DE102021004210B3 - Erectable and removable tower construction of a high-altitude wind turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the rotatable tower construction of a high-altitude wind turbine, the lower part of which is set up, assembled and equipped on the foundations (3c) and the annular track (4) and the entire upper part of the tower (2) with the rotor (1), including its drive and complete machine and Generator platform (7) is installed and equipped at the site lying on the ground and is then set up in the ready-to-operate working position and brought into a vertical position.
This may be repeated throughout its lifetime for service, inspection or repair purposes.

Description

The invention relates to the rotatable upper part of the tower of a high-altitude wind turbine, which is assembled and equipped lying on the ground and then erected together with the lower part of the tower in the vertical working position.

It can be laid down and/or set up repeatedly during its lifetime for the purpose of service, inspection or repair.

High-altitude wind turbines are rotatable tower structures that have hub heights from 200 m to 260 m and construction heights of up to 300 m and have the drive at the bottom.

State of the art

The state of the art of onshore and offshore wind turbines that has been implemented in practice worldwide to date is the tower that is firmly anchored in the ground and subjected to bending loads, the height of which no longer exceeds the hub heights of around 160 to 180 m achieved up to now for logistical and justifiable economic reasons noticeably increased.

The construction of wind turbines of this type is controlled by powerful mobile cranes or special climbing cranes, which are supported at certain heights on the growing tower.

The most widespread is the construction of inland wind turbines up to hub heights of 180m using hoists. For higher systems, jib cranes are also known for their construction, which hold on to the tower construction and climb up as construction progresses. After the tower construction, the nacelle at hub height and the rotor have been assembled, the crane is removed again.

Such a solution is, for example, in the publication WO 2015/158713 A1 disclosed. When it is necessary to carry out inspections or repairs of such wind turbines, for which a crane is required, this is brought back up and used as an aid for carrying out the necessary work.

This is very costly in terms of money and time. Sufficient timing for the access of the forces for the maintenance or repair crew on site up to the nacelle at hub height must also be taken into account. As a significant uncertainty factor, it should also be noted that the higher the working height, higher wind speeds can also occur, at which maintenance and repair work may no longer be carried out after the permissible limit values have been exceeded, or work that has already started must be interrupted. Furthermore, as the height of a wind turbine increases, it takes longer and longer to transport the workers of a repair crew upwards in a lift-limited number and speed.

To facilitate the assembly of a wind turbine and its maintenance and repair is from the document DE 735 210 a solution for a wind turbine known that can be erected and laid down if necessary. Their tower construction consists of three pillars: a first vertical pillar that carries the rotor and two staggered support pillars that are hinged to the vertical pillar at the top. The vertical column is supported at the bottom by a ball joint, while the two support columns can each be moved on a circular path by means of a carriage. The system on land can thus be turned into the wind if required. The wind turbine is erected in a horizontal position, with the vertical pillar and the two support pillars forming an elongated unit. Then it is erected to the middle position with an auxiliary crane to use the wind energy and then to the end position with pulleys. In order not to have to carry out necessary maintenance work at an unsafe height, the support structure is lowered again to carry out this work. It is also planned to lower the system if there is a risk of storms and then raise it again. The design principle of this foldable wind turbine is suitable for low hub heights.

Further erectable and, if necessary, stowable wind turbines with small hub heights are, for example, from the publications DE 28 06 081 , DE 26 46353 , DE 196 36 240 A1 and DE 10 2008 063 298 A1 disclosed. In addition, it is known to assemble offshore wind turbines on land, to transport them to the place of use on special ships, to erect them and to connect them to the foundation structure that has already been prefabricated there and is fastened to the seabed. Such a positioning device is, for example, from the publication DE 103 32 382 B4 disclosed.

The special ship intended for this consists mainly of a transport platform on which offshore wind turbines with standard hub heights and an inclined tower are transported. The systems are erected with the help of the pull ropes of an erection device belonging to the ship and then pushed onto a prepared substructure to which they are firmly connected. A tipping of the systems at a later date for the purpose of repair or maintenance is not intended according to the publication.

object of the invention

The object of the invention is to equip high-altitude wind turbines with hub heights from 200 m above the site with a reliable method of erecting and lowering the tower in order to be able to carry out responsible, physically strenuous work at exceptional heights and with the endangered effects of wind speeds of over 10 to 12 m/s avoid.

For this reason, it is planned to always enable assembly and equipment, service and necessary repairs to the high-altitude wind turbine when the tower is in the down position.

After complete assembly and equipment in a lying position on site, the system is erected and brought into the functional position. In this position, the system works according to the specified program for generating electricity.

For service and also for replacing parts during the general overhaul, the tower is temporarily brought back into its stowed position in order to make all areas easily accessible.

This object is solved by the features of the main claim.

The tower is designed in sections and consists of a rotatable tower base as the lower part of the tower and an upper part of the tower arranged on top. The upper part of the tower includes the vertical column and the two spread tension/compression columns and, from top to bottom, the rotor, the rotor bearing and the torque transmission with the wire-rope-reinforced flat belts and the machine platform with the generator/drive. The lower free ends of the spread tension/compression columns are connected on both sides to the lower end of the vertical column by another tension/compression column.

Components of the lower part of the tower are the base frame with the running gear and two tension/compression columns arranged at an angle on the base frame, each of which is supported by another tension/compression column above the base frame.

The lower part of the tower accommodates a right and left cable winch. From each of the two cable winches, a high-strength wire cable is guided over a first, axially arranged, movable lower block, referred to as a roller set, at the intersection of the two lower pairs of tension/compression columns. Each of these two bottom blocks is functionally connected by the wire rope in several strands to a second set of pulleys, known as the top block. These two sets of rollers are mounted at the intersection of the two lower free ends of the spread tension/compression columns of the tower.

The lower part of the tower and the upper part of the tower are connected to one another in a tilting joint. By operating the cable winches, the superstructure can be raised and/or lowered in relation to the substructure with the two powerful pulleys. When erected, the two diagonal pressure columns of the substructure are in pairs along the diagonal pressure columns of the superstructure along their full length up to the tilting joint.

The supporting structure of the lower part of the tower absorbs the tensile and compressive forces from the raising and lowering process of the upper part of the tower. The front pressure columns of the lower part of the tower absorb the forces from the pulley blocks that run past the vertical column to the right and left. At the tipping point of the vertical column above the front running gear of the base frame above the circular track, all the pressure forces of the erection or laying down process for the tower construction of the plant meet.

In the rear part of the base frame, the forces directed upwards from the lower part of the tower are absorbed by the center of gravity of the base frame, including the dead weight of both cable winches and the additionally applied transportable concrete counter-loads. The static and dynamic stability as well as the self-support are fulfilled.

As described above, the lower part of the tower is based on the upper part of the tower and fulfills two functions throughout the service life of the high-altitude wind turbine: it accommodates the cable winches and is the supporting structure for the erection and lowering device. In the erected state, when the high-altitude wind turbine is in function mode, the lower part is part of the tower construction.

Further details of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

It is planned to position support and assembly blocks on the ground that are of the correct shape, which are assembly aids both for assembling the tower construction and for the rotor blades. This means that revisions and repair work can be carried out more quickly and safely.

Equipping the cable winches with a fine stroke, which is switched on automatically as soon as the tower construction has assumed a position of 5° in front of the end position, is provided in order to be able to better monitor the reaching of the intended end position by reducing the end speed. In this way, the correctly designed support and assembly stands can be positioned precisely before the rotor blades 1a to 1c are placed directly on them.

The lower part of the tower is oriented to an installation height of around 50 m. It is mounted upright. The upper part of the tower is assembled and erected lying on the ground. When erected, the system fulfills its actual task and is used to generate electricity. The tower construction can be put down again temporarily for necessary revision work. This technology offers the investor great financial and time advantages.
With far-sighted technological and logistical planning, disadvantages from the space requirements for the lying starting area can be compensated. Even the use of a super vehicle crane for the heights and the necessary lifting capacities would not bring any space gain, since the necessary set-up areas for such cranes require the same lengths and widths for the set-up processes.

The frequency of necessary ordering, transport, assembly and operation of large third-party hoists, multiplied by the frequency per year (lightning strikes, necessary repairs, revisions and parts replacement) multiplied by the desired service life of 30 years, causes total expenses and above all due to the loss of energy generation time that the technological equipment with self-sufficient raising and lowering of the tower is the more economical version.

character list

• 1 eine komplette Darstellung der Höhenwindanlage in einer Seitenansicht in betriebsbereiter Stellung für den Dauerbetrieb,
• 2 das Unterteil der Höhenwindanlage in einer Seitenansicht,
• 3 das Turmoberteil der Höhenwindanlage in einer Seitenansicht in liegender Stellung und
• 4 die Höhenwindanlage in kompletter Darstellung sowohl im aufgerichteten als auch im liegenden Zustand in einer Seitenansicht am Standort .

Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. Show it

• 1 a complete representation of the high-altitude wind turbine in a side view in an operational position for continuous operation,
• 2 the lower part of the high-altitude wind turbine in a side view,
• 3 the upper part of the tower of the high-altitude wind turbine in a side view in a lying position and
• 4 the high-altitude wind turbine in a complete representation both in the erected and in the lying state in a side view at the location.

According to the drawing 1 a high-altitude wind turbine with a projected hub height of 220 m and a planned output of 8 MW and the drive housed in the lower part of the tower in the machine house is shown in its upright position for functioning in the operating wind.

The tower construction of the high-altitude wind turbine is divided to master the extreme task of raising and lowering. It consists of the lower tower part 3 and the upper tower part 2 arranged on top.

The upper part of the tower 2 includes the rotor assemblies 1 with the rotor blades 1a to 1c arranged on the hub 1d, the tower with the vertical column 2c and the two tension and compression columns 2a and 2b arranged spread apart. On its underside, the vertical column 2c is connected to the underside of one of the two spread pressure columns 2a, 2b by a respective tension and compression column 6a and 6b. In the drawings, the individual parts that are behind a part of the same designation that is arranged in front of it and are not visible are placed in brackets.

The tower base 3, hereinafter also referred to as the tower base, is after 2 provided with a base frame 3a. This base frame 3a accommodates a number of carriages 3b on its underside, by means of which the entire system is placed in the wind on the annular track 4 fastened to the foundation 3c. On the base frame 3a are two pairs of adjacent tension and compression columns 16a and behind them not visible 16b attached, which are the extensions of the two spread compression columns 2a and 2c when the wind turbine is in the upright, operational state. These two tension and compression columns 16a and 16b, together with the base frame 3a and two further compression columns 5a and 5b arranged in pairs, form a stable rotatable lower tower part 3 by means of a support structure which is triangular in side view.

The tension and compression columns 5a, 5b belonging to the tower base 3 connect the base frame 3a to the two tension and compression rods 16a and 16b. The two tension and compression columns 6a, 6b belonging to the upper part of the tower 2 are dimensioned and aligned with one another in such a way that when the upper part of the tower 2 is in the erected state, they are positioned congruently in pairs over their full length.

At the foot of the extension of the vertical column 2c, the receptacle for a tilting joint 11 of the upper part 2 of the tower is provided on the base frame 3a.

In order to be able to convert the upper part of the tower 2 of such a high-altitude wind turbine from the mode “stored” to the mode “erected” and back without significant set-up times, 3 all elements and aggregates involved in generating energy are combined as a constructive unit in the drive and housed on the machine and generator platform for the electric drive 7.

The different loads on the steel construction from the functions of raising and lowering as well as continuous operation when changing the wind require the statically correct consideration in the calculation.

The tower base 3 connects the vertical column 2c of the tower top 2 in the tilting joint 11, around which the tower structure 2 can be erected in relation to the tower base 3 by means of the erecting and adjusting device into the working position and stored if necessary. For this purpose, a right and left cable winch 8a and 8b is arranged on the rotatable platform 3a behind the two tension and pressure columns 16a and 16b.

Each of these two winches 8a and 8b is behind 4 by a high-strength wire rope with a first set of rollers fixedly arranged at the upper ends of the two tension and pressure columns 16a, 16b of the tower base 3 of the left and right lower blocks 9a, 9b fixedly arranged at the bottom with a second, on the other hand, at the lower ends of the the two spread tension and pressure columns 2a, 2b arranged upper roller assemblies of the left and the right top block 10a, 10b in functional connection.

In the erected state, the greatest approximation is achieved between the touching tension and compression columns 6a, 6b and 5a, 5b and the two lower blocks 9a and 9b and their associated upper blocks 10a, 10b. In doing so, as in 2 shown, the two tension/compression columns 5a, 5b in pairs along the tension/compression columns 6a, 6b over their full length up to the tilting joint 11.

Both cable winches 8a, 8b work with their cable lengths to the right and left of the vertical column 2a on an arc of a circle of the pressure columns 6a, 6b according to their lengths.

Support and assembly stands 12 are provided for the safe depositing of the upper part of the tower 2 .

The erection and adjustment device can be operated either from a cabin 13 provided for this purpose or from the ground by means of a remote control.

By fixing the top and bottom blocks 10a, 10b and 9a, 9b to the tension and pressure columns 6a, 6b and 5a, 5b, the vertical end position of the tower construction is fixed and the entire system assumes the state of continuous operation of the high-altitude wind turbine in the erected state . This assumption of the end position is automatically controlled in the electrical switching system of the system, so that the condition for the continuous operation of the high-altitude wind system is secured.

The upper and lower blocks 10a, 10b and 9a, 9b of the pulley blocks of both cable winches 8a, 8b guarantee the required cable routing and deflection angle of the high-strength Wire ropes of both lashings.

For the release from the vertical end position of the tower upper part 2 with the rotor 1 in the downward movement and shortly before reaching the stored position, a fine lift of the cable drum winches 8a, 8b is automatically switched on, which allows the end position to be reached at approx. 1/5 of the normal speed allows.

The assembly and set-up work on the ground is faster, more relaxed and cheaper than working at height under time-consuming and expensive influences.

All in all, the time required for setting down and setting up is less and can be better prepared than the lift transport with two people, tools and spare parts plus empty runs and waiting times at the rear. All in all, the new solution will be cheaper in terms of time and more economical and, above all, with regard to modern occupational safety requirements, it will be more responsible towards the workers and those responsible who have to carry it out.

The use of the two supports 15 on the right and left in front of the tilting joint 11 serves to increase the stability when raising and lowering and the temporary relief of the chassis 3b. Contrary to the support of the two supports 15 behind the tower base 3, the introduction of the additional ballast 14 is required at the correct distance from the rotatable tower in the ground, so that the specified stability is maintained during the erection and lowering process in any case. Before the initiation of the raising or lowering process, the additional ballast 14 behind the tower base 3 is to be tautly attached to its predetermined place.

Reference List

1

rotor

1 a

rotor blade

1b

rotor blade

1c

rotor blade

1d

rotor hub

2

tower top

2a

spread tension and compression column

2 B

spread tension and compression column

2c

vertical column

3

Tower base / tower base

3a

base frame

3b

landing gear

3c

foundation

4

circular track

5a

Tension/compression columns on the left to the sheave set bottom block 9a

5b

Tension/compression columns on the right for the roller set, bottom block 9b

6a

Tension/compression columns on the left for the roller set upper blocks 10a

6b

Tension/compression columns on the right for the roller set upper blocks 10b

7

Machine and generator platform for electric drive

8a

Cable winch, left (consisting of electric, motor, gear cable drum, clutch)

8b

Cable winch, right (consisting of electric, motor, gear cable drum, clutch)

9a

Roller package / left lower block

9b

Sheave package/ right bottom block

10a

Roller package / left top block

10b

Roller package / right top block

11

Tilting joint of the tower construction

12

Support and assembly blocks

13

cabin

14

additional ballast

15

support

16a

Tension and compression column

16b

Tension and compression column

Claims (5)

Erectable and detachable high-altitude wind turbine, consisting of - a tower that can be moved on a circular path with a vertical column (2c) and two spread tension and pressure columns (2a and 2b), - a rotor (1) at hub height with torque directed downwards for machine and Generator platform (7) of the electric drive, characterized in that the tower is divided into a rotatable tower base as the tower base (3) and a tower top part (2) arranged thereon, with the tower top part (2) having the entire vertical column (2c) and the spread Tension/compression columns (2a and 2b) belong and each of the lower free ends of the spread tension/compression columns (2a and 2b) are connected to the lower end of the vertical column (2c) by another tension/compression column (6a, 6b). , Components of the lower tower part (3) are the base frame (3a) with the running gear (3b) and two tension/compression columns (16a, 16b) arranged diagonally on the base frame (3a) and each of these two tension/compression columns (16a, 16b ) above opposite the G round frame (3a) is supported by a further tension/compression column (5a, 5b), on the tower base (3) a right and left cable winch (8a, 8b) is attached, of which a high-strength cable each has a cable at the intersection of the two Tension/compression columns (16a, 5a and 16b, 5b) first axially arranged movable roller set (9a, 9b) is guided as bottom blocks, and via the wire cable, which is guided in several strands, with a second, at the intersection of the two lower free ends of the spread Tension/compression columns (2a and 2b) and the tension/compression columns (6a, 6b) are functionally connected to the roller assembly (10a, 10b) as top blocks, the upper tower part (2) relative to the lower tower part (3) by a joint (11 ) is connected to each other at the lower end of the vertical column (2a), and when erected, the two diagonal pressure columns (5a, 5b) in pairs lie next to one another along the diagonal pressure columns (6a, 6b) over their full length up to the tilting joint (11) and thus the door munterteil (3) with its steel framework when raising and lowering the superstructure (2) fulfills a support and storage function and when the tower is erected, the lower tower part (3) accommodates the upper tower part (2) and thus the lower tower part (3) and the upper tower part (2) together form the tower construction. Erectable and detachable high-altitude wind turbine claim 1 , characterized in that each of the cable winches (8a, 8b) is equipped with a precision lift which switches on automatically up to an angle of 5° before the upper and lower end positions of the upper tower part (2) are reached, and then into the end position retract at fine stroke speed. Erectable and detachable high-altitude wind turbine according to the claims 1 and 2 , characterized in that a right and left extendable support arm (15) is arranged in front of the lower tower part (3) on its base frame (3a) in front of the tipping edge. Erectable and detachable high-altitude wind turbine according to the claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that behind the lower part of the tower (3) at a sufficient distance from the base frame (3a) the additional ballast (14) introduced to ensure stability is attached to the base frame (3a) via the tension and compression columns (16a, 16b) and after the Erecting or depositing process is brought out of function again. Erectable and detachable high-altitude wind turbine according to the claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that as assembly aids and storage aids for the tower construction (2) on the ground and for the assembly of the rotor blades (1a to 1c) are positioned support and assembly blocks (12) of the correct shape.

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