Cabins for wind turbine maintenance and methods for wind turbine maintenance

Abstract

To provide cabins for wind turbine maintenance and methods for wind turbine maintenance.SOLUTION: A cabin (100) for performing maintenance of an uptower component (110) of a wind turbine (10) is provided. The cabin (100) is configured to support an operator and / or a tool inside the cabin (100). The cabin (100) is attachable to the wind turbine (10) such that it is rotatable relatively to the uptower component (110).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cabin and a method for performing maintenance on a wind turbine, and further to a wind turbine including such a cabin. [Background technology]

[0002] Wind turbines are commonly used to provide electricity to the power grid. This type of wind turbine typically consists of a tower and a rotor located on the tower. The rotor usually consists of a hub and a number of blades, which rotate due to the effect of the wind on the blades. This rotation generates a torque that is usually transmitted via the rotor shaft to a generator, either directly ("direct drive" or "gearless") or through the use of a gearbox. In this way, the generator generates electricity which can be provided to the power grid.

[0003] The wind turbine hub may be rotatably coupled to the front of the nacelle. The wind turbine hub may be coupled to a rotor shaft, which may then be rotatably mounted to the nacelle using one or more rotor shaft bearings located in a frame within the nacelle. The nacelle is a housing located on the wind turbine tower that may house and protect the gearbox (if present) and generator (if not located outside the nacelle), and depending on the wind turbine, other components such as power converters and auxiliary systems.

[0004] Wind turbine maintenance (i.e. repairs) is usually required after a certain period of time has passed since the wind turbine was installed or started operating, or when wind turbine components become damaged or broken. In addition, visual inspections may be required or scheduled periodically to ensure that damage or deterioration does not go unnoticed. Wind turbine repairs can be challenging for operators as they require access to parts of the wind turbine at heights of 50m, 70m, 100m or more, which can pose health and safety hazards. Additionally, gusts of wind and changing weather conditions can increase the risk of maintenance.

[0005] An operator may be secured to the wind turbine via one or more ropes and hang from one of the ropes to access the exterior of the wind turbine component or portion to be repaired, which may be dangerous and uncomfortable for the operator, especially when reaching under the nacelle or hub, or reaching outside the generator of a direct drive wind turbine.

[0006] It is also possible to suspend a platform on the wind turbine, allowing an operator to move on the platform and make repairs from the platform. The platform may be suspended from the nacelle or rotor, for example, to access the blades. A connection between the platform and the blades, for example a rigid arm, may allow the platform to be relatively stationary, facilitating access to the blades. Some platforms may completely enclose the blades. Suspended platforms for accessing the exterior of certain wind turbine components, such as the generators, sides or tops of the nacelle or hub of direct-drive wind turbines, may be complex to install. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, a cabin for performing exterior maintenance on an uptower component of a wind turbine is provided. The cabin is configured to support an operator and / or tools inside the cabin. The cabin is mountable to the wind turbine such that the cabin is rotatable relative to the uptower component.

[0008] According to this aspect, a cabin is provided in which one or more operators can enter and / or one or more tools can be introduced to perform exterior maintenance operations on the wind turbine. The cabin is mountable to the wind turbine such that the cabin can rotate relative to the uptower components.

[0009] By installing such a cabin on a wind turbine, maintenance and inspection can be carried out at multiple locations on the components.

[0010] In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method is provided for performing maintenance on an uptower component of a wind turbine. The method includes attaching a cabin to the wind turbine, the cabin configured to support an operator and / or tools within the cabin. The method further includes rotating the cabin to a maintenance position relative to the uptower component. The method further includes performing maintenance on the uptower component at the maintenance position.

[0011] In yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, another method is provided. The method includes mounting a cabin on an exterior side of a wind turbine generator of a direct drive wind turbine. The method further includes displacing the cabin along a circumference of the wind turbine to a maintenance location. The method further includes performing maintenance at the maintenance location.

[0012] Throughout this disclosure, a cabin may be understood as a substantially closed structure, e.g., sized and shaped, configured to completely enclose an operator and / or tools. That is, the operator and / or tools within the cabin may be substantially completely enclosed by cabin walls. The cabin may have, for example, a bottom wall, a top wall, and one or more side walls extending between the top and bottom walls. The cabin may include one or more hatches that are opened and closed as needed, for example, to allow for entry and exit of personnel and tools, and for deploying tools and structures to assist in maintenance operations.

[0013] Throughout this disclosure, an up-tower component is understood as a wind turbine component that is directly or indirectly supported by the tower, and in particular may be located above the wind turbine tower when the wind turbine is assembled. The up-tower component may be, for example, a nacelle or a stator (for a direct drive wind turbine) or a generator rotor (for a direct drive wind turbine) or a wind turbine rotor or a hub or a yaw system.

[0014] Throughout this disclosure, maintenance or maintenance work may be understood to include inspection, repair and restoration work, and activities of a similar nature performed on a wind turbine. For example, maintenance may include inspecting joints or other connections, tightening bolts, and repairing composite structures. Maintenance may include, for example, replacing through-bolts that connect the stator poles to the stator frame of a direct-drive wind turbine, the stator surrounding the rotor of the generator. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example wind turbine. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a simplified internal view of an example nacelle of the wind turbine of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an example of a cabin connected to the external stator of a generator of a direct drive wind turbine. [Figure 4A] FIG. 13 shows a schematic front view of another example of a cabin connected to the external stator of a generator of a direct drive wind turbine. [Figure 4B] FIG. 13 shows a schematic side view of another example of a cabin connected to the external stator of a generator of a direct drive wind turbine. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a cabin fixed to a wind turbine hub. [Figure 6] 1 is a flow chart of a method for performing maintenance on an exterior surface of an uptower component of a wind turbine. [Figure 7] 10 is a flow chart illustrating another method for performing exterior maintenance on a wind turbine generator of a direct drive wind turbine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, including one or more examples illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation only, and not by way of limitation. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield yet a further embodiment. Thus, the present disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a wind turbine 10. In this example, the wind turbine 10 is a horizontal axis wind turbine. Alternatively, the wind turbine 10 may be a vertical axis wind turbine. In the example, the wind turbine 10 includes a tower 15 extending from a support system 14 on a ground 12, a nacelle 16 mounted to the tower 15, and a rotor 18 coupled to the nacelle 16. The rotor 18 includes a rotatable hub 20 and at least one rotor blade 22 coupled to the hub 20 and extending outwardly from the hub 20. In the example, the rotor 18 has three rotor blades 22. In alternative embodiments, the rotor 18 includes more or less than three rotor blades 22. The tower 15 may be fabricated from tubular steel to define a cavity (not shown in FIG. 1) between the support system 14 and the nacelle 16. In alternative embodiments, the tower 15 is any suitable type of tower having any suitable height. Alternatively, the tower may be a hybrid tower made of concrete and tubular steel sections, or the tower may be a partial or complete lattice tower.

[0018] The rotor blades 22 are spaced relative to the hub 20 to rotate the rotor 18 and convert kinetic energy from the wind into usable mechanical energy, and therefore electrical energy. The rotor blades 22 are mated to the hub 20 by coupling blade root portions 24 to the hub 20 at a number of load transfer regions 26. The load transfer regions 26 may include hub load transfer regions and blade load transfer regions (neither of which are shown in FIG. 1 ). Loads induced on the rotor blades 22 are transferred to the hub 20 through the load transfer regions 26.

[0019] In examples, rotor blades 22 may have lengths ranging from about 15 m (meters) to about 90 m or more. Rotor blades 22 may have any suitable length that enables wind turbine 10 to function as described herein. For example, non-limiting examples of blade lengths include lengths of 20 m or less, 37 m, 48.7 m, 50.2 m, 52.2 m, or greater than 91 m. When wind strikes rotor blades 22 from wind direction 28, rotor 18 is rotated about rotor axis 30. As rotor blades 22 rotate and experience centrifugal forces, rotor blades 22 are also subjected to various forces and moments. As such, rotor blades 22 may deflect and / or rotate from a neutral, or non-deflected, position to a deflected position.

[0020] Furthermore, the pitch angle of the rotor blades 22, i.e., the angle determining the orientation of the rotor blades 22 relative to the wind direction, can be varied by the pitch system 32 to control the load and power generated by the wind turbine 10 by adjusting the angular position of at least one rotor blade 22 relative to the wind vector. A pitch axis 34 of the rotor blades 22 is shown. During operation of the wind turbine 10, the pitch system 32 can, in particular, vary the pitch angle of the rotor blades 22 such that the angle of attack of (some of) the rotor blades is reduced, thereby facilitating a reduction in rotational speed and / or facilitating a stall of the rotor 18.

[0021] In an embodiment, the blade pitch of each rotor blade 22 is individually controlled by a wind turbine controller 36 or by a pitch control system 80. Alternatively, the blade pitch of all rotor blades 22 may be simultaneously controlled by the control system.

[0022] Further, in this embodiment, as the wind direction 28 changes, the yaw direction of the nacelle 16 may be rotated about a yaw axis 38 to position the rotor blades 22 relative to the wind direction 28 .

[0023] In the illustrative embodiment, wind turbine controller 36 is shown as centralized in nacelle 16, however, wind turbine controller 36 may be a distributed system throughout wind turbine 10, on support system 14, in a wind farm, and / or at a remote control center. Wind turbine controller 36 may include a processor 40 configured to perform some of the methods and / or steps described herein. Additionally, many of the other components described herein include a processor.

[0024] As used herein, the term "processor" is not limited to integrated circuits referred to in the art as computers, but refers broadly to controllers, microcontrollers, microcomputers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), application-specific integrated circuits, and other programmable circuitry, and these terms are used interchangeably herein. It should be understood that a processor and / or control system can also include memory, input channels, and / or output channels.

[0025] The control system 36 may also include memory, such as one or more memory devices. The memory may include one or more memory elements, including, but not limited to, computer-readable media (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), computer-readable non-volatile media (e.g., flash memory), floppy disks, compact disks-read only memory (CD-ROM), magneto-optical disks (MOD), digital versatile disks (DVD), and / or other suitable memory elements. Such memory device(s) may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors 40, configure the controller 36 to perform or trigger the performance of various steps disclosed herein. The memory may also be configured to store data, such as from measurements and / or calculations.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the wind turbine 10. In this embodiment, the wind turbine 10 includes a nacelle 16 and a rotor 18 rotatably coupled to the nacelle 16. More specifically, a hub 20 of the rotor 18 is rotatably coupled to an electric generator 42 disposed within the nacelle 16 by a main shaft 44, a gearbox 46, a high-speed shaft 48, and a coupling 50. In this embodiment, the main shaft 44 is disposed at least partially coaxially with a longitudinal axis (not shown) of the nacelle 16. Rotation of the main shaft 44 drives the gearbox 46 which then drives the high-speed shaft 48 by converting the relatively slow rotational motion of the rotor 18 and the main shaft 44 into a relatively fast rotational motion of the high-speed shaft 48. The latter is connected, with the aid of the coupling 50, to a generator 42 for producing electric energy. Further, a transformer 90 and / or appropriate electronics, switches and / or inverters may be arranged in the nacelle 16 to convert the electrical energy produced by the generator 42 having a voltage of 400V-1000V into electrical energy having a medium voltage (10-35KV). Said electrical energy is conducted from the nacelle 16 to the tower 15 via a power cable.

[0027] The gearbox 46, the generator 42 and the transformer 90 may be supported by a main support structure frame of the nacelle 16, optionally embodied as a main frame 52. The gearbox 46 may include a gearbox housing connected to the main frame 52 by one or more torque arms 103. In an embodiment, the nacelle 16 also includes a main forward support bearing 60 and a main aft support bearing 62. Furthermore, the generator 42 may be mounted to the main frame 52 by a decoupling support means 54, in particular to prevent vibrations of the generator 42 from being introduced into the main frame 52 and thereby creating a source of noise emissions.

[0028] Optionally, the main frame 52 is configured to carry the weight of the rotor 18 and nacelle 16 components, as well as the overall loads resulting from wind and rotational loads, and to introduce these loads into the tower 15 of the wind turbine 10. The rotor shaft 44, generator 42, gearbox 46, high speed shaft 48, coupling 50, and supports 52, as well as any associated fastening, supporting, and fastening devices, including, but not limited to, forward and aft support bearings 60, 62, may be referred to as a drive train 64.

[0029] In some examples, the wind turbine may be a direct drive wind turbine without a gearbox 46. The generator 42 operates at the same rotational speed as the rotor 18 in a direct drive wind turbine. Therefore, they generally have a much larger diameter than the generators used in wind turbines with a gearbox 46 to provide a similar amount of power than wind turbines with a gearbox.

[0030] The nacelle 16 may also include a yaw drive mechanism 56 that may be used to rotate the nacelle 16, and thereby the rotor 18, about the yaw axis 38 to control the approach of the rotor blades 22 relative to the wind direction 28.

[0031] To properly position the nacelle 16 with respect to the wind direction 28, the nacelle 16 may also include at least one meteorological measurement system, which may include a wind vane and an anemometer. The meteorological measurement system 58 may provide information, which may include the wind direction 28 and / or wind speed, to the wind turbine controller 36. In an embodiment, the pitch system 32 is at least partially disposed on the hub 20 as a pitch assembly 66. The pitch assembly 66 includes one or more pitch drive systems 68 and at least one sensor 70. Each pitch drive system 68 is coupled to a respective rotor blade 22 (shown in FIG. 1 ) to modulate the pitch angle of the rotor blade 22 along the pitch axis 34. Only one of the three pitch drive systems 68 is shown in FIG. 2 .

[0032] In an embodiment, pitch assembly 66 includes at least one pitch bearing 72 coupled to hub 20 and each rotor blade 22 (shown in FIG. 1 ) to rotate each rotor blade 22 about pitch axis 34. Pitch drive system 68 includes a pitch drive motor 74, a pitch drive gearbox 76, and a pitch drive pinion 78. Pitch drive motor 74 is coupled to pitch drive gearbox 76 such that pitch drive motor 74 imparts a mechanical force to pitch drive gearbox 76. Pitch drive gearbox 76 is coupled to pitch drive pinion 78 such that pitch drive pinion 78 is rotated by pitch drive gearbox 76. Pitch bearing 72 is coupled to pitch drive pinion 78 such that rotation of pitch drive pinion 78 causes rotation of pitch bearing 72.

[0033] The pitch drive system 68 is coupled to the wind turbine controller 36 to adjust the pitch angle of the rotor blades 22 upon receipt of one or more signals from the wind turbine controller 36. In examples, the pitch drive motor 74 is any suitable motor driven by an electric power and / or hydraulic system that enables the pitch assembly 66 to function as described herein. Alternatively, the pitch assembly 66 may include any suitable structure, configuration, arrangement, and / or components, such as, but not limited to, hydraulic cylinders, springs, and / or servo mechanisms. In certain embodiments, the pitch drive motor 74 is driven by energy extracted from the rotational inertia of the hub 20 and / or a stored energy source (not shown) that provides energy to components of the wind turbine 10.

[0034] The pitch assembly 66 may also include one or more pitch control systems 80 for controlling the pitch drive systems 68 in accordance with control signals from the wind turbine controller 36 in case of certain prioritized conditions and / or during an overspeed of the rotor 18. In an example embodiment, the pitch assembly 66 includes at least one pitch control system 80 communicatively coupled to each pitch drive system 68 for controlling the pitch drive systems 68 independently from the wind turbine controller 36. In an example embodiment, the pitch control system 80 is coupled to the pitch drive systems 68 and to the sensor 70. During normal operation of the wind turbine 10, the wind turbine controller 36 may control the pitch drive systems 68 to adjust the pitch angle of the rotor blades 22.

[0035] According to an embodiment, a generator 84, including, for example, a battery and an electrical capacitor, is disposed at or within the hub 20 and is coupled to the sensors 70, the pitch control system 80, and the pitch drive system 68 to provide a source of electrical power to these components. In this example, the generator 84 provides a continuous source of electrical power to the pitch assembly 66 during operation of the wind turbine 10. In an alternative embodiment, the generator 84 provides electrical power to the pitch assembly 66 only during an electrical power loss event of the wind turbine 10. The power loss event may include a power grid loss or dip, a malfunction of the electrical system of the wind turbine 10, and / or a failure of the wind turbine controller 36. During a power loss event, the generator 84 operates to provide electrical power to the pitch assembly 66 such that the pitch assembly 66 can operate during the power loss event.

[0036] In the example, pitch drive system 68, sensor 70, pitch control system 80, cables, and generator 84 are each disposed within a cavity 86 defined by an inner surface 88 of hub 20. In alternative embodiments, these components may be positioned relative to and directly or indirectly coupled to an outer surface of hub 20.

[0037] In one aspect of the disclosure, a cabin 100 is provided for performing exterior maintenance on an uptower component 110 of a wind turbine 10. The cabin 100 is configured to support an operator and / or tools within the cabin. The cabin 100 is mountable to the wind turbine 10 such that the cabin is rotatable relative to the uptower component 110.

[0038] According to this aspect, a cabin 100 is provided that can move around the uptower component 110 or move with the hub 20 (or nacelle 16) as the wind turbine rotor 18 (nacelle 16) rotates (yawing). One or more operators and / or one or more tools can be present inside the cabin 100 and perform necessary maintenance operations from the cabin 100. In some examples, the tools can be robotic tools, e.g. tools that can be controlled and operated from outside the cabin, e.g. from the ground.

[0039] For example, the cabin may be configured to be connected to the exterior of an uptower component, such as a nacelle or a direct drive wind turbine, and may be movable around the uptower component. The cabin may be held stationary at a position around the uptower component to perform maintenance. Alternatively, for example, the cabin may be connected to the exterior of a hub and configured to move with the hub (typically the rotor of a wind turbine) as the hub rotates. The cabin may be kept in the same position relative to the hub of a direct drive wind turbine, but the position of the cabin may be changed, for example, relative to the generator of the direct drive wind turbine. In yet another example, the cabin may be configured to be connected to the exterior bottom of the nacelle such that the cabin is kept in the same position relative to the nacelle. When the nacelle yaws, the cabin may move, for example, relative to the yaw system, but not relative to the nacelle.

[0040] A cabin that is movable along a sequence of positions may allow an operator to access hard-to-reach areas of a wind turbine in a more comfortable and safe manner.

[0041] The cabin 100 can be moved, for example, around the uptower wind turbine component 110 to which it is attached, or with the hub 20 or nacelle, relative to the uptower component 110, so that different areas of the uptower wind turbine component 110 can be safely and easily accessed. For example, different tangential locations on the exterior side of the direct drive wind turbine generator, i.e. along the tangential direction of the generator, can be accessed and maintained as needed.

[0042] The uptower component may be a static uptower component in some examples. A static uptower component may be understood as an uptower wind turbine component in the sense that the component is not expected to move significantly, if at all, during a period of time. For example, the component may be configured to move only in response to a specific operation and / or condition, or the component may be stopped and optionally locked for maintenance to be performed. Such a period may end, for example, due to an undesirable operation such as vibration or yaw. Thus, a static uptower component may be, for example, a nacelle or a stator (e.g., of a direct drive wind turbine). A static uptower component may also be a generator rotor or a wind turbine rotor or hub (e.g., of a direct drive wind turbine) if it is fixed or locked for a period of time when maintenance is performed. A static uptower component may also be a yaw system.

[0043] Uptower component 110 may be, for example, an outer rotor or outer stator of a wind turbine component, such as, in some examples, a generator of a direct drive wind turbine, where outer rotor refers to a rotor surrounding a stator with a radial air gap between the stator and rotor, and outer stator refers to a stator surrounding a rotor with such a radial air gap.

[0044] The uptower component 110 may be the nacelle 16 or the yaw system in some other examples. The cabin 100 described throughout this disclosure may be particularly useful for reaching, for example, the underside of the nacelle (and / or the top of the tower 15) or the underside of the generator of a direct drive wind turbine in a manner that is safe and comfortable for the operator.

[0045] A schematic example of a cabin 100 mounted on an external stator of a direct-drive wind turbine is shown in FIG. 3. Another schematic example of a cabin 100 mounted on an external stator of a direct-drive wind turbine is shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. The cabin in these figures is configured, e.g., sized and shaped, to support at least one operator within the cabin. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B show the cabin 100 in two different tangential positions around the stator 110. In these figures, the cabin 100 can be mounted on an uptower component 110 (a generator stator in these figures) such that the cabin 100 can rotate around the central axis of the uptower component 110. The central axis may refer to the axis of the uptower component extending along the axial direction 122 or along the longitudinal direction. In some examples, the central axis may extend along the axial direction of the generator (component), e.g., when the uptower component is a generator or a generator rotor or a generator stator of a direct-drive wind turbine. In some other instances, for example when the uptower component is a nacelle, the central axis may extend along the length of the nacelle.

[0046] 3, the cabin 100 may also be mounted to the uptower component 110 such that the cabin 100 may rotate about a central axis of the cabin 100. The central axis of the cabin may refer to an axis of the cabin 100 that is parallel to the central axis of the uptower component 110.

[0047] As seen in the examples of Figures 4A and 4B, the cabin 100 may further include a floor 120 that is displaceable relative to the cabin 100 such that the floor 120 provides a substantially horizontal support at different positions of the cabin 100. For example, the floor 120 may be configured to rotate along a tangential direction 111 of the cabin 100 to provide a horizontal support to an operator within the cabin 100 when the cabin 100 rotates. In this way, the floor 120 may always have a horizontal orientation when the cabin 100 rotates around the stator or any suitable uptower component or when rotating with the hub. Thus, the operator may be more stable and comfortable inside the cabin 100 than if such a floor 120 were not provided. In some examples, the floor 120 may be a platform, for example, a rectangular or square platform.

[0048] The floor 120 may be movably coupled to the interior of the cabin. In some examples, the floor 120 may be displaceable along an interior wall of the cabin 100 or along a structure within the cabin. The floor 120 may have one or more suitable guiding elements 116 for moving along or within the cabin 100. For example, the cabin 100 may include one or more tracks 115 along which the floor 120 may move.

[0049] In some examples, such as the example of FIG. 4B, the cabin 100 may include two opposing tracks 115 on the front 105 and back 106 sides of the cabin 100 that extend along a tangential direction 111 of the cabin 100. The front 105 and back 106 sides of the cabin may be parallel to the plane of the rotor 18 in some examples. The front 105 may be the windward side and the back 106 may be the leeward side. In other examples, one or more tangentially extending tracks may be provided on an outside tangential side 107 of the cabin 100. Gliding pads may be provided between the floor 120 and the one or more tracks 115 to allow the floor 120 to rotate in the tangential direction 111 of the cabin relative to the cabin 100.

[0050] Instead of providing one or more gliding bearings for enabling rotation of the floor 120, other suitable rotation arrangements may be provided. For example, two or more roller bearings may be provided for rotatably connecting the floor 120 to the cabin 100. Also, a plurality of wheels may be provided for this purpose, similar to, for example, a set of wheels used to movably connect a car or train to a roller coaster.

[0051] In some examples, the floor may be locked or otherwise fixed in place in a number of different predefined orientations relative to the cabin, such as a limited number of predefined orientations.

[0052] Although not shown in the example of Figure 3, the cabin 100 of Figure 3 may also include a floor 120 as described above that is movably coupled to the cabin to support an operator within the cabin as the cabin moves about the stator 110. A circular track or rail may be provided to allow the floor 120 to rotate within the interior of the cabin 100 of Figure 3.

[0053] The cabin 100 may further include one or more fixation elements for fixing the floor in a position relative to the cabin 100. When the cabin is moved to a location where a maintenance operation is to be performed, the fixation elements may maintain the floor 120 in a desired orientation even as one or more operators walk or move tools within the cabin.

[0054] In some examples, the cabin 100 may further include a plurality of attachment points 125 configured to be joined to corresponding attachment points 126 of the uptower component 110. The attachment points 125 of the cabin may be regularly spaced along the tangential direction 111 of the cabin 100. Similarly, the attachment points 126 of the uptower component, e.g., the external stator of a direct drive wind turbine, may be regularly spaced along the tangential direction 121 of the uptower component 110. The distance between successive attachment points 125 of the cabin and the distance between successive attachment points 126 of the uptower component 110 may be the same, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. Thus, when the example cabin 100 of FIG. 2 is pulled around the stator, the free attachment points 127 of the cabin may be attached to the free attachment points 128 of the stator, as shown by the dotted lines.

[0055] The number of attachment points 125 of the cabin 100 may be selected as appropriate. In the example of FIG. 3, the cabin 100 is configured with six attachment points 125 on the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin. However, the cabin may be configured with more or fewer attachment points 125. In some examples, the attachment points 125 may be provided in a central region of the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin 100. In other examples, the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin 100 may be configured with one or more rows of attachment points 125. For example, the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin 100 may be configured with a first row of attachment points 125 near or at a leading edge of the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin and a second row of attachment points 125 near or at a trailing edge of the outer tangential side 107 of the cabin.

[0056] The attachment points 125, 126 may be D-shaped rings or other suitable anchor points in some examples. Bolts and nuts may be used to attach the attachment points 125 on the cabin and the attachment points 126 on the uptower component 110. This allows the cabin 100 to be fixed to the uptower component 110. Thus, the cabin 100 may be movably attached to the uptower component, and the cabin may be fixed at specific positions around the uptower component, for example, locked with pins or nuts and bolts. In these positions, the cabin does not move around the uptower component, and an operator can safely perform maintenance work.

[0057] In some examples, the cabin 100 can further include one or more guide elements 123 configured to move along one or more guide elements 129 of the uptower component 110. The guide elements 129 can be, for example, rails, such as in the example of FIG.

[0058] The guide elements 123 may allow for more gradual placement of the cabin 100 at a desired tangential position than the use of multiple fixed attachment points 125. Similar to the guide elements 116 of the floor 120, the one or more guide elements 123 of the cabin 100 may include roller bearing rings, sliding bearing raceways, one or more gears, such as pinions, a plurality of wheels or other suitable elements, that contact rails or other guide elements on the tower-like component 110 and allow the cabin 100 to move on rails around the tower-like component 110 along the tangential direction 121 of the tower-like component 110.

[0059] One or more guide elements 123 of the cabin 100 may be provided on the front 105 and rear 106 sides of the cabin 100, as in the example of Figure 4B. In another example, a proximal tangential side 108 of the cabin 100, i.e., the tangential side of the cabin closest to the uptower components, may be configured with one or more guide elements 123.

[0060] In some examples, such as the examples of Figures 3 and 4, the cabin may be configured to rotate about its own central axis.

[0061] In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a wind turbine 10 including a cabin 100 according to any of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, for example movably mounted to an uptower component 110, fixedly mounted to the hub 20, or even fixedly mounted to a nacelle 16. The wind turbine 10 comprises a tower 15, an uptower component 110 supported by the tower 15, and a cabin as described herein. The cabin 100 is mounted to the wind turbine such that the cabin is rotatable relative to the uptower component 110.

[0062] A fixed cabin can be understood as a cabin connected to the hub (or e.g. nacelle) in such a way that one or more connection points of the cabin to the hub (nacelle) are maintained without changing their position as long as the cabin is connected to the hub (nacelle). Thus, the cabin can be prevented from moving relative to the hub (nacelle) when the hub (nacelle) rotates (yawing). Wind turbine rotors (nacelles) may be stopped and fixed at certain positions so that one or more operators can safely perform maintenance operations at those positions. The uptower component 100 can be, for example, the outer rotor of a direct-drive wind turbine, the outer stator of a direct-drive wind turbine or the nacelle 16 (or yaw system).

[0063] While the cabin may be fixedly attached to the rotor hub, or in some examples to the nacelle, in some of these examples the attachment may be temporary. For example, when maintenance is required, the cabin may be lifted by a crane and attached to the hub or nacelle. Once the maintenance is completed, the cabin may be removed. It should be clarified that the cabin may also be movably attached to the nacelle. Whether the cabin is movably or fixedly attached to the nacelle, for example, maintenance of the nacelle and / or the top of the tower may be performed. Maintenance of the yaw system may be performed from a cabin attached to the nacelle.

[0064] The wind turbine 10 may further include an actuator 130 connecting the uptower element 110 and the cabin 100 to rotate the cabin 100 around the uptower element 110. The actuator 130 may be, for example, a linear actuator, a cable or a gear. The term "cable" is intended to cover ropes, chains and similar elements. In this way, when the actuator acts on the cabin 100, the cabin 100 may rotate around its central axis, see for example the embodiment of FIG. 3.

[0065] If the cabin 100 includes multiple cabin attachment points 125 and the uptower component 110 includes multiple cabin attachment points 126, one or more of the attachment points 125 of the cabin 100 may be attached to one or more of the attachment points 126 of the uptower component 110, such as in the example of FIG. 3. Bolts and nuts may be used, for example, to secure the cabin 100 to the uptower component 110.

[0066] In these examples, the actuator 130 may connect the cabin 100 with the attachment point 126 of the uptower component 110 to move the cabin 100 around the uptower component 110. The actuator 130 may be a linear actuator, for example a hydraulic actuator or a cable, in some examples. FIG. 3 shows a hydraulic actuator diagrammatically. A cable may be used, with an end of the cable attached, for example, to the attachment point 126 of the uptower component 110 and the opposite end of the cable attached, for example, to a winch provided on the cabin 100. The winch may include a motor for winding the cable. The uptower component may include suitable edges or protrusions in some examples to prevent the cable from moving from the outer tangential side of the uptower component or to restrain the cable from moving along the axial direction 122. The axial direction may be understood as the direction perpendicular to the plane in which the tangential direction lies. In the case of a nacelle, the axial direction may mean the fore-aft direction. In the case of a wind turbine tower, the axial direction may refer to the vertical direction.

[0067] In other examples, such as in the examples of Figures 4A and 4B, the uptower component 110 may include one or more rails 129 surrounding the uptower component 110 along the tangential direction 121, and the cabin 100 may be attached to the one or more rails 129. In these examples, an actuator 130 may connect the uptower component 110 and the appropriate attachment point 126 of the cabin 100. Such an actuator 130 may be a linear actuator or a cable, as in the example of Figure 3. The actuator 130 may alternatively connect the cabin 100 to the rail 129. The actuator may be one or more gears, such as, for example, a pinion configured to mesh with another gear. The rail 129 may be comprised of a number of teeth with which the cabin 100 can mesh and move in some examples. A motor may be provided to move one or more gears of the cabin and advance the cabin along the toothed rail. In yet other embodiments, the cabin may include wheels or one or more ball bearing rings or one or more gliding bearing rings, and the motor may move the ball bearing rings of the wheels or gliding bearing rings relative to one or more rails 129.

[0068] In examples where the cabin 100 is fixedly connected to the hub 20 (or nacelle 16), the cabin 100 may be attached to the wind turbine hub 20 (nacelle 16) by one or more arms 131. FIG. 5 shows a schematic example of the cabin 100 attached to the hub 20 via four arms (one arm not shown). The arm or arms are telescopic in some examples. The position of the cabin 100 relative to the hub 20 (nacelle) may be changed to facilitate access to areas where maintenance is to be performed. However, the connection points of the arms (or any suitable connectors that secure the cabin to the hub (nacelle)) do not change while the cabin is connected to the hub (nacelle).

[0069] In examples where the cabin 100 is fixedly attached to the hub 20 (or nacelle), the hub 20 (nacelle) may further include a hatch 132 for accessing the cabin 100 from inside the hub 20 (nacelle). The wind turbine may further include a passageway 133 connecting the hub hatch 132 to the nacelle 16 of the wind turbine 10. Thus, one or more operators may safely access the cabin 100 from the nacelle 16. In these or other examples, a passageway may be provided between the tip of the hub and the hub hatch 132 so that operators may enter the hub from the front of the rotor 18. The cabin 100 may have one or more hatches of suitable shapes and dimensions that may be opened or closed, for example, for one or more operators to enter or exit the cabin and / or to deploy tools or structures to assist in maintenance operations. The hub hatch 132 may likewise have any suitable shape and dimensions.

[0070] In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method 200 for performing maintenance on an uptower component of a wind turbine 10 is provided. The method is illustrated generally in a flow chart in FIG. 6. The method includes, at block 210, mounting a cabin 100 to the wind turbine 10, the cabin 100 being configured to support an operator and / or tools inside the cabin 100. The method further includes, at block 220, rotating the cabin 100 relative to the uptower component 110 to a maintenance position, e.g., moving the cabin 100 around the uptower component 110 or with the hub 20 or with the nacelle 16 to the maintenance position. The method further includes, at block 230, performing maintenance on the uptower component 110 in the maintenance position.

[0071] Access to locations requiring maintenance may be performed in a relatively quick manner, reducing risk and discomfort to one or more operators. As previously mentioned, the uptower component 110 may be, for example, an outer rotor of a direct drive wind turbine, an outer stator of a direct drive wind turbine, or a nacelle 16. The uptower component 110 may also be a yaw system. The descriptions and features relating to the cabin 100 and the wind turbine 10 to which the cabin 100 is attached may be applied to the method 200 and vice versa.

[0072] An operator may enter the cabin 100, which is secured to, for example, the hub 20 or an uptower component 110 different from the hub 20. The cabin 100 may be in a starting position.

[0073] Rotating the cabin 100 may include rotating the hub 20 in examples where the cabin 100 is fixed to the hub 20. An operator may access the cabin 100, for example, through a passageway 133 connecting the interior of the nacelle 16 with the hub hatch 132. The hub 20 may then be rotated, for example, through the action of wind on the rotor blades 22, until a desired position for the cabin 100 is reached. The blade pitch angle and / or generator torque may be varied to move the hub 100 at an appropriate rotational speed and stop the cabin 100 at the desired position. The wind turbine rotor 18 may then be locked. In other examples, the generator may be used as a motor to rotate the wind turbine rotor 18 and move the cabin 100 together with the hub 20.

[0074] Rotating the cabin 100 may include yawing the nacelle 16 in some examples where the cabin 100 is fixed to the nacelle 16. In other examples, the cabin may be movable relative to the nacelle, for example on one or more rails, or in other suitable manners. Maintenance on the nacelle and / or maintenance on the yaw system may be performed from a cabin that is movably or fixedly attached to the nacelle.

[0075] In examples where the cabin 100 is connected to the uptower component 110, for example, via rails 129 or attachment points 126 on the uptower component 110, rotating the cabin 100 may include pulling or pushing the cabin 100 around the uptower component 110. Thus, the cabin 100 may move along a tangent direction 121 of the uptower component 110. That is, rotating the cabin 100 may generally include rotating the cabin 100 around a central axis of the uptower component.

[0076] The method may further include rotating the cabin 100 relative to the uptower component 110 and moving it to a further or new maintenance position, e.g., moving the cabin 100 around the uptower component 110 or with the hub 20 or nacelle 16 to the further maintenance position and performing maintenance of the uptower component at the further maintenance position. That is, if further maintenance is required in other areas of the uptower component 110, the current maintenance position becomes the starting position from which the cabin is moved to the other maintenance position.

[0077] In some examples, the cabin 100 may be installed on a wind turbine when it is necessary to perform maintenance work. After the maintenance is completed, the cabin 100 may be removed from the wind turbine 10. One or more lifting devices, such as a crane, may be used to lift and install the cabin 100.

[0078] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a further method 300 is provided. The method 300 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. The method includes, in step 310, mounting a cabin 100 on the outside of a wind turbine generator of a direct-drive wind turbine. One or more operators can enter the cabin 100 fixed to the generator, for example an outer rotor or an outer stator of the generator of the direct-drive wind turbine. The method further includes, in step 320, displacing the cabin 100 to a maintenance position along a circumference of the wind turbine generator. The method further includes, in step 330, performing maintenance at the maintenance position.

[0079] The method may further comprise displacing the cabin 100 along the circumference of the wind turbine to a new maintenance position and performing the maintenance at the new maintenance position. In general, the method may comprise sequentially displacing, e.g. rotating, the cabin 100 along a tangent direction 121 of the generator of the direct drive wind turbine to positions requiring maintenance.

[0080] The cabin 100 can be displaced by moving the cabin 100 along one or more rails 129 or other guide elements. The rails 129 may be permanently attached to the external rotor or stator (or generally to any uptower component of the present disclosure) or may be attached to the rotor or stator when maintenance is required. The rails 129 may be divided into multiple rail sections that can be lifted and attached to the external rotor or stator. One or more helicopters, drones, cranes or suitable lifting devices can be used to couple the rails 129 or rail sections to the external rotor or stator. In some examples, intermediate elements may be provided between the rails 129 or rail sections. The intermediate elements may be configured to be clamped to the external rotor or stator, for example.

[0081] The sequential rotation of the cabin 100 may include detaching one or more attachment points 125 of the cabin from one or more attachment points 126 of the external rotor or external stator of the generator, rotating the cabin, for example by pulling the cabin, and attaching one or more other attachment points 125 of the cabin 100 to one or more other attachment points 126 of the external rotor or external stator. The cabin 100 may be fixed in each of the positions where the maintenance is performed. For example, bolts and nuts may be used to fix the cabin 100 and prevent further movement of the cabin 100 along the tangential direction 121 of the generator. Before rotating the cabin 100, it may be necessary to release the fixation of the cabin, for example by unlocking it.

[0082] In some examples, the cabin 100 can be displaced using one or more linear actuators, a cable or a geared connection between the generator's external rotor or external stator and the cabin 100.

[0083] During the displacement of the cabin 100, e.g. during the sequential rotation of the cabin 100, the floor 120 of the cabin 100 may be maintained in a horizontal orientation. The floor 120 may be a platform configured to move along a tangential direction 111 of the cabin 100 as the cabin 100 is displaced along the circumference of the wind turbine. Thus, the operator can assume a comfortable position inside the cabin 100.

[0084] The above descriptions and features relating to the cabin 100, the wind turbine 10 to which the cabin 100 is mounted, and the method 200 are also applicable to the method 300 and vice versa.

[0085] Although not illustrated in further detail, in any of the cabin, wind turbine, and method embodiments disclosed herein, the cabin may be configured to accommodate tools in addition to or instead of personnel. The cabin may be displaced relative to the uptower components as illustrated herein. Tools, such as automated robots, may then perform maintenance as needed. In some examples, such cabins may include video cameras or other visualization systems for locating the tools relative to the wind turbine components.

[0086] In some examples, the cabin may be at least partially open to allow tools to be used for maintenance, for example using a hatch or retractable roof to allow tools to exit the cabin.

[0087] Examples are used herein to disclose the teachings, including the preferred embodiments, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the teachings, including making and using any device or system and performing any method incorporated therein. The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such other examples are intended to be included in the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements that have insubstantial differences from the language of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, and other known equivalents to each such aspect, may be mixed and matched by those of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques according to the principles of the present application. When reference signs related to the drawings are placed in parentheses in the claims, they are merely intended to improve the clarity of the claims, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10: Wind turbine 12: Ground 14: Support system 15: Tower 16: Nacelle 18: Rotor 20: Hub 22: Rotor blade 23: Reference line 24: Blade root 25: Pitch angle 26: Load transfer area 28: Wind direction 30: Rotor shaft 32: Pitch system 34: Pitch axis 36: Wind turbine controller 38: Yaw axis 40: Processor 42: Generator 43: Communication module 44: Main shaft 46: Gearbox 48: High speed shaft 50: Coupling 52: Main frame 54: Decoupling support means 56: Yaw drive mechanism 58: Meteorological measurement system 60: Main forward support bearing 62: Aft support bearing 64: Drive train 66: Pitch assembly 68: Pitch drive system 70: Sensor 72: Pitch bearing 78: Pitch drive pinion 80: Pitch control system 84: Generator 86: Cavity 88: Inner surface 90: Transformer 100: Cabin 103: Torque arm 105: Front 106: Rear 107: Outer tangential side 108: Proximal tangential side 110: Uptower component 111: Tangential 115: Track 116: Guide element 120: Floor 121: Tangential 122: Axial 123: Guide element 125: Attachment point (cabin) 126: Attachment point (uptower component) 127: Free attachment point (cabin) 128: Free attachment point (uptower component) 129: Guide element 130: Actuator 131: Arm 132: Hub hatch 133: Passageway

Claims

1. A cabin (100) for performing maintenance on the exterior of the up-tower component (110) of a wind turbine (10), The cabin (100) is a closed structure configured to support the operator and / or tools inside the cabin (100), The cabin (100) is attachable to the wind turbine (10) such that the cabin (100) is rotatable around the central axis of the up-tower component (110). The up-tower component (110) is a generator, generator rotor, or generator stator, and the central axis extends along the axial direction of the generator, generator rotor, or generator stator. or The uptower component (110) is a nacelle, and the central axis extends along the longitudinal direction of the nacelle, to the cabin (100).

2. The cabin according to claim 1, further comprising a floor (120) that is displaceable relative to the cabin (100) so that the floor (120) provides substantially horizontal support at multiple different locations on the cabin (100).

3. The cabin according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mounting points (125) configured to be joined to a plurality of corresponding mounting points (126) of an up-tower component (110).

4. The cabin according to claim 1, further comprising one or more guide elements (123) configured to move along one or more guide elements (129) of an up-tower component (110).

5. The cabin according to claim 1, wherein the cabin is configured to rotate about a central axis of the cabin.

6. Tower (15) and, Up-tower component (110) supported by tower (15), A cabin (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is attached to a wind turbine (10), A wind turbine (10) equipped with the following features.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the up-tower component (110) is a wind turbine generator component, a generator rotor, a generator stator, or a nacelle (16).

8. The wind turbine according to claim 6, further comprising an actuator (130) connecting the up-tower component (110) and the cabin (100) in order to rotate the cabin (100) around the up-tower component (110).

9. The wind turbine according to claim 8, wherein the actuator (130) is a linear actuator or a cable.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the cabin (100) is attached to the hub (20) or nacelle (16).

11. The wind turbine according to claim 10, wherein the hub (20) or nacelle (16) is provided with a hatch (132) for accessing the cabin (100) from inside the hub (20) or nacelle (16).

12. A method (200) for performing maintenance on the up-tower components (110) of a wind turbine (10), A step (210) of attaching the cabin (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Step (220) of rotating the cabin (100) to a maintenance position around the central axis of the uptower component (110), A step (230) of performing maintenance on an up-tower component (110) located in a maintenance position, Includes, The up-tower component (110) is a generator, generator rotor, or generator stator, and the central axis extends along the axial direction of the generator, generator rotor, or generator stator. or The up-tower component (110) is a nacelle, and the central axis extends along the longitudinal direction of the nacelle, in this manner.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of rotating the cabin (100) includes the step of rotating the hub (20).

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