Segmented Wind Turbine Foundation Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of windmill foundations is time-consuming and costly due to complex on-site logistics and the need for manual and administrative efforts, especially with increasing turbine sizes, and current prefabricated solutions lack standardization and efficient transport capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A foundation design divided into a lower base ring section and an upper adapter ring section, allowing for series production of base ring sections and adaptable structural adjustments for the tower, with the adapter ring section incorporating features like anchoring means and cable systems for optimal connection and load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If foundations are produced using cast-in-place concrete, then the foundation can be customized for specific tower requirements, but the construction process becomes time-consuming and costly due to complex on-site logistics, formwork erection, and concrete pouring operations
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation is divided into multiple precast concrete segments that can be manufactured separately in controlled environments and then assembled on-site. This segmentation enables both customization through selective assembly and improved productivity by eliminating time-consuming on-site formwork and concrete pouring operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Foundation components are pre-manufactured in controlled plant environments before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary action allows for quality control, standardized production, and parallel preparation of multiple components, significantly reducing on-site construction time while maintaining customization capability through selective component selection.
2Strength
If the foundation is dimensioned to withstand very high loads from modern wind turbines, then the foundation becomes more robust, but the transport and handling of larger foundation components becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The foundation structure is segmented into smaller precast components that can be transported using standard logistics infrastructure. Each segment is designed to withstand transport conditions and is subsequently assembled on-site to form the complete high-strength foundation, thus resolving the conflict between load-bearing capacity and transport feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The foundation utilizes reinforced concrete composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the creation of robust load-bearing structures that can be divided into transportable segments. The composite material properties allow segments to be strong enough for their intended function while being manageable in size for transportation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a foundation for a wind turbine, having a circular or polygonal base for supporting a wind turbine tower, and a plurality of ribs which project radially outwards from the base, wherein the base is divided in the vertical direction into a base ring section and an adapter ring section, said base ring section being divided into a plurality of peripheral sections and composed of prefabricated concrete elements, and said adapter ring section likewise being composed of prefabricated concrete elements.