Wind Turbine Tower Wall Element Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Erecting wind turbine towers with a base diameter greater than 4 meters is challenging due to the need for large, heavy components that cannot be transported in one piece, requiring on-site construction using concrete or prefabricated wall elements, which is labor-intensive and costly, especially when accessing vertical connections is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A tower design where wall elements are spaced apart vertically, with a rigid connection formed only through horizontal end sections and optionally limited vertical edge connections, using sealing materials to maintain structural integrity and simplify assembly and maintenance, reducing the need for complex and costly vertical edge connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If wall elements are connected directly at vertical edges, then structural stability is improved, but erection effort and cost increase due to precise positioning requirements and difficult access for connection work
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between wall elements is segmented into two independent parts: rigid connection through horizontal end sections and sealing/connection at vertical edges. This segmentation allows the vertical edge connections to be simplified and accessed more easily, while the horizontal connections provide the primary structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing means are introduced as intermediary elements between the wall elements at vertical edges. These sealing means facilitate the connection process by providing a standardized interface that is easier to access and connect than direct edge-to-edge connection, while still maintaining structural integrity.
2Reliability
If wall elements are connected directly at vertical edges, then structural integrity is improved, but access for assembly, testing and maintenance becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented so that vertical edge connections are separated from the main structural load path. This allows maintenance personnel to access and service these connections through narrow gaps between wall elements without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different connection qualities are applied at different locations: horizontal end sections provide rigid structural connection for load bearing, while vertical edges use simplified sealing connections that are accessible for maintenance. This local differentiation optimizes both integrity and maintainability.
3Productivity
If wall elements are arranged spaced apart, then erection effort is reduced, but structural stability may be compromised without proper connection means
Solution Approach 1:
The wall elements are designed with pre-integrated sealing means and connection interfaces at vertical edges, allowing for rapid assembly without complex field modifications. The horizontal end sections are designed for straightforward rigid connection, enabling fast erection while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system combines different material properties: rigid connection elements for structural stability and elastic sealing means for flexibility and weatherproofing. This composite approach allows spaced wall elements to be quickly assembled while maintaining both stability and sealing.
Data Source
Figure 1~4(b)
Figure 5(a)~8(c)
Figure 9(a)~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a tower (1) for a wind power plant, comprising at least one tower section (2) that has multiple structural support elements (3-8) which, arranged horizontally next one another, form part of an outer wall (9) of the tower (1). According to the invention, the wall elements (3-8) that are arranged directly next to one another are rigidly interconnected via horizontal end sections (12-15) of the wall elements (3-8) and not – or only in certain sections – via vertical edges (10, 11) of the wall elements (3-8). Expediently, the vertical edges of the wall elements (3-8), which are in each case arranged directly adjacent to one another, are arranged entirely or in certain sections at a distance from one another in the horizontal direction. In one embodiment of the invention, a connection means (18-21), preferably a flange, is formed on each of the horizontal end sections (12-15) and serves for connecting the wall elements (3-8) to a substrate (22), to other wall elements of a further tower section (23), to a tower head (24) supporting a wind turbine, and/or to an adapter element (25). The invention also relates to the wall element for forming the tower (1) and a method for producing the tower (1).