U.S. patent application number 14/114767 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for method for the production of wind turbine tower segments and wind turbine tower.
The applicant listed for this patent is Lars HELTOFT, Steen Kirkegaard JENSEN, Anders Nygaard RASMUSSEN, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Henrik STIESDAL. Invention is credited to Lars Heltoft, Steen Kirkegaard Jensen, Anders Nygaard Rasmussen, Henrik Stiesdal.
Application Number | 20140137507 14/114767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46124352 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140137507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heltoft; Lars ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WIND TURBINE TOWER SEGMENTS AND WIND
TURBINE TOWER
Abstract
A method is provided for the production of tower segments, which
are used to assemble a wind turbine tower. The method includes
providing a sheet steel, cutting the sheet steel into a plurality
of steel plates, cutting at least one opening in the plurality of
steel plates, and bending the steel plates into a desired shape.
The steps are performed in a continuous process, such that the
steel plates move from one step in the production to the next.
Inventors: |
Heltoft; Lars; (Aalborg,
DK) ; Jensen; Steen Kirkegaard; (Skanderborg, DK)
; Rasmussen; Anders Nygaard; (Kobenhavn, DK) ;
Stiesdal; Henrik; (Odense C, DK) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STIESDAL; Henrik
HELTOFT; Lars
JENSEN; Steen Kirkegaard
RASMUSSEN; Anders Nygaard
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft |
Odense C
Aalborg
Skanderborg
Munchen |
|
DK
DK
DK
US
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
46124352 |
Appl. No.: |
14/114767 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
May 15, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/059044 |
371 Date: |
December 19, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/651.01 ;
29/897.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F03D 13/10 20160501;
Y10T 29/49631 20150115; E04H 12/08 20130101; Y02P 70/50 20151101;
Y02E 10/728 20130101; Y02E 10/72 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/651.01 ;
29/897.33 |
International
Class: |
E04H 12/08 20060101
E04H012/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2011 |
EP |
11166239.1 |
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A method for the production of tower segments, which are used
to assemble a wind turbine tower, the method comprising the steps
of: providing a sheet steel, cutting the sheet steel into a
plurality of steel plates, cutting at least one opening in the
plurality of steel plates, bending the steel plates into a desired
shape, wherein the steps are performed in a continuous process,
wherein the steel plates move from one step in the production to
the next.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the sheet steel is
provided in a rolled manner from a coil.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the sheet steel is
provided as a precut sheet steel plate.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the sheet steel is
provided as pre-bent steel plate.
20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the steps are
performed in a machine-based process.
21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising performing
a surface treatment on the steel plates.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the surface treatment
comprises sandblasting of the surface, or a painting of the
surface, or a lacquering of the surface, or a roughening of the
surface, or a pre-mounting of equipment, which needs to the
connected with the surface, or cutting of threads into the surface,
or combinations thereof.
23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of cutting
the sheet steel into the plurality of steel plates is performed by
mechanical cutting means, or laser cutting means, or plasma cutting
means, or flame cutting means, combinations thereof.
24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of cutting
the opening in the steel plates is performed by punching, drilling,
laser cutting and/or plasma cutting to cut bolt-holes,
door-openings, openings for ventilation and/or windows.
25. The method according to claim 16, further comprising performing
an additional processing step for shaping the steel plate to
achieve a different thickness or width.
26. The method according to claim 16, further comprising connecting
a plurality of bended steel plates to assemble a ring-shaped tower
element.
27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the connection of the
steel plates is done by using the openings for threaded or bolted
connections.
28. A Wind turbine tower, comprising: a segment being manufactured
according to the method of claim 16.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the US National Stage of International
Application No. PCT/EP2012/059044, filed May 15, 2012 and claims
the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the
benefits of European application No. 11166239.1 EP filed May 16,
2011. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein
in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a method for the production
of wind turbine tower segments and a wind turbine tower assembled
from tower segment produced by this method.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] It is known to build towers for wind turbines as steel
towers. Those towers are constructed with tower segments. The tower
segments are manufactured at a production site, which is remote
from the wind turbine site.
[0004] They are transported to the site where the tower will be
erected. They are attached or assembled there to build up the wind
turbine tower or an element of this tower.
[0005] It is known to build towers for wind turbines as
constructions with a mainly circular perimeter, but it is also
known to build towers which are polyangular.
[0006] US 2008 0256892 describes a wind energy tower with a
load-bearing tower wall, which has a circulating outer periphery
and consists of a plurality of wall sections, which each one have
one centre section and two border section running in the
longitudinal direction of the tower, which are provided with a
plurality of connection bores, wherein the surface defined by the
border sections run along the outer periphery or in a constant
distance to the same, and the connection bores are aligned
transversely to the outer periphery.
[0007] It is also known, to build a wind turbine tower with a
diameter or outer dimensions, which vary from the bottom of the
tower to the top of the tower. For this type of tower the tower
segments used for different heights have different dimensions.
[0008] The disadvantage is that the steel plates in different
heights of a tower need a different shape and a different
processing. This is often done in a manual process which is time-
and work-intensive and even expensive.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a method
for the production of wind turbine towers that allows a quicker
production that is less expensive and a wind turbine tower that is
assembled quicker and less expensive.
[0010] The aim is reached by the features of the independent
claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the
dependent claims.
[0011] According to the invention the method for the production of
tower segments, which are used to assemble a wind turbine tower,
comprises the steps to provide a sheet steel, to cut the sheet
steel into a number of steel plates, to cut at least one opening in
the number of steel plates and to bend the steel plates into a
desired shape. Thus all steps necessary to achieve a tower segment
of a wind turbine tower in the desired state of production can be
performed. Thus individual treatment of each steel plate is
possible. Thus steel plates of different shape can be produced in
one process. Thus towers with differing dimensions and/or
variations in the facilities can be assembled from these tower
segments.
[0012] According to the invention a wind turbine tower comprises
the segments being manufactured according to the method
invented.
[0013] Preferably the sheet steel is provided in a rolled manner
from a coil. Thus the steel is cut in plates with the required
length from a long strip of steel. Thus there is less material cut
away and left over then with standard sized sheet steel plates.
Thus material is saved.
[0014] Preferably the sheet steel is provided as a precut sheet
steel plate. Thus the width of the sheet steel has the dimension
required. Thus there is less material cut away and left over. Thus
material is saved.
[0015] Preferably the sheet steel is provided as pre-bent steel
plate. Thus the plates are at least partially formed in the desired
shape before fed into the production process. Thus time and
machinery is saved in the production process.
[0016] Preferably the steps are performed in a production process.
Thus the process requires a minimum of transporting lifting and
handling of the steel plates.
[0017] Preferably the steps are performed in a continuous process.
Thus the steel plates move from one step in the production to the
next. Thus no transportation and/or storage is needed for the steel
plates between the steps in the process. Thus storage space is
saved and time and personnel to transport and store the steel
plates is saved.
[0018] Preferably the steps are performed in a machine-based
process. Thus no manual handling of the plates has to be done. Thus
time and personnel is saved.
[0019] Preferably the additional step of performing a surface
treatment on the steel plates is performed. Thus all steps that
have to be performed to the plates to achieve steel plates in the
right state to assemble the tower can be performed in one process.
Thus no additional treatment is necessary.
[0020] Preferably the surface treatment is a sandblasting of the
surface, a painting of the surface, a lacquering of the surface, a
roughening of the surface, a pre-mounting of equipment, which needs
to the connected with the surface, and/or cutting of threads into
the surface.
[0021] Preferably the step of cutting the sheet steel into a number
of steel plates is performed by mechanical cutting means, laser
cutting means, plasma cutting means and/or flame cutting means.
[0022] Preferably the step of cutting the opening in the steel
plates is performed by punching, drilling, laser cutting, plasma
cutting, cut bolt-holes, door-openings and/or openings for
ventilation or windows. Thus all kind of openings, holes and/or
cavities can be added to the steel plates. Thus an individual
design for every single steel plate can be performed.
[0023] Preferably an additional processing step is performed for
shaping the steel plate to achieve a different thickness or width.
Thus a different size or thickness of the steel plates can be
achieved in comparison to the sheet steel in the beginning of the
process. Thus an individual thickness or width of the single steel
plates can be achieved.
[0024] Preferably a number of bended steel plates are connected to
assemble a ring-shaped tower element.
[0025] Preferably the connection of the steel plates is done by
using the openings for threaded or bolted connections. Thus no
additional step to add connecting means is necessary.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The invention is shown in more detail by help of
figures.
[0027] The figures show preferred configurations and do not limit
the scope of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a production process for a wind turbine tower
segment according to the invention,
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a steel plate produced by the method
claimed,
[0030] FIG. 3 shows various shapes of steel plates produced by the
method claimed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a production process for a wind turbine tower
segment according to the invention. The sheet steel 1 is provided
in a rolled manner on a coil 2. The sheet steel 1 is unrolled and
flattened out by the help of rollers 8. The sheet steel 1 is
therefore moved forward by driving means 3.
[0032] The coil 2 of sheet steel 1 is provided in the right width.
One example of such is a width of 2.07 m and with a steel plate
thickness of 17.1 mm. To get steel plates 9 with the desired length
the sheet steel 1 from the coil 2 is cut by cutting means 4.
[0033] The cutting means 4 are means for mechanical cutting, laser
cutting, plasma cutting or flame cutting.
[0034] In another step in the process the steel plate 9 is
processed by surface processing means 7 and rollers 5.
[0035] The surface processing means 7 are e.g. means for
sandblasting, painting, lacquering, pre-mounting, threads cutting
or dimension measurement for quality ensurance.
[0036] The rollers 5 are processing means for shaping the steel
plate 9 like rolling it, to achieve a different thickness or width,
or to form it by bending. The steel plate 9 is moved forward by
driving means 3.
[0037] Thereafter another step of the production method is shown.
In this step the steel plate 9 is also moved forward by driving
means 3 and is processed by processing means 6. The processing
means 6 are processing means for punching, drilling, laser cutting
or plasma cutting to cut holes, door-openings or openings for
ventilation or windows.
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a steel plate 9 produced by the method claimed.
After being processed the steel plate 9 show e.g. holes 10 cut into
the steel plate 9 or a bend 11 to shape the steel plate 9.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows various shapes of steel plates 9 produced by
the method claimed. After being processed the steel plate 9 might
be shaped by being bent 12 to be prepared as a segment for
poly-angular tower. The steel plate might also be curved 13 to be
prepared as a tower segment for a round or oval tower.
* * * * *