Modular Pre-Assembly Slabs for Wind Turbine Tower Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling concrete wind turbine towers require on-site manufacturing of slabs, which is inefficient and material-intensive, and do not allow for the reuse of pre-assembled slabs across different wind turbine locations.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated, modular pre-assembly slab system for concrete wind turbine towers that can be transported and reused, featuring annular slabs with adjustable dimensions and thickness, equipped with fastening elements for hoisting and joining, allowing for efficient assembly and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If in-situ concrete slabs are manufactured as part of civil works, then the slabs can support tower sections during assembly, but the material usage increases and the slabs cannot be reused at other locations
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-assembly slab is divided into multiple modular segments that can be assembled in different configurations. Each segment is a reusable component that can be transported and reassembled at different wind turbine locations, eliminating the need for new in-situ concrete slabs at each site while maintaining structural support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the pre-assembly slab after a single use, the modular segments are recovered and transported to other wind turbine locations for reuse. This recovery and reuse process significantly reduces material consumption while maintaining the necessary support function for tower section assembly.
2Reliability
If in-situ concrete slabs are manufactured, then the slabs can be used for tower assembly, but the construction time and logistical efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-assembly slabs and their modular segments are manufactured and prepared in advance at a centralized location before being transported to wind turbine sites. This preliminary preparation eliminates time-consuming on-site concrete manufacturing and curing processes, significantly improving construction efficiency while maintaining assembly support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular segments are designed to be dynamically reconfigurable, allowing the same components to be assembled in different configurations to suit various wind turbine tower requirements. This dynamic adaptability enables rapid deployment at multiple locations without requiring site-specific custom manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If large pre-assembly slabs are transported to different locations, then slab reuse is enabled, but transport constraints and logistical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-assembly slab is segmented into smaller, standardized modules that are easier to transport within existing logistical constraints. These segments can be efficiently loaded and unloaded using standard equipment, reducing transport complexity while enabling reuse at multiple locations through reassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular segments are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized dimensions that allow them to be used in multiple configurations across different wind turbine locations. This universality simplifies logistics by enabling the same set of segments to serve multiple purposes and locations without requiring location-specific customization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pre-assembly slab system for concrete wind turbine towers, wherein the pre-assembly slabs can be transported to the vicinity of the tower of another wind turbine in the same wind farm or in another wind farm and be reused for the assembly of this other tower. The invention further relates to a method for assembling the pre-assembly slab system for concrete wind turbine towers.