HYBRID TOWER SECTION, HYBRID TOWER FOR A WIND POWER PLANT AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION

Abstract

A hybrid tower section for arrangement between a concrete tower section and a steel tower section of a hybrid tower for a wind power installation. The hybrid tower section comprises a steel flange having a multiplicity of annularly arranged blind holes and having a multiplicity of annularly arranged passage holes, a steel outer casing, and a concrete core, wherein the annular arrangement of the blind holes has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the passage holes, wherein the steel outer casing has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the blind holes, wherein the concrete core adjoins the steel flange and the steel outer casing, and a radially inner side of the concrete core has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the passage holes.

Claims

1. A hybrid tower section for arrangement between a concrete tower section and a steel tower section of a hybrid tower for a wind power installation, the hybrid tower section comprising: a steel flange having a plurality of annularly arranged blind holes and having a plurality of annularly arranged through passage holes, a steel outer casing, and a concrete core, wherein an annular arrangement of the blind holes has a larger radius than an annular arrangement of the through passage holes, wherein the steel outer casing has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the blind holes, wherein the concrete core adjoins the steel flange and the steel outer casing, and a radially inner side of the concrete core has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the through passage holes.

2. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 1 comprising a steel inner casing having a radius that is larger than a radius of the annular arrangement of the through passage holes and smaller than the radius of the annular arrangement of the blind holes.

3. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of a radially inner side of the steel outer casing or a radially outer side of the steel inner casing has a contoured surface, one or more projections, one or more depressions, and/or one or more shear cleats.

4. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing and the concrete core have an axial height that is larger than an axial height of the steel flange.

5. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 4, wherein the concrete core directly adjoins the radially inner side of the steel outer casing, and/or wherein the concrete core directly adjoins the radially outer side of the steel inner casing, and/or wherein the concrete core directly adjoins a side of the steel flange that is at the bottom in the operating state of the hybrid tower, and/or wherein the concrete core comprises reinforcement, and/or wherein the concrete core terminates in alignment with at least one of an axial end of the steel outer casing or in alignment with an axial end of the steel inner casing.

6. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 2 wherein the concrete core substantially fills a space between the steel outer casing and the steel inner casing.

7. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 6, wherein: at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing are formed in one piece with the steel flange, or wherein at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing are welded to the steel flange.

8. A hybrid tower for a wind power installation, comprising: at least one concrete tower section and at least one steel tower section, wherein the hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 1 is arranged between the at least one concrete tower section and the at least one steel tower section.

9. A wind power installation comprising: the hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 8.

10. A method for producing a hybrid tower section for arrangement between a concrete tower section and a steel tower section of a hybrid tower for a wind power installation, the method comprising: arranging a steel flange and a steel outer casing in such a way that a side of the steel flange that is at a bottom in an operating state of a hybrid tower faces upward and the steel outer casing projects upward from that side of the steel flange which is at the bottom in the operating state of a hybrid tower, wherein the steel flange has a plurality of annularly arranged blind holes and a plurality of annularly arranged through passage holes, wherein the steel outer casing has a larger radius than an annular arrangement of the plurality of annularly arranged blind holes, wherein the annular arrangement of the plurality of annularly arranged blind holes has a larger radius than an annular arrangement of the plurality of annularly arranged through passage holes, and making the concrete core using the steel outer casing as a formwork in such a way that the concrete core adjoins the steel flange and the steel outer casing and a radially inner side of the concrete core has a larger radius than the annular arrangement of the through passage holes.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: arranging the steel inner casing in such a way that the steel inner casing projects upward from that side of the steel flange which is at the bottom in the operating state of a hybrid tower, and/or welding at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing to the steel flange, and/or introducing reinforcement prior to making the concrete core, and/or wherein making the concrete core comprises using the steel inner casing as a formwork.

12. A method for producing a hybrid tower for a wind power installation, the method comprising: arranging hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 1 on a concrete tower section, and arranging a steel tower section on the hybrid tower section.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: fastening the steel tower section to the hybrid tower section by the plurality of annularly arranged blind holes, and/or fastening tensioning members at the plurality of annularly arranged through passage holes.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising tensioning the tensioning members.

15. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing and the concrete core have an axial height of 1 to 2 meters.

16. The hybrid tower section as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the steel outer casing or the steel inner casing and the concrete core have a radial thickness of 1 to 20 centimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Preferred exemplary embodiments will be described by way of example on the basis of the appended figures. In the figures:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a wind power installation;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of a longitudinally sectioned, three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid tower section;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view, not to scale, of an exemplary embodiment of a hybrid tower sectioned through a hybrid tower section, with a schematic indication of various radii;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sequence of an exemplary embodiment of a method for producing a hybrid tower section;

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sequence of an exemplary embodiment of a method for producing a hybrid tower for a wind power installation.

[0040] In the figures, identical or substantially functionally identical elements are denoted by the same reference signs. General descriptions relate as a rule to all the embodiments, unless differences are explicitly indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] 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 having a spinner 110 is provided on the nacelle 104. During the operation of the wind power installation, the aerodynamic rotor 106 is set in rotational motion by the wind and thereby also rotates an electrodynamic rotor or runner of a generator, which is coupled directly or indirectly to the aerodynamic rotor 106. The electric generator is arranged in the nacelle 104 and generates electrical energy. The pitch angles of the rotor blades 108 can be changed by pitch motors at the rotor blade roots 108b of the respective rotor blades 108.

[0042] The tower 102 is designed as a hybrid tower with a concrete tower section 102a and a steel tower section 102b. A hybrid tower section 200 is arranged between the concrete tower section 102a and the steel tower section 102b. A plurality of annular concrete tower sections arranged one above the other generally form the concrete part of the hybrid tower. Also, a plurality of annular steel tower sections arranged one above the other generally form the steel part of the hybrid tower 102.

[0043] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the hybrid tower section 200 in more detail in an exemplary embodiment. The hybrid tower section 200 comprises a steel flange 210, a steel outer casing 220, a steel inner casing 230 and a concrete core 240. The concrete core 240 has a reinforcement 243.

[0044] The hybrid tower section 200 is arranged on a concrete tower section 102a which is arranged therebelow in the operating state and on a steel tower section 102b which is arranged thereabove in the operating state.

[0045] The steel flange 210 has a plurality of annularly arranged blind holes 211. The steel flange 210 furthermore has a plurality of annularly arranged passage holes 212. A radius R5 of the annular arrangement of the blind holes 211 is larger than a radius R2 of the annular arrangement of the passage holes 212. Furthermore, a radius R6 of the steel outer casing 220 is larger than the radius R5 of the annular arrangement of the blind holes 211. The radius R3 of the steel inner casing 230 is larger than the radius R2 of the annular arrangement of the passage holes 212 and smaller than the radius R5 of the annular arrangement of the blind holes 211. The radius R4 of a radially inner side 304 of the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b is smaller than the radius R5 of the plurality of annularly arranged blind holes 211 in the steel flange 210 of the hybrid tower section and greater than the radius R3 of the steel inner casing 230, the radius R2 of the annular arrangement of passage holes 212 and the radius R1 of the radially inner side 213 of the steel flange 210.

[0046] The radii indicated here are in particular with respect to a longitudinal axis LA of the hybrid tower.

[0047] The radii indications in FIG. 3 are illustrated schematically. The size ratios of a real hybrid tower of a wind power installation can differ significantly in comparison therewith. Rather, FIG. 3 serves to clarify the principle. The radii described here relate in particular to a central radius of the in each case indicated element.

[0048] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, in an operating state of the hybrid tower, a lower side 245 of the concrete core 240 directly adjoins an upper side 403 of the concrete tower section 102a. In this case, use can be made of the advantageous coefficient of friction for concrete on concrete. Preferably, that side 245 of the concrete core 240 which is at the bottom in the operating state is aligned with that axial end 225 of the steel outer casing 220 which is at the bottom in the operating state and with that axial end 235 of the steel inner casing 230 which is at the bottom in the operating state. The concrete core 240 adjoins the steel flange 210, the steel outer casing 220 and the steel inner casing 230. In particular, a side 244 of the concrete core 240 that is at the top in the operating state adjoins a side 214 of the steel flange 210 that is at the bottom in the operating state. A radially inner side 241 of the concrete core 240 adjoins a radially outer side 232 of the steel inner casing 230. A radially outer side 242 of the concrete core 240 adjoins a radially inner side 221 of the steel outer casing 220.

[0049] A radially outer side 222 of the steel outer casing 220 preferably forms an outer wall of the hybrid tower and is furthermore preferably configured so as to be aligned with a radially outer side 305 of the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b, in particular of a steel casing 306 of the steel tower section 102b, and with a radially outer side 402 of the concrete tower section 102a. Furthermore, it is preferably the case that, in the operating state, a radially inner side 231 of the steel inner casing 230 is formed so as to be aligned with a radially inner side 401 of the concrete tower section 102a.

[0050] A side 315 of the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b that is at the bottom in the operating state preferably bears on a side 215 of the steel flange 210 that is at the top in the operating state.

[0051] The flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b has a plurality of annularly arranged passage holes 301, which is preferably arranged in alignment with the plurality of the annularly arranged blind holes 211 in the steel flange 210 of the hybrid tower section 200. Fastening elements 302, for example in the form of threaded bolts, may preferably be arranged in the passage holes 301 in the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b and the blind holes 211 in the steel flange 210 of the hybrid tower section 200 and be fastened by nuts 303 on that side 316 of the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b which is at the top in the operating state. In this way, a fastening between the steel tower section 102b and the hybrid tower section 200 can be produced.

[0052] The plurality of annularly arranged passage holes 212 in the steel flange 210 of the hybrid tower section 200 serves in particular for receiving external tensioning members (not illustrated) that run in an interior of the hybrid tower and that prestress the concrete tower section 102a between the hybrid tower section 200 and a foundation of the hybrid tower. This results in build-up of a pressure at the abutment connection between that side 245 of the concrete core which is at the bottom in the operating state and a side 403 of the concrete tower section 102a that is at the top in the operating state.

[0053] Projections in the form of shear cleats 223 are formed on the radially inner side 221 of the steel outer casing 220. Furthermore, projections in the form of shear cleats 233 are formed on the radially outer side 232 of the steel inner casing 230. Consequently, in a cross section orthogonal to the ring direction or parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, a boundary line between the concrete core 240 and, respectively, the steel outer casing 220 and the steel inner casing 230 is of tooth cut-type form, and a shear-resistant toothing is realized between the concrete core 240 and the steel outer casing and the steel inner casing 230.

[0054] In the method 1000 illustrated in FIG. 4 for producing a hybrid tower section, the following steps are carried out: providing 1001 a steel flange having a plurality of annularly arranged blind holes and having a plurality of annularly arranged passage holes, providing 1002 a steel outer casing, providing 1003 a steel inner casing 230 and arranging it in such a way that the steel inner casing projects upward from that side 214 of the steel flange 210 which is at the bottom in the operating state of the hybrid tower, welding 1004 the steel outer casing 220 and/or the steel inner casing 230 to the steel flange 210.

[0055] Further steps are preferably as follows: arranging 1005 the steel flange and the steel outer casing 220 in such a way that a side of the steel flange 210 that is at the bottom in the operating state of the hybrid tower faces upward and the steel outer casing projects upward from that side of the steel flange which is at the bottom in the operating state of a hybrid tower; introducing 1006 reinforcement 243 prior to making 1007 the concrete core 240, making 1007 the concrete core using the steel outer casing and the steel inner casing 230 as a formwork, in particular as a permanent formwork. In this way, the concrete core 240 directly adjoins the steel flange 210 and the steel outer casing 220 and the steel inner casing 230.

[0056] Finally, the method 2000 for producing a hybrid tower for a wind power installation as per FIG. 5 comprises the steps of providing 2001 at least one concrete tower section 102a, arranging 2002 a hybrid tower section 200 as described above on the concrete tower section 102a, arranging 2003 a steel tower section 102b on the hybrid tower section 200, fastening 2004 the steel tower section to the hybrid tower section by means of the plurality of annularly arranged blind holes 211 and preferably the plurality of annularly arranged passage holes 301 in the flange section 300 of the steel tower section 102b and by means of fastening elements 302 and nuts 303, fastening 2005 tensioning members at the plurality of annularly arranged passage holes 212 and preferably tensioning the tensioning members.

[0057] With the hybrid tower section described here, there is provided a cost-effective and efficient possibility for reliably connecting the concrete tower section to the steel tower section in a hybrid tower and at the same time saving weight and costs. The shear-resistant toothing via projections in the form of shear cleats on those sides of the steel inner casing and the steel outer casing which face one another with the concrete core, which lacks the intermediate space between the steel outer casing and the steel inner casing, results in an efficient transmission of force.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0058] 1 Wind power installation [0059] 102 Hybrid tower [0060] 102a Concrete tower section [0061] 102b Steel tower section [0062] 200 Hybrid tower section [0063] 210 Steel flange [0064] 211 Blind holes [0065] 212 Passage holes [0066] 213 Radially inner side of the steel flange [0067] 214 Side of the steel flange at the bottom in the operating state [0068] 215 Side of the steel flange at the top in the operating state [0069] 220 Steel outer casing [0070] 221 Radially inner side of the steel outer casing [0071] 222 Radially outer side of the steel outer casing [0072] 223 Shear cleats on the radially inner side of the steel outer casing [0073] 225 Axial end of the steel outer casing at the bottom in the operating state [0074] 230 Steel inner casing [0075] 231 Radially inner side of the steel inner casing [0076] 232 Radially outer side of the steel inner casing [0077] 233 Shear cleats on the radially outer side of the steel inner casing [0078] 235 Axial end of the steel inner casing at the bottom in the operating state [0079] 240 Concrete core [0080] 241 Radially inner side of the concrete core [0081] 242 Radially outer side of the concrete core [0082] 243 Reinforcement [0083] 244 Side of the concrete core at the top in the operating state [0084] 245 Side of the concrete core at the bottom in the operating state [0085] 300 Flange section of the steel tower section [0086] 301 Passage holes in the flange section of the steel tower section [0087] 302 Fastening elements [0088] 303 Nuts [0089] 304 Radially inner side of the flange section of the steel tower section [0090] 305 Radially outer side of the flange section of the steel tower section [0091] 306 Steel casing of the steel tower section [0092] 315 Side of the flange section of the steel tower section at the bottom in the operating state [0093] 316 Side of the flange section of the steel tower section at the top in the operating state [0094] 401 Radially inner side of the concrete tower section [0095] 402 Radially outer side of the concrete tower section [0096] 403 Side of the concrete tower section at the top in the operating state [0097] 405 Side of the concrete tower section at the bottom in the operating state [0098] 1000 Method for producing a hybrid tower section [0099] 1001 Providing a steel flange [0100] 1002 Providing a steel outer casing [0101] 1003 Providing a steel inner casing [0102] 1004 Welding the steel outer casing and the steel inner casing to the steel flange [0103] 1005 Arranging the steel flange and the steel outer casing [0104] 1006 Introducing reinforcement [0105] 1007 Making the concrete core [0106] 2000 Method for producing a hybrid tower for a wind power installation [0107] 2001 Providing at least one concrete tower section [0108] 2002 Arranging a hybrid tower section on the concrete tower section [0109] 2003 Arranging a steel tower section on the hybrid tower section [0110] 2004 Fastening the steel tower section to the hybrid tower section [0111] 2005 Fastening tensioning members at the plurality of annularly arranged passage holes [0112] 2006 Tensioning the tensioning members [0113] LA Longitudinal axis [0114] R1 Radius of the radially inner side of the steel flange [0115] R2 Radius of the annular arrangement of the passage holes [0116] R3 Radius of the steel inner casing [0117] R4 Radius of the radially inner side of the flange section of the steel tower section [0118] R5 Radius of the annular arrangement of the blind holes [0119] R6 Radius of the steel outer casing [0120] RB Radius of the radially inner side of the concrete core