Process and unit for the attachment of a wind turbine's tower to a foundation and wind turbine incorporating said unit

Abstract

The invention describes a process and a unit, both enabling to attach a wind turbine tower to a foundation, as well as describes also a wind turbine incorporating the unit. The process features a stage of installation of a support element for the transmission of stresses from the tower to the foundation, followed by a stage of leveling the support element and pouring foundation concrete up to the support element's lower side so that the lower side is adhered to the poured concrete once it has set. The unit comprises at least one support element.

1 . A unit for the attachment of a wind turbine tower to a foundation, the foundation comprising concrete poured into a foundation hole and a set of connection bolts between the tower and the foundation embedded in the concrete, the unit comprising at least one support element for the transmission of stresses from the tower to the foundation placed in an assembled position so that its upper side is in contact with the tower and its lower side is in contact with and adhered to the concrete, the support element comprising at least some orifices for the connection bolts to go through. 
     
     
         2 . The unit of  claim 1 , further comprising leveling and attachment means for leveling and attaching the at least one support element to the connection bolts. 
     
     
         3 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the leveling and attachment means comprise at least one threaded element which is located in connection with the support element and is movable in relation to the connection bolts, the connection bolts being also threaded so that the elevation of the orifices of the support element is variable through actuation of the threaded element. 
     
     
         4 . The unit of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded element is located in connection with the support element's lower side and is embedded in the foundation concrete in an assembled position. 
     
     
         5 . The unit of  claim 4 , wherein the threaded element is located in contact with an intermediate element which is located also connected to the support element, which is removable subsequently to the leveling and attachment of the support element. 
     
     
         6 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a tower, and   a foundation additionally comprising a unit for the attachment of the wind turbine tower to the foundation comprising:   at least one support element for the transmission of stresses from the tower to the foundation placed in an assembled position so that its upper side is in contact with the tower and its lower side is in contact with and adhered to the concrete, the support element comprising at least some orifices for the connection bolts to go through.   
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine of  claim 6 , further comprising leveling and attachment means for leveling and attaching the at least one support element to the connection bolts. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine of  claim 6 , further comprising a lower section comprising a flange with drills for the introduction of connection bolts and for clamping said flange to the support element and the foundation. 
     
     
         9 . A unit for the attachment of a wind turbine tower to a foundation, the foundation comprising concrete poured into a foundation hole and a set of connection bolts between the tower and the foundation embedded in the concrete, the unit comprising at least one support element for the transmission of stresses from the tower to the foundation placed in a position so that its lower side is in contact with the foundation hole, the support element comprising at least some orifices for the connection bolts to go through. 
     
     
         10 . The unit of  claim 9 , further comprising a leveling and attachment device for leveling and attaching the at least one support element to the connection bolts. 
     
     
         11 . The unit of  claim 10 , wherein the leveling and attachment device comprise at least one threaded element which is located in connection with the support element and is movable in relation to the connection bolts, the connection bolts being also threaded so that the elevation of the orifices of the support element is variable through actuation of the threaded element. 
     
     
         12 . The unit of  claim 11 , wherein the threaded element is located in connection with the support element's lower side. 
     
     
         13 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a tower, and   a foundation comprising concrete poured into a foundation hole and a set of connection bolts between the tower and the foundation embedded in the concrete,   
       wherein the wind turbine additionally comprises a unit for the attachment of the wind turbine tower to the foundation comprising:
 at least one support element for the transmission of stresses from the tower to the foundation placed in a position so that its lower side is in contact with the foundation hole, the support element comprising at least some orifices for the connection bolts to go through. 
 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine of  claim 13 , further comprising leveling and attachment device for leveling and attaching the at least one support element to the connection bolts. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine of  claim 13 , further comprising a lower section comprising a flange with drills for the introduction of connection bolts and for clamping said flange to the support element and the foundation.