Looking for a Wind tower Flange ? Discover our groundbreaking connector type for large diameter wind towers
SubseaDesign’s innovative connector design is an enabler for further growth in turbine capacity.
features and benefits
- Current wind tower flanges use a bolted flange design that will reach its technical limit as the turbine size increases.
- SD wind tower connector has a number of advantages compared to traditionally bolted wind tower flanges:
- Substantially higher structural capacity
- Close to unlimited scaling capability
- Superior fatigue capabilities
- Installation friendly:
- Comparatively lower number of bolts
- Less sensitive versus fabrication tolerances
- Improved HSE compared to T-flanges
- Comparatively faster make-up time because of lower number of bolts compared to traditional wind tower flange
APPLICATIONS
how it works
1
Connection lowered towards lower flange
2
Landing Out
3
Spacer ring removed
4
Clamp segments activated by torqueing up bolts
Illustrated , L-Flange installation (Wind Tower Flange)
MOTIVATIONS FOR FINDING NEW ALTERNATIVES FOR WIND TOWER FLANGE
- Maintenance requirement for Wind Tower Flanges (bolt groups in L and T flanges) are a major driver for moving away from bolts as the main structural element in the connection of larger windmills.
- The number of bolt inspections and bolt replacements can be reduced with SubseaDesign’s solution.
- Larger windmills may require T-flange connections with outside bolts:
- Exposed to corrosion
- HSE challenges under mounting and maintenance
- Offshore Wind Connector will deliver a larger capacity compared to current Wind Tower Flange solutions.
advantages compared to wind tower flanges
- Higher Load Capacity than traditional wind tower flanges
- Can potentially reduce tower diameter due to higher bending moment capacity (1 meter reduction in tower diameter -> up to 100-ton reduction in tower weight) → Material Cost Saving
- Enabler for further increase in turbine capacity
- Bending moment does not run through the bolt -like it does with Wind Tower Flanges - It runs through clamp segments. Bolt tension remain static
- Improved fatigue life
- Reduced maintenance cost
- Tensioning of the bolt from the inside. Bolt is shielded from external exposure compared to a T-flange design.
- HSE
- Less exposure to corrosive environment
- Potentially shorter installation sequence compared to classic wind tower flanges, with fewer bolts to be tensioned.
