Wind Turbine Tower

Abstract

A wind tower erected on a foundation in which individual levels are formed by connecting a plurality of cast concrete panels along their vertical joints. Additional levels are installed on each prior level and secured with an all-thread post tensioning system and couplers.

1 . A wind turbine tower comprising:
 a) a concrete foundation;   b) a first level of a plurality of cast, flat or substantially flat concrete panels, said concrete panels each having an enlarged corbel side along a vertical edge to which an adjacent concrete panel is secured, said corbel sides including a sleeve to accept a wire strand to link all panels in said first level around an inner periphery of said first level defined by the plurality of concrete panels;   c) a second level of a plurality of cast, flat or substantially flat concrete panels, each said concrete panel including enlarged corbel sides as in said first level and linked together in said second level as in the first level, said second level being positioned on top of said first level;   d) further levels of a plurality of cast concrete panels, each arranged on top of a lower level until the desired height has been achieved; and   e) each level of cast concrete panels including an all-thread post tensioning system and couplers to connect first to the foundation via anchor bolts and then to each level such that each level is securely secured to adjacent levels.   
     
     
         2 . A method for fabricating a wind tower comprising the steps of:
 (a) building a tower foundation including anchor points for a wind tower;   (b) forming a first tower level from a plurality of cast, flat or substantially flat concrete panels, said concrete panels each having an enlarged corbel side along a vertical edge to which an adjacent concrete panel is secured, said corbel sides including a sleeve to accept a wire strand to link all panels in said first level around an inner periphery of said first level defined by the plurality of concrete panels, linking said concrete panels together through said sleeves with wire strand;   (c) connecting said first tower level to said foundation anchor points and to an all-thread post tensioning system within each panel running vertically in each panel; and   (d) forming additional tower levels on top of a lower tower level using a plurality of said concrete panels with each said panel connected to an adjacent concrete panel in each tower level with wire strand through sleeves in corbel sides of each panel, each succeeding level being connected to a preceding level and any upper level by the all-thread post tensioning systems in each concrete panel running vertically.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further including the step of further providing connections between adjacent concrete panels in each level via plates in each panel and bolts. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further including the step of forming a wheel adjacent the top of at least one level via a plurality of spokes connected to each panel in said level and extending inwardly toward a center of the levels and interconnecting the spokes at or near said center. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each tower level above the first level is constructed on site and lifted on top of the tower. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each level includes a plurality of dimples and/or protrusions on the bottom and top of said panels as locating lugs to mate with another level. 
     
     
         7 . A concrete panel for use in constructing wind towers comprising a generally trapezoidal panel having a wider bottom than a top, a pair of vertical sides with an enlarged corbel along each side, said panel defining an inner and outer face, said corbels being reinforced with reinforcing rod and cables, said concrete panel further including a plurality of openings extending from the bottom through said top to accommodate a post tensioning system. 
     
     
         8 . The concrete panel of  claim 7  wherein said corbels include a sleeve along the inner face such that a cable may be passed from one corbel to the other for interconnections to another similar panel. 
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine tower comprising:
 a) a concrete foundation;   b) a first level of a plurality of cast, flat or substantially flat concrete panels, said concrete panels each having an enlarged corbel side along a vertical edge to which an adjacent concrete panel is secured, said corbel sides being linked to each adjacent panel mechanically in said first level around an inner periphery of said first level defined by the plurality of concrete panels;   c) a second level of a plurality of cast, flat or substantially flat concrete panels, each said concrete panel including enlarged corbel sides as in said first level and linked together in said second level as in the first level, said second level being positioned on top of said first level;   d) further levels of a plurality of cast concrete panels, each arranged on top of a lower level until the desired height has been achieved; and   e) each level of cast concrete panels including an all-thread post tensioning system and couplers to connect first to the foundation via anchor bolts and then to each level such that each level is securely secured to adjacent levels.   
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 9  wherein each level of said tower includes post tensioning rings securing each of the corbel sides to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 9  further including a wheel formed adjacent the top of each level by connecting each panel of said level to a spoke which in turn is connected to a central hub. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 9  wherein said panels include a plurality of dimples and/or protrusions on the bottom and top of said panels as locating lugs to mate with another level. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine tower of  claim 9  further including metal plates between each mating corbel which are bolted to each corbel to thereby join each panel to the adjacent panel. 
     
     
         14 . The wind tower of  claim 9  further including a sleeve through said corbel sides such that a cable may be passed from one corbel to an adjacent corbel for interconnecting adjacent panels. 
     
     
         15 . The wind tower of  claim 14  wherein a post tensioning system is run through each corbel side sleeve and tensioned to interconnect all panels within a level.