Foldable Tower Sheet Platform for Easier Wind Tower Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of a monolithic annular platform for a segmented tower or mast in wind turbine systems is cumbersome, requiring heavy lifting equipment, leading to increased on-site workload, difficulty, and prolonged construction time, especially in offshore installations, due to interference with tower sheet assembly and potential deformation.
Innovation Solution
A foldable platform integrated with tower sheets, featuring a support member allowing the platform to pivot between folded and unfolded positions, facilitating storage and transportation, and eliminating the need for large lifting tools during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a monolithic annular platform is mounted inside the tower prior to assembling other tower sheets, then the platform provides structural support and component mounting capability, but it interferes with the assembling of subsequent tower sheets, making installation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The monolithic platform is divided into multiple platform segments, each corresponding to a tower sheet. Each platform segment is mounted on its respective tower sheet, allowing tower sheets to be assembled without interference from a complete platform structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform segments are designed to be movable relative to the tower sheets, allowing them to be positioned and adjusted during assembly operations, then secured to provide structural support when needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If a monolithic annular platform is mounted after all or most tower sheets are spliced together, then the platform can be installed on a complete tower structure, but the tower sheets may not be perfectly circular due to self-weight deformation, making platform mounting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is segmented and distributed across multiple tower sheets during the assembly process, rather than being installed as a complete ring after assembly. This allows each segment to be mounted on individual sheets that may still be adjusted to achieve proper circularity.
Solution Approach 2:
Platform segments are pre-mounted on tower sheets during the assembly process before the tower is fully constructed and subjected to full gravitational loading. This allows for adjustments to be made while the structure is still being assembled and can be adjusted.
3Reliability
If a monolithic annular platform is installed at the construction site, then the platform provides necessary structural support, but heavy lifting equipment is required, increasing workload, installation difficulty, and on-site working time
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into multiple smaller segments that can be handled by lighter lifting equipment. Each platform segment corresponds to a tower sheet and can be installed independently, eliminating the need for heavy cranes and reducing on-site assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform segments are integrated with the tower sheet assembly process itself, rather than being installed as a separate operation. This combines the platform installation with the tower construction workflow, improving overall productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces on-site installation time, workload, and difficulty by enabling efficient stacking and assembly of tower sheets without interference, thus optimizing transportation and construction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a second end of the support seat is hinged to the platform main body at a first hinge point, so that the platform main body can pivot around the second end of the support seat between a folded position and an unfolded position
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a tower sheet assembly, a tower section, and a tower transportation and assembly method. The tower sheet assembly comprises a tower sheet, and a foldable platform, which is arranged on an inner side of the tower sheet. The foldable platform comprises a platform main body and a support member. The support member comprises a support seat, wherein a first end of the support seat is fixed to an inner wall of the tower sheet, and a second end of the support seat is hinged to the platform main body at a first hinge point, such that the platform main body can pivot, around the second end of the support seat, between a folded position and an unfolded position.