WO2025129247A1 - Power generation apparatus, system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tower for the mounting thereon of at least one wind turbine, each turbine comprising at least one set of rotor blades, the tower comprising: a periphery which is defined, at least in part, by: a plurality of peripheral beams, each of which extends substantially horizontally around at least a portion of the periphery of the tower; and a plurality of columns, each of which extends substantially vertically in the region of the periphery of the tower, and a plurality of radial beams, each of which extents substantially horizontally from a central region of the tower to the periphery of the tower, in which tower, at a plurality of vertically-spaced levels, a radial beam, a column, and at least two peripheral beams are connected in the region of the periphery of the tower FIG. 1

Description

POWER GENERATION APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] This application claims the priority of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023904099 in the name of Dale Robertson, which was filed on 18 December 2023, entitled “Power Generation Apparatus, System and Method” and the specification thereof is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[002] The present invention relates to the field of structures, their construction, and their composition.

[003] In one form, the invention relates to towers which are suitable to form the base of wind turbines, to the construction of such towers, and to their composition.

[004] In one particular aspect the present invention relates to towers having a relatively high height to footprint ratio, to the construction of such towers, and to the composition of such towers.

[005] It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to wind turbine towers, however it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that use, only.

BACKGROUND ART

[006] Throughout this specification the use of the word “inventor” in singular form may be taken as reference to one (singular) inventor or more than one (plural) inventor of the present invention.

[007] The discussion throughout this specification comes about due to the realisation of the inventor and/or the identification of certain related art problems by the inventor and, moreover, any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material forms a part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art in Australia or elsewhere on or before the priority date of the disclosure and claims herein. [008] Existing infrastructure for wind power generation suffers from insufficient capacity now becoming demanded of power generation capabilities with limited capacity turbines, which leads to a requirement for numerous tower structures to be provided for a given power output. More generally, there is an increasing need for versatility in power generation where, for example, wind, solar and auxiliary stored/released energy for power generation may be utilised to expand the delivery of power in all conditions. Existing power generation structures also require components to be fabricated offsite and transported for assembly onsite. Furthermore, current construction techniques limit the height and therefore power generation capacity of existing structures.

[009] Turbine towers are generally assembled from pre-fabricated sections of steel tubing. To erect the tower, the pre-fabricated sections of tubing must be transported to the installation site, which is generally remote from the location of manufacture. Wind turbine heights are accordingly typically limited by the limitations on the transport of the tower sections. There are also practical limitations on the diameter of the pre-fabricated sections. These limitations on the diameter of the pre-fabricated sections imposes limitations on the size of the plant that can be installed on, or in, the towers.

[0010] Generally speaking, winds would be expected to increase with height, eventually reaching a plateau which depends on both the location and the weather conditions. The plateau height is lower over smooth surfaces such as water or flat deserts than over rough surfaces such as forests or hilly terrain.

[0011] While a 300m tower could theoretically support blades almost 275m in length, it is likely this will be limited by transport practicalities. A well-designed single turbine can remove approximately 40% to 50% of the energy in wind. In the process it also adds turbulence and swirl to the wind. A second turbine behind the first one can then capture some of the energy that escaped the first turbine. The increased turbulence will result in a reduced efficiency for the second turbine. To capture some of the swirl energy, the second turbine should rotate in the opposite direction to the first turbine.

[0012] It is accordingly desirable to produce wind turbine towers which:

• can reach a greater height than can turbine towers of the known tubular steel construction; • can be more readily transported to the installation site than can turbine towers of the known tubular steel construction;

• can be produced with a larger diameter or footprint than can turbine towers of the known tubular steel construction;

• allow for turbines to be “stacked” at different heights of a turbine tower;

• allow for turbines to be mounted on opposite sides of a turbine tower;

• are designed and constructed in a vertical plane with vertical structural members for simpler manufacture and erection, reducing costs;

• are generally rectangular shape for simpler design, manufacture and erection, reducing costs and making hoisting of wind turbines into position an easier task due to the concrete frame

[0013] Examples of prior or related art follows.

[0014] WO 2010/117289 (Chastre Rodrigues) discloses a tower to support wind turbines, power lines or communication lines, water tanks, bridges, oil exploration etc., comprising a plurality of structural levels, each one comprising at least three or more columns, precast in different types of concrete, with an inclination towards the vertical lower than 15° and a plurality of cross beams, precast in different types of concrete crossing at joints and optionally, comprising bracing diagonals in said columns planes and/or bracing diagonals in said cross beams planes. The tower partially built in situ and partially precast is mounted on a foundation. On the top of the tower, a base can be provided to support overhead power lines or other equipment. As such, WO 2010/117289 is comprised of concrete columns angled less than 15° towards the centre, and concrete cross bracing on the diagonal.

[0015] CN 112360697 A (Liao Mingjin) discloses a concrete-filled steel tube truss combined tower drum capable of being used on land and sea. The concrete-filled steel tube truss combined tower drum mainly comprises tower drum bodies, a concrete-filled steel tube truss and a matched separated or integral foundation; and the concrete-filled steel tube truss combined tower drum is characterized in that the pure steel tower drum body is divided into a plurality of sections and a plurality of pieces, and then segmented tower drum bodies are connected with the side surfaces of concrete-filled steel tube columns by adopting bolts or welding, then structural units formed by connecting the segmented tower drum bodies and the concrete-filled steel tube columns are connected and fixed. A supporting system between the concrete-filled steel tube columns is installed in the combined drum body, and the bottom tower drum body and the con crete -filled steel tube columns are inserted or connected with the separated or integrated foundation. The structure comprises steel tubes filled with concrete attached to a steel tube drum where the steel drum consists of a large circular steel sheeting bolted to steel tubes to form a large steel hollow column. The shape of the structure is effectively a large steel column.

CN 113847210 A (Jiangsu Licheng Traffic Tech Co., Ltd.) discloses a prefabricated lattice type wind power tower drum, and comprises a plurality of long and thin steel pipe concrete limb columns which are rooted on the top surface of a foundation and are arranged into a ring shape. The top ends of the long and thin steel pipe concrete limb columns incline towards the circle center to form a tower shape. Each long and thin steel pipe concrete limb column is formed by splicing a plurality of short steel pipe concrete limb columns end to end. The adjacent short steel pipe concrete limb column sections are connected through longitudinal flanges. The long and thin steel pipe concrete limb columns are fixed through a plurality of parallel connection structures. External prestressing tendons are arranged between the adjacent long and thin steel pipe concrete limb columns in a crossed mode. Anchoring ends of the external prestressing tendons are arranged at the bottom and the top of the tower drum respectively, and the external prestressing tendons are arranged at the corresponding positions of the parallel connection structures in a penetrating mode through a steering mechanism. The prefabricated lattice type wind power tower drum provided by the device has the technical effects that a replaceable in- vitro non-adhesive prestress system may be adopted. This device has steel tubes filled with concrete angled inwards with diagonal and horizontal bracing arranged in a circular formation, to form a skeletal shape.

[0016] Each of the above three disclosures are preferably circular in design and have angled sides. WO 2010/117289 & CN 113847210 have diagonal braces connecting the elements at close centres.

[0017] The preceding discussion of background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0018] An object of the present invention is to alleviate at least one disadvantage associated with the related art.

[0019] Accordingly, in general and in one form, the present invention provides a tower for the mounting thereon of at least one wind turbine, each turbine comprising at least one set of rotor blades, the tower comprising: a periphery which is defined, at least in part, by: a plurality of peripheral beams, each of which extends substantially horizontally around at least a portion of the periphery of the tower; and a plurality of columns, each of which extends substantially vertically in the region of the periphery of the tower, and a plurality of radial beams, each of which extends substantially horizontally from a central region of the tower to the periphery of the tower, in which tower, at a plurality of vertically-spaced levels, a radial beam, a column, and at least two peripheral beams are connected in the region of the periphery of the tower.

[0020] It is preferred that the tower is adapted for the mounting thereon of two or more wind turbines, the turbines being vertically spaced from each other.

[0021] It is further preferred that the set of rotor blades of a turbine are horizontally separated from the sets of rotor blades of adjacent turbines.

[0022] In another form, embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for the onsite construction of towers that are adapted for the disposing of multiple power generators on a single tower structure.

[0023] Once assembled, in combination, wind and/or solar power generation may be provided together with storage and release of supplemental energy through raised and lowered weights that are proposed internally within the structure.

[0024] Other aspects and preferred forms are disclosed in the specification and/or defined in the appended claims, forming a part of the description of the invention.

[0025] Advantages provided by various embodiments of the present invention comprise one or more of the following: • onsite manufacture;

• prefabrication, at least in part, offsite;

• increased height providing larger power generation capacity;

• capability of accommodating a larger number of wind turbines;

• greater power generation from a single tower structure;

• larger blades can be mounted on a larger tower at greater height for capturing stronger winds with fewer tower structures required as a result;

• the combined structural elements provide for power generation in a range of conditions during the daily cycle;

• design relies only upon vertical columns and horizontal members at large spacings to form the structure;

• all the members are precast and delivered to site to be erected and in-situ concrete installed on site;

• a reduction in the amount of individual members and providing greater flexibility for use of internal spaces;

• the “stacking” of turbines at different heights of a turbine tower; and

• the mounting of turbines on opposite sides of a turbine tower.

[0026] Further scope of applicability of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further disclosure, objects, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the relevant art by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure herein, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a wind turbine tower assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the turbine tower assembly of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a plan view of the turbine tower assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal cross section of the tower of Figure 1 ;

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of components of a tower according to figure 1 ; and,

Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of constructional details of components of a tower according to Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] As is illustrated in Figure 1 , 2, and 3, a wind turbine tower assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a tower 2 and multiple rotor blades 3. The rotor blades 3 are provided in three sets, each set of blades being mounted at three vertically-spaced levels. The blades 3 in each set of rotor blades are horizontally spaced from the rotor blades of adjacent sets of blades to avoid interference between the blades that are at different levels.

[0029] According to other preferred forms of the invention that are not illustrated in the drawings, the tower 2 carries fewer than, or more than, three sets of rotor blades 3.

[0030] Although Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an arrangement in which the turbines are double sided with three blades on each of two sides of the tower 2, other preferred embodiments are single-sided with blades on one side of the tower 2. As is known in the art, the number of rotor blades on each side of the wind turbine assembly can differ from 3.

[0031] As is illustrated in Figure 2, the tower 2 is mounted on a foundation 6.

[0032] As is illustrated in Figure 3 the rotor blades 3 are mounted to rotor shafts 4 of the generator 5 at the rotor hubs 6.

[0033] As is illustrated in Figures 4 to 8, the tower 2 is constructed partly from prefabricated reinforced concrete castings and partly in situ by concrete pouring.

[0034] As is illustrated in cross-section in Figure 4, the tower 2 is substantially square in cross-section and has substantially straight peripheral beams 7, radial beams 8, vertical columns 11 , and a vertically-extending core 9. As is illustrated in the vertical sectional view of Figures 7 and the plan view of Figure 8, one end of each radial beam 8 connects to a peripheral beam 7 with the aid of connectors 18 and the other end of each radial beam 8 connects to the core 9 with the aid of further connectors 18.

[0035] The core 9 is of any suitable shape but in the presently-described embodiment it is substantially rectangular in cross section and defines an internal void 12. The void 12 provides space for lifts, stairwells, and any other desired infrastructure 19. According to other embodiments of the invention which are not illustrated in the drawings, the tower 2 has different cross-sections, including, another polygonal shape such as a rectangle, and non-polygonal shapes such as elliptical or circular.

[0036] The outer, vertical, faces of the radial beans 8 carry track clamps 14 which provide guidance for vault weights 13 which are mounted within the tower 2 for vertical movement upwards and downwards in the tower. According to the present embodiment of the invention, each vault weight 13 is shaped substantially like a truncated pie slice, each with substantially straight opposed vertical faces, a convex outer face, and a concave inner face.

[0037] According to network requirements, selected vault weights 13 are raised to store energy as gravitational potential energy and lowered to generate electrical power. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the generator 5 is operated as an electric motor to raise vault weights 13. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a separate electric motor (which is not illustrated in the drawings) is used to raise vault weights 13.

[0038] As is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the outer face of the tower 2 carries solar panels 10 to generate electrical power.

[0039] As is illustrated in figures 5 and 6, the peripheral beams 5, the radial beams 8, and the vertical columns 11 are supplied to the construction site as precast shells. In erecting the towers 2, those shells are filled by casting concrete 17 into a network of reinforcing bar 16 within the shells. In one form of the presently-described embodiment of the invention, the spaces which extend vertically between adjacent peripheral beams 7 are left as voids, so as to produce a “skeletal” tower. In other forms of the presently-described embodiment, those voids are filled in such as by using convention concrete pouring techniques. [0040] While this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification(s). This application is intended to cover any variations uses or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth.

[0041] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiments are not to limit the present invention unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive.

[0042] Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and appended claims. Therefore, the specific embodiments are to be understood to be illustrative of the many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be practiced. In the following claims, any means- plus-function clauses are intended to cover structures as performing the defined function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. For example, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface to secure wooden parts together, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw are equivalent structures.

The following sections I - VII provide a guide to interpreting the present specification.

I. Terms

[0043] The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition of matter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0044] The term “process” means any process, algorithm, method or the like, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0045] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a “step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficient antecedent basis.

[0046] The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this specification”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0047] The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “another embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0048] The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of the invention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0049] A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0050] The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0051] The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0052] The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0053] The term “herein” means “in the present specification, including anything which may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0054] The phrase “at least one of’, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things), means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things, does not mean “one of each of” the plurality of things.

[0055] Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbers to indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), mean the quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at least the quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase “one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore the phrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

[0056] The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at least on” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”.

[0057] The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” do not mean “represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both “the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data represents a credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

[0058] The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

[0059] The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does not limit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over the Internet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and also explains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “a data structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides “instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

[0060] The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sends data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explains that “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over the Internet.

[0061] Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numbers within the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpreted to specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 2, 3, 4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1 .1 ,

I .2, . . . 1.9).

II. Determining

[0062] The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., to determine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meets a certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[0063] The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision, and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating, predicting, guessing and the like.

[0064] The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing must be performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used, and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.

[0065] The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must be used. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform the determining.

III. Indication

[0066] The term “indication” is used in an extremely broad sense. The term “indication” may, among other things, encompass a sign, symptom, or token of something else.

[0067] The term “indication” may be used to refer to any indicia and/or other information indicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity, and/or other object and/or idea. [0068] As used herein, the phrases “information indicative of” and “indicia” may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes, and/or is otherwise associated with a related entity, subject, or object.

[0069] Indicia of information may include, for example, a symbol, a code, a reference, a link, a signal, an identifier, and/or any combination thereof and/or any other informative representation associated with the information.

[0070] In some embodiments, indicia of information (or indicative of the information) may be or include the information itself and/or any portion or component of the information. In some embodiments, an indication may include a request, a solicitation, a broadcast, and/or any other form of information gathering and/or dissemination.

IV. Forms of Sentences

[0071] Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as well as more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least one widget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where in a second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses a definite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”), this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of the feature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than one widget).

[0072] When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a “second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” (1 ) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets.

[0073] When a single device or article is described herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate).

[0074] Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device/article.

[0075] The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features.

V. Disclosed Examples and Terminology Are Not Limiting

[0076] Neither the Title nor the Abstract in this specification is intended to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). The title and headings of sections provided in the specification are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0077] Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognise that the disclosed invention(s) may be practised with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0078] The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodiments of the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing of features of the invention(s) which must be present in all embodiments.

[0079] Devices that are described as in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for long period of time (e.g. weeks at a time). In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0080] A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components/features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component/feature is essential or required.

[0081] Although process steps, operations, algorithms or the like may be described in a particular sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non- simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. [0082] Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.

[0083] Although a process may be described singly or without reference to other products or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another business model. Such interaction may be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of the process.

[0084] Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

[0085] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, a PDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are comprehensive of any category.

[0086] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other or readily substituted for each other.

[0087] All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention or any embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

[0088] “Comprises/comprising” and “includes/including” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, ‘including’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

Claims

1 . A tower for the mounting thereon of at least one wind turbine, each turbine comprising at least one set of rotor blades, the tower comprising: a periphery which is defined, at least in part, by: a plurality of peripheral beams, each of which extends substantially horizontally around at least a portion of the periphery of the tower; and a plurality of columns, each of which extends substantially vertically in the region of the periphery of the tower, and a plurality of radial beams, each of which extends substantially horizontally from a central region of the tower to the periphery of the tower, in which tower, at a plurality of vertically-spaced levels, a radial beam, a column, and at least two peripheral beams are connected in the region of the periphery of the tower.

2. A tower as claimed in claim 1 , for mounting thereon of two or more wind turbines, the turbines being vertically spaced from each other.

3. A tower as claimed in claim 1 or claim, 2, in which the set of rotor blades of a turbine are horizontally separated from the sets of rotor blades of adjacent turbines.

4. A tower as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least some of the peripheral beams are formed of concrete cast with reinforcing.

5. A tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least some of the radial beams are formed of concrete cast with reinforcing.

6. A tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least some of the columns are formed of concrete cast with reinforcing.

7. A tower as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, in which the concrete is cast into precast concrete forms.

8. A tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each peripheral beam is curvilinear.

9. A tower as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the periphery of the tower defines a circle.

10. A tower as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the periphery of the tower defines a polygon.

11. A tower as claimed in claim 10, in which the polygon is a square or a rectangle.

12. A tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: at least one weight which is suspended for vertical movement in the central region of the tower; a motor for raising that weight to store gravitational potential energy; and a generator generating electrical energy on lowering that weight.

13. A tower as claimed in claim 12 in which the motor and the generator are the same device.

14. A tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising photovoltaic collectors mounted to at least a portion of the periphery of the tower.

15. A method of producing the tower which is claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the process of: placing reinforcing in a pre-cast concreter form; and casting concrete into that form.

16. A combination comprising a tower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with at least one turbine that is mounted on the tower.

17. A combination as claimed in claim 16, in at least one turbine comprises two sets of turbine blades.