Segmented Sheet Metal Rings for Offshore Wind Tower Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current offshore wind turbine foundation structures face increased load-bearing capacity demands due to larger turbines and dynamic forces, often requiring heavy, thick-walled tubes that are costly and prone to fatigue at weld areas.
Innovation Solution
A power transmission module using horizontally extending upper and lower sheet metal rings with vertically positioned sheet metal segments, connected via simple geometric welds, to efficiently transmit forces from the wind turbine tower to the foundation structure, reducing material usage and stress on welds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heavy thick-walled tubes are used to support fatigue loads at weld areas, then strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but weight and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transition piece is divided into multiple segments (first transition piece segment, second transition piece segment) connected by weld seams. This segmentation allows the structure to better distribute and transmit forces from the tower to the foundation, reducing stress concentration at any single weld area while maintaining overall strength and reducing material requirements.
2Strength
If heavy thick-walled tubes are used to support fatigue loads at weld areas, then strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transition piece is divided into multiple segments (first transition piece segment, second transition piece segment) connected by weld seams. This segmentation allows the structure to better distribute and transmit forces from the tower to the foundation, reducing stress concentration at any single weld area while maintaining overall strength and reducing material requirements.
3Force
If traditional pipe connections are used to introduce forces into the substructure, then force transmission is achieved, but the structure becomes complex and material-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The transition piece is divided into multiple segments (first transition piece segment, second transition piece segment) connected by weld seams. This segmentation allows the structure to better distribute and transmit forces from the tower to the foundation, reducing stress concentration at any single weld area while maintaining overall strength and reducing material requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional single-dimension pipe connection to a multi-dimensional segmented structure with weld seams arranged in specific spatial configurations. This dimensional change enables more efficient force distribution across multiple pathways, reducing the need for thick-walled tubes and simplifying the overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a power transmission module for a wind turbine, in particular an offshore wind turbine, which can be connected directly or indirectly to a tower of a wind turbine, characterized by an upper ring, in particular a sheet metal ring, extending substantially horizontally during operation, and a lower ring, in particular a sheet metal ring, extending substantially horizontally during operation, and several sheet metal segments extending substantially vertically between the upper sheet metal ring and the lower sheet metal ring during operation for transmitting forces, as well as an offshore foundation structure (1) with a lower, in particular jacket section (2), which in particular has several struts connected to each other in a truss-like manner, and a receptacle for a tower, in particular of a wind turbine, characterized by a power transmission module.