Design of Self-erecting Tower for a Wind Turbine

Authors

  • Auwal Ibrahim Kano University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
  • I. S. Diso Bayero University 3011 Kano, Nigeria
  • S. T. Auwal Kano University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
  • Musa Alhaji Ibrahim Kano University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
  • M. S. Dambatta Kano University of Science and Technology, Nigeria
  • S. Ramesh University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31695/IJERAT.2020.3675

Keywords:

Self-Erecting, Electric Jack, Wind Turbines, Structural Design

Abstract

The rise in total installed wind energy structures globally demonstrated the dominance of wind energy among the means of sustainable energy production. However, the major challenge in the installation of horizontal-axis wind turbines is the use of mobile crane to install the components. This research reports on a new method of installing the wind turbine without the use of a mobile crane. A self-erecting design was proposed, in which the whole components of tower and turbine will be assembled at the installation site. The highest peak wind speed adopted for the site under research was 56 km/h, the thickness of base plates material that connected the tower to the base was 11 mm, and the calculated size of jack recommended to lift the tower was 2575 kg. Also, the stiffness of the weak section of the tower was calculated to be 8633 kN/m, and the frequency of vibration of the tower was found to be 191 Hz. A 48 V, 1600 W A.C wind turbine was selected to be installed on the tower under design for the analysis of forces acting on the tower. The wind speed data uses for the chosen site was recorded during the raining season in Kano. The design considered a tubular steel tower, from steel pipes that are symmetrical in diameter, but with the diameter of the pipes increasing toward the base: 51 mm, 73 mm and 89 mm. The pipes were to be assembled together using steel reducer sockets, and then to be welded to obtain a permanent solid tower. The erection of the tower was designed to be achieved by the use of a jack, preferably electric jack that require less effort to operate, attached at the fulcrum, while the tower tilted at the pivot that connected the tower to the base. The proposed structural advancement can meet the design requirements and lower the construction cost of the tower significantly.  

References

Hau, E. and Renouard H. V (2006), The wind resource, Wind Turbines: Fundamentals, Technologies, Application, Economics, P. 451-483.

Stavridou, N., Koltsakis E. and Baniotopoulos C (2020), A comparative life-cycle analysis of tall onshore steel wind-turbine towers. Clean Energy, 4(1): P. 48-57.

Koulatsou, K.G., (2020), Resonance Investigation and its Effects on Weight Optimization of Tubular Steel Wind Turbine Towers. Procedia Manufacturing, 44: P. 4-11.

Chen, J., Li J. and He X (2020), Design optimization of steel–concrete hybrid wind turbine tower based on improved genetic algorithm. The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, P. e1741.

Stavridou, N., Koltsakis E. and Baniotopoulos C (2019), Structural analysis and optimal design of steel lattice wind turbine towers. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Structures and Buildings, 172(8): P. 564-579.

Wang, T. and Coton F. N (2001), A high resolution tower shadow model for downwind wind turbines. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 89(10): P. 873-892.

Murtagh P., Basu B. and Broderick B (2005), Along-wind response of a wind turbine tower with blade coupling subjected to rotationally sampled wind loading. Engineering structures, 27(8): p. 1209-1219.

Kim D. M (2009), Structural Vibration Characteristics of a MW-Class Wind Turbine Tower Considering Earthquake Base Excitation. in Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference, The Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering.

Hong H. S (2006), Research for 2MW Wind Turbine Tower Shell Design Optimization. New & Renewable Energy, 2(4): P. 19-26.

Blattner D (2003), A Self-Erecting Method for Wind Turbines. Phase 1: Feasibility and Preliminary Design.

Dimopoulos C. and Gantes C (2013), Comparison of stiffening types of the cutout in tubular wind turbine towers. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 83: P. 62-74.

Stavridou, N (2015), Investigation of stiffening scheme effectiveness towards buckling stability enhancement in tubular steel wind turbine towers. Steel and Composite Structures, 19(5): p. 1115-1144.

Brockenbrough, R. L. and Merritt F. S (1999), Structural steel designer's handbook. Citeseer.

Khurmi, R. and Gupta J (2005), A Textbook of Machine Design. Ram Nagar, New Delhi, India: Enrasia Publishing House (PVT) Ltd.

The Engineering Toolbox (ETB) (2016), Factor of Safet, Retrieved from: www.engineeringtoolbox. com/factor-safety-fos-d_1624.html Accessed 16th October, 2016.

The Engineering Toolbox (ETB) (2016). Young Modulus of Elasticity of Materials. Retrieved from: www.engineeringtoolbox.com/young-modulus-d_417.html Accessed 15th October, 2016.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-20

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Design of Self-erecting Tower for a Wind Turbine. (2020). International Journal of Engineering Research and Advanced Technology (ijerat) (E-ISSN 2454-6135) , 6(12), 63-82. https://doi.org/10.31695/IJERAT.2020.3675