A Novel Tripod Concept for Onshore Wind Turbine Towers

Charis J. Gantes, Maria Villi Billi, Mahmut Güldogan and Semih Gül
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Charis J. Gantes: Institute of Steel Structures, National Technical University of Athens, GR-15780 Athens, Greece
Maria Villi Billi: Ergon Analysis Consulting Engineers L.P., GR-15122 Marousi, Greece
Mahmut Güldogan: Ateş Wind Power, TR-35720 İzmir, Turkey
Semih Gül: Ateş Wind Power, TR-35720 İzmir, Turkey

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-25

Abstract: A wind turbine tower assembly is presented, consisting of a lower “tripod section” and an upper tubular steel section, aiming at enabling very tall hub heights for optimum exploitation of the wind potential. The foundation consists of sets of piles connected at their top by a common pile cap below each tripod leg. The concept can be applied for the realization of new or the upgrade of existing wind turbine towers. It is adjustable to both onshore and offshore towers, but emphasis is directed towards overcoming the stricter onshore transportability constraints. For that purpose, pre-welded individual tripod parts are transported and are then bolted together during erection, contrary to fully pre-welded tripods that have been used in offshore towers. Alternative constructional details of the tripod joints are therefore proposed that address the fabrication, transportability, on-site erection and maintenance requirements and can meet structural performance criteria. The main structural features are demonstrated by means of a typical case study comprising a 180-m-tall tower, consisting of a 120-m-tall tubular superstructure on top of a 60-m-tall tripod substructure. Realistic cross-sections are calculated, leading to weight and cost estimations, thus demonstrating the feasibility and competitiveness of the concept.

Keywords: wind turbine tower; tripod; structural design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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