Wind Turbine Foundation Pile Stabilization Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of large-diameter foundation piles for wind turbines is complicated and expensive due to the need for numerous long weld seams, which increases manufacturing costs and complexity, and larger diameters require disproportionate increases in wall thickness for stability, making bending and welding more challenging.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a stabilization device within the foundation pile connected to inner surface sections, which distributes forces and increases lateral and torsional rigidity, allowing for a reduction in wall thickness and simplifying production by reducing the need for extensive weld seams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the diameter of the foundation pile is increased to withstand larger wind forces, then the stability and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the wall thickness must be increased disproportionately, making bending and welding more complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidbending and welding complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation pile is divided into multiple foundation pile segments that are connected to each other. Each segment can be manufactured separately with standardized dimensions, avoiding the need to bend and weld extremely thick steel plates in a single piece. The segmentation allows for modular assembly and reduces the complexity of manufacturing each individual component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing stability solely through wall thickness (one-dimensional solution), the invention introduces a stabilization device that spans across the interior of the foundation pile, creating a three-dimensional structural reinforcement system. This internal stabilization structure provides additional rigidity and stability without requiring disproportionate increases in wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If the wall thickness is increased to provide sufficient stability for large-diameter foundation piles, then the stability is improved, but the manufacturing effort and costs increase considerably

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation pile is divided into multiple foundation pile segments that are connected to each other. Each segment can be manufactured separately with standardized dimensions, avoiding the need to bend and weld extremely thick steel plates in a single piece. The segmentation allows for modular assembly and reduces the complexity of manufacturing each individual component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing stability solely through wall thickness (one-dimensional solution), the invention introduces a stabilization device that spans across the interior of the foundation pile, creating a three-dimensional structural reinforcement system. This internal stabilization structure provides additional rigidity and stability without requiring disproportionate increases in wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If numerous long weld seams are used to connect foundation pile segments, then the structural integrity is improved, but the production time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation pile is divided into multiple foundation pile segments that are connected to each other. Each segment can be manufactured separately with standardized dimensions, avoiding the need to bend and weld extremely thick steel plates in a single piece. The segmentation allows for modular assembly and reduces the complexity of manufacturing each individual component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stabilization device is integrated into the foundation pile segments during the manufacturing process, before assembly. This preliminary integration ensures that the stabilization functionality is built-in from the start, eliminating the need for additional现场 stabilization measures and reducing overall production time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If the wall thickness is reduced to simplify manufacturing and transportation, then the production costs and transport complexity are reduced, but the stability and rigidity of the foundation pile deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidrigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing stability solely through wall thickness (one-dimensional solution), the invention introduces a stabilization device that spans across the interior of the foundation pile, creating a three-dimensional structural reinforcement system. This internal stabilization structure provides additional rigidity and stability without requiring disproportionate increases in wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The foundation pile combines the steel plate structure with an internal stabilization device, creating a composite structural system. The stabilization device, which may be made of different materials or structural configurations, works together with the steel walls to provide enhanced rigidity and stability while allowing for thinner wall thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3423639B1Foundation pile for a wind motor
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 RWE RENEWABLES GMBH
  • EP3423639B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP3423639B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3
  • EP3423639B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a foundation pile (10) comprising a stabilization device (30; 31-38, 39_1, 39_2, 39_3) that is located within the foundation pile (10) and is connected to at least two inner surface sections (11) of the foundation pile (10); the stabilization device (30; 31-38, 39_1, 39_2, 39_3) allows compressive and/or tensile forces to be transmitted such that the stabilization device (30; 31-38, 39_1, 39_2, 39_3) counteracts lateral deformation and/or torsional deformation of the foundation pile (10).