TRANSITION PIECE FOR WIND TURBINES AND CONNECTING STRUCTURES

Abstract

The present invention discloses a transition piece (10) for connecting a first component (20) having at least three columns (21) to a tower-shaped second component (30), wherein the transition piece (10) can be arranged between the first component (20) and the second component (30) and comprises a connection device for connecting the second component 30. The transition piece (10) is characterized in that it has at least three curved elements (11), the respective legs (13) of which are connectable at least indirectly to the first component (20). Each curved element (11) can be brought into direct contact with the second component (30) by means of convex end sections (14) arranged between the respective legs (13). In this way, the convex end sections (14) of the curved elements (11) form a receiving region (15) of the transition piece (11) and the second component (30) can be inserted into this receiving region.

Claims

1. A transition piece for connecting a first component to a second component configured to attach atop the first component and extend vertically upward therefrom, wherein the transition piece is configured to be positioned between the first component and the second component and wherein the transition piece comprises a connecting device, and at least three arcuate elements, wherein each arcuate element comprises two legs with a convex portion positioned therebetween, wherein the legs of each arcuate element are configured to connect directly or indirectly to the first component, and wherein the respective arcuate elements can be brought into direct contact with the second component by means of the convex portions thereof; and wherein the convex portions of the at least three arcuate elements form a receiving region of the transition piece for receiving the second component.

2. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the respective arcuate elements are of tubular design.

3. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the respective arcuate elements are segmented and comprise interconnected cylinder segments.

4. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the respective arcuate elements, in particular the legs of the respective arcuate elements, are tilted radially inward in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the transition piece.

5. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the convex end portions of the respective arcuate elements can be brought to bear tangentially on the second component.

6. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the convex end portions of the respective arcuate elements are arranged in a plane parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the transition piece.

7. A structure comprising a jacket component having at least three columns and a tower component, wherein the jacket component is configured to connect to the tower component by means of the transition piece of claim 1, wherein the tower component comprises a connecting portion configured for placement within the receiving region of the transition piece and for connection to the transition piece by means of connecting device of the transition piece, and wherein the respective columns of the jacket component are in each case connected directly or indirectly to two legs of two adjacent arcuate elements of the transition piece.

8. A structure comprising (a) a connecting structure with at least three columns, and (b) a monopile having a connecting portion, wherein the connecting structure engages with the monopile via the transition piece of claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of the monopile is configured to be disposed within the receiving region of the transition piece and configured to be connected to the transition piece by means of the connecting device of the transition piece, and wherein the columns of the connecting structure are configured to connect directly or indirectly to two legs of two adjacent arcuate elements of the transition piece.

9. The structure of claim 7, wherein the connecting portion of the tower component further comprises an outer surface comprising complementary depressions corresponding to the shape of the arcuate elements, with the result that the respective convex portions of the arcuate elements can be accommodated in the corresponding depressions.

10. The transition piece of claim 1, further comprising a cladding for closing an interspace between mutually adjacent convex portions of the arcuate elements and an outer surface of the second component.

11. The structure of claim 7, wherein the tower further comprises at least one access opening for access into the tower situated within the receiving region of the transition piece.

12. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises at least three columns, and the legs of the arcuate elements are configured to connect directly or indirectly with the columns of the first component.

13. The transition piece of claim 1, wherein the connecting device is a connecting flange.

14. The structure of claim 7, wherein an interspace between mutually adjacent convex portions of the arcuate elements and outer surfaces of the connecting portion of the tower component is closed by a cladding.

15. The structure of claim 8, wherein the connecting portion of the monopile further comprises an outer surface comprising complementary depressions corresponding to the shape of the arcuate elements, such that the respective convex portions of the arcuate elements can be accommodated in the corresponding depressions of the monopile.

16. The structure of claim 8, wherein the monopile further comprises at least one access opening situated in the connecting portion of the monopile within the receiving region of the transition piece, wherein said access opening provides access into the monopile.

Description

[0035] Further advantages, details and features of the invention will emerge hereinbelow from the explained exemplary embodiment, in which specifically:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a structure according to the invention comprising a first component designed as a jacket, a second component designed as a tower and a transition piece according to the invention for connecting the first component to the second component.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a structure 100 designed as a wind turbine 100 and comprising a first component 20 and a second tower-like component 30. Here, the first component 20 is designed as a jacket 20 and the second component 30 is designed as a tower 30 of the wind turbine 100, the upper region of the wind turbine 100 having the nacelle and the rotor not being illustrated. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the jacket 20 comprises four columns 21 which are connected to one another and stabilized by means of cross struts 22. Here, the cross struts 22 extend between adjacent columns 21 and also between diagonally opposite columns 21. The lower ends of the columns 21 are connected to the foundation piles 40 which, in the case of an offshore wind turbine 100, can be installed in the seabed.

[0038] However, a different geometry of a jacket 20, which can generally also be designated as a foundation structure 20, is also conceivable. For example, a jacket 20 of a structure 100 according to the invention can also have only three columns 21 or else more than four columns 21.

[0039] A transition piece 10 is arranged between the jacket 20 and the tower 30, the transition piece 10 being designed to connect the jacket 20 to the tower 30. Although not visible in FIG. 1, the transition piece comprises a connecting device by means of which the transition piece 10 can be connected to the tower 30. This connecting device 30 is preferably designed as a connecting flange and is sufficiently well known from the prior art, which means that a corresponding description is not required.

[0040] It can also be seen from FIG. 1 that the transition piece 10 comprises four arcuate elements 11 whose respective legs 13 are connected to the jacket 20 and in particular to the columns 21 thereof. Here, each arcuate element 11 spans between in each case two mutually adjacent columns 21 such that each column 21 of the jacket 20 is therefore connected to in each case two legs 13 of two different arcuate elements 11. The respective arcuate elements 11 are in direct contact with the outer surface of the tower 30 by means of convex end portions 14 arranged between the respective legs 13. The convex end portions 14 of the arcuate elements 11 thus form a receiving region 15 of the transition piece 10, and the tower 30 is introduced into this receiving region. The convex end portions 14 can also be designated as retaining portions 14 of the arcuate elements 11.

[0041] Owing to the provision of the arcuate elements 11, lateral movements of the tower 30 are absorbed by the respective arcuate elements 11 and converted into axial forces which are channeled off by the legs 13 into the columns 21 of the jacket 20. Consequently, swaying movements of the tower 30 are reduced, with an advantageous introduction of force into the columns 21 of the jacket 20 being achieved, without connection points, for example welded connections, between the transition piece 10 and the jacket 20 being exposed to excessive forces.

[0042] As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the respective arcuate elements 11 comprise a plurality of interconnected cylinder segments 12 which are preferably welded to one another to form the respective arcuate elements 11. Consequently, the arcuate elements 11 are of tubular design.

[0043] It can also be seen from FIG. 1 that the respective legs 13 of the respective arcuate elements 11 are tilted in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the transition piece 10. By contrast, the convex end portions 14 of the respective arcuate elements 11 bear tangentially on the outer surface of the tower 30 and, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, are arranged in a plane parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the transition piece 10.

[0044] Because of this, there is obtained a larger contact region between the arcuate elements 11 and the tower 30, thereby allowing improved force transmission from the tower 30 to the arcuate elements 11.

[0045] Although not visible in FIG. 1, depressions corresponding to the shape of the convex end portions 14 are provided on the outer surface of a connecting portion of the tower 30 that is connected to the arcuate elements 11, with the result that the respective convex end portions 14 of the arcuate elements 11 are arranged in the depressions. Because of this, there is obtained a further increased contact surface between the arcuate elements 11 and the tower 30, with the result that forces exerted onto the tower 30 can be dissipated even better via the arcuate elements 11 into the columns 21 of the jacket 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0046] 10 Transition piece [0047] 11 Arcuate element [0048] 12 Cylinder segment [0049] 13 Leg (of the arcuate element) [0050] 14 Convex end portion (of the arcuate element) [0051] 15 Receiving region [0052] 20 First component/jacket/monopile [0053] 21 Column of the jacket/standing leg of the jacket [0054] 22 Cross strut (of the jacket) [0055] 30 Second component/tower/connecting structure [0056] 31 Interspace [0057] 40 Foundation pile