US 12,292,029 B2
Wind turbine tower structure with transition system between sections thereof
Pascal Meyer, Burnt Hills, NY (US); Biao Fang, Clifton Park, NY (US); Norman Arnold Turnquist, Carlisle, NY (US); Xiaopeng Li, Niskayuna, NY (US); Gregory Edward Cooper, Greenfield Center, NY (US); and Christopher James Kenny, Schoharie, NY (US)
Assigned to GE Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Appl. No. 18/015,595
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/041426
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 11, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/287401, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0240615 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. F03D 13/20 (2016.01); E04H 12/08 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 13/201 (2023.08) [E04H 12/085 (2013.01); F05B 2240/912 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tower structure, comprising:
a lower tower section formed of concrete;
an upper tower section formed of steel;
a transition system connecting the upper tower section to the lower tower section, the transition system comprising:
a concrete component having a tubular wall with a base portion fixed on the lower tower section and a head portion connected to the upper tower section;
the head portion extending radially outward beyond the upper tower section; a plurality of first tensioning tendons extending longitudinally at least partially through the tubular wall;
the first tensioning tendons anchored to the concrete component at a top face of the head portion at locations radially outward of the upper tower section; and
the head portion extending radially inward from the base portion.