Wind Turbine Support Structure

Benjamin BoyettET 493Advisor – Dr Mohamed ZeidanInstructor - Dr. Cris Koutsougeras04/04/2014

Introduction

• Wind turbines are supported by 3 main tower types.

Monopole, guy-wired, and lattice (truss) towers. Amount of

space available and budget determine which tower is used. In

this case I am designing and building a lattice tower to

support the wind turbine. A lattice tower is cheaper to build

than monopole and takes up less space than a guy-wired

tower.

Turbine Types

Project Overview

• 50ft tall 4 sided lattice tower

• A36 Low Carbon Steel

• L-section steel beam legs and

cross supports bolted together

• Top of tower 4’x4’ plate for

turbine to rest on

• 10’x10’ – 15’x15’ base

• Concrete foundation legs extend

into ground

• Sustainability Center

Objectives

• Research standards for wind turbine

structures

• Design a lattice support structure for the

vertical wind turbine being built by Anthony,

Brody, and Hulon. (COMSOL)

• Calculate exterior and interior loads and

ensure the structure can withstand normal

and extreme cases.

• Determine forces on members and choose

size L section beam (COMSOL)

• Build tower and foundation

Research

• American Society for Civil Engineers 7 (ASCE7) Minimum

Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures

• American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)

• ASCE/AWEA RP2011 Recommended Practice for

• Compliance of Large Land-based Wind Turbine Support

Structures

• AISC Steel manual

• Standards for small wind energy systems

Wind Load Calculations

• Worst case, wind turbine stopped at max wind

velocity

• Design Wind Pressure P at height z ASCE7

Pz = q*G*Cp – qi(G*Cpi)

• Velocity Pressure ASCE7 Eq (6-15)

qz = 0.00256(Kz*Kzt*Kd*V^2*I)

• Design Wind Force ASCE7 Eq (6-25)

F = qz*G*Cf*D

Pz 39.37psf

qz 35.07psf

F 157.48(lb/ft)

COMSOL

• A finite element analysis (FEA), solver, and simulation

software.

• Simple truss designed in COMSOL

• COMSOL shows the deformation of the truss from the

forces

Timeline

• Research standards for wind turbine support structures 02/21/2014 –

02/25/2014 FINISHED

• Calculate loads, vertical, horizontal, max wind, and vibration

02/25/2014 - 03/05/2014 FINISHED

• Design lattice structure and foundation using COMSOL 03/05/2014 –

03/15/2014 IN PROGRESS

• Survey land and test a soil sample 03/15/2014 – 03/28/2014

FINISHED

• Order/Pickup parts and tools 03/20/2014 – 03/28/2014

• Build the support structure 03/28/2014 – 05/05/2014

• Finish 05/05/2014 – 05/09/2014

Looking Ahead

• Complete COMSOL model and

finalize materials list

• Estimate cost of materials

• Order materials

• Lay foundation

• Construct tower in sections and

assemble on site