Wind Turbine, a Method for Assembling and Handling the Wind Turbine and Uses Hereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine including a foundation and a tower positioned on the foundation where the tower includes more than one modules, where the modules each include a separate strengthening structure defining the outer edges of the module and wind turbine equipment, and where the more than one module are positioned substantially vertically on top of each other in an upright position within the tower. The modules are connected directly and/or indirectly through the strengthening structure, to the foundation ( 18 ). The invention further relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine at a wind turbine site and a method for handling more than one wind turbine modules.

1 . A wind turbine, comprising: 
 a foundation; and    a tower positioned on said foundation;    wherein said tower includes more than one module, said more than one module each comprising a separate strengthening structure substantially defining outer edges of the module and wind turbine equipment,    wherein said more than one module are positioned substantially vertically on top of each other in an upright position within said tower, and connected directly and/or indirectly through said strengthening structure, to said foundation.    
     
     
         2 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said more than one modules comprises substantially different wind turbine equipment.  
     
     
         3 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said wind turbine equipment is pre-fitted into said more than one module.  
     
     
         4 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said strengthening structure has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.  
     
     
         5 . A wind turbine according to  claim 4 , wherein said rectangular parallelepiped shaped strengthening structure comprises a top and a bottom part each comprising four rails constituting the outer edges, and said top and bottom part being separated by a substantially vertical corner post placed in each of the four corners of said top and bottom part.  
     
     
         6 . A wind turbine according to  claim 5 , wherein said rails of said top and bottom part and said corner posts are made of steel beams and/or steel tubes.  
     
     
         7 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said more than one modules are standardised ISO containers made of steel.  
     
     
         8 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said equipment of said more than one modules is confined inside the modules.  
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein in at least two of said more than one modules said equipment of said at least two modules are mechanically and/or electrically connected.  
     
     
         10 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said more than one modules is positioned in a way that a floor of said one module is substantially level with a bottom of a door ( 8 ) in said wind turbine tower.  
     
     
         11 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said more than one modules comprises a cable winding mechanism.  
     
     
         12 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said more than one modules has one or more support connections, connected to said wind turbine tower in a way, which does not substantially reduce a fatigue limit of said tower.  
     
     
         13 . A wind turbine according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more support connections abuts an inside surface of said wind turbine tower.  
     
     
         14 . A wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said strengthening structures of said more than one modules is identical.  
     
     
         15 . Method for assembling a wind turbine at a wind turbine site said method comprising: 
 establishing a foundation for said wind turbine;    positioning a first module comprising a strengthening structure and wind turbine equipment on said foundation;    connecting said first module directly and/or indirectly to said foundation;    positioning one or more further modules comprising a strengthening structure and wind turbine equipment on top of said first module; and    connecting said first module to said further modules.    
     
     
         16 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein said method includes establishing the wind turbine tower around the more than one modules by hoisting the tower as a whole or as sections down over the more than one modules and connecting said tower to said foundation.  
     
     
         17 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein said method includes establishing the wind turbine tower around the more than one modules by assembling more than one tower shells around the more than one modules and connecting said shells to each other and to said foundation.  
     
     
         18 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to any of  claim 15 , wherein said wind turbine equipment in at least two of said more than one modules are mechanically and/or electrically connected.  
     
     
         19 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein one of said more than one modules is positioned in a way that a floor of said one module is substantially level with a bottom of a door in said wind turbine tower.  
     
     
         20 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein said wind turbine equipment is pre-fitted into said more than one module.  
     
     
         21 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein at least two of said more than one modules comprises substantially different wind turbine equipment.  
     
     
         22 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 15 , wherein one or more of said more than one modules has one or more support connections connected to said wind turbine tower in a way which does not substantially reduce a fatigue limit of said tower.  
     
     
         23 . Method for assembling a wind turbine according to  claim 22 , wherein said one or more support connections abuts an inside surface of said wind turbine tower.  
     
     
         24 . Method of handling more than one wind turbine modules, said method comprising: 
 establishing a strengthening structure in each of said more than one modules;    fitting said more than one modules with wind turbine equipment; and    handling of said more than one modules in such a way that said modules are substantially upright during fitting of wind turbine equipment, transport and/or assembling at the wind turbine site.    
     
     
         25 . Wind turbine according to  claim 1  wherein the wind turbine is configured for off-shore wind power generation.  
     
     
         26 . Methods according to  claim 15 , further comprising configuring and disposing the wind turbine for off-shore wind power generation.