Wind Turbine Tower Segment Reinforcement Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine towers face structural weaknesses and high costs due to recesses for doors, which require significant welding and material, leading to potential material weakening and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A tower segment design featuring inner and outer reinforcement plates adjacent to the door recess, eliminating the need for a door frame, thereby reducing material usage, avoiding welding-related stress, and enhancing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a steel strip door frame is welded into the recess, then the door opening structural strength is improved, but the thermal properties of the tower material are negatively affected and welding costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the door frame component entirely. Instead of adding a steel strip frame into the recess, the patent uses the reinforcing plates integrated into the shell segment to provide the necessary structural support, thereby removing the source of thermal damage from welding while maintaining door opening strength
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing plates serve as an intermediary structural element that replaces the door frame function. These plates are integrated into the shell segment and provide the necessary structural support around the door opening without requiring separate welding operations on the tower material
2Strength
If a steel strip door frame is welded into the recess, then the door opening structural strength is improved, but material costs and labor for installation and bending increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the door frame function with the shell segment reinforcing plates. The reinforcing plates are integrated directly into the shell segment during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate door frame components and their associated bending, installation, and welding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate door frame component, reducing material costs and simplifying manufacturing by using the reinforcing plates that are already part of the shell segment structure
3Strength
If a steel strip door frame is welded into the recess, then the door opening structural strength is improved, but the service life of the tower material is reduced due to welding effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the welding process from the door opening construction. By using reinforcing plates integrated into the shell segment, the patent avoids welding operations that would damage the tower material's thermal properties and reduce its service life
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing plates serve as an intermediary that provides structural support without requiring welding to the tower material, thereby preserving the material's integrity and extending service life
4Ease of operation
If a door frame is installed in the recess, then the door opening functionality is achieved, but material usage and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the door frame function with the shell segment reinforcing plates, eliminating the need for additional material. The reinforcing plates that are already part of the shell segment provide the necessary support for the door opening without requiring separate door frame materials
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a tower segment (200), in particular for a tower of a wind turbine (100), a wind turbine (100) and a method for manufacturing a tower segment (200). In particular, the invention relates to a tower segment (200), especially for a tower of a wind turbine (100), comprising a shell segment (201) with an inner shell surface (206), an outer shell surface (204) and a recess (208, 222) for a door, wherein the inner shell surface (206) has an inner reinforcing section (235) and/or the outer shell surface (204) has an outer reinforcing section (210, 224), wherein the inner reinforcing section (235) and/or the outer reinforcing section (210, 224) adjoin the recess (208, 222), the inner reinforcing section (235) has an inner reinforcing plate (236) and/or the outer reinforcing section (210, 224) has an outer reinforcing plate (212, 226).