DE10308239A1 - Method and device for installing a wind turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and device for the erection of a wind power plant which has a tower which consists of several segments arranged one above the other, in a first step a tower section having at least one segment is raised in the installation orientation by means of lifting devices to such an extent that a next segment can be arranged below it a second step, the next segment is arranged underneath and connected to the segment of the strand section located above, and in the subsequent steps the lifting of the tower section, the arrangement of a respective next segment below it and the connection of the segment with the growing tower section is carried out until the Tower has reached a desired height, the nacelle of the wind turbine being placed on the tower section before reaching the final height.

Description

The present invention relates relates to a method and a device for building a wind turbine.

A wind turbine exists in generally from a tower arranged on a foundation, one gondola (machine house) arranged on the tower, one rotatable rotor hub arranged on the nacelle and usually three on the Rotor hub mounted rotor blades, the tower being made up of several segments that are arranged one above the other, composed.

In known construction methods a wind turbine becomes the lowest at the start of assembly Segment arranged on the foundation and connected to it, whereby the segment aligned according to its later arrangement in the tower is. Subsequently all segments of the tower are arranged one after the other and attached.

After the tower construction is finished, the gondola is placed on the tower and fastened. This is followed by the rotor hub is rotatably arranged on the nacelle. In conclusion the rotor blades mounted on the rotor hub.

Currently wind turbines are according to the described Procedure with cranes built up. As a rule, there are at least two cranes for the erection required, being a large Crane for lifting and a small crane for transporting the components needed becomes.

The history of the development of wind turbines shows that the Plants of ever larger dimensions exhibit. So are tower heights of 100 m is no longer a rarity in wind turbines. With such tower heights However, the establishment is very problematic because of this special Cranes required are that must be designed that she can lift the components of the system to these heights. Such Are cranes extremely expensive due to their special design.

Add to that the floor area (foundation) around the wind turbine to be installed must meet certain requirements so that a crane can be set up and operated. For example, the floor be relatively flat. In addition, the floor be firm enough to support the weight of a crane. Is not this the case is must additionally Foundation plates for the crane are provided, which means additional construction costs for a winch plant arise.

Another problem with the known method is that at unfavorable weather conditions the installation of the plant is not possible or only with great difficulty. Designed especially in strong wind gusts the structure is very difficult since the arrangement of the individual components by means of a crane on the system being built with increasing tower height becomes more difficult.

It is the task of the present Invention a method for installing a wind turbine create with which the assembly in a simple manner even with unfavorable weather conditions possible is and the one above also inexpensive is. Another object of the present invention is to provide a for a such method to create suitable device.

The task is solved with one Method having the characterizing features of claim 1 and with a device that the characteristic features of the Claim 9 has.

In the method according to the invention to build a wind turbine in the finished state a tower arranged on a foundation, consisting of several one above the other arranged segments, there is a gondola arranged on the tower (Nacelle), a rotor hub rotatably arranged on the nacelle and has at least one rotor blade mounted on the rotor hub in a first step, one consisting of at least one segment Tower section in installation orientation by means of lifting devices so far raised that a next Segment can be arranged below. It is under the installation orientation to understand an alignment of the segment as it is built in Condition is arranged in the tower.

In a second step it will next segment arranged under the tower section and with the one above Segment of the tower section connected. In the steps below will be lifting the tower section, arranging one at a time next Segment underneath and connecting the segment with the growing one Repeat the tower section until the tower reaches a desired height has, the gondola placed on the tower section before reaching the final height becomes.

Essential feature of the method according to the invention is that the gondola is placed on top of your tower before it its final Height reached Has. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, this can be done with a tower height take place at the for a standard crane is sufficient to set up the nacelle.

With the method according to the invention can thus the erection of the tower and the arrangement of the gondola in, compared to the final height of the tower, low height respectively. Assembly is therefore different from known methods even with unfavorable ones Weather conditions possible.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tower section raised in the first step can be the uppermost segment of the tower. This offers the advantage that the entire system is built from "top to bottom", so to speak. However, it is also conceivable that at the start of assembly, for example, the first three segments of the tower are erected using a crane and together form a liftable tower section.

In a particularly advantageous Embodiment of the invention can be according to claim 3 before the first Step of the method of the invention tower section consisting of your top segment and the gondola are connected to one another to form a structural unit, and this structural unit in the first step with the gondola raised vertically become. The gondola can be lifted and held above the The foundation, the segment below the nacelle, the gondola is placed on the segment by means of the device and be connected to it.

Furthermore, in a next step according to the claim 4 the rotor blade also before reaching the final tower height on the Rotor hub. It offers itself according to claim 5, the assembly of the rotor blades when reaching a height the unit to perform, which attaches all rotor blades to the hub. For systems with two rotor blades can be installed close to the floor. Instructs the one to be built Wind turbine e.g. three rotor blades on, the assembly takes place of the rotor blades from a height of Unit with a rotor blade installed vertically pointing upwards and the other two according to a 60 ° arrangement can be arranged facing downwards.

According to this advantageous embodiment of the Invention, a wind turbine can be built in which All components can be installed at a low installation height compared to the final system height. For the The entire construction of the system therefore only requires one crane, who compared to a crane for known method, can be much smaller, resulting in cost savings result.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention is according to claim 6 A position sensor on a segment when setting up the system arranged with which monitors the alignment of the assembly becomes. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the position sensor arranged at the start of assembly on the top segment so that it is while assembly with the tower moved up.

By means of the position sensor on advantageously measured and monitored the alignment of the assembly become. This offers the advantage that if the alignment deviates the assembly of its vertical orientation, this according to claim 7 can be corrected.

The segments of the tower of a wind turbine generally consist of steel or concrete pipes. Due to the growing system height must forcibly also the tower stronger dimensioned. This has the consequence that the Tower diameter thus increases. At the current plant heights the lowest tower diameter still under 4 m. Tower segments made of steel or concrete pipes can only as a compact piece goods be transported. So far this is not a problem since general cargo up to to 4m height still under bridges can be transported through. It is anticipated that a tower diameter of less than 4 in next Time will no longer be sufficient.

Another problem is that the compact Steel or concrete segments tend to "bump" due to their own weight. That means, that there the segments due to their length transported in the lying state, the wall area above of the segment due to the dead weight does not maintain the original shape but sags down and thus forms "bumps".

It is therefore advantageous to use the tower a wind turbine according to claim 8 to train as a lattice tower. A lattice tower also consists of several segments (shots), the one above the other can be arranged. There is a shot however, made of several steel components that are easy to get to the installation site the system can only be transported and assembled there.

The present invention relates to furthermore a device for erecting a wind turbine according to the above described method, wherein the device at least three lifting devices has, which are arranged so that one, at least between them a segment of a tower section can be arranged, and by means of the lifting devices can be raised so far that another segment underneath can be arranged and connected to this. The power attack of the lifting devices is done via at least two connected to the tower section and the lifting device Lift bridges. Means are also provided for adapting the Device to be raised to the horizontal width of the growing Allow tower section.

Devices are known from the prior art with which lattice tower towers for high-voltage lines can be raised. The entire tower is raised so far by means of the device that a further tower segment can be arranged underneath and connected to the tower. Such devices are for example from the Japanese publications JP 59-213871 and JP 59-55963 known.

The JP 59-55963 shows a device that has lifting devices at the four corners of the tower. The lattice tower is raised by means of the lifting devices to such an extent that a further lattice tower segment can be arranged underneath it and connected to it.

Also the JP 59-213871 shows a device for lifting a lattice tower. The device also has four lifting devices arranged on the foundation of the tower, wherein the force application of the lifting devices takes place via at least two lifting bridges connected to the tower and the lifting devices and furthermore means are provided which allow the device to be adapted to the horizontal tower width.

The known devices are recognizable only for the handling of relatively light lattice tower towers are thought and also require either elaborate additional Foundations, particularly high lifting devices, with which additional stabilization of the lattice tower, or, if existing ones are used Lattice boom segments for load transfer, an appropriate design of these segments to accommodate the additional loads.

Is advantageous over the prior art the device according to the invention trained so that each a unit consisting of the growing tower section together can be raised with the attached gondola, the device has a floor assembly for attachment to the foundation which the lifting devices can be arranged and fastened, and between struts that can be arranged in connection with the lifting devices with the lifting devices and the lifting bridges, on the floor assembly arrangable lattice frames with sufficient inherent stiffness for mounting those occurring when lifting the unit or the tower section train high loads.

According to the structure of the invention only the floor assembly is attached to the foundation of the device, the attachment to the foundation stem or on an additional Area (head plate) can be made. This has the advantage that the bottom group do the job of the foundation can and any additional Components of the device can be arranged and fastened on the floor assembly are.

The design of the device according to the invention by means of lifting devices, lifting bridges and Struts as self-stiff that can be arranged on the floor pan Lattice frame offers the advantage that no additional foundation and no additional Bracing is required.

In addition, the structure of the Device the advantage that all sizes Components of the wind turbine outside the grid frame of the Device are, with which there are good mounting options for this Components result.

Further advantages and configurations the invention are described and revealed in the subclaims itself from the drawings and the associated description.

The following is intended to illustrate the invention of embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings become. Show it:

1 a front view of a wind turbine with a tower made of steel or concrete pipes

2 a perspective view of a wind turbine with a lattice tower

3 a device for installing a wind turbine

4 the device of the 3 with a partially built wind turbine 1 shows a front view of a wind turbine with a tower 1 , consisting of several segments 2 , the segments being made of steel or concrete pipes, for example. On the tower 1 is a gondola 3 arranged. At the gondola 3 is a rotor hub 4 , on the three rotor blades 5 are mounted, rotatably arranged.

At the in 2 shown version of a wind turbine is the tower as a lattice tower 20 educated. The lattice tower 20 is on four mast foundations 21 , which are embedded in the floor, arranged and fixed.

The lattice tower 20 also consists of several segments (shots) 22 taking a shot 22 from several steel components 23 is composed. There is a gondola on top of your tower 3 with a rotatable rotor hub 4 arranged on the three rotor blades 5 are mounted.

The 3 shows a device for erecting a wind turbine, the device for the construction of a lattice tower according to 2 is trained.

The device has a base group 32 on the four mast foundations 21 , on which the tower is later arranged, is attached, the floor assembly 32 is designed in the form of a support cross. There are attachment points on the support cross 33 trained to which a shot can be attached. Since the shape of the towers is usually conical, the individual sections have different bases. For this reason, are on the floor pan 32 also several attachment points 33 provided so that each shot can be attached to the floor assembly.

The four ends of the support cross have mounting points 34 that are outside the foundation. In the pickup points 34 are pillars 35 assembled. Between two adjacent columns 35 are cross struts in the upper area 36 attached. There are also two adjacent columns 35 two crossing diagonal struts each 37 arranged, being a diagonal brace 37 is arranged so that it has one end at the top of a column 35 and with its other end at the bottom of the other pillar 35 is attached.

Every pillar 35 includes a vertical lifting device (not shown). When designing the lifting device, several drives can be considered, for example hydraulic drive, spindle drive, rack or cable.

The device preferably has a spin with a trapezoidal thread. This form of drive has the advantage that it has a very simple structure with great power transmission options. Furthermore, a trapezoidal thread is self-locking, so that no additional brakes are necessary. Another great advantage of this form of drive is that it is precisely adjustable and therefore easy to control.

Between the lifting devices of the columns 35 are two lifting bridges 38 arranged by means of the lifting devices of the columns 35 are movable in the vertical direction. There are two cross bridges on the lift bridges 39 slidably arranged. The cross bridges 39 are designed so that the segments or shots can be attached to them. The displacement of the cross bridges 39 takes place in this embodiment by horizontally arranged (not shown) spindle drives. The movable design of the cross bridges 39 offers the advantage that the device can be easily adapted to segments or shots with different bases.

In the 4 is the device of the 3 shown with a partially erected wind turbine. There is a shot in the device 22 arranged on the floor pan 32 is attached. On the shot 22 are more shots already 22 as well as the gondola 3 who have favourited Rotor Hub 4 and the rotor blades 5 arranged.

In the bottom area of the device there is also an entry device 40 provided, via which the shots can be arranged in a simple manner in the device. This can for example be in the form of rails, as in the 3 and 4 shown. However, the entry device can also have other embodiments, such as an entry ramp.

In an advantageous embodiment According to the invention, the device can additionally have work platforms, those on the cross bridges may be appropriate so that you yourself with the cross bridge move in the vertical direction. The work platforms offer that Advantage that Joining the individual components by the assembly personnel under workshop-like Conditions can take place.

In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the method for the erection of a wind power plant is to be based on the 3 and 4 are explained

The lifting bridges are located at the start of assembly 38 in their lower position so that the gondola 3 on which the rotor hub is already 4 is arranged on the cross bridges 39 can be arranged and attached. Using the lifting devices in the pillars 35 become the lift bridges 38 and thus those on the cross bridges 39 fortified gondola 3 raised so far that the top shot 22 of the lattice tower 20 can be arranged below.

Then the top shot 22 via the entry device 40 on the floor pan 32 driven the device, put down there and attached. The lift bridges 38 are lowered so that the gondola 3 and the top shot 22 can be connected to each other, with nacelle 3 and top shot 22 form a structural unit.

In addition, the first shot 22 a position sensor (not shown) attached. When setting up the system, the position sensor is lifted up together with the first shot and has the task of monitoring the vertical alignment of the structural unit. The position sensor is connected to a position adjustment, not shown. If the position sensor determines that the alignment of the assembly is no longer perpendicular, it transmits this to the position adjustment and this corrects the alignment of the assembly by means of the lifting devices in such a way that the spindle drives arranged in the lifting devices are correspondingly retracted or extended until the vertical Alignment of the unit is given again.

If the gondola 3 and the top shot 22 are screwed together, the cross bridges 39 from the gondola 3 solved and moved outwards. The assembly is now firmly connected to the floor assembly 32 and no longer has to be held by the device.

The lift bridges 38 are driven down. Then the cross bridges 39 shifted sideways until they hit the mast 22 apply and can be attached with this. Then the attachment between the mast shot 22 and the floor assembly 32 solved.

The lift bridges 38 are driven up again. The unit is then transported to the specified height. The vertical alignment of the assembly is constantly monitored by the position sensor. If the inclination of the structural unit is no longer perpendicular, the alignment is corrected immediately by means of the position adjustment.

In the following steps according to the above Procedure described further shots arranged under the unit until the unit is a height has reached, which enables free assembly of the rotor blades. It then becomes the rotor blades mounted on the rotor hub using a crane.

Then in further steps according to the procedure described above, more shots 22 attached under the unit and the rotor blades until the lattice tower reaches its final tower height and the wind turbine is completed.

Claims (16)

Process for the erection of a wind power plant, which in the finished state is based on a foundation ( 21 ) arranged tower ( 1 . 20 ) consisting of several segments arranged one above the other ( 2 . 22 ), one on the tower ( 1 . 20 ) arranged gon del (nacelle) ( 3 ), one on the gondola ( 3 ) rotatable rotor hub ( 4 ) and at least one on the rotor hub ( 4 ) mounted rotor blade ( 5 ), characterized in that in a first step an at least one segment ( 2 . 22 ) having the tower section in the installation orientation is raised by means of lifting devices to such an extent that a next segment ( 2 . 22 ) can be arranged below, in a second step the next segment ( 2 . 22 ) arranged below and with the segment above it ( 2 . 22 ) the tower section is connected and in the subsequent steps lifting the tower section, arranging a next segment ( 2 . 22 ) underneath and connecting the segment ( 2 . 22 ) with the growing tower section until the tower has reached a desired height, the nacelle ( 3 ) is placed on the tower section before reaching the final height. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tower section raised in the first step the top segment ( 2 . 22 ) corresponds. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that, before the first step, that from the uppermost segment ( 2 . 22 ) existing tower section and the gondola ( 3 ) are connected to each other to form a unit, and this unit in the first step with the nacelle ( 3 ) is raised vertically pointing upwards. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotor blade ( 5 ) before reaching the final tower height on the rotor hub ( 4 ) is mounted. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the assembly of the rotor blades ( 5 ) is carried out from a height of the structural unit that enables the assembly of all rotor blades. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that on a segment ( 2 . 22 ) a position sensor is attached, with which the alignment of the growing structural unit / tower section is monitored. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the Alignment of the unit / tower section is corrected, if the alignment of the assembly is not perpendicular. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tower is a lattice tower ( 20 ) and that a segment is a shot ( 22 ) of such a lattice tower. Device for erecting a wind power plant, which comprises a segment made up of several segments ( 2 . 22 ) existing, on a foundation ( 21 ) arranged tower ( 1 . 20 ), one on the tower ( 1 . 20 ) arranged gondola (machine house) ( 3 ), one on the gondola ( 3 ) rotatably arranged rotor hub ( 4 ) and at least one on the rotor hub ( 4 ) mounted rotor blade ( 5 ) with at least three lifting devices, which are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that at least one segment ( 2 . 22 ) having tower section can be arranged, and can be raised so far by means of the lifting devices that a further segment ( 2 . 22 ) can be arranged underneath and connected to it, the force application of the lifting devices via at least two lifting bridges connected to the tower section and the lifting device ( 38 ) and facilities ( 39 ) are provided which enable the device to be adapted to the horizontal width of the growing tower section to be lifted, characterized in that the device is designed such that in each case one structural unit consisting of the growing tower section together with the attached nacelle ( 3 ) can be raised, the device being a floor assembly ( 32 ) for attachment to the foundation ( 21 ) on which the lifting devices can be arranged and fastened, as well as struts which can be arranged between the lifting devices ( 36 . 37 ), which, in conjunction with the lifting devices and the lifting bridges, form a lattice frame that can be arranged on the floor assembly with sufficient inherent rigidity to accommodate the loads that occur when lifting the structural unit or the tower section. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the device has a device for position adjustment by means of which the segment ( 2 . 22 ), Tower section or the structural unit. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the Lifting devices each have a spindle drive with trapezoidal thread exhibit. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the device for adapting to the horizontal tower width on the lifting bridges ( 38 ) horizontally adjustable cross bridges ( 39 ) are the receptacles for fastening the segments ( 2 . 22 ) exhibit. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the cross bridges ( 39 ) are adjustable by means of horizontally arranged spindle drives. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the on the foundation ( 21 ) fixed floor assembly ( 32 ) has the shape of a support cross, the corners of the support cross zes each the pick-up points ( 34 ) form for the lifting devices. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the support cross ( 32 ) several attachment points ( 33 ) for fastening segments of different sizes ( 2 . 22 ). Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it has an entry device ( 40 ) over which a segment ( 2 . 22 ) can be arranged in the device.