DE102017120488A1 - Tower of a wind energy plant and longitudinal reinforcement for a tower of a wind energy plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tower (1) for a wind energy plant with a plurality of cylindrical, polygonal and / or conical tower sections (2) arranged one above the other, which have a wall (12) made of sheet steel, wherein at least one tower section (2) in the longitudinal direction of the door longitudinal reinforcements ( 13, 14), wherein as longitudinal stiffeners (13, 14) open or closed hollow profiles with the wall (12) are arranged inside fixed or releasably connected. The invention further relates to a longitudinal reinforcement (13, 14) for a wall (12) of a tower (1) of a wind energy plant.

Description

The invention relates to a tower for wind turbines. The invention relates in particular to a longitudinally divided tower of a wind energy plant, consisting of individual tower sections, each having a plurality of section segments. The invention also relates to a profile for stiffening and / or reinforcing a wall of a tower of a wind energy plant.

In order to generate larger yields, ever higher support structures of the wind turbines are needed. In order to reduce the stresses in the tower wall, u.a. an increase in the diameter of the support structures purposeful. Support structures for wind turbines are distinguished according to lattice mast towers, concrete towers and tubular steel towers as well as various hybrid towers. "Closed" support structures such as concrete towers and tubular steel towers have some advantages over lattice tower towers and are therefore often used. Steel tube towers are characterized by a larger pre-assembly share. Stronger tower walls are also beneficial for taller towers, but the disadvantage here is that the costs increase significantly due to steel prices and mass. Due to the existing logistics problems in transporting the individual elements of the wind turbines, the diameters, masses and lengths of the parts to be transported are limited. For this reason, the section segments are assembled at the erection site to tower sections. The section segments are connected to each other there by means of connecting elements. As fasteners usually serve Schraubgarnituren consisting of screw, nut and washers.

For cost and maintenance reasons, one-sided mounting methods are increasingly desired, whereby in this case a production of the connection from and / or on the inside of the towers is preferred.

The prior art discloses various possibilities for unilateral joining of tower segments. For example, in the publication WO 2012/007000 A1 proposed to provide non-detachably inserted or welded threaded bushes in the outer sides of the tower segments, subsequently screws are inserted and tightened from the inside.

The publication DE 10 2013 107 059 A1 proposes at the upper and lower ends of the tower segments pre-assembled flanges, which are bolted together during assembly. For a compound of the long sides there are also proposed flanges and screw connections.

Furthermore, solutions are known from the prior art in which segment plates of the tower wall have angled longitudinal sides, which are connected to one another by screw connections, such as, for example WO 2009/097858 A1 or WO 2010/055535 A1 ,

Presentation of the invention

Starting from the above-described prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a closed support structure for a high wind turbine, in particular a longitudinally slotted steel tower with large diameter, which is suitable in terms of mass and dimensions for road transport with standard vehicles, the use of inexpensive standard material allowed and also ensures an inside mounting.

The object is achieved by a tower of a wind energy plant, which comprises a plurality of stacked cylindrical, polygonal and / or conical tower sections with a wall of sheet steel, wherein in at least one tower section a plurality of open or closed hollow sections as longitudinal reinforcements, preferably made of sheet steel, on the wall inside fixed or releasably connected is arranged. The longitudinal stiffeners are preferably welded to the wall and / or screwed.

An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that at least one, preferably all longitudinal reinforcements of a tower section wall are formed as folded steel sheet profiles with a rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular cross-section. Particularly advantageously, the longitudinal stiffeners have a symmetrical trapezoidal cross-section with a web and two legs, wherein the legs are firmly connected with their sides remote from the web with the wall, in particular welded.

A further advantageous embodiment of a longitudinal reinforcement, which is designed as a hat profile, is characterized by a, in particular symmetrical cross section with a web and two legs with angled portions, wherein the angled portions extend parallel to the web and connected to the wall, in particular screwed are. In a further development, the hat profile at joints of two section segments have already been welded on one side with a first section segment in the factory and a screw with a second - adjacent - section segment are made only at the erection site. For this purpose, it may be provided that only one leg of the profile a has angled section with through holes for screws and / or threaded bolts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the tower sections of section segments is formed with a wall made of sheet steel, wherein adjacent section segments are connected to each other at their extending in the tower longitudinal longitudinal edges via longitudinal flanges or via connecting straps and wherein in Turmlängsrichtung between the longitudinal edges in each case at least one longitudinal reinforcement Steel sheet welded on the inside of the wall and / or screwed.

In a further preferred embodiment, the tower sections are formed from section segments, wherein adjacent section segments are connected to each other at their longitudinal edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the tower via a longitudinal reinforcement.

A particularly preferred development of the tower wall is characterized in that the wall of each section segment of at least one tower section is formed from two steel sheets welded and folded in the longitudinal direction of the tower. This is a cost-optimal procurement and use of commercial, for example, 2 meters wide coil plate allows. Furthermore, a use of coated steel sheet is possible, which in turn significantly reduces the cost of a downstream surface treatment.

Advantageously, the longitudinal stiffeners are arranged uniformly spaced on the inside of the wall of each section segment, wherein the longitudinal stiffeners are each centered between two folds and welded to the wall. Here, in one variant variant, a longitudinal reinforcement is arranged and welded to the wall such that a longitudinal weld seam possibly present between the folded steel sheets is at least partially concealed.

An advantageous development is characterized in that at least one longitudinal reinforcement has an end portion which terminates flatter and is concave, convex and / or oblique. More preferably, this end portion is formed open on the upper side, that is, the web is not present in this section, so that good accessibility is provided for screw provided between the legs.

An alternative development is characterized in that the cavity of the longitudinal reinforcement is at least in the end sections after welding and / or screwed to the wall air-tight and watertight sealed. Preferably, a suitable elastic mounting foam is introduced, so that on the one hand a corrosion protection and on the other a structural damping are given.

The inventive use of longitudinal reinforcements made of sheet steel makes it possible to use relatively thin steel sheets for the wall of the tower sections, which significantly reduces the cost of the steel sheet used and at the same time large diameters for high towers can be realized. The diameter of the tower section is preferably at least a factor of three hundred greater than the wall thickness of the tower section. Thus, the thickness of the wall can be less than half of a wall of a conventional steel tower for high altitudes, such as in DE 10 2013 107 059 A1 disclosed amount.

A development of the tower wall is characterized in that the wall of each section segment has on the inside at its lower segment portion and / or at its upper segment portion a plurality of connecting means, in particular welding bolts, which are welded onto the wall, for receiving connecting straps. By means of the connecting straps, the section segments arranged one above the other are connected to one another, abutting against each other, without any overlap. Thus, the introduction of force is essentially directly into the wall. The section segments of at least one tower section can at their upper and / or lower end sides angular flange elements - with a plurality of through holes - have.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, welding bolts are provided as connecting elements of the first type. Welding bolts allow a fast connection of connecting straps, flange elements and connecting brackets with the segment wall and provide a permanent, mechanical connection. Under the assumption of known disadvantages in the invention, a connection with screw assemblies, consisting of screws, washers and nuts is possible.

The object is also achieved by using a longitudinal reinforcing profile for stiffening and / or reinforcing a wall of a tower of a wind turbine, wherein the profile is formed as an open or closed hollow profile and fixedly or detachably connected to the inside of the wall, in particular welded to the wall and / or bolted. The longitudinal stiffening profile, or shortly the longitudinal stiffening, is preferably formed from edged sheet steel profile and has a, preferably symmetrical rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular cross-section and comprises two legs connected on a first longitudinal side and free on a second longitudinal side. Further, the legs may be interconnected by a web, wherein each leg with the web at an angle of 90 ° to 135 °, preferably from 100 ° to 110 °. Preferably, the longitudinal reinforcement is designed in particular as H-profile, U-profile, C-profile, hat profile, rectangular profile, triangular profile or trapezoidal profile. Particularly preferably, the longitudinal reinforcement, in particular for the provision of screw, formed as a folded steel sheet in the form of a hat profile and comprises two unilaterally connected via a web leg, the legs on a second longitudinal side free angled flange-like sections - arranged with one or two rows Through holes for connecting means - have, which extend substantially parallel to the web. Furthermore, the longitudinal reinforcement may have one end portion or two end portions, which flatten or flatten and concave, convex and / or obliquely and / or open top is or are open.

The steel sheet of the longitudinal reinforcement has in particular a thickness in the range of 3 mm to 15 mm. The length of a longitudinal reinforcement preferably corresponds to the length of the associated section segment, for example twenty meters. Preferred steel grades are, for example, structural steels of classes S355, S420, S460 and S500.

The tower according to the invention for a wind turbine has a number of advantages. First, the section segments can be prefabricated in the factory, that is, inter alia, already introduced, longitudinal stiffeners, welding studs set, possibly connecting profiles are mounted or welded. Furthermore, the sheets may already be surface-coated prior to processing.

Embodiment of the invention

• 1: eine Windenergieanlage mit einem Turm gemäß der Erfindung,
• 2a: eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Teil-Turmfußsektion gemäß der Erfindung in einer ersten Ausbildung,
• 2b: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Sektionssegments gemäß der Erfindung in einer ersten Ausbildung,
• 3a: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Sektionssegments gemäß der Erfindung in einer zweiten Ausbildung,
• 3b: eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Teil-Turmsektion gemäß der Erfindung in einer zweiten Ausbildung,
• 4a: eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Teil-Turmsektion gemäß der Erfindung in einer dritten Ausbildung,
• 4b: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Sektionssegments gemäß der Erfindung in einer dritten Ausbildung,
• 5: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Ausschnitts einer erfindungsgemäßen Längsverbindung von zwei Sektionssegmenten,
• 6a: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Ausschnitts einer oberen Sektionssegmentverbindung mit einem Ringflansch,
• 6b: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Ausschnitts eines Sektionssegments mit montierten Flanschelementen,
• 7: eine perspektivische Innenansicht eines Ausschnitts einer Stirnseitenverbindung von zwei Sektionssegmenten,
• 8: eine perspektivische Ansicht eines mit Sektionssegmenten beladenen Transportfahrzeugs,
• 9a: eine Heckansicht eines mit Sektionssegmenten beladenen Transportfahrzeugs und
• 9b: eine weitere Heckansicht eines mit Sektionssegmenten beladenen Transportfahrzeugs.

The technical solution and the interaction of the individual components will be shown with reference to the embodiments. Show

• 1 : a wind turbine with a tower according to the invention,
• 2a FIG. 2: a perspective view of a partial tower foot section according to the invention in a first embodiment, FIG.
• 2 B FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a section segment according to the invention in a first embodiment, FIG.
• 3a FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a section segment according to the invention in a second embodiment, FIG.
• 3b FIG. 2: a perspective view of a partial tower section according to the invention in a second embodiment, FIG.
• 4a FIG. 2: a perspective view of a partial tower section according to the invention in a third embodiment, FIG.
• 4b FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a section segment according to the invention in a third embodiment, FIG.
• 5 FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a section of a longitudinal connection according to the invention of two section segments, FIG.
• 6a FIG. 4: an interior perspective view of a section of an upper section segment connection with an annular flange, FIG.
• 6b FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a detail of a section segment with mounted flange elements, FIG.
• 7 FIG. 2: an interior perspective view of a section of a front connection of two section segments, FIG.
• 8th FIG. 2: a perspective view of a transport vehicle loaded with section segments, FIG.
• 9a a rear view of a loaded with section segments transport vehicle and
• 9b : Another rear view of a transport vehicle loaded with section segments.

A wind turbine according to the invention with a tower 1 is in 1 shown. The tower 1 The wind turbine is in its vertical in several different tower sections 2 divided. On the top tower section 2 is a gondola 4 arranged with a rotor shaft, not shown, in turn, a rotor hub with rotor blades 5 is arranged. The tower sections 2 consist of individual section segments 3 , In the embodiment, the tower is a total of polygonal and conical, whereby the individual tower sections 2 are formed polygonal and conical. In this case, the polygon is an upper, the bottom side facing away from a lower tower section 2 equal to the diameter of a lower, the ground-facing side of a tower section arranged above 2 ,

The 2a shows a perspective view of a partial tower foot section, consisting of four section segments 23 in a first training, the lateral longitudinal flanges 24 screwed together. The 2 B shows an interior perspective view of an associated individual section segment 23 , As the 2a and 2 B show the section segments 23 in the embodiment shown, bottom-side annular flange segments 25 on, so it is in the tower section shown 2 around a tower foot section. As the 2a and 2 B let recognize further, have the section segments 23 in the first embodiment shown in each case three trapezoidal longitudinal stiffeners 13 on, which are designed as a hollow profile and each centrally in a square field between and parallel to the folds 19 on the inside of the wall 12 arranged and welded with this. Under the middle trapezoidal longitudinal reinforcement 13 is a longitudinal weld 20 indicated, which originates from the manufacturing process. At the beginning of the manufacturing process, steel sheet is unwound continuously from an approximately 2 meter wide coil and by means of a so-called flying saw or a moving gas or laser cutter, corresponding to the desired length of a section segment 23 cut into tabular blanks. The tabular blanks are subsequently welded in pairs, so that approximately 4-meter-wide metal sheets are formed. Next, the metal sheets are bent at provided Kant lines with predetermined angles. The lateral longitudinal flanges 24 can also be made by folding or alternatively by welding, wherein the distance between the longitudinal flanges 24 to the adjacent bending line or fold 19 equal to the distance between the longitudinal stiffeners 13 to the adjacent bending line or fold 19 is. In other words, the longitudinal flanges 24 each lie on the edge of half a square field.

The 3b shows a perspective view of an open tower section 2 , consisting of four section segments 33 in a second embodiment, the lateral longitudinal flanges 24 screwed together. The 3a shows an interior perspective view of an associated individual section segment 33 , As the 3a and 3b show the section segments 33 in a lower segment section 35 a plurality of through holes for connecting means for connection to a tower section arranged thereunder 2 or to a foundation terminal part. As the 3a and 3b let recognize further, have the section segments 33 in the second embodiment shown in each case three trapezoidal longitudinal reinforcements 13 on, in each case in the middle in a Kantfeld between and parallel to the Abkantungen 19 on the wall 12 arranged and welded with this. Under the middle trapezoidal longitudinal reinforcement 13 again is a longitudinal weld 20 recognizable, which results from the manufacturing process. The distance between the longitudinal flanges 24 to the adjacent bending line or fold 19 is again equal to the distance of the longitudinal stiffeners 13 to the adjacent bending line or fold 19 , In other words, the longitudinal flanges 24 each lie on the edge of half a square field.

The 4a shows a perspective view of an incomplete tower section 2 , consisting of four section segments 43 in a third embodiment, the lateral longitudinal flanges 24 screwed together. The 4b shows an interior perspective view of an associated individual section segment 43 , As the 4a and 4b show the section segments 43 in the third embodiment shown in each case four trapezoidal longitudinal stiffeners 13 on, in the middle in a Kantfeld between and parallel to the bends 19 on the wall 12 arranged and welded with this. The lateral longitudinal flanges 24 can also be made by folding or alternatively by welding, wherein the distance between the longitudinal flanges 24 to adjacent longitudinal stiffeners 13 equal to the distance between the longitudinal stiffeners 13 to the adjacent bending line or fold 19 is. In other words, the longitudinal flanges 24 lie respectively at the edge of a whole Kantfeldes.

The 5 shows an interior perspective view of a section of a special inventive longitudinal connection of two section segments 53 , wherein the section segments 53 at its longitudinal edges at the edge of half a Kantfeldes by means of a longitudinal reinforcement 14 in the form of a trapezoidal hat profile by welding studs 37 and nuts are interconnected. There remains only a narrow parting line 11 , which can be filled with a sealant.

The 6a and the 6b show interior perspective views of a section of a section segment 53 with mounted flange elements 26 for connection to an annular flange arranged above it 6 an undivided tower section 2 or a storage for a gondola 4 , The width of a flange element 26 corresponds essentially to the width of a square field between two folds 19 , The flange element 26 has - in the assembled state a horizontal leg 27 with through holes, in arrangement and diameter with the ring flange to be connected 6 correspond. The flange element 26 has - in the assembled state, a vertical leg pair 28 comprising two partial legs with through holes, on, wherein between the partial legs a gap for receiving an end portion of a longitudinal reinforcement 13 is provided. The through holes in the vertical leg pair 28 correspond in arrangement and diameter with the welding stud 37 on the wall 12 of the section segment 53 , As the 6a . 6b detect let, are the longitudinal stiffeners 13 at their end sections 18 bevelled and open on the top, so that the end sections 18 to the wall 12 flatten out, open at the top and underside with the wall 12 are firmly connected.

The 7 shows an inside perspective view of a section of a front side connection of two superimposed section segments 3 . 23 . 33 . 43 . 53 , At the upper end section 36 and at the lower end portion 35 a plurality of spaced, arranged in spaced bores for receiving bolts or screws are provided on which connecting straps 38 are attached. As the 7 can recognize, are the longitudinal stiffeners 13 at their end sections 18 bevelled and open on the top, so that between the thighs 16 for example screws 37 and connecting straps 38 are predictable and accessible. In this way it is achieved that the primary load flow of a longitudinal reinforcement 13 in the wall 12 redirected and over the connecting straps 38 in the underlying longitudinal reinforcement 13 is transferred. The superimposed section segments 3 . 23 . 33 . 43 . 53 are connected to each other at the ends without overlapping.

The solution according to the invention makes the section segments 3 . 23 . 33 . 43 . 53 so light that multiple section segments can be transported together on a vehicle while the prescribed clearance gauge is not exceeded. The 8th shows a perspective view of one with two section segments 3 . 23 loaded semitrailer 8th , wherein the section segments 3 . 23 on the trailer 9 be transported in a tilted position. The frame above the semitrailer indicates the prescribed clearance gauge.

The 9a and 9b each show a rear view of a semitrailer loaded with section segments 8th , wherein the section segments 3 . 23 on the trailer 9 are tilted. In 9a the angle of skew is a bit flatter, giving it a width b ₁ about everything from about 3.5 m results and the height of the cab of the semitrailer 8th is not exceeded. In 9b The angle of inclination is a bit steeper, so that there is a width b ₁ above a maximum of 3 m and the permitted height of 4 m is not exceeded.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tower

2

tower section

3

section segment

4

gondola

5

rotor blade

6

annular flange

8th

Tractor

9

semitrailer

11

parting line

12

wall

13

stringer

14

stringer

15

web

16

leg

17

Angled section

18

end

19

fold

20

longitudinal weld

23

section segment

24

longitudinal flange

25

ring flange

26

flange

27

leg

28

pair of legs

33

section segment

35

lower segment section

36

upper segment section

37

bolt

38

connecting strap

43

section segment

53

section segment

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2012/007000 A1 [0004]
• DE 102013107059 [0005]
• WO 2009/097858 A1 [0006]
• WO 2010/055535 A1 [0006]
• DE 102013107059 A1 [0017]

Claims (15)

Tower (1) for a wind energy plant with a plurality of stacked cylindrical, polygonal and / or conical tower sections (2), which have a wall (12) made of sheet steel, wherein at least one tower section (2) in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal reinforcements (13, 14) characterized in that as longitudinal reinforcements (13, 14) open or closed hollow profiles with the wall (12) are arranged inside fixed or releasably connected. Tower (1) to Claim 1 , characterized in that the hollow profiles are formed as canted steel sheet profiles with rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular cross-section. Tower (1) to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the hollow profiles have a symmetrical trapezoidal cross-section with a web (15) and two legs (16), wherein the legs (16) with their from the web (15) remote longitudinal sides with the wall (12) fixedly connected are. Tower (1) to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the hollow profiles are formed as a hat profile, wherein the hat profile has a symmetrical cross section with a web (15) and two legs (16) with angled portions (17), wherein the angled portions (17) parallel extend to the web (15) and are detachably connected to the wall (12). Tower (1) after one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that at least one of the tower sections (2) of section segments (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) is formed, wherein adjacent section segments (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) respectively at their extending in the longitudinal direction of the door longitudinal edges via longitudinal flanges (24) or connecting straps (38) are connected to each other, wherein between the longitudinal edges of the section segments (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) in Turmlängsrichtung each at least one longitudinal reinforcement (13, 14) on the inside of the wall (12) fixed or is detachably arranged. Tower (1) after one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that at least one of the tower sections (2) of section segments (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) is formed, wherein adjacent section segments (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) respectively at their extending in the longitudinal direction of the door longitudinal edges via a longitudinal reinforcement (13, 14) are interconnected Tower (1) to Claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the wall (12) of a section segment (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) of at least two welded in the longitudinal direction of the steel sheets, which are provided with folds (19) formed. Tower (1) to Claim 7 , characterized in that the longitudinal stiffeners (13, 14) evenly spaced on the wall (12) of each section segment (3, 23, 33, 43, 53) each centrally between two folds (19) and fixed to the wall (12) are connected. Tower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal stiffeners (13, 14) have an end portion (18) which expires flatter towards the wall (12) and concave, convex and / or inclined and / or open at the top formed and firmly connected to the underside of the wall (12). Tower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal stiffeners (13, 14) welded to the wall (12) and / or are screwed. Tower (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tower sections (2) have a diameter (d) and a wall thickness (t) of the wall (12), wherein the diameter (d) at least one tower section (2) to at least a factor of three hundred is greater than the wall thickness (t). Longitudinal stiffening (13, 14) for a wall (12) of a tower (1) of a wind turbine, characterized in that the longitudinal reinforcement is formed as an open or closed hollow profile and for stiffening and / or reinforcement of the wall (12) fixed on the inside or is detachably arranged. Longitudinal stiffening (13, 14) after Claim 12 , characterized in that the open or closed hollow profile is a folded sheet steel profile with two on a first longitudinal side via a web (15) connected and on a second longitudinal side free legs (16) and has a symmetrical rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular cross-section. Longitudinal stiffening (13, 14) after Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the hollow profile is designed as H-profile, U-profile, C-profile or hat profile. Longitudinal stiffening (13, 14) according to one of Claims 12 to 14 , characterized in that the longitudinal reinforcement is formed as a folded sheet steel profile in the form of a hat profile and a symmetrical cross-section with two at a first longitudinal side via a web (15) and connected to a second longitudinal side free legs (16), wherein the legs (16) on the second longitudinal side free angled flange-like portions (17) which extend parallel to the web (15) and having a plurality of through holes for connecting means.

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