Wind Turbine Tower Pre-tensioning via Anchor Rod Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine tower pre-tensioning methods require complex and space-intensive tensioning systems, with tensioning elements needing to be directly anchored to the foundation or head piece, making assembly and replacement cumbersome and requiring large foundation reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
A pre-tensioned wind turbine tower structure where tensioning elements are indirectly anchored via a short anchor rod, with the anchor rod's first end fixed in a tendon anchor and the second end anchored to the foundation or head piece, allowing for flexible assembly and reduced space requirements, using a thread or adaptor piece for easy connection and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tensioning elements are directly anchored to the foundation or head piece, then the pre-tensioning structure is stable and reliable, but the assembly becomes cumbersome and requires large foundation reinforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring system is segmented into two distinct parts: a stationary anchor rod embedded in the foundation/head piece, and a replaceable tensioning element with tendon anchor. This segmentation allows the tensioning element to be independently installed, adjusted, and replaced without affecting the foundation anchoring, thereby improving assembly ease while maintaining structural reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor rod serves as an intermediary component between the foundation/head piece and the tensioning element. It provides a stable embedded anchoring point while enabling flexible connection and replacement of the tensioning element through the accommodation interface, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
2Device complexity
If tensioning elements are anchored directly to the foundation, then the structure is simple, but the foundation must be comparatively large and provided with strong reinforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring function is segmented between the anchor rod (embedded in foundation) and the tendon anchor (on tensioning element). This allows the foundation to accommodate only the compact anchor rod rather than requiring large-scale reinforcement for direct tensioning element anchoring, reducing foundation area while maintaining anchoring simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor rod acts as an intermediary that transfers the anchoring function from the large foundation structure to a compact embedded element. The tendon anchor then connects to this intermediary, enabling the tensioning system to be anchored in a space-efficient manner while keeping the overall system conceptually simple
3Reliability
If tensioning elements are threaded through openings in connecting elements, then the structure is stable, but the threading process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodation in the tendon anchor serves as an intermediary connection interface that replaces the threading process. The anchor rod is inserted into this accommodation and secured via threading or adaptor pieces, providing stable connection without requiring time-consuming threading of the entire tensioning element through openings
Solution Approach 2:
The accommodation is preliminarily prepared in the tendon anchor with the appropriate threading or adaptor piece configuration. This preliminary preparation enables quick connection of the anchor rod without time-consuming threading operations during assembly, while still ensuring connection stability
Data Source
AI summary
A structure, in particular, a wind turbine tower (1), which is pre-tensioned with at least one tensioning element (3), has a foundation (2), a concrete tower section (4), in particular, consisting of a plurality of precast concrete elements (5), as well as a head piece (6), wherein the tensioning element (3) at least at one of its ends has a tendon anchor (7, 7a, 7b). The tendon anchor (7, 7a, 7b) has an accommodation (8) in which a first end (10a) of an anchor rod (9) is fastened, in particular screwed in. A second end (10b) of the anchor rod (9) is anchored to the foundation (2) or to the head piece (6). In a corresponding method for manufacturing a structure, a first end (10a) of an anchor rod (9) is fastened, in particular screwed in an accommodation (8) of a tendon anchor (7, 7a, 7b), and a second end (10b) of the anchor rod (9) is anchored to the foundation (2) or to the head piece (6).