Method for erecting a facility for producing electrical energy from wind

Abstract

A method for erecting a facility for producing electrical energy from wind has the steps of preparing a site to receive the facility, including constructing foundations, and erecting an initial core tower panel and initial peripheral tower sections on their respective foundations. Work platforms and temporary guys are installed so that another core tower panel and other peripheral tower sections may be installed on top of the existing tower sections. The work platforms may then be raised, so that the process may be repeated. Shroud sectors are assembled as needed to form shrouds.

1 . A method for erecting a Facility for Producing Electrical Energy From Wind, the method comprising the steps of:
 (Step 1) preparing the site to receive the Facility, including constructing foundations;   (Step 2A) erecting the initial core tower panel and the initial peripheral tower sections on their respective foundations;   (Step 2B) installing work platforms;   (Step 2C) connecting and tensioning temporary guys between peripheral platforms and bases of adjacent peripheral towers;   (Step 2D) climbing all work platforms to a top of the core tower panel and tops of the peripheral tower sections;   (Step 2E) deploying tensioned temporary guys;   (Step 3A) lifting, positioning, and installing another core tower panel and other peripheral tower sections on top of the existing tower sections,   (Step 3B) concurrently climbing all work platforms to the top of the top core tower panel and the top of the top peripheral tower sections;   (Step 3C) repeating Step 3A and Step 3B until a desired height is reached;   (Step 3D) installing permanent guy pairs between the peripheral tower section and the base of each adjacent peripheral tower, and disconnecting temporary guys from the bases of the peripheral towers, and reconnecting and tensioning them at the middle of adjacent peripheral towers;   (Step 4A) assembling and temporarily engaging a truss and rail system at the base the core and peripheral towers, including lower rails;   (Step 4B) attaching a plurality of locked trucks to the lower inner and outer rails;   (Step 4C) attaching an upper frame to the plurality of trucks;   (Step 4D) assembling shroud sectors as needed to form shrouds;   (Step 4E) attaching the shrouds to upper and lower frames;   (Step 5A) repeating Step 3A and Step 3B until a desired height is reached;   (Step 5B) repeating Step 3D to complete an additional sector on each tower;   (Step 5C) repeating steps 4A-4E to complete additional shrouds; and   Step 6) repeating steps 5A-5C until the Facility is a desired height, and includes a desired number of shrouds.   
     
     
         2 . A method for erecting a Facility for Producing Electrical Energy From Wind, the method comprising the steps of:
 (Step 1) preparing the site to receive the Facility, including constructing foundations,   (Step 2A) erecting the initial core tower panel and the initial peripheral tower sections on their respective foundations,   (Step 2B) installing work platforms with their facilities comprising grated work areas, guard rails, climbing mechanisms, cranes, and hoists, installing walkways comprising grated work areas and guardrails, connecting and tensioning temporary guys between peripheral platforms and the bases of adjacent peripheral towers, installing a personnel elevator in the core tower,   (Step 2C) concurrently climbing all work platforms to the top of the core tower panel and the top of the peripheral tower sections, further deploying tensioned temporary guys, extending the personnel elevator to the new work platform position,   (Step 3A) lifting, positioning, and installing a core tower panel and peripheral tower sections on top of the existing tower sections,   (Step 3B) concurrently climbing all work platforms to the top of the top core tower panel and the top of the top peripheral tower sections, further deploying tensioned temporary guys, extending the personnel elevator to the new work platform position,   (Step 3C) repeating Step 3A and Step 3B four times,   (Step 3D) installing permanent guy pairs between the middle of the fifth peripheral tower section and the base of each adjacent peripheral tower, disconnecting temporary guys from the bases of the peripheral towers, reconnecting and tensioning them at the middle of the fifth section of adjacent peripheral towers,   (Step 4A) assembling and temporarily engaging a truss and rail system at the base the core and peripheral towers, including lower rails but no upper rails,   (Step 4B) temporarily disengaging and raising the truss and rail system a few feet, to provide work space below, temporarily engaging the truss and rail system to the core tower and to the peripheral towers at the higher location,   (Step 4C) attaching a plurality of locked trucks to the lower inner and outer rails, attaching an upper frame to the plurality of trucks just installed,   (Step 4D) assembling shroud sectors as needed for two shrouds concurrently with previous steps, positioning shroud sectors conveniently adjacent to the work area at the base of the Facility,   (Step 4E) repeating Step 4B, attaching center shroud sectors to the upper frame end beams at each end of the upper frame, installing internal supports as needed, removing temporary struts,   (Step 4F) repeating step 4B, attaching one shroud sector on each side of the previously attached shroud center portions, installing internal supports, removing temporary struts,   (Step 4G) repeating step 4F until the pair of shrouds is completed, installing turbine struts, turbines, platforms, hydraulic systems, portions of electrical systems, and control systems as shroud assembly progresses,   (Step 4H) repeating Step 4B, attaching lower frame complete with a plurality of locked trucks to the bottom of the completed shrouds,
 (Step 5A) repeating Step 3A and Step 3B five times, repeating Step 3D to complete an additional sector on each tower, 
 (Step 5B) disengaging and raising the top truss and rail system with module attached to the top of the new fifth panel of the core tower and to the top of the new fifth section of the peripheral towers using the hoists on the work platforms, temporarily engaging the top truss and rail system to the towers at this location, 
 (Step 5C) repeating step 4A, attaching rails to the top as well as the bottom of the truss and rail system, 
 (Step 5D) repeating Steps 4B through 4H to complete an additional module, 
 (Step 6A) repeating Step 5A to complete an additional sector on each tower, 
 (Step 6B) repeating Step 5B as many times as needed to raise all existing truss and rail systems with modules attached to the top of the open sector above starting with the top truss and rail system, proceeding to raise the next lower truss and rail system in sequence until the bottom sector is left clear, 
 (Step 6C) repeating Step 5C to construct an additional truss and rail system at the base of the Facility, 
 (Step 6D) repeating Step 5D to complete an additional module, 
 (Step 6E) repeating steps 6A, 6B, and 6C until all the required truss and rail systems supporting modules are completed, 
 (Step 7A) repeating Step 6A to complete an additional sector on each tower, 
 (Step 7B) repeating Step 6B raising all truss and rail systems to their final positions, 
 (Step 7C) repeating Step 5C with top rails only to assemble bottom truss and rail system at base, 
 (Step 7D) raising bottom truss and rail system to bottom module, 
 (Step 8A) attaching all truss and rail systems permanently to the towers, 
 (Step 8B) unlocking the plurality of trucks on all lower frames and connecting them to the adjacent rails, unlocking the plurality of trucks on all upper frames, 
 (Step 8C) removing special components used solely for erection including platforms, walkways, mechanisms, cranes, temporary guy devices, temporary engagements for truss and rail systems, top panel of the core tower, and top sections of the peripheral towers.