Wind Turbine Foundation Cable Feed-Through in Overlap Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wind power plant foundation structures, particularly those made of steel, are costly and heavy, and the connection with transition pieces using grout or bolted joints is complex, leading to issues with cable routing and overlap areas that complicate the installation process, especially in offshore installations.
Innovation Solution
A foundation structure with a hollow structural element and a transition piece connected via a grout or slip-joint method, featuring aligned cable feed-throughs and seals to facilitate cable passage through the overlap area, and using insertion aids for precise alignment, along with scour protection and wedge-shaped elements to manage cable length and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hollow structural element is made of steel and connected with transition pieces using grout or bolted joints, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hollow structural element and transition piece into a single integrated concrete structure, eliminating the need for separate connection components like grout joints or bolted connections. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining structural strength through the monolithic concrete construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses concrete as a composite material to replace traditional steel hollow structural elements. Concrete provides both the structural strength and the integration function, eliminating the need for separate connection systems while reducing overall complexity and cost.
2Weight of stationary object
If the hollow structural element length is reduced so that it does not protrude from the water surface, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the cable routing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the hollow structural element and transition piece into a single integrated structure with the cable feed-through built into the design, the patent eliminates the need for complex cable routing through separate components. This allows for reduced element length while maintaining ease of cable installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable feed-through is preliminarily integrated into the monolithic concrete structure during manufacturing, before installation. This preliminary action simplifies the cable routing process during installation, allowing for shorter elements without compromising ease of operation.
3Strength
If the transition piece is inserted into the hollow structural element with an overlap area, then the connection strength is improved, but the cable routing complexity increases due to the overlap area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the transition piece and hollow structural element into a single monolithic concrete structure with the cable feed-through integrated into the design. This eliminates the overlap area complexity while maintaining connection strength through the continuous concrete construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cable routing function from the overlap area and integrates it directly into the monolithic structure design. By taking out the cable feed-through and building it into the concrete structure itself, the complexity of routing cables through overlapping components is eliminated.
4Strength
If steel is used for the hollow structural element, then the strength and durability are improved, but the manufacturing cost and dead weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses concrete as a composite material to replace steel hollow structural elements. Concrete provides sufficient structural strength for offshore wind turbine foundations while significantly reducing both dead weight and manufacturing cost compared to steel construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts concrete, a more economical material, to replace expensive steel construction. While concrete has different durability characteristics, it provides cost-effective and sufficiently durable solutions for offshore foundation structures, reducing both initial cost and lifecycle expenses.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine foundation structure comprising a hollow structural element with a circumferential wall extending in the longitudinal direction. A first cable feed-through breaking through the wall is arranged in the wall. A transition piece with an overlap region projects into the hollow structural element and a transition region projects out of the hollow structural element at the end face. A circumferential wall extends in the longitudinal direction. A second cable feed-through which breaks through the wall is arranged in the overlap region in the wall. The first and the second cable feed-through bear against one another in an at least partially overlapping manner in the assembled state of the hollow structural element and the transition piece.