Telescopic Wind Turbine Tower Using Segmentation and Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and operational challenges associated with using high lift capacity long boom cranes for assembling and maintaining wind turbines, including safety hazards and increased expenses, necessitate a more efficient method for installing and servicing wind turbines.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic tubular tower system that allows for the installation and maintenance of wind turbines without the need for high lift capacity long boom cranes, utilizing water, air, or mechanical power to extend or retract the tower, featuring hermetically sealed locking systems and shim tightening systems for structural strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If high lift capacity long boom cranes are used to assemble and maintain wind turbines, then the wind turbine can be installed at high elevation, but the capital expenditure and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can be assembled separately and then extended to the required height. This allows each section to be handled by smaller, more economical cranes rather than requiring one massive high-lift crane for the entire tower assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The tower transitions from a static fixed-height structure to a dynamic telescopic structure that can extend and retract. This enables the tower to achieve high elevation during operation while allowing for cost-effective assembly at lower heights during installation.
2Ease of repair
If high lift capacity long boom cranes are used for blade repairs, then the nacelle can be disassembled and reassembled, but additional operational expenses accumulate
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic tower can be extended to provide ground-level access to the nacelle and blades, eliminating the need for expensive high-lift cranes during maintenance operations. The tower's height adjustment capability allows maintenance crews to work at optimal heights without requiring massive lifting equipment.
3Productivity
If wind turbines are installed at high elevation, then more power can be generated from wind, but the environment becomes challenging and hazardous for assembly and maintenance crews
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic tower allows the structure to be assembled and maintained at lower, safer heights, then extended to the final high operating elevation. This dynamic height adjustment separates the assembly/maintenance phase (low height, safe) from the operation phase (high height, productive).
Solution Approach 2:
The tower is assembled and the nacelle is installed at a lower, safer elevation before being extended to the final high operating position. This preliminary assembly at reduced height eliminates the safety hazards associated with working at extreme heights during construction.
4Loss of time
If telescopic tower sections are transported and installed together, then assembly time is reduced, but the lifting capacity requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into telescopic sections that can be transported separately on standard equipment, then assembled in a compact configuration using smaller cranes. The sections are later extended to the full tower height, avoiding the need for massive lifting capacity during transport and initial assembly.
5Strength
If high strength locking systems are used in telescopic joints, then structural strength is maintained during raising and lowering, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic locking mechanisms are used in the telescopic joints to provide strong, reliable locking and unlocking actions. The hydraulic system delivers high force in a compact package, maintaining joint strength during dynamic operations without requiring overly complex mechanical locking systems.
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 solution reduces capital and operational expenses, enhances safety by eliminating the need for high-risk crane operations, and enables rapid assembly and disassembly of wind turbine components, while maintaining structural integrity throughout the process.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention uses water, air, or mechanical power to extend or retract the telescopic tower
Implementation Method 2
The locking systems and the tightening systems are resistant to corrosion
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic wind turbine tower includes a base, a telescopic tubular tower, a wind turbine assembly, and one or more jacking systems. The telescopic tubular tower is configured with a bottom section and one or more upper sections. The bottom section is concentrically mounted onto the base. The upper section or sections are slidably engaged to the bottom section through one or more jacking systems. The wind turbine assembly is mounted onto a top section from the upper sections and as the telescopic tubular tower is positioned between the base and the wind turbine assembly.