Prefabricated Footing For Wind Turbine Towers

Abstract

It is foreseen that the footing be executed in an excavation, such that a lower concrete slab (2), with its corresponding steel reinforcement, is obtained at the base of the same, and upon which a plurality of prefabricated partitions (3), likewise of concrete, are radially disposed in the shape of a crown at a prefabricated or executed in situ concrete zone (4), such that the spaces defined between these elements are filled with the material (5) obtained by means of the excavation, in order finally to achieve a total or partial upper slab (1) upon this assembly. In this way, and by means of the inclusion of prefabricated elements, the construction works are simplified, which affects favourably both the time frame of execution and the fabrication costs.

Claims

1. A prefabricated footing for wind turbine towers, this being executed in an excavation performed for this purpose in the terrain whereon the wind turbine tower is to be erected, characterised in that at the base of the excavation a concrete slab (2) with the corresponding steel reinforcement thereof, is disposed, fabricated in. situ; said lower slab being complemented with an upper slab (1), separated at a distance from the former, and likewise fabricated in situ, it being foreseen that between said slabs there shall be disposed a plurality of vertical and radial prefabricated panels, also of concrete, and associated, subsequent to the disposition and execution of the lower slab (2), with a concrete item (4), likewise prefabricated and concentric with the external contour of the slab to be obtained, it being foreseen that the space defined between said slabs and the prefabricated partitions (3) shall be filled with the material (5) obtained from the excavation, and which will have served as the lower formwork for the upper slab (1).

2. A prefabricated footing for a wind turbine tower, as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the prefabricated panels of the concentric zone (4), disposed between the upper and lower slabs, feature elements for the affixing of the footing assembly to the respective segments pertaining to the lower module of the tower to be erected.

3. A prefabricated footing for a wind turbine tower, as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the contour of the footing is circular in shape.

4. A prefabricated footing for a wind turbine tower, as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the contour of the footing is polygonal in shape.

5. A prefabricated footing for a wind turbine tower, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the concentric zone (4) is comprised of vertical prefabricated concrete partitions.

6. A prefabricated footing for a wind turbine tower, as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the upper slab may extend across the entirety of the surface of the footing or occupy solely the space delimited by the concentric zone (4).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] As a supplement to the description to be made herein, and for the purpose of aiding the better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment of the same, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description wherein, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following is portrayed:

[0014] FIG. 1 portrays a plan view of a prefabricated reinforced concrete footing executed in accordance with the object of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 portrays a view corresponding to a cross-sectional detail according to the cross-section line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 2bis portrays the same cross-section as that of FIG. 2, in the event of the upper slab being limited to the area confined by the base of the tower.

[0017] FIG. 3 portrays another cross-sectional detail corresponding to the cross-section line B-B of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3bis portrays the same cross-section as that of FIG. 3, in the event of the upper slab being limited to the area confined by the base of the tower, with an independent slab between the vertical partitions.

[0019] FIG. 4 portrays a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but corresponding to an alternative embodiment with prefabricated panels for the concentric zone of the footing.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0020] As may be seen in the aforementioned figures, the prefabricated reinforced concrete footing which is the object of the invention comprises a pair of horizontal slabs (1) and (2) disposed on two different horizontal planes and obtained in situ interiorly in an excavation executed in the terrain for the purpose thereof, such that the lower slab (2) is fabricated in concrete and constitutes the support for a plurality of vertical prefabricated concrete partitions (3) disposed radially and which are held initially by means of a concentric concreting (4) by way of a circular crown.

[0021] In all cases, the vertical prefabricated partitions (3) are obtained at the factory and are conveniently transported to the location of assembly of the footing, such that subsequent to the execution of the excavation, a layer of blinding concrete is poured and the disposition of the prefabricated partitions (3) is executed radially and in a vertical disposition, as portrayed in the figures, the steel reinforcement of the slab (2) is subsequently laid and the concrete of the slab (2) is poured. Subsequently, said prefabricated and vertical partitions (3) are linked by means of the aforementioned crown shaped concreting (4).

[0022] Subsequently, the space established between the vertical partitions (3) and the lower slab (2) is filled by means of the material corresponding to the earth (5) derived from the excavation itself; once the entirety of the space is filled, the upper slab (1) is executed by means of the corresponding steel reinforcement and concreting. This upper slab may extend over the entirety of the footing surface or may occupy exclusively the surface area comprised by the concentric zone (4), the remainder being replaced by a simple independent slab.

[0023] With regard to the prefabricated partitions (3) and the concentric zone (4), these feature the appropriate means for the affixing of the footing to the segments which will form the lower section of the corresponding wind turbine tower.

[0024] Optionally, the concentric concrete (4) may also be comprised of vertical reinforced concrete panels.