Modular Windmill Tower Assembly With Jack-Up Lattice Substructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of building taller windmill constructions to access higher wind resources while maintaining cost-effectiveness and reducing maintenance complexity, especially in offshore installations, is compounded by the need for heavy foundations and complex crane operations, which increase investment costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A self-elevating windmill construction with a lattice substructure and modular tower segments, supported by guide collars and a jack-up assembly, allowing for stepwise assembly and reduction of crane dependency, and incorporating noise-reducing features like elastic dampers and sound-absorbing materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If taller towers are used to access higher wind resources, then energy capture increases, but maintenance complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into multiple modular segments that can be assembled in a stepped configuration. Each segment can be independently accessed for maintenance, reducing the complexity of working at great heights while still achieving the necessary hub height for optimal wind capture.
2Stability of the object's composition
If monopile foundation structures are used to support taller towers, then structural stability improves, but manufacturing and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monopile foundation is segmented into multiple sections that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This modular approach reduces manufacturing complexity and installation costs while maintaining the structural stability needed to support taller tower configurations.
3Ease of manufacture
If hybrid jacket tower structures are used instead of monopiles, then investment cost reduces, but maintenance access to nacelle becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid jacket tower is designed with segmented sections that provide multiple access points for maintenance. The modular structure allows maintenance personnel to access the nacelle through various levels of the jacket, simplifying maintenance operations while keeping investment costs lower than traditional monopile designs.
4Strength
If larger diameter foundation piles are used to support taller structures, then load bearing capacity increases, but soil preparation cost and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation pile is divided into multiple smaller diameter sections that can be installed sequentially. This segmented approach reduces the need for extensive soil preparation and minimizes environmental impact while maintaining adequate load bearing capacity through the distributed foundation structure.
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
Enables the construction of taller windmills with reduced maintenance complexity and environmental impact, utilizing steel efficiently, and minimizing noise transmission to the environment, while facilitating assembly in various terrain types and water depths.
Implementation Method 1
The guide collars may each comprise elastic dampers
Data Source
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AI summary
A windmill construction (10), comprising a rotor-nacelle assembly (12) with blades (14), a tower (16), a substructure (20) and a foundation (22). The substructure (20) comprises a first guide collar (24) and a second guide collar (26) for support of the tower (16), said first guide collar (24) being located in a lower part of the substructure(20) and said second guide collar (26) being located in an upper part of the substructure (20). The substructure (20) comprises a jack-up assembly (30) for receipt of modular tower segments (18), said tower segments (18) are arranged to be assembled in the substructure (20) and erectable by the jack-up assembly (30) to produce an assembled tower (16). The invention is also directed to a method for assembly of a windmill construction.