General Electric Company
Tower flange for a wind turbine

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a tower assembly for a wind turbine having a tower flange that can accommodate foundations and/or nacelles of varying sizes. The tower assembly includes one or more tower sections having an integral tower flange that can be secured to a foundation, atop the tower section(s), and/or at a mid-height tower location. Further, the tower flange includes a substantially cylindrical wall defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter separated by an increased radial thickness. Thus, a radial offset is defined between the outer diameter of the tower flange and the corresponding tower component, i.e. the foundation, another tower section, or a yaw bearing. Accordingly, the larger radial thickness of the tower flange allows the flange to accommodate foundations or turbines of varying sizes with one common tower.