Compact Tower Adapter for Wind Turbine Foundation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting a tower to its foundation, such as wind turbines, require a significant curing time for the grout joint, leading to idle periods for expensive mobile cranes and increased economic burdens due to crane relocation and idle time, as well as limitations in construction progress during this time.
Innovation Solution
A tower adapter with a cylindrical portion and a lateral portion having a ratio of maximum longitudinal extension to maximum lateral extension of less than or equal to 1, allowing for a compact design that can be handled by a single mobile crane, enabling the foundation to be prepared ahead of tower construction and reducing crane dependency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional flange connection with through-holes is used, then the tower can be securely connected to the foundation, but the bottom section must be placed on the grout joint before curing, causing idle time for expensive mobile cranes and delaying construction progress
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into two independent parts: the adapter with anchor bolts that can be pre-installed on the foundation, and the tower bottom section that can be placed later. This segmentation allows the foundation preparation and tower installation to be decoupled, eliminating the need to wait for grout curing before placing the tower section.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is pre-installed on the foundation with anchor bolts protruding through the grout joint before the tower bottom section is placed. This preliminary action allows the foundation and adapter to be prepared in advance using smaller equipment, and the tower can be installed immediately without waiting for grout curing.
2Ease of operation
If the bottom section is transported horizontally to comply with bridge headroom, then transportation is possible, but two mobile cranes are required for lifting and placing, increasing equipment costs and idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into the adapter (pre-installed on foundation) and the tower bottom section (to be installed later). This allows the use of a single smaller crane for adapter installation instead of requiring two large cranes for the entire bottom section, reducing equipment quantity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter acts as an intermediary component between the foundation and the tower bottom section. It can be pre-installed using a single small crane, and then the tower bottom section can be attached later using a single larger crane, eliminating the need for two large cranes operating simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If the adapter has a compact design with aspect ratio <= 1, then it can be handled by a single mobile crane, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter features an asymmetric design with a first lateral portion extending in one direction and a second lateral portion extending in another direction. This asymmetric configuration allows the adapter to have a compact overall shape with aspect ratio <= 1 while still providing sufficient space for anchor bolts and connection features in specific directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by extending lateral portions in different directions from the cylindrical portion. This spatial arrangement achieves a compact footprint with aspect ratio <= 1 while maintaining functional requirements for anchor bolt placement and tower connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A tower adapter is provided, the tower adapter includes a cylindrical portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the adapter, and a first lateral portion extending perpendicularly to the cylindrical portion at a first end thereof and having a plurality of first through-holes. The ratio of a maximum longitudinal extension and a maximum lateral extension of the adapter is smaller than or equal to 1.