Low cost rail-transportable wind turbine tower

Abstract

A wind turbine tower is provided that will accommodate rail transport of wind turbine sections. The wind turbine tower includes a plurality of axial tubular sections, wherein the sections including an outer diameter no greater than a designated maximum diameter; a main structural element for each of the axial tubular sections, with the structural element being of a generally cylindrical shape; and corner reinforcements for the main structural elements. The corner reinforcements are provided generally equidistant around the circumference of the main structural element about 90 degrees apart. Corner supports may further be provided to support the corner reinforcements from a foundation of the wind turbine tower. With the corner reinforcements attached to the main structural elements, the combination falls within a space envelope that may be accommodated for rail transport.

1 . A wind turbine tower comprising:
 a plurality of axial tubular sections, the sections including an outer diameter no greater than a designated maximum diameter;   a main structural element for each of the axial sections, the structural element being of a generally cylindrical shape; and   corner reinforcements for the main structural elements, the corner reinforcements provided generally equidistant around the circumference of the main structural element and separated by about 90 degrees.   
   
   
       2 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 1 , wherein the corner reinforcements extend generally axially at least one of partially or fully along a length of at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections. 
   
   
       3 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 2 , wherein when the corner reinforcements extending generally axially further extend to meet at adjoining ends of axial tubular sections, the corner reinforcements being structurally connected at the adjoining ends. 
   
   
       4 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 2 , wherein when at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections comprise a base section, then the corner reinforcements for the base section further extend into a foundation for the tower. 
   
   
       5 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 2 , wherein the corner reinforcements are fixed to at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the main structural element. 
   
   
       6 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 5 , the wind turbine tower further comprising: corner supports including a connecting end and a support end, wherein when the corner reinforcements are attached to the main structural element for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections then the connecting ends of the corner supports are attached to the corner reinforcements for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections. 
   
   
       7 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 6 , the wind turbine tower further comprising: a foundation wherein when the corner supports are provided to the corner reinforcements for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections, the corner supports are anchored at the support end to a foundation for the tower. 
   
   
       8 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 7 , wherein the foundation for the corner supports comprises: at least one of an existing foundation for the tower and non-existing newly-installed pile foundations. 
   
   
       9 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 6 , wherein when the corner reinforcements are fixed to an outer surface of the main structural element, then the main structural element with the corner reinforcements installed comprises: a space envelope no greater than a specified maximum dimension on a side. 
   
   
       10 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 9 , wherein the space envelope no greater than a specified maximum dimension on a side comprises: a space envelope that may be accommodated by rail transport. 
   
   
       11 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 6 , the corner supports comprise: at least one of rolled members and stamped members. 
   
   
       12 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 6 , a cavity within the corner reinforcement further comprises: at least one of electrical lines, hydraulic lines and service lines running up the tower. 
   
   
       13 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 6 , wherein the corner reinforcements further comprise additions to a previously constructed tower following installation. 
   
   
       14 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 1 , the corner reinforcements comprising: at least one of rolled and stamped members. 
   
   
       15 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 1 , the sections further comprising:
 a uniform cylindrical cross-section; and   a uniform wall thickness.   
   
   
       16 . The wind turbine tower according to  claim 1 , the axial tubular sections further comprising: equal axial lengths. 
   
   
       17 . A support system for a previously constructed wind turbine tower including a plurality of axial tubular sections with a main structural element for each of the axial sections, the structural element being of a generally cylindrical shape; the support system comprising:
 corner reinforcements for the main structural elements of at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections, the corner reinforcements provided generally equidistant around the circumference of the main structural element on the inside surface or the outside surface of the main structural element and the corner reinforcements further being included within an envelope of a maximum dimension on a side that may be accommodated for rail transport.   
   
   
       18 . The support system for a previously constructed wind turbine tower according to  claim 16 , further comprising: corner supports for each of the corner reinforcements for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections. 
   
   
       19 . A method for providing structural support to wind turbine towers to permit the tower sections to fit within a designated space envelope for rail transport, the method comprising:
 supplying a plurality of axial tubular sections, the sections including an outer diameter no greater than a designated maximum diameter;   shaping a main structural element for each of the plurality of axial tubular sections to be of a generally cylindrical shape;   forming corner reinforcements for attachment to the main structural element for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular section to establish a space envelope for the combination no greater than a specified dimension on a side that may be accommodated for rail transport; and   attaching the corner reinforcements for at least one of the main structural elements, the corner reinforcements being equidistant around the circumference of the main structural element at each corner.   
   
   
       20 . The method for providing structural support to wind turbine towers to permit the tower sections to fit within a designated space envelope for rail transport of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 supplying a corner support for each corner reinforcement when the corner reinforcement is provided for at least one of the plurality of axial tubular sections;   attaching a connecting end of the corner support to each corner reinforcement; and   attaching a support end of the corner support to at least one of a new foundation and an existing foundation for the tower.