Wind turbine tower and method for erecting a wind turbine tower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9841007-B2
Application number	US-201515313395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	May 23, 2014
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A wind turbine tower is provided with a plurality of tower segment which are placed one on top of the other in order to form the tower. A lower tower segment has a lower end face, and in the lower region of the lower tower segment, the lower tower segment has a plurality of recesses and through-bores between the lower end face of the lower tower segment and a base of the recesses. The recesses are designed to receive a leveling unit for leveling the lower tower segment. The recesses are preferably provided on the inner face of the lower tower segment and provide an effective possibility for receiving leveling units.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine tower, comprising:
a plurality of tower segments that are stacked one on top of another on a foundation to form the wind turbine tower,
wherein the plurality of tower segments includes a lower tower segment having a lower end face and a lower region, wherein a plurality of cavities are located in the lower region of the lower tower segment, the lower tower segment including through bores between the lower end face of the lower tower segment and a bottom of each of the plurality of cavities,
wherein the lower tower segment is a precast concrete tower segment,
wherein each of the cavities is configured to receive a levelling unit for levelling the lower tower segment on the foundation.

2. The wind turbine tower according to claim 1 , comprising the levelling units in the cavities, respectively, wherein each levelling unit has a supporting foot and a rod that are inserted through a respective one of the through bores into the cavity, and each levelling unit is configured to set a length of the rod for levelling the lowest tower segment.

3. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2 , wherein each levelling unit has a hydraulic unit for setting a length of the rod for levelling the lower tower segment.

4. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2 , wherein each levelling unit has a supporting frame with two sidewalls, a bottom, a cover, and an intermediate bottom,
wherein the bottom and the intermediate bottom each have a cutout such that the supporting frame is configured to be inserted into the cavity when the rod has been inserted through the through hole into the cavity.

5. The wind turbine tower according to claim 4 , wherein for each levelling unit a nut is screwed onto the rod, wherein for arresting the levelling of the lower tower segment, the nut is screwed onto the rod such that the nut bears against the intermediate bottom.

6. The wind turbine tower according to claim 2 , wherein the supporting foot and the rod are integrally formed.

7. A method for erecting a wind turbine tower comprising:
providing a lower tower segment on a foundation, the lower tower segment having a plurality of cavities in a lower region of the lower tower segment, wherein the lower tower segment has a plurality of through bores between a lower end face of the lower tower segment and a bottom of the cavity, wherein the lower tower segment is a precast concrete tower segment;
inserting ends of supporting feet through the plurality of through bores;
placing levelling units into the plurality of cavities; and
orienting and levelling the lower tower segment using the plurality of levelling units by setting a particular separation between a lower end of the supporting foot and the bottom of the cavity.

8. The method for erecting a wind turbine tower according to claim 7 , wherein the lower tower segment with a plurality of supporting feet inserted into the through bores is placed on a foundation and a gap between the upper side of the foundation and the lower end face of the lower tower segment is filled with a casting compound, the method further comprising curing the casting compound.

9. A wind turbine, comprising:
a nacelle; and
a wind turbine tower according to claim 1 , the nacelle located on the wind turbine tower.

Assignees

• Wobben Properties Gmbh

Inventors

• Horn Günther

Classifications

• E04H12/12

  of concrete or other stone-like material, with or without internal or external reinforcements, e.g. with metal coverings, with permanent form elements · CPC title

• E04H12/2284 Primary

  Means for adjusting the orientation of the post or pole · CPC title

• F03D13/10 Primary

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title

• F05B2230/61

  using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding · CPC title

• E04H12/342

  Arrangements for stacking tower sections on top of each other (E04H12/344 takes precedence) · CPC title