Wind Turbine Tower Slip Joint Segmentation for Load Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tower-like structures for wind turbines are costly due to the need for large conical connecting regions to dissipate loads, which leads to inefficient load distribution and increased costs as structures become larger.
Innovation Solution
The structure incorporates additional component portions that form a slip joint with the conical portions, allowing for partial separation of axial and bending loads, with connecting elements like viscoelastic polyurethane panels to distribute loads more efficiently and reduce stress superposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If large conical connecting regions are used to dissipate loads, then the structure can tolerate bending and support loads, but the structure becomes more costly and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The slip joint connecting region is segmented into multiple functional portions: a conical component portion for absorbing axial compression forces and at least one further component portion (with surface perpendiculars intersecting the longitudinal axis at greater than 5 degrees) for absorbing bending moments. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific load type, eliminating the need for an oversized conical region to handle all loads, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the slip joint are designed with different geometric properties tailored to their specific functions. The conical portion has a smaller angle optimized for axial load compression, while the further component portions have steeper angles (greater than 5 degrees) optimized for bending moment resistance. This local differentiation of geometric quality allows efficient load distribution without requiring uniformly large dimensions throughout the connecting region, reducing overall structure cost.
2Force
If the conical portions are made larger to absorb bending loads, then the load absorption capacity increases, but the structure size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bending load absorption function is separated from the axial load absorption function. The conical portion is dedicated to axial compression forces, while the further component portions (with steeper angles relative to the longitudinal axis) are dedicated to bending moments. This functional segmentation allows the conical portion to maintain a compact size optimized for axial loads, while bending loads are handled by the additional further component portions, preventing unnecessary overall structure enlargement.
3Strength
If the overlap region is increased to reduce load and bending moments, then the load capacity improves, but the structure becomes more costly
Solution Approach 1:
The slip joint is designed with locally optimized geometric properties in different portions. The conical portion has a smaller angle optimized for axial compression, while the further component portions have steeper angles (greater than 5 degrees) optimized for bending resistance. This local geometric optimization allows adequate load capacity to be achieved with a more compact overall overlap region, reducing the quantity of material required and lowering manufacturing costs compared to a uniformly large overlap region.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design significantly reduces the size and cost of the structure while effectively dissipating bending loads, achieving at least 80% dissipation in the additional component portions, enhancing the structural integrity and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
connecting elements like viscoelastic polyurethane panels to distribute loads more efficiently and reduce stress superposition
Data Source
AI summary
A tower-like structure is provided for a wind turbine. The tower-like structure includes at least one lower component and one upper component which is in part placed over the lower component to form a slip joint. The upper and the lower component each have a conical component section. The upper and the lower component also each have at least one further component section which jointly forms the slip joint and which, when viewed transversely with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the structure, is located above and/or below the conical component section. The surface perpendiculars of the further component sections intersect the longitudinal axis at an angle (a) greater than the surface perpendiculars of the conical component section.