FLANGE SEGMENT FOR A WIND TURBINE, STEEL TOWER RING SEGMENT, AND METHOD

Abstract

A flange segment for a wind turbine steel tower ring segment, to a wind turbine tower portion, to a wind turbine tower, to a wind turbine and to a method for producing a wind turbine steel tower ring segment is provided. Also provided is a flange segment for a wind turbine steel tower ring segment, comprising a partially ring shaped basic body which extends from a first end to a second end in the ring direction, having an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, an inner circumferential side and an outer circumferential side, and a first abutment side on the first end and a second abutment side on the second end, and a flange projection which is arranged on the upper side of the basic body and extends substantially from the first end to the second end in the ring direction.

Claims

1. A flange segment for a wind turbine steel tower ring segment, comprising: a partially ring shaped basic body which extends from a first end to a second end in a ring direction, the partially ring shaped basic body having: an upper side and a lower side opposite the upper side, an inner circumferential side and an outer circumferential side, and a first abutment side at the first end and a second abutment side at the second end, a flange projection which: is arranged at the upper side of the partially ring shaped basic body, and extends substantially from the first end to the second end in the ring direction.

2. The flange segment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange projection has a main direction of extent from a first projection end to a second projection end and has a polygonal profile between the first projection end and the second projection end, wherein the flange projection is formed in the main direction of extent by two or more rectilinear portions, wherein the rectilinear portions enclose an angle.

3. The flange segment as claimed in claim 1, comprising: an outer upper edge formed by the upper side and the outer circumferential side, and an inner upper edge formed by the upper side and the inner circumferential side, wherein the flange projection adjoins the outer upper edge and the inner upper edge, wherein an outer side of the flange projection is in alignment with the outer circumferential side such that the outer side of the flange projection and the outer circumferential side of the partially ring shaped basic body form a flange segment outer surface.

4. The flange segment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange projection is arranged in the radial direction between the outer upper edge and the inner upper edge in such a way that an outer shoulder face has a surface normal that is oriented orthogonally to the ring direction and to the radial direction, wherein the outer shoulder face is between the flange projection and the outer upper edge, and an inner shoulder face having a surface normal that is oriented orthogonally to the ring direction and to the radial direction, wherein the inner should face is between the flange projection and the inner upper edge.

5. The flange segment as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a transition from the flange projection to the inner shoulder face is formed by a freeform face, wherein the freeform face is formed in such a way that a radius is formed between an inner circumferential side of the flange projection that faces the inner shoulder face and the inner shoulder face, and a transition is formed from the flange projection to the outer shoulder face by a freeform face, wherein the freeform face is formed in such a way that a radius is formed between an inner circumferential side of the flange projection that faces the outer shoulder face and the outer shoulder face.

6. The flange segment as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the flange projection extends from a first projection end to a second projection end, and a first extension is arranged on the first projection end and a second extension is arranged on the second projection end, wherein the first extension and the second extension extend in a radial direction, and the first extension extends in the direction of a first lateral upper edge which is formed by the upper side and the first abutment side, the second extension extends in the direction of a second lateral edge which is formed by the upper side and the second abutment side.

7. A wind turbine steel tower ring segment, comprising: a jacket segment having a height, a ring depth and a width, the jacket segment comprising: a first horizontal abutment side and a second horizontal abutment side, wherein, in the mounted state, the first horizontal abutment side faces a tower foundation and the second horizontal abutment side faces a tower tip, wherein a flange segment as claimed in claim 1 is arranged on at least one of the first horizontal abutment side or the second horizontal abutment side.

8. The wind turbine steel tower ring segment as claimed in claim 7, wherein: the flange segment is connected to the wind turbine steel tower ring segment by a connection which is arranged in a region which adjoins the flange projection and the wind turbine steel tower ring segment.

9. The wind turbine steel tower ring segment as claimed in claim 7, comprising: a first vertical abutment side, a second vertical abutment side which is arranged substantially orthogonally to the horizontal abutment side, a first vertical flange arranged on the first vertical abutment side, a second vertical flange arranged on the second vertical abutment side, wherein the first vertical flange and the second vertical flange are arranged and formed in such a way to be connected to a vertical flange of an adjacent wind turbine steel tower ring segment, and wherein the first vertical flange and the second vertical flange project inwardly in a radial direction.

10. The wind turbine steel tower ring segment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the jacket segment has a partially ring shaped cross section whose surface normal is oriented substantially parallel to the height, and wherein: the partially ring shaped cross section has a partially ring shaped geometry, the partially ring shaped cross section of the jacket segment is formed by two or more rectilinear portions, wherein the two or more rectilinear portions are arranged at an angle to one another, the first vertical flange is formed by a rectilinear portion which is arranged at an angle to the jacket segment, the second vertical flange is formed by a rectilinear portion which is arranged at an angle to the jacket segment, and the jacket segment and the first vertical flange and the second vertical flange are formed as a single integral piece.

11. A wind turbine tower portion, comprising: first and second wind turbine steel tower ring segments, wherein the first and second wind turbine steel tower ring segments are respective ones of the wind turbine steel tower ring segment as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and the second wind turbine steel tower ring segment abut against one another at vertical abutment sides at a substantially vertical joint.

12. A wind turbine tower, comprising two or more wind turbine tower portions as claimed in claim 11 that are arranged vertically stacked relative to one another.

13. A wind turbine, comprising a wind turbine tower as claimed in claim 12.

14. A method for producing a wind turbine steel tower ring segment, the method comprising: providing a jacket segment having an extent in a direction of a height, a ring direction and a width, the jacket segment comprising a first horizontal abutment side and a second horizontal abutment side, wherein, in the mounted state, the first horizontal abutment side faces a tower foundation and the second horizontal abutment side faces a tower tip, providing at least one flange segment as claimed in claim 1, arranging a first flange segment on a first inner circumferential portion which adjoins the first horizontal abutment side, arranging a second flange segment on a second inner circumferential portion which adjoins the second horizontal abutment side, and connecting the first and second flange segments to the jacket segment.

15. A method for producing a wind turbine tower portion, the method comprising: providing at least a first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and a second wind turbine steel tower ring segment, wherein the first and second wind turbine steel tower ring segments are wind turbine steel tower ring segment as claimed in claim 7, arranging the first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and the second wind turbine steel tower ring segment such that at least one vertical joint is formed at vertical abutment sides of the first and second wind turbine steel tower ring segments, and connecting the first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and the second wind turbine steel tower ring segment at the at least one vertical joint, wherein the first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and the second wind turbine steel tower ring segment have vertical flanges which are arranged on an inner circumferential surface adjoining the edge toward the first abutment side and/or second abutment side, and wherein the first wind turbine steel tower ring segment and the second wind turbine steel tower ring segment are connected to one another by fastening of the respective adjacent vertical flanges.

16. The flange segment as claimed in claim 3, wherein an inner side of the flange projection is in alignment with the inner circumferential side such that the inner side of the flange projection and the inner circumferential side of the partially ring shaped basic body form a flange segment inner surface.

17. The flange segment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flange segment is a single integral piece.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein connecting the first and second flange segments to the jacket segment is achieved by a welding seam arranged in a region adjoining the flange projection and the wind turbine steel tower ring segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The methods according to the invention and their possible developments have features or method steps which make them particularly suitable to be used for a flange segment according to the invention and its developments. For further advantages, embodiment variants and embodiment details of these further aspects and their possible developments, reference is also made to the above given description of the corresponding features and developments the flange segment. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained by way of example on the basis of the appended figures, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine tower;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, three dimensional detail view of the tower from FIG. 2;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine steel tower ring segment;

[0053] FIG. 5a shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a flange segment;

[0054] FIG. 5b shows a detail view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5a;

[0055] FIG. 6 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a connection between four wind turbine steel tower ring segments with flange segments; and

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of four interconnected wind turbine steel tower ring segments.

[0057] In the figures, identical or substantially functionally identical or similar elements are designated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine. FIG. 1 particularly shows a wind turbine 100 having a tower 102 and a nacelle 104. A rotor 106 with three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110 is arranged on the nacelle 104. In operation, the rotor 106 is set into a rotational movement by the wind and thereby drives a generator in the nacelle 104. The tower 102 particularly has wind turbine steel tower ring segments with flange segments. As a result, the tower 102 is built up by means of components which are simple to transport and which moreover can be connected with a high degree of precision and little effort.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wind turbine tower. The tower 400 extends in the longitudinal direction from a foundation end 401 to a head end 402. In the operating mode or in the erected state, the longitudinal direction of the tower 400 is oriented in the direction of the height of the tower 400. The tower 400 comprises six tower portions 403 408. It can particularly be seen in FIG. 3 that the tower portions, the third tower portion 405 and the fourth tower portion 406 being shown here, are arranged on one another at a horizontal joint 409. It can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the tower portions 403 408 have wind turbine steel tower ring segments, of which an individual one is shown by way of example in FIG. 4.

[0060] The ring segment 410 shown in FIG. 4 extends from a first end 412 to a second end 414. In the mounted state, the first end 412 preferably faces the foundation of the tower and the second end 414 faces the tower head. The ring segment 410 also has a cross section whose surface normal is oriented substantially parallel to the height, and wherein the cross section has a partially ring shaped geometry. The partially ring shaped cross section of the ring segment 410 is formed by a plurality of rectilinear portions, wherein the plurality of rectilinear portions are arranged at an angle to one another. The ring segment 410 consequently has an angled lateral surface 416. The angled lateral surface is for example, as shown here, formed by a total of seven rectilinear portions, wherein the seven rectilinear portions are arranged at an angle to one another. As is particularly evident from FIG. 3, an individual tower portion can have, for example, a total of ten ring segments arranged adjacent to one another in the horizontal direction.

[0061] To form a tower portion, the ring segments are arranged on one another at vertically oriented abutment surfaces. At the abutment surfaces, the ring segment 410 has a first angled off flange 418 and, on the oppositely arranged vertical abutment side, a second angled off flange 419. The first angled off flange 418 and the second angled off flange 419 are each formed by a rectilinear portion which is arranged at an angle to the ring segment 410.

[0062] The first angled off flange 418 and the second angled off flange 419 are particularly arranged and formed in such a way that, upon arranging the ring segment 410 when forming the tower portion, the flanges are oriented in such a way that through passage openings arranged thereon have through passage directions which are oriented substantially parallel to the ring direction.

[0063] FIG. 5a shows a schematic, three dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a flange segment. The flange segment 1 has a basic body 2 and a flange projection 20. The basic body 2 extends in the ring direction from a first end 3 to a second end 4. The basic body 2 has an inner circumferential side 11 which is formed by the extent of the basic body 2 in the ring direction and in the thickness direction. Moreover, the basic body 2 has a first abutment side 12 which is formed by the extent of the basic body in the width direction and in the thickness direction. Moreover, the basic body has an upper side 10 which is formed by the extent in the ring direction and the extent in the width direction.

[0064] The upper side 10 and the inner circumferential side 11 form an upper inner edge 13. The lower side arranged opposite the upper side 10 forms a lower inner edge 14 with the inner circumferential side 11. Moreover, through passage openings 16 are arranged equidistantly on the upper side 10, the through passage direction of which is oriented substantially in the thickness direction. An outer circumferential side is arranged opposite the inner circumferential side 11. The outer circumferential side forms an upper outer edge with the upper side 10.

[0065] The flange projection 20 likewise extends in its main direction of extent in the ring direction from a region adjoining the first end 3 of the basic body 2 to a region adjoining the second end 4 of the basic body 2. The flange projection 20 has a polygonal profile between its first end and its second end between which the main direction of extent extends. Consequently, the flange projection 20 has six angled off portions 28 along its main direction of extent, wherein straight lines which enclose an angle extend along the main direction of extent between the angled off portions. Moreover, it is shown that the transition 26 from the flange projection 20 to the inner shoulder face 15 is formed by a freeform face, wherein the freeform face is formed in such a way that a radius is formed. The inner shoulder face 15 is the part of the surface 10 which is located to the inner side of the flange projection 20.

[0066] The flange projection 20 has a first extension 22 at its end in the region of the first end 3. The first extension 22 extends in its main direction of extent substantially in the width direction. In an analogous manner, the flange projection 20 has a second extension 24 at the second end 4 of the basic body 2. The extensions 22, 24 advantageously allow a ring segment 200 having angled off flanges 202, 204 to be arranged on the flange segment 1.

[0067] It can be seen in detail in FIG. 5b that the extension 22 terminates in the flange projection 20 at the first end 3 by means of an extension piece 23. It can also be seen that the extension piece 23 and the outer circumferential side of the flange projection 20 merge by means of a transition 32 into the outer shoulder face 30. The outer shoulder face 30 is the part of the surface 10 which is located to the outer side of the flange projection 20. The transition 32 extends away along the main direction of extent of the flange projection 20 such that the outer circumferential side of the flange projection 20 merges into the outer shoulder face 30 by means of the transition 32.

[0068] It is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 how a total of four ring segments can be connected to one another horizontally and vertically. The first ring segment 210 and the second ring segment 220 form a subportion of a first wind turbine tower portion. The third ring segment 230 and the fourth ring segment 240 form a subportion of a second wind turbine tower portion. The first wind turbine tower portion is arranged adjacently above the second wind turbine tower portion. The first ring segment 210 and the second ring segment 220 are arranged on one another at a vertical joint 300. The third ring segment 230 and the fourth ring segment 240 are arranged on one another at a vertical joint 310.

[0069] The vertical joint 300 and the vertical joint 310 are not arranged directly above one another in the vertical direction but are offset from one another. The first ring segment 210 has a first flange segment 214, the second ring segment 220 has a second flange segment 224, the third ring segment 230 has a third flange segment 234, and the fourth ring segment 240 has a fourth flange segment 244. The flange segments 214, 224, 234, 244 are arranged on the ring segments 210, 220, 230, 240 according to the above given description. The vertically adjacent flange segments can be connected to one another by means of the through passage openings arranged in the flange segments.

[0070] It is particularly shown in FIG. 6 how the flange segments 214, 224, 234, 244 are arranged on the ring segments 210, 220, 230, 240. Moreover, it is shown how the vertical connection of two horizontally adjacent ring segments occurs. The vertical flanges 212, 222, 232, 242 also have through passage openings 211, 231 whose through passage direction is oriented substantially in the ring direction. The vertical flanges can be connected to one another by means of the through passage openings and suitable fastening elements, for example nuts and bolts.

[0071] The flange segments 214, 224, 234, 244 allow ring segments 200, 210, 220, 230, 240 to be connected to one another in a particularly advantageous manner. The flange segments can be arranged on the ring segments in an advantageous manner by means of the formation of the flange projection on the flange segments. Said flange segments can be arranged on the ring segments in a simple manner particularly by means of a welding method, with reduced distortion, if any, of the ring segments occurring as a result of the introduction of heat during the welding process.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0072] 1 Flange segment

[0073] 2, 216, 226 Basic body

[0074] 3 First end

[0075] 4 Second end

[0076] 10 Upper side

[0077] 11 Inner circumferential side

[0078] 12 First abutment side

[0079] 13 Inner upper edge

[0080] 14 Inner lower edge

[0081] 15 Inner shoulder face

[0082] 16 Through passage opening

[0083] 20, 218, 228 Flange projection

[0084] 22 First extension

[0085] 23 Extension piece

[0086] 24 Second extension

[0087] 26, 32 Transition

[0088] 28 Angled off portion

[0089] 30 Outer shoulder face

[0090] 100 Wind turbine

[0091] 102, 400 Tower

[0092] 104 Nacelle

[0093] 106 Rotor

[0094] 108 Rotor blade

[0095] 110 Spinner

[0096] 200 Ring segment

[0097] 202, 418 First angled off flange

[0098] 204, 419 Second angled off flange

[0099] 210 First ring segment

[0100] 211 Through passage opening

[0101] 212, 222, 232, 242 Angled off flange

[0102] 214 First flange segment

[0103] 220 Second ring segment

[0104] 224 Second flange segment

[0105] 230 Third ring segment

[0106] 231 Through passage opening

[0107] 234 Third flange segment

[0108] 240 Fourth ring segment

[0109] 244 Fourth flange segment

[0110] 300, 310 Vertical joint

[0111] 401 Foundation end

[0112] 402 Head end

[0113] 403 First tower portion

[0114] 404 Second tower portion

[0115] 405 Third tower portion

[0116] 406 Fourth tower portion

[0117] 407 Fifth tower portion

[0118] 408 Sixth tower portion

[0119] 409 Horizontal joint

[0120] 410 Ring segment

[0121] 412 First end

[0122] 414 Second end

[0123] 416 Angled lateral surface

[0124] 418 First vertical flange

[0125] 419 Second vertical flange