WIND TURBINE

Abstract

Provided is a wind turbine, with at least one hollow construction including at least two longitudinal hollow elements each having a connection interface for connecting the elements either by a slip joint connection or by a flange connection especially a tower including at least two hollow tower elements, wherein at least one connector is guided through the slip joint or flange connection from an inner space to the outer of the wind turbine.

Claims

1. A wind turbine, with at least one hollow construction comprising at least two longitudinal hollow elements each comprising a connection interface for connecting the elements either by a slip joint connection or by a flange connection, wherein a tower comprising at least two hollow tower elements, wherein at least one connector is guided through the slip joint or flange connection from an inner space to the outer of the wind turbine.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the connection interfaces for establishing a slip joint connection are conical connection interfaces, and that at least one intermediate flexible mat-like device is arranged between the adjacent connection interfaces, through which the connector is guided.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein the mat-like device extends around the circumference of the connection interfaces, or that the mat-like device comprises two or more mat elements arranged equidistant around the circumference of the connection interfaces.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein the mat-like device extending around the circumference is a conical ring-shaped element, or that the mat-like device comprises two or more mat elements arranged in a ring form.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein the connector is either integrated into the mat-like device, or that the connector is arranged in a space or slit between adjacent ends of the mat-like device or of two adjacent mat elements.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the connector comprises a cable, which either is directly inserted in the mat-like device or in a channel formed in the mat-like device or in the space or slit, or that the connector comprises a hollow pipe is integrated in the mat-like device or in the space or slit.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 2, wherein the outer diameter of the connector of the cable or the pipe is smaller than the thickness of the mat-like device.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the connection interfaces are respective flanges arranged at each of the elements, extending into the inner of the respective element, and that in at least one of the flanges a channel is provided for accommodating the connector.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 8, wherein the channel extends in a radial direction through the flange.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 8, wherein the channel is a groove, which is open to the adjacent flange.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 10, wherein in only one flange a groove is provided, which is covered by the adjacent flange, or that each flange is provided with a groove, while both grooves complete each other to a larger channel.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 8, wherein the connector is a cable or a hollow pipe in which a cable is inserted.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the connector is embedded in a seal provided in the space or slit or the channel.

14. The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the connector is fixed by a glue.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0022] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 a principle sketch of an inventive wind turbine with two different connection types of respective tower elements;

[0024] FIG. 2 an enlarged view of the area II of FIG. 1 showing a flange connection with a connection means guided through this flange connection;

[0025] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the two flanges of the adjacent tower elements;

[0026] FIG. 4 an enlarged view of the area IV of FIG. 3;

[0027] FIG. 5 a side view of the flange arrangement of FIG. 4 with an inserted connection means;

[0028] FIG. 6 an enlarged view of the area VI of FIG. 1 with a slip joint connection;

[0029] FIG. 7 a perspective view of an intermediate flexible mat-like means with an integrated connection means;

[0030] FIG. 8 a principle sketch of the arrangement of the mat-like FIG. 7 between two adjacent conical connection interfaces of the tower elements, with an integrated hollow pipe and the connection means guided through this pipe; and

[0031] FIG. 9 another embodiment of an intermediate mat-like means with a slit between its end edges and with a connection means guided through this slit space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a principal sketch of an inventive wind turbine 1, comprising a foundation element 2 here in form of a monopile 3, which foundation element may alternatively also be a tripod, a suction bucket or a gravity foundation.

[0033] The wind turbine 1 further comprises a tower 4 comprising two tower segments 5, 6 attached to each other. The tower 4 further comprises a tower adapter 7, which is attached to the upper tower element 6, to which adapter 7 a nacelle 8 comprising a rotor 9 with the respective blades 10 is attached.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two connection zones 11, 12 are realized. The first connection zone 11 is realized between the two tower elements 5, 6. The second connection zone 12 is realized between the upper tower element 6 and the tower adapter. In both connection zones 11, 12 different connection types are realized. The connection zone 11 is realized by a flange connection 13, while the connection zone 12 is realized by a slip joint connection 14. Through each connection zone 11, 12 respectively directly through either the flange connection 13 or the slip joint connection 14 a connection means or connector 15, 16 is guided, which connection means for example is a cable or is a hollow pipe. The respective connection means provides a connection from the inside of the tower 4 to the outside of the tower 4, so that the connection means respectively for example the cable, which is guided in the inner of the tower 4 to the connection, is guided through this connection area to the outside. In the shown embodiment for example two lighting devices 18, 19 are arranged at the outside of the tower 4, to which the respective connection means respectively the electric cable is guided.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the area II of FIG. 1. The figure shows the first connection zone 11 respectively the flange connection 13, by which the lower tower element 5 is connected to the upper tower element 6. As FIG. 2 clearly shows, the connection means 15 here in form of a cable 20 is directly guided through the interface respectively the flange connection, where both tower elements 5, 6 abut each other.

[0036] For realising the transfer of the connection means 15 respectively of the cable 20 from the inner of the tower 4 to the outside, at least one of the flanges, which are arranged at the respective ends of the tower elements 5, 6, is provided with a channel, through which the connection means 15 respectively the cable 20 is guided.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the upper end of the lower tower element 5 and the lower end of the upper tower element 6. Each end is provided with a flange 21, 22, which are provided with a plurality of respective bores 23, 24, which accommodate respective bolt connections.

[0038] When mounted, the flanges 21, 22 abut each other or are closely adjacent to each other.

[0039] For providing a possibility to guide the connection means 15 respectively the cable through this flange interface, in the shown embodiment the flange 21 is provided with a channel 25 in form of a groove 26, see also FIG. 4, extending radially, which groove 26 is open to the adjacent flange 22. The arrangement is shown in detail in FIG. 4, where, as indicated with the dotted line, also the flange 22 may be provided with a channel 27 in form of a respective groove 28, which groove 28 is open to the groove 26 so that they both complement each other to build a larger channel comprising the two grooves 26 and 28 for accommodating a larger connection means 15 or several connection means 15.

[0040] The channel 25 (or together with the channel 27) provides a radial guidance or opening to the inside and to the outside of the tower 4, so that it is possible to guide a connection means 15 through this channel.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows the possibility that in the groove 26 a hollow pipe 29, may be made of an elastic material, is inserted and fixed there by a sealing means or a glue 30. This hollow pipe works as a guiding means or guide for the connection means and enables a tight seal of the connection means 15 respectively the cable 20 inserted in the pipe 29, it guides and protects the cable 20. So, it is possible to guide the cable 20 from the inner of the tower 4 to the outside, where it is connected to the lighting device 19, or to any other component arranged at the outside of the tower 4. In the inside the cable 20 is connected to a respective other component, whatever and wherever this component may be.

[0042] Although the above-mentioned embodiment describes an electric cable 20, it is certainly also possible that the cable 20 is a hollow cable or a hollow pipe used for guiding a liquid, for example a cooling liquid or a hydraulic liquid from a component arranged in the inner of the tower 4 to the component at the outside of the tower.

[0043] FIG. 5 also shows the possibility that the second flange 22 is also provided with a respective groove 27 as shown by the dotted line, in which groove 27 another hollow pipe 31 is inserted, accommodating another connection means 15 in form of another cable 20. This embodiment shows that it is easily possible to enlarge the resulting channel by the corresponding grooves 26 and 28.

[0044] Aside the shown embodiment, it is certainly also possible to provide several channels 25 respectively grooves 26 distributed around the circumference of only one flange 21 or 22, or to provide several channels or grooves at both flanges 21, 22, if several connection means 15 need to be guided from the inner to the outer of the tower 4.

[0045] The stability of the flange connection, as described in regard to the FIGS. 2-5, is not negatively influenced due to the provision of a respective channel(s) or groove(s). The flanges 21, 22 are very stable metal pieces, which are not affected in their stability by providing the small grooves, which have a diameter or square surface adapted to the thickness of the pipe or cable which shall be accommodated in the groove. Thus, a very simple but effective guidance of any kind of connection means from the inner of the tower to the outer of the tower can be realized.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the area IV of FIG. 1. It shows the upper connection zone 12, which is realized in form of a slip joint connection 14. It comprises a conical connection interface 32 at the upper tower element 6 and a second conical connection interface 33 at the tower adapter 7.

[0047] As FIG. 6 shows, the connection means 16 respectively the cable 39 exits the slip joint connection 15 at the lower end of this slip joint connection 14 and runs to the lighting device 19, while also here any other component than the lighting device may be connected via the electric or hollow liquid guiding cable 39.

[0048] The cable 39 is guided directly through the space, which is realized between the conical interface 34 provided at the tower element 6 and the conical interface 35 provided at the tower adapter 7, which interfaces 34, 35, see FIG. 8, are adjacent to each other, as the conical interface 34 engages into the outer conical interface 35, when the tower adapter 7 is placed on the tower element 6.

[0049] Between both interfaces 34, 35 an intermediate flexible mat-like means 36, which is shown in FIG. 7 in detail, is arranged. This flexible mat-like means is in this embodiment realized in the form of a pre-fabricated conical ring element 37, for example made of a single layer of an elastic polymer like polyurethane or polyamide or the like. When erecting the tower, this mat-like means 36 is slipped over the connection interface 34, whereupon the connection interface 35 is slipped over this arrangement.

[0050] As FIG. 7 shows, a hollow pipe 38, which is shown by the dotted line, is integrated respectively embedded in the flexible respectively elastic mat-like means 36. It extends almost vertically and is open to the upper and lower end of the conical mat element 37, as FIG. 7 shows. This hollow pipe 38 is adapted to accommodate the connection means 16 respectively the cable 39. The cable 39 is guided in the inner of the tower 4, as shown in FIG. 8. It runs for example from a component arranged in the lower area of the tower 4 upwards and enters the hollow pipe 38 at its upper end, see FIG. 8. It runs through the hollow pipe 38 and exits at the lower end of the pipe 38 and finally runs to the lighting device 19. As FIG. 8 clearly shows, the cable 39 is directly guided through the mat-like means 36 and thus through the space between both interfaces 34 and 35, which space is realized by the intermediate mat-like means 36, which provides a certain radial distance between both interfaces 34 and 35. No through bore or the like is necessary to be provided in any of the connected elements, as the cable is directly guided through the slip connection zone using the respective space provided between the interfaces 34 and 35.

[0051] The diameter of the pipe 38 is smaller than the thickness of the mat element 37, so that it is completely embedded in the elastic mat material. This ascertains that no higher forces are acting on the pipe 38 and thus the cable 39 guided in the pipe 38. However, the pipe 38 may be made of a flexible material that can be compressed without damaging the pipe, while also the cable 39 may be provided with an elastic cover or sheath.

[0052] FIG. 9 finally shows another embodiment with a slip joint connection 14 joining the tower element 6 and the tower adapter 7, which adapter is only shown by the dotted line. Also, here an intermediate mat-like means 36 in form of a mat element 40 is arranged, which mat element 40 is provided with the slit 41. This slit extends almost vertically, so that the cable 39 is guided through this slit, as FIG. 9 shows. It enters the slit 41 at its upper end and leaves the slit 41 at its lower end and finally runs to the lighting device 19.

[0053] In this embodiment, the cable 39 is directly arranged in the conical circular space between both connection interfaces 34 and 35, it is not guided in a hollow pipe, but it certainly could be accommodated in a hollow pipe which would then also be arranged in the slit 41. Although not shown, it is possible to fix the cable 39 by a glue or a sealing directly in the slit 41.

[0054] Also, here the cable 39 is guided directly through the connection zone respectively the space between the interfaces 34 and 35. Not drilling holes or the like are necessary for guiding the connection means respectively the cable from the inside to the outside. The stability of the slip joint connection is not influenced in a negative way due to the guiding of the connection means 15 through the connection area, as the connection elements are not worked to provide any guiding holes or channels etc.

[0055] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0056] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements