Structure and accelerator platform placement for a wind turbine tower

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a structure for a wind turbine tower. A plurality of corner posts form the core of the tower with one or more cross braces spanning the distance between pairs of corner posts. Rotating support members mounted at the location of the corner posts are adapted for mounting accelerator platforms and enabling the accelerator platform to rotate. Horizontal-axis wind turbines can be mounted on opposite sides of the accelerator platform. In some towers, the vertical spacing between the rotating support member from one accelerator platform to an adjacent accelerator platform is an integer multiple of the vertical spacing between the intersection points between the cross braces and the corner posts. In other towers, the rotating support member locations on the corner posts are proximal to the intersection of the cross braces and the corner posts.

1 . A tower for mounting wind turbines, comprising:
 a plurality of corner posts forming the core of the tower;   one or more cross braces spanning the distance between at least one pair of corner posts;   at least one rotating support member mounted at the location of at least one corner post;   at least one accelerator platform attached to the at least one rotating support member, wherein the at least one accelerator platform can rotate on at least one rotating support member; and   at least two horizontal-axis wind turbines mounted on opposite sides of the at least one accelerator platform.   
     
     
         2 . The tower of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical spacing between the rotating support member from the at least one accelerator platform to an adjacent accelerator platform is substantially an integer multiple of the vertical spacing between the intersection points between the cross braces and the corner posts. 
     
     
         3 . The tower of  claim 1 , wherein two or more accelerator platforms are mounted on the tower in a vertical stacking arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The tower of  claim 3 , wherein the two or more accelerator platforms are linked in such a way that they always point in substantially the same direction relative to rotation about the vertical Z axis. 
     
     
         5 . The tower of  claim 3 , wherein said linkage does not substantially limit translation in the X, Y, or Z directions. 
     
     
         6 . The tower of  claim 3 , wherein the two or more accelerator platforms are linked in a compliant spring-like manner to enable movement in the X and Y axes and wherein the force of the link acts to return the accelerator platforms to an aligned configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The tower of  claim 1 , wherein the cross braces are angled. 
     
     
         8 . The tower of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of power and communication wires between the rotating platforms and a non-rotating part of the facility traverses at least part of the core of the tower vertically so said wires can twist a plurality of turns in either direction as the platforms rotate. 
     
     
         9 . The tower of  claim 8 , wherein said power and communication wires come from two or more wind-turbine generators on said platforms. 
     
     
         10 . A tower for mounting wind turbines, comprising:
 a plurality of corner posts forming the core of the tower;   one or more cross braces spanning the distance between pairs of corner posts;   at least one rotating support member mounted at the location of at least one corner post;   at least one accelerator platform attached to the at least one rotating support member, wherein the accelerator platform can rotate around the tower on the at least one rotating support member; and   at least two horizontal-axis wind turbines mounted on opposite sides of the at least one accelerator platform,   wherein the rotating support member locations on the corner posts are proximal to the intersection of the cross braces and the corner posts.   
     
     
         11 . The tower of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical location of the rotating support member attachment points to the corner posts is within a pre-defined distance of where the cross braces intersect the corner posts, wherein the pre-defined distance is a percentage of the spacing between intersection points between the cross braces and the corner posts. 
     
     
         12 . The tower of  claim 11 , wherein the percentage is +/−25%. 
     
     
         13 . The tower of  claim 10 , wherein two or more accelerator platforms are mounted on the tower in a vertical stacking arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The tower of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more accelerator platforms are linked in such a way that they always point in substantially the same direction relative to rotation about the vertical Z axis. 
     
     
         15 . The tower of  claim 8 , wherein said linkage does not substantially limit translation in the X, Y, or Z directions. 
     
     
         16 . The tower of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more accelerator platforms are linked in a compliant spring-like manner to enable movement in the X and Y and wherein the force of the link acts to return the accelerator platforms to an aligned configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The tower of  claim 8 , wherein the cross braces are angled. 
     
     
         18 - 101 . (canceled)