Wind Turbine Tower Plate Levelling Without Grout Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of concrete sections in wind turbine towers is hindered by the need for precise leveling of grout layers, which increases assembly time and costs, and can lead to cracks due to bolt tightening.
Innovation Solution
A levelling system for a plate disposed over a concrete section of a wind turbine tower, utilizing levelling means such as bolts and aligning pins to achieve precise horizontal alignment, allowing for efficient attachment of adapters without grout layering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grout layer is used to connect the adapter to the concrete section, then the connection is established, but the assembly time increases and cracks may appear due to bolt tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the grout layer from the connection system between the adapter and concrete section. By removing this intermediate material, the patent achieves direct mechanical connection through bolts, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining connection reliability through the levelling system that ensures proper alignment before bolting.
Solution Approach 2:
The levelling system performs preliminary alignment and positioning of the adapter on the concrete section before the final bolting operation. The levelling holes and pins establish precise horizontal positioning in advance, so that when bolts are tightened, no additional leveling or grouting is needed, thus reducing assembly time and preventing cracks.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise leveling is achieved through grout layering, then the horizontal position is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex grout layering process with a simpler mechanical levelling system consisting of levelling holes, pins, and bolts. This mechanical system achieves precise horizontal positioning through direct contact and geometric constraints, eliminating the need for material application, curing, and complex adjustment procedures associated with grouting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of how leveling is achieved - from material-based (grout thickness and flow) to geometry-based (levelling hole positions, pin lengths, and bolt tensions). This parameter change simplifies the assembly process while maintaining or improving leveling precision through controlled geometric relationships.
3Ease of operation
If heavy-tonnage lifting means are used to stack concrete sections, then the positioning is achieved, but the cost increases directly with tonnage and height
Solution Approach 1:
The levelling system enables the concrete section and adapter assembly to be self-leveling and self-positioning through the levelling holes and pins. Once the adapter is placed on the concrete section, the levelling mechanism automatically establishes the correct horizontal position without requiring external heavy-tonnage equipment for fine adjustment, thereby reducing dependency on expensive cranes.
Data Source
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AI summary
Levelling system for wind turbine towers, the towers consisting of stacked sections, the system comprising a plate (1) configured to be disposed over a concrete section (50) of the wind turbine tower (100), the plate (1) having levelling means (21) configured to level the plate (1) in horizontal position over an upper surface (13) of the tower section positioned below the levelling system.