Method of constructing large towers for wind turbines
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorSøren P. Jensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to transport large size windmill towers, the invention suggests a steel tower (1) for a windmill, comprising a number of cylindrical or tapered tower sections (2), at least the wider sections (2) of which being subdivided into two or more elongated shell segments (3), which combine into a complete tower section (2) by means of vertical flanges (6) tightened together, e.g., by bolts (10), said shells being also provided with upper and lower horizontal flanges (4), respectively, to allow interconnection of tower sections (2) one on top of the other.
Claims15
A windmill comprising:
- a number of cylindrical or tapered tower sections which are configured to support the windmill,
- at least some of the tower sections being subdivided into two or more associated elongated shell segments, which associated shell segments are adapted to combine into a complete tower section,
- inwardly-extending vertical flanges provided on each of the associated shell segments which vertical flanges are connected together to form an associated complete tower section, wherein the vertical flanges are welded onto the shell segments offset from the side edges of the respective shell segments such that a space is provided between opposing surfaces of adjacent vertical flanges, wherein a spacer bar is sandwiched between the adjacent vertical flanges, and wherein the adjacent vertical flanges with the spacer bar therebetween are bolted together, and
- inwardly-extending upper and lower horizontal flanges provided, respectively, on said associated shell segments for interconnection of the tower sections one on top of the other to support the windmill.
A method of building a large size, cylindrical or tapered tower for a windmill, of single-walled steel tower sections from prefabricated shell segments, comprising the steps of:
- fabricating two or more shell segments from a rolled steel plate having a desired radius of curvature such that said shell segments form in unison a complete circumferential tower section, said fabricating step including providing each shell segment with vertical and horizontal flanges along free edges thereof extending inwardly relative to the radius of curvature,
- mounting one or more of the shell segments on a transportation carriage or supporting frame,
- transporting the one or more shell segments mounted on the transportation carriage or supporting frame to a building site,
- connecting the shell segments together at the building site with connecting devices along their vertical flanges to provide one or more tower sections,
- mounting tower sections on top of each other at the building site by connecting them along their opposing horizontal flanges with connecting devices, and supporting a windmill with the tower sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.