Post-tensioned wind turbine foundation
AssigneeRute Foundation Systems, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Bristow, Doug Krause, Evelyn Hunsberger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A post-tensioning system that is configured for use with concrete wind turbine foundation designs to post-tension the foundations and reduce the amount of reinforcement steel that is needed compared to conventional non-post-tensioned, steel reinforced concrete foundation designs. In the case of an inverted T gravity foundation, the post-tensioning system described herein reduces the amount of reinforcement steel that is required by 30-40 tons.
Claims20
A post-tensioning system of a wind turbine foundation, comprising:
- a plurality of rod anchors that are configured to be engageable with a bottom end of the center hub of the wind turbine foundation;
- a plurality of anchor rods having lower ends that are connected to the rod anchors;
- a plurality of post-tensioning strands, each post-tensioning strand is formed a multiple sub-strands;
- a plurality of post-tensioning strand anchors that are configured to bear on or be embedded within a perimeter of the wind turbine foundation.
A wind turbine foundation, comprising:
- a concrete structure having a center hub and a perimeter edge, the center hub including an upper end and a bottom end;
- a plurality of rod anchors that are engaged with the bottom end of the center hub;
- a plurality of anchor rods that extend through the center hub, the anchor rods having lower ends that are connected to the rod anchors;
- a plurality of post-tensioning strands, at least some of the post-tensioning strands extend through the center hub;
- a plurality of post-tensioning strand anchors that bear on or that are embedded within the perimeter edge.
A rod anchor of a post-tensioning system of a wind turbine foundation, comprising:
- a base plate, and a central boss connected to and extending away from the base plate, the central boss including a threaded hole;
- wherein in use the base plate is engageable with a bottom end of a center hub of the wind turbine foundation, and the threaded hole receives a threaded lower end of an anchor rod that extends through the center hub.
A post-tensioning strand anchor of a post-tensioning system of a wind turbine foundation, comprising:
- an anchorage plate, a central boss extending away from the anchorage plate, a plurality of sub-strand through holes extend through the central boss, and at least one sub-strand through hole extends through the anchorage plate;
- wherein in use the anchorage plate bears on or is embedded within a perimeter edge of the wind turbine foundation, the central boss faces radially outward, and a plurality of sub-strands of post-tensioning strands extend through the sub-strand through holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.