CONNECTION ELEMENT, WIND TURBINE TOWER RING SEGMENT AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING TWO WIND TURBINE TOWER RING SEGMENTS

Abstract

A connection element, to a wind power installation tower ring segment, to a wind power installation tower portion, to a wind power installation tower, and to a wind power installation, as well as to a method for producing a wind power installation tower ring segment and for connecting two wind power installation tower ring segments. A connection element, specifically a first connection element, for incorporation in a wind power installation tower ring segment, comprising an anchoring bar having a first end and a second end; a connection flange, disposed on the first end of the anchoring bar, for connecting the connection element to a second connection element which is incorporated in a further wind power installation tower ring segment so as to, on account thereof, connect the two wind power installation tower ring segments, at least facilitating the connection of the two latter; and two, three, or a plurality of anchoring elements which are disposed in a portion of the anchoring bar that is contiguous to the second end.

Claims

1. A connection element for incorporation in a first wind power installation tower ring segment, the connection element comprising: an anchoring bar having a first end and a second end, a connection flange disposed on the first end of the anchoring bar and configured to connect the connection element to a second connection element incorporated in a second wind power installation tower ring segment to thereby connect the first and second wind power installation tower ring segments together, and a plurality of anchoring elements disposed in a portion of the anchoring bar that is contiguous to the second end.

2. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of anchoring elements extend away from a longitudinal axis of the anchoring bar in a substantially orthogonal manner.

3. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein an identical number of anchoring elements are disposed so as to be mutually opposite, in each case on an upper side of the anchoring bar and on a lower side of the anchoring bar.

4. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection flange has two openings configured to receive fastening means, respectively, wherein the two openings of the connection flange have internal threads.

5. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchoring bar has a circular or rectangular cross section.

6. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the connection flange or the plurality of anchoring elements are fixedly coupled to the anchoring bar.

7. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of: the connection flange, the plurality of anchoring elements, and the anchoring bar include steel.

8. A wind power installation tower ring segment comprising: two abutment locations abutting with other wind power installation tower ring segments at abutment locations, and at least one clearance in a region of each abutment location, wherein in the region of each abutment location is a connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of anchoring bar is anchored in the wind power installation ring segment by way of the plurality of anchoring elements, and wherein the first end of the anchoring bar protrudes from the wind power installation ring segment into the clearance.

9. A wind power installation tower portion comprising: two wind power installation tower ring segments as claimed in claim 8, wherein the two wind power installation tower ring segments abut each other at an abutment location to form a substantially vertical abutment, wherein the first ends of the anchoring bars of the two wind power installation tower ring segments extend into the clearance, and wherein the connection flanges of the connection elements of the two wind power installation tower ring segments are interconnected in a region of the abutment.

10. The wind power installation tower portion as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connection flanges of the connection elements of the two wind power installation tower ring segments are releasably interconnected by way of fastening means.

11. A wind power installation tower comprising the wind power installation tower portion of claim 9.

12. A wind power installation comprising a wind power installation tower as claimed in claim 10.

13. A method comprising: producing a wind power installation tower ring segment, wherein producing comprises: preparing a concrete mold or a formwork for fabricating a wind power installation tower ring segment; positioning a connection element in the concrete mold or formwork in such a manner that a first end of an anchoring bar of the connection element by way of a connection flange protrudes outward from a clearance that is disposed in the region of an abutment location; filling the concrete mold or formwork with concrete; curing the concrete; and removing the wind power installation tower ring segment from the concrete mold or formwork.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: connecting two wind power installation tower ring segments to one wind power installation tower portion, wherein connecting comprises: abutting the two wind power installation tower ring segments; and interconnecting two connection flanges of the two wind power installation tower ring segments.

15. An assembly device for the connection element as claimed in claim 1, the device having: a first assembly element comprising a first detent, at least two first rams disposed on the first detent so as to be mutually spaced apart on a same side of the first detent; a second assembly element comprising a second detent, at least two second rams disposed on the second detent so as to be mutually spaced apart on a same side of the second detent; wherein the at least two first and the at least two second rams are disposed and configured so as to be mutually opposite in such a manner so as to jam anchoring bars of two connected connection elements in an orthogonal direction between the first and the second detents.

16. The connection element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of anchoring elements are head bolts.

17. The wind power installation tower ring segment as claimed in claim 8, wherein wind power installation tower ring segment is made of concrete

18. The wind power installation tower ring segment as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wind power installation tower ring segment is configured as a jacket segment

19. The wind power installation tower as claimed in claim 11, comprising a plurality of wind power installation power portions disposed on top of one another, wherein the abutments of adjacent wind power installation tower portions are attached so as to be mutually offset.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] Preferred variants of embodiment of the invention will be explained in an exemplary manner by means of the appended figures in which:

[0059] FIG. 1: shows a schematic illustration of a wind power installation;

[0060] FIG. 2: shows a horizontally sectioned partial view of a tower portion;

[0061] FIG. 3: shows a longitudinally sectioned view of a connection element;

[0062] FIG. 4: shows a vertically sectioned view of two connection flanges;

[0063] FIG. 5: shows a horizontally sectioned view of two connection flanges;

[0064] FIG. 6: shows a further view of a connection flange;

[0065] FIG. 7: shows a vertically sectioned view of two connection flanges according to FIG. 4, having an assembly device; and

[0066] FIG. 8: shows a plan view of an assembly element of the assembly device as per FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a wind power installation according to the invention. The wind power installation 100 has a tower 102 and a nacelle 104 on the tower 102. An aerodynamic rotor 106 having three rotor blades 108 and one spinner 110 is provided on the nacelle 104. The aerodynamic rotor 106 in the operation of the wind power installation is set in a rotational motion by the wind and thus also rotates a rotor or armature of a generator which is coupled directly or indirectly to the aerodynamic rotor 106. The electric generator is disposed in the nacelle 104 and generates electric power. The tower 102 comprises a number of tower portions 200 which are composed substantially of a first tower ring segment 210 and a second tower ring segment 220. The tower ring segments mutually abut at a first abutment 250 and a second abutment (not illustrated).

[0068] FIG. 2 shows a horizontally sectioned partial view of a tower portion 200. The tower portion 200 comprises a first tower ring segment 210 and a second tower ring segment 220. Said two tower ring segments mutually abut at a vertical abutment 250. The first tower ring segment 210 has a first connection element 300, and the second tower ring segment 220 has a second connection element 301.

[0069] The first connection element 300 comprises a first anchoring bar 310 which extends from a first end 311 to a second end 312. The anchoring bar 310 has a substantially rectangular geometry, wherein said anchoring bar 310 has a slight curvature since the anchoring bar runs so as to be substantially parallel with the wall of the tower ring segment 210. The anchoring bar furthermore has anchoring elements 313 which run so as to be orthogonal to the anchoring bar 310 and parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tower portion 200 and are disposed in a region adjacent to the second end 312. A total of ten anchoring elements 313 are disposed on the anchoring bar 310, five of the former being disposed on the upper side and five on the lower side, wherein the lower side having the anchoring elements is not depicted. The first connection element 300 by way of the second end 312 thereof and the region adjacent thereto having the anchoring elements 313 is disposed within the first tower ring segment 210.

[0070] The second connection element 301 likewise has an anchoring bar 320 having a first end 321 and a second end 322, wherein anchoring elements 323 are likewise disposed in a region adjacent to the second end 322. The second connection element 301 is likewise disposed so as to be parallel with the wall of the tower ring segment 210, and by way of the second end 322 thereof and the region adjacent thereto having the anchoring elements 323 is disposed within the second tower ring segment 220.

[0071] The tower portion 200 furthermore has a clearance 230 on the abutment 250, said clearance 230 in terms of one half being incorporated within the first tower ring segment 210 and in terms of the other half being incorporated within the second tower ring segment. The anchoring bars by way of the first ends 311, 321 thereof protrude into the clearance 230 and are interconnected.

[0072] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the shape of the connection elements 300, 301 is adapted to the annular shape of the tower ring segment 200 such that the anchoring bars 311, 312 are accordingly aligned in the circumferential direction of the tower ring segment 200. By virtue of the radius of a part-ring segment or tower portion, respectively, that is typically larger as compared to the dimensions of the connection element, these embodiments can however also be included in the geometry as described here. In particular, indications such as orthogonal and other geometric indications in the case of this design embodiment of the connection elements 300, 301 that is adapted to the annular shape of the tower ring segment 200 are to be understood to be adapted in a corresponding manner.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinally sectioned view of a further variant of embodiment of a connection element 400 having an anchoring bar 410, wherein the anchoring bar 410 extends longitudinally along a longitudinal extent L from a first end 411 to a second end 412, and in a manner orthogonal thereto has a thickness D. A first connection flange 430 which has a height H parallel with the thickness D of the anchoring bar 410 is disposed on the first end 411 of the anchoring bar 410. The dimension of the height H of the first connection flange 430 is larger than the thickness D of the anchoring bar 410. The dimension of the height H of the first connection flange 430 is chosen in such a manner that fastening means 451, 452, here screws, can be introduced into through holes 471, 472 that are incorporated in the connection flange 430. The through holes 471, 472 have a penetration direction which runs so as to be parallel with the longitudinal extent of the anchoring bar 410.

[0074] Furthermore, a second connection flange 440 is disposed on the first connection flange 430. The second connection flange 440 is a component part of a second connection element, the second connection flange 440 being disposed on the anchoring bar 420 of said second connection element. The second connection flange 440 is designed in a manner analogous to that of the first connection flange 430. The connection flanges 430, 440 are interconnected in such a manner that the fastening means 451 is introduced or partially guided through, respectively, the upper through hole 471 of the first connection flange 430 and through the upper through hole 481 of the second connection flange 440, and the fastening means 452 is introduced or partially guided through, respectively, the lower through hole 472 of the first connection flange 430 and through the lower through hole 482 of the second connection flange 440. The upper through holes 471, 481 have a common passage. The lower through holes 472, 482 likewise have a common passage. The fastening means 451, 452 on the exit side are secured by corresponding elements 461, 462 such that a connection between the first and the second connection flange 430, 440 is established. Screws are preferably chosen as fastening means, and nuts are preferably chosen as corresponding elements. The connection of the first connection flange 430 to the second connection flange 440 preferably takes place in the clearance of two tower ring segments. Additionally or alternatively, the through holes 471, 472, and/or the through holes 481, 482 have internal threads into which a fastening means 451, 452 can be screwed.

[0075] A total of four first anchoring elements 413 which here are embodied as head bolts are disposed in a region adjacent to the second end 412 of the first anchoring bar 410. The first anchoring elements 413 extend orthogonally away from the first anchoring bar 410, in a direction parallel with the thickness D of the first anchoring bar 410. Two first anchoring elements 413 are located on one side of the first anchoring bar 410, and opposite thereto two further first anchoring elements 413 are located on the other side of the first anchoring bar 410.

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a vertically sectioned view of two connection flanges 430, 440 which are interconnected by means of fastening means 451, 452 and corresponding elements 461, 462, representing a component part of the first connection element 400 or of the second connection element 401, respectively. The first connection flange 430 is connected to the first anchoring bar 410, and the second connection flange 440 is connected to the second anchoring bar 420, wherein the connection is disposed within a clearance 230. Since the anchoring bars 410, 420 are incorporated in the tower ring segments 210, 220 (illustrated only in a fragment in FIG. 4) and are anchored therein, this arrangement serves for interconnecting the tower ring segments 210, 220 at the abutment 250.

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a horizontally sectioned view of the two connection flanges 430, 440 from FIG. 4, having the first and the second anchoring bar 410, 420, which are disposed in the clearance 230. FIG. 6 shows a further view of the connection flange 440 and of the anchoring bar 420 which are disposed in the clearance 230.

[0078] On account of the connection of the first connection element 300, 400 to the second connection element 301, 401 a low-maintenance connection of the tower ring segments 210, 220 is enabled. As compared to conventional connections, a low-maintenance connection is distinguished by long maintenance cycles in which the interval between two maintenance operations is comparatively long. This results in the advantage of lower costs by less frequent labor-intensive maintenance activities, on the one hand, and the reliability of the wind power installation being increased, on the other hand.

[0079] The maintenance cycles in the use of a connection element according to the disclosure have longer intervals inter alia because forces that run substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the anchoring bars 310, 320, 410, 420 act on the connection location where the first anchoring bar 310, 410 is connected to the second anchoring bar 320, 420. The connection location is that location where the first end 311, 411 of the first anchoring bar 310, 410 is connected to the first end 321 of the second anchoring bar 320 by way of a first connection flange 430 and a second connection flange 440, and the fastening means 451, 452 that connect the connection flanges, and by way of elements 461, 462, corresponding to said fastening means 451, 452.

[0080] The forces for connecting the two adjacent tower ring segments 210, 220, said forces running substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the anchoring bars 310, 320, 410, 420, are furthermore implemented in that the first ends 311, 321, 411 of the anchoring bars 310, 320, 410, 420 and the connection flanges 430, 440 are disposed in a clearance 230 which offers a void around the longitudinal extent of the anchoring bars 310, 320, 410, 420 and thus reduces the transmission of shear forces and/or thrust stresses by way of, or onto, respectively, the connection elements, in particular at the location of the connection flanges 430, 440, the connection, preferably a screw connection, thus not having to absorb any or only very minor shear forces and/or thrust stresses. It has been demonstrated that a connection which has to absorb no or only minor shear forces and/or thrust stresses has a significantly lower maintenance intensity. This advantageous arrangement can be derived in particular from FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The tower ring segments 210, 220 that meet at the abutment 250 can thus be connected in a reliable manner and so as to have a low maintenance intensity.

[0081] Furthermore, the clearance 230 and the connection performed therein, preferably a screw connection, enable simple and reliable checking of the connection since the latter is readily visible to a person carrying out the maintenance. This results in the checking of the connection being associated with a lower effort in terms of time, on the one hand. On the other hand, the checking of the connection by the person testing is associated with an enhanced significance, since the connection can be directly seen and the check therefore has a higher level of validity. The reliability of the wind power installation 100 is thus further enhanced. This is an advantage in particular as compared to connections of tower ring segments to date, which are often rendered and are thus invisible.

[0082] FIG. 7 shows a vertically sectioned view of two connection flanges according to FIG. 4, having an assembly device. The assembly device 50 comprises a first assembly element 510 and a second assembly element 520. The first assembly element 510 comprises a first detent 511 which is configured as a plate. The first detent 511 extends from a first and 5111 up to a second end 5112. A first threaded sleeve 512 (illustrated on the left here) is disposed in a region adjacent to the first end 5111, such that a first threaded sleeve 512 is disposed on the end 5111 of the first detent 511, said first threaded sleeve 512 facing the first anchoring bar 410. The connection of said first threaded sleeve 512 to the first detent 511 here is implemented by way of a weld seam.

[0083] A further first threaded sleeve 515 which is disposed on the same side of the detent 511 as the other first threaded sleeve 512 (illustrated on the right here) is disposed in a region adjacent to the second end 5112 of the first detent 511, such that the further first threaded sleeve 515 is disposed on the end 5112 of the first detent 511, said further first threaded sleeve 515 facing the second anchoring bar 420. The further first threaded sleeve 515 likewise has an internal thread. Moreover, a first holding element 513 is disposed on the first threaded sleeve 512, and a further first holding element 516 is disposed on the further first threaded sleeve 515. The holding elements 513, 516 have in each case one external thread that corresponds to the internal thread of the threaded sleeves 512, 515 and are in each case partially screwed into the threaded sleeves.

[0084] The second assembly element 520 in principle has the same construction as the first assembly element 510. A second detent 521 extends from a first end 5211 to a second end 5212, wherein second threaded sleeves 522, 525 are disposed in the regions adjacent to the two ends 5211 and 5212. The second threaded sleeves 522, 525 likewise have an internal thread, wherein the second holding elements 523, 526 are screwed into the second threaded sleeves 522. The holding elements 513, 516, 523, 526 in this exemplary embodiment furthermore have in each case first and second hexagons 514, 517, 524, 527, respectively, which are disposed on an end of the holding element which faces away from the associated detent 511, 521, said hexagons 514, 517, 524, 527 thus being able to bear on an anchoring bar 410, 420.

[0085] The first and the second assembly element 510, 520 are disposed in a clearance in the region of an abutment of at least two tower ring segments. The arrangement is performed in such a manner that the extent from the first end to the second end runs so as to be substantially parallel with the longitudinal extent of the anchoring bars. Furthermore, the first and the second assembly element 510, 520 are disposed in such a manner that a central axis of the one first threaded sleeve 512 and a central axis of the one second threaded sleeve 522 intersects the first anchoring bar 410. This results in the holding elements 513, 523 in the case of a sufficient protruding length bearing on the anchoring bar 410. A substantially vertical movement of the anchoring bar can be achieved by rotating the holding elements, for example on the hexagons 514, 524.

[0086] The same result can be achieved by rotating the further first holding element 516 and the further second holding element 526, in that they are rotated on the hexagons 517, 527, for example. On account of the vertical movement of the anchoring bars, the connection flanges 430, 440 disposed on the anchoring bars 430, 440 can be aligned in such a manner that the upper through holes 471, 481 that are disposed in the flanges have a common through axis, and the lower through holes 472, 482 that are disposed in the flanges likewise have a common through axis. A connection of the flanges by way of fastening means 451, 452 and corresponding elements 461, 462 is thus heavily simplified on account thereof.

[0087] FIG. 8 shows a plan view of an assembly element of the assembly device as per FIG. 7. The assembly element 510 has a longitudinal extent between the first end 5111 and the second end 5112. Furthermore, the assembly element 510, in a manner orthogonal to said longitudinal extent, has a width. The longitudinal extent and the width define a face having a face orthogonal, wherein the two first threaded sleeves 512, 515 are disposed on said face, wherein a central axis of the threaded sleeve 512, 515 runs so as to be substantially parallel with the face orthogonal.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0088] 100 Wind power installation

[0089] 102 Tower

[0090] 104 Nacelle

[0091] 106 Rotor

[0092] 108 Rotor blades

[0093] 110 Spinner

[0094] 200 Tower portion

[0095] 210 First tower ring segment

[0096] 220 Second tower ring segment

[0097] 230 Clearance

[0098] 250 Abutment

[0099] 300, 400 First connection element

[0100] 301, 401 Second connection element

[0101] 310, 410 First anchoring bar

[0102] 311, 411 First end of the first anchoring bar

[0103] 312, 412 Second end of the first anchoring bar

[0104] 313, 413 First anchoring elements

[0105] 320, 420 Second anchoring bar

[0106] 321 First end of the second anchoring bar

[0107] 322 Second end of the second anchoring bar

[0108] 323 Second anchoring elements

[0109] 430 First connection flange

[0110] 440 Second connection flange

[0111] 451, 452 Fastening means

[0112] 461, 462 Communicating elements

[0113] 471, 481 Upper through holes

[0114] 472, 482 Lower through holes

[0115] 50 Assembly device

[0116] 510 First assembly element

[0117] 511 First detent

[0118] 512, 515 First threaded sleeves

[0119] 513, 516 First holding elements

[0120] 514, 517 First hexagons

[0121] 520 Second assembly element

[0122] 521 Second detent

[0123] 522, 525 Second threaded sleeves

[0124] 523, 526 Second holding elements

[0125] 524, 527 Second hexagons

[0126] 5111 First end of the first detent

[0127] 5112 Second end of the first detent

[0128] 5211 First end of the second detent

[0129] 5212 Second end of the second detent

[0130] D Thickness of the anchoring bar

[0131] H Height of the connection flanges

[0132] L Longitudinal extent