Wind Turbine Tower Splayed Base Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Taller wind turbine towers experience increased loading, requiring larger, more complex and costly tubular bases to withstand the stress, which complicates manufacturing, transportation, assembly, and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine tower assembly featuring a splayed base section with obliquely oriented legs arranged in a tripod formation, allowing for nested storage and transport, and a method for assembling the tower that includes coupling tubular sections to the base section in coaxial alignment, facilitating easier handling and installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If taller towers are used to capture more wind shear at higher altitudes, then Annual Energy Production is improved, but loading on the tower increases requiring larger, more complex tubular bases
Solution Approach 1:
The base section is divided into multiple legs (typically three) that are obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis. Each leg acts as an independent structural element that collectively supports the tower loading, distributing the forces more effectively than a single monolithic tubular base.
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are obliquely oriented rather than vertically aligned, creating an asymmetric configuration relative to the tower axis. This oblique orientation provides better mechanical advantage for resisting lateral wind loads and distributing vertical loads to the foundation.
2Strength
If larger, thicker-walled tubular bases are used to withstand increased loading, then tower strength is improved, but manufacturing, transportation, and assembly costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple thinner-walled legs rather than one thick-walled tube. This segmentation reduces the amount of material required, lowering manufacturing and transportation costs while maintaining structural strength through the distributed leg configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The legs are configured to be nestable within one another during transportation, with each leg able to fit inside the others. This nesting capability dramatically reduces transportation volume and associated costs compared to transporting a large solid tubular base.
3Strength
If larger, more complex tubular bases are used to withstand increased loading, then tower strength is improved, but assembly and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented leg structure allows for simpler assembly compared to handling and positioning a single large tubular base. Each leg can be independently positioned and connected to the tower and foundation, reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The nestable configuration of legs not only reduces transportation costs but also simplifies on-site assembly. The legs can be easily stored nested during transport and then deployed by un-nesting them into their final oblique positions, reducing assembly time and equipment requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A wind turbine tower assembly includes a tubular section (114) having a first longitudinal axis; and a base section assembly (112) comprising a plurality of legs (118), the base section assembly configured to be assembled into a base section having the legs coupled together at an interface such that the base section has a second longitudinal axis and such that the legs are obliquely oriented relative to the second longitudinal axis at the interface, wherein the base section is configured to support the tubular section on the legs and in substantially coaxial alignment with the base section.