Wind Turbine Tower Slip Joints and Flanges for Hole-Free Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine designs require drilling holes in the tower structure to guide connection means (cables or pipes) from the inside to the outside, which weakens the structural integrity and is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a slip joint connection with conical interfaces and an intermediate flexible mat-like means or flange connections with channels to guide connection means without drilling, maintaining structural stability by using the space between adjacent interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If holes are drilled in the tower wall to guide connection means from inside to outside, then the connection means can be guided through the tower structure, but the structural integrity of the tower is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary channel structure that runs through the tower wall without requiring holes to be drilled in the load-bearing wall itself. This channel acts as a mediator that allows passage of connection means while preserving the integrity of the tower structure. The channel can be integrated into non-load-bearing elements or designed to minimize structural compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the tower structure into load-bearing elements and non-load-bearing elements. The connection means are guided through channels formed in non-load-bearing elements, separating the structural function from the passage function. This segmentation allows the tower wall to maintain its structural integrity while still providing pathways for connection means.
2Strength
If reinforcement plates are attached to the tower wall to strengthen the drilled hole area, then the local strength is improved, but the overall structural stability is still compromised due to the drilled hole
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the passage function from the load-bearing tower wall by creating channels in non-load-bearing elements. This removes the need for reinforcement plates entirely, as the channels are formed in elements that do not carry structural loads. The extraction of the passage function from the structural function eliminates the contradiction between local strengthening and overall stability.
3Strength
If welding is used to attach reinforcement plates to the tower wall, then the local area is strengthened, but the steel structure is weakened due to heat-affected zone and potential defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the passage function from the load-bearing structure, eliminating the need for welding reinforcement plates to the tower wall. By forming channels in non-load-bearing elements or using integrated channel structures, the design removes the harmful welding process entirely, preserving the reliability of the steel structure without compromising local strength.
4Ease of operation
If flange connections with through bores are used to guide connection means, then the connection means can pass through, but the flange connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the passage function from the flange connection itself and places it in separate non-load-bearing elements or integrated channel structures. This eliminates the need for through bores in the flanges, simplifying the flange connection design while still providing pathways for connection means. The flange connections can then focus solely on their primary function of joining structural elements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Wind turbine, with at least one hollow construction comprising at least two longitudinal hollow elements (2, 5, 6, 7) each having a connection interface for connecting the elements either by a slip joint connection (14) or by a flange connection (13), especially a tower comprising at least two hollow tower elements, wherein at least one connection means (15, 16) is guided through the slip joint or flange connection (13, 14) from an inner space to the outer of the wind turbine (1).