising foundation reliability
3Strength
If larger anchor bolts and larger pedestal dimensions are used to support bigger turbines, then the mounting strength is improved, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into simple, distinct components: standard anchor bolts embedded in the pedestal and a separate clamper plate with through-holes. This segmentation achieves high mounting strength through functional specialization rather than through complex, monolithic structures, reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing anchor bolt size to achieve clamping force, the patent inverts the approach by using small anchor bolts for positioning and a clamper plate for applying the actual clamping force. This inverted methodology achieves superior mounting strength with simpler, smaller components
Data Source
AI summary
A clamper plate for securing a tower having a flange to a pedestal having an embedded first bolt and second bolt is disclosed. The clamper plate includes a first surface coming into contact with the flange and a second surface coming into contact with the pedestal. The clamper plate also includes a first through-hole for receiving the first bolt therethrough and a second through-hole for receiving the second bolt therethrough. During installation the clamper plate is placed over the flange and secured to the pedestal through the first bolt and second bolt.