Wind Turbine Tower Drum Section Joints for Fast, Strong Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wind turbine towers face challenges in rapid assembly of annular sections, leading to low connection strength and safety performance due to the weight and size characteristics of concrete structures, which are exacerbated by the need for high stability and efficient transportation.
Innovation Solution
A tower drum section design featuring a connecting assembly with a first connecting member and a second connecting member, including an adapter portion and an anchoring portion, which enhances the connection strength between adjacent drum pieces through a detachable and threaded connection, utilizing a rod-like anchoring portion with bent regions and a protective sleeve for improved stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If multiple annular sections are used to reduce weight and size, then transportation becomes easier, but connection strength between sections decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The tower is divided into multiple annular sections that can be transported separately and then assembled. Each section is a discrete component that can be manufactured, transported, and assembled to form the complete tower structure, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction through segmentation and connection strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Connection structures including protruding connection parts and corresponding receiving cavities are pre-formed during the manufacturing of individual annular sections. This preliminary preparation of connection interfaces ensures that when sections are assembled, strong connections are achieved without requiring additional complex assembly operations, thus maintaining both modular transportation capability and connection strength.
2Productivity
If multiple annular sections are used for tower construction, then assembly speed can be improved, but safety performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Connection structures are pre-formed during manufacturing, including protruding connection parts with reinforcement ribs and corresponding receiving cavities. This preliminary preparation enables rapid assembly while ensuring safety through pre-engineered connection interfaces that are optimized for both speed and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structures utilize composite design elements combining protruding connection parts with reinforcement ribs and receiving cavities with strengthening ribs. This composite approach creates multi-layered connection interfaces that provide both rapid assembly capability and high safety performance through distributed stress paths and enhanced structural integrity.
3Loss of time
If connection structures are simplified for rapid assembly, then assembly time is reduced, but connection strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Connection structures are pre-formed during the manufacturing process of individual annular sections, including protruding connection parts and receiving cavities. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex on-site construction operations, enabling rapid assembly while maintaining connection strength through pre-engineered interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structures are designed to be self-aligning and self-securing, where protruding connection parts automatically engage with receiving cavities during assembly. The reinforcement ribs and strengthening ribs are integrated into the connection structures themselves, providing strength without requiring additional external fastening operations or complex assembly procedures.
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
The design facilitates transportation, enhances safety performance, and improves connection strength between tower drum pieces, ensuring stability and reducing the risk of failure during assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the anchoring portion extends at least partially into the first adapter sleeve and is threaded to the first adapter sleeve
Implementation Method 2
the first connecting member includes an adapter portion and an anchoring portion, the adapter portion is connected to the second connecting member, and the anchoring portion is connected to a side, facing away from the second connecting member, of the adapter portion
Data Source
AI summary
A tower drum section includes: a drum section base, including two or more tower drum pieces successively distributed along its circumferential direction; and a connecting assembly. The connecting assembly includes a first connecting member and a second connecting member; the first connecting member is located inside one of the two adjacent tower drum pieces, and the second connecting member is at least partially located inside the other of the two adjacent tower drum pieces; the first connecting member includes an adapter portion and an anchoring portion. A tower includes two or more tower drum sections connected to each other. A wind turbine includes the tower. Disclosed are a mold for manufacturing the tower drum section and a method for manufacturing the tower drum section using the mold.