Hinged Wind Turbine Tower Segments for Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size of wind turbine towers for larger wind turbines poses challenges in transportation due to their physical dimensions, requiring prefabricated segments that are often too large for conventional road transport, leading to increased construction costs and labor intensity, especially when assembled into a tapered shape.
Innovation Solution
The use of hinges between adjacent tower segments at their vertical edges allows for easier coupling, adjustment of positions and orientations, facilitating efficient transport, storage, and assembly by enabling the segments to be connected and disconnected as needed, reducing the complexity of handling and assembly processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If tower size is increased to generate more energy per turbine, then energy generation capacity is improved, but transportation difficulty increases due to larger physical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into multiple standardized prefabricated segments that can be transported separately on conventional roads and then assembled at the installation site. This segmentation allows each segment to fit within standard transportation dimensions while the complete tower achieves the required height for high energy generation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tower segments are nested or stacked together during transportation, with smaller segments placed within or alongside larger ones, optimizing space utilization on transport vehicles and reducing the overall transport footprint while maintaining the capability to assemble a tall tower structure.
2Ease of operation
If prefabricated tower parts are used to ease transport, then transportation ease is improved, but construction cost and labor intensity increase due to more component parts
Solution Approach 1:
Each prefabricated tower segment is designed with standardized local features including vertical flanges at opposing edges and horizontal flanges at top and bottom ends. These standardized local qualities enable consistent connection methods across all segments, reducing assembly complexity despite the increased number of parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The prefabricated segments are designed with universal connection features that can be used in multiple positions and orientations. The vertical flanges with hinges and horizontal flanges with bolt holes provide multi-functional connection capabilities that simplify assembly procedures across different segment configurations.
3Ease of operation
If prefabricated sections are made to fit together readily, then assembly ease is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to individual manufacturing process variations
Solution Approach 1:
The connection design incorporates parameter changes through the hinge mechanism, which allows for angular adjustment and compensation. The hinge enables the segments to be connected at varying angles and positions, absorbing manufacturing tolerances and reducing the stringency of dimensional requirements while maintaining assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of hinges creates a dynamic connection that can adapt during assembly. Rather than requiring rigid precise alignment, the hinge allows for movement and adjustment, transforming a static precision requirement into a dynamic assembly process that is more tolerant of manufacturing variations.
4Strength
If tower segments are assembled into a tapered shape, then structural performance is improved, but handling and transport complexity increase due to different physical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered tower structure is achieved through segmentation where each segment is manufactured to a standardized size with tapered connections. The individual segments maintain uniform dimensions for ease of handling and transport, while the cumulative effect of multiple segments creates the overall tapered shape required for structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The tapered shape is achieved through asymmetric arrangement of the standardized segments. Each segment is designed with asymmetric flange positioning and hinge locations that, when assembled in sequence, create the tapered profile while each individual segment remains symmetric and easy to handle.
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
This approach simplifies the transport and assembly of wind turbine towers by allowing segments to be efficiently aligned and connected on-site, reducing transportation costs and labor requirements while maintaining structural integrity and weatherproofing.
Implementation Method 1
adjacent tower segments at their vertical edges are secured together by means of at least one hinge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method for moving a wind turbine component (42) relative to a wind turbine (16) having a tower (18) with a door (26) for closing off an opening (90) through the tower (18) includes removably positioning a transport system (40) relative to the wind turbine (16), the transport system (40) having a track (44) and a powered drive device (118), such that a first end (78) of the track (44) is positioned outside the tower (18), a second end (80) of the track (44) is positioned inside the tower (18), and the track (44) extends through the opening (90) in the tower (18). The transport system (40) is configured to facilitate movement of the wind turbine component (42) between an inside of the tower (18) and an outside of the tower (18) through the opening (90). The method further comprises moving the wind turbine component (42) vertically within the tower (18) away from or toward the track (44) using the powered drive device (118) of the transport system (40). A transport system (40) for implementing such a method is also disclosed.