Wire sawing apparatus and method of using the same

Abstract

A wire saw apparatus for sawing turbine blades, comprising a substantially waterproof reservoir comprising a horizontal bottom plate, preferably of rectangular shape, and four orthogonal side walls extending upwardly from the bottom plate, each side wall having a respective top surface, a wire saw comprising a movable cutting wire, and a waterproof partition, wherein the waterproof partition is arranged to vertically divide a lower part of the reservoir into two areas, a wire saw stand area and a sawing area, and wherein the wire saw is arranged in the wire saw support frame area, and wherein the turbine blade can be arranged to abut against at least two of the top surfaces above the sawing area, a wire saw support frame area and a sawing area, and wherein the wire saw is arranged in the wire saw stand area, and wherein the turbine blade can be arranged to abut against at least two of the upper surfaces above the sawing area so that the movable cutting wire completely or partially surrounds the turbine blade and can saw through the turbine blade above the sawing area.

Description

[0001] TITLE:

[0002] WIRE SAWING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

[0003] Field of Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a sawing tool, more specifically a wire sawing apparatus for sawing / cutting / cutting turbine blades belonging to a wind turbine. The invention is intended for use outdoors to prevent unwanted waste from entering the environment when destroying wind turbine blades, but can also be used indoors to improve the indoor air quality and to destroy components other than turbine blades. Background to the invention

[0005] A wind turbine is a power plant that can convert wind energy into electrical energy. A wind turbine is also known as a wind power station or, more imprecisely, a wind turbine. When several wind turbines are part of the same installation, it is referred to as a wind farm. These wind farms are often located in high wind areas and often isolated places where transport access is significantly reduced. Typical such areas are on top of mountains, along the coast, on islands or on interior plateaus. A wind power plant consists of a wind turbine with typically three turbine blades (wings) on a horizontal axis located in a machine housing at the top of a tower. The machine housing is rotated, either by electric motors or by the wind, so that the turbine blades rotate in a plane perpendicular to the wind direction. The wind turbine may also have a vertical shaft from the machine housing which can be earthed. Transporting new large parts, such as turbine blades, to the wind turbine is difficult, and transporting the large parts, such as turbine blades, back is even more difficult. A wind turbine with a capacity of 4- 6 MW can typically have a tower height of approx. 90 metres and a rotor diameter of between 90 and 110 metres. This gives the turbine blades a length of approx. 40-50 metres.

[0006] A lot of resources are currently used to transport turbine blades up to the wind farms, and in some wind farms it is almost impossible to transport the turbine blades back down without breaking them into smaller pieces. Not all roads designed for wind turbines are able to transport the 40-50 metre long turbine blades from wind farms. Road transport from wind farms may therefore require the road to be rebuilt to carry the turbine blades along their entire length. It may therefore be advantageous to be able to cut the blades into smaller pieces before they are transported back from the wind farms. Another advantage is that the turbine blades can be transported in sections, so that the transport requires fewer resources and less planning.

[0007] There is a strong focus on pollution from wind farms, where polluting emissions into a fragile environment are not accepted. Dismantling is normally controlled and emission- free. Most components of a wind turbine are made of metals with high recycling potential, or electrical components, lubricants and chemicals for which good recycling systems exist. The exceptions are turbine blades made of fibreglass, carbon fibre and the like, where it was previously based on landfill, but where there have been several types of recycling of these discarded turbine blades.

[0008] Although wind turbine blades have traditionally been considered virtually maintenance free, experience shows that there are varying degrees of wear that require systematic monitoring and maintenance.

[0009] Emissions from turbine blade wear will mainly be microplastics, a generic term for plastic fragments less than five millimetres in size. Microplastics vary in size, shape and chemical composition, depending on which plastics and products they come from - and how they break down and fragment. This type of contamination also occurs in the event of wing breakage, although most of the waste then consists of much larger fractions that are easier to collect (www.nve.no).

[0010] Excavators have been used to split wind turbine blades in the wild, but this is not a good solution in terms of pollutant emissions, especially when plastic particles and microplastics are considered, as they are difficult to collect. Separation of the turbine blades has also been tried by cutting them into pieces over a tarpaulin, but that also did not produce good results and resulted in emissions into the environment.

[0011] There are several different methods that can be used to saw, cut or split turbine blades. Sites such as www.wirecutnordic.com show that wire sawing, which is an old method and has been used in quarrying for a long time, has now been compressed and made more mobile to take advantage of this outside the quarrying industry. Wire sawing is an effective and practical method of cutting through stone and concrete. The wire used in the sawing process is a steel wire with diamond beads bonded with rubber. It is the diamond mixture itself that performs the sawing in compact media. It is not known that wire saws are used to cut contaminating products such as plastics, polymers, fibreglass or the like. There is therefore a need for an alternative to today's solutions for recovering turbine blades in the wild to reduce pollutant emissions, for complementary devices to eliminate or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or toprovide a useful alternative to the prior art.

[0012] Summary of the Invention

[0013] The present invention is generally aimed at solving at least one, but preferably several, of the problems existing with the prior technology. In particular, the purpose of the invention was to develop a more environmentally friendly apparatus and method for sawing turbine blades in the open air in order to reduce environmentally harmful emissions into the environment.

[0014] One goal was to develop a wire sawing apparatus and method for sawing turbine blades that would reduce the release of microplastics into the environment.

[0015] The aim was also to develop a wire sawing apparatus and method for sawing turbine blades that could be easily transported to the wind farms, in order to saw the turbine blades into suitable lengths so that they could be easily transported back.

[0016] Another objective was to develop a wire sawing apparatus and method for sawing turbine blades that could easily cut the turbine blades to suitable lengths so that they could fit into closed containers and thus be transported to recycling facilities without further contamination of the environment.

[0017] The intention is also to create a wire saw that is easy to manufacture.

[0018] These purposes are achieved by a wire saw apparatus and method as defined in independent claims 1 and 12. Further embodiments of the wire sawing apparatus are specified in dependent claims 2-11 and dependent claims 13-19 for the method.

[0019] Thus, a wire sawing apparatus for sawing turbine blades is provided comprising;

[0020] - A substantially watertight reservoir comprising a horizontal base plate, preferably of rectangular shape, and four orthogonal side walls extending upwardly from the base plate, each side wall having a respective upper surface,

[0021] - a wire saw having a movable cutting wire, and

[0022] - a watertight partition, where the watertight partition is designed to divide vertically a lower part of the reservoir into two areas, a wire saw support frame area and a sawing area, and where the wire saw is located in the wire saw support frame area, and wherein the turbine blade can be arranged to abut at least two of the upper surfaces above the sawing region so that the movable cutting wire completely or partially surrounds the turbine blade and can saw through the turbine blade above the sawing region.

[0023] Further, inventive embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims. The present invention relates to a wire sawing apparatus for sawing turbine blades, comprising:- a substantially waterproof reservoir comprising a horizontal base plate, preferably of rectangular shape, and four orthogonal side walls extending upwardly from the base plate, each side wall having a respective upper surface,

[0024] - a wire saw having a movable cutting wire, and

[0025] - a watertight partition, where the watertight partition is designed to divide vertically a lower part of the reservoir into two areas, a wire saw support frame area and a sawing area, and where the wire saw is located in the wire saw support frame area, and wherein the turbine blade can be arranged to abut at least two of the upper surfaces above the sawing region so that the movable cutting wire completely or partially surrounds the turbine blade and can saw through the turbine blade above the sawing region.

[0026] The watertight partition divides the reservoir into two areas, one area, the wire saw support frame area, is mainly dry during wire sawing and the other area, the sawing area, is filled with water during sawing. The moving cutting wire thus runs from the wire saw through the water (water bath) in the sawing area, around the turbine blade and back to the wire saw in the wire saw support frame area, or in the opposite direction, around the turbine blade through the water (water bath) and back to the wire saw in the wire saw support frame area. Sawdust, such as plastic particles, from the sawing process hangs on the movable cutting wire and is left / dropped when the movable cutting wire passes through the water (water bath), or that the sawdust falls into the water during the sawing process, and in this way the contaminating particles can be collected after the sawing process, instead of letting them float into the environment and contaminate it.

[0027] The advantage of the wire saw arrangement is that more contaminant particles fall or enter the water bath with the cutting wire, thus reducing the floating of contaminant particles into the environment. The water bath can be easily emptied either by draining into a closed reservoir or by vacuuming into a closed reservoir and then transported for cleaning or recycling. Alternatively, the water bath can be filtered so that the contaminated particles can be collected and transferred to a closed reservoir and sent for recycling or hazardous waste treatment, while the water can be disposed of by other appropriate means, such as purification. This reduces unnecessary particulate emissions into the environment. Another advantage is that the wire saw unit can be easily transported to the wind turbines so that the sawing / cutting / recycling of the wind turbine blades can be carried out with less environmental impact before they are transported to a disposal site or recycling plant. This in turn makes it easier to transport the turbine blades. In this way, the return can also be made more environmentally friendly and without major interventions such as road repairs. It is also advantageous that the turbine blades cut with a wire saw can be sawn to suitable lengths so that the sawn lengths can be placed in closed containers, which in turn reduces emissions from the sawn turbine blades during transport to the disposal site recycling / recycling facility. Orthogonal sidewalls here means that the sidewalls are perpendicular to the floor / base and to each other, forming a type of reservoir / box without a roof. Turbine bath means that the turbine blade sits on top of it, so that part of the weight of the turbine blade is transferred to the upper surfaces. The word "sawing" in this context can also be replaced by terms such as "cutting", "splitting" or the like.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the container comprises four vertically stretched longitudinal profiles which are positioned in respective corners formed by the orthogonal side walls of the container and which extend from the floor and up over the upper surfaces. In one embodiment, the four vertically stretched longitudinal profiles may extend to a height above the turbine blade, which abuts at least two of the four top surfaces. A fabric, typically a tarpaulin or the like, may extend between at least two of the elongated profiles and over the turbine blade. Such a cloth will then help to catch and reduce any floating debris / sawdust from the cutting wire. The particles trapped in the fabric can be vacuumed up after sawing, for example, and transported to a disposal site or recycled.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the four longitudinal profiles are adjustable in their vertical longitudinal direction so that a cloth that can be held over and above the turbine blade can be brought as close as possible to the turbine blade in order to reduce particle emissions. The thickness, or cross-sectional height, of the turbine blade varies depending on where it is sawn along the longitudinal axis. At the first end of the turbine blade, the thickness will be less than closer to the root of the turbine blade. It is then advantageous to be able to reduce the distance from the turbine blade to the fabric each time the turbine blade is sawed, thus reducing particulate emissions.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, a roller cloth is arranged between at least two of the four longitudinal profiles, so that the roller cloth can be pulled over the turbine blade. By placing a roller cloth between at least two of the four vertical longitudinal profiles, each of which is located in a corner of the container, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, it will be easier to wrap the cloth around the turbine blade. The roller cloth is typically roller pressed. And in a further embodiment, there are multiple roller screens, so that a screen can also be rolled down along the side to which the roller screen is aligned, and additionally over the turbine blade and down along the opposite side (not shown in the figures).

[0031] In an embodiment of the invention where the wire saw is arranged on a foundation, it is advantageous to raise the wire saw to a level such that the cutting wire does not collide with the partition.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the upper surfaces are covered by a wearresistant, low-friction material, typically a plastic material such as high-density polyethylene, HDPE, to facilitate sliding of the turbine blade along the upper surfaces when the turbine blade is to be pushed into the desired position for sawing (cutting). The side walls of the container can be made of a metallic material such as steel or aluminium. The weight of the turbine blade against the upper surfaces of the side walls can create a lot of friction. By padding the upper surfaces with plastic material such as HDPE, friction is reduced, making it easier to slide the turbine blade over the upper surfaces.

[0033] In one embodiment of the invention, the container is a horizontal container, preferably open at the top. The advantage of using a container is that it reduces production costs and is already adapted to the level of a tractor, making it easy to transport to and from wind farms. Preferably an offshore container. An offshore container has better strength properties than a standard ISO container.

[0034] In one embodiment of the invention, the horizontally divided container comprises two recesses with a recess top surface adapted for placement of the turbine blade. It is advantageous that the turbine blade is located in a recess so that it remains in the desired position during cutting and when it is moved to the new desired position for cutting. The recesses are shown as shaded areas in Figure 8 and as dashed lines in Figure 9. Another advantage is that the turbine blade does not come into contact with the wire saw during the positioning of the turbine blade, which could damage or destroy the wire saw.

[0035] In an embodiment of the invention, the recessed abutment surfaces are covered by a wear resistant material, such as a plastic material HDPE, to facilitate pushing the turbine blade along the recessed abutment surfaces when the turbine blade is to be pushed into the desired position for sawing. The recess surfaces are the edges of, for example, a truncated reservoir wall and can therefore be very sharp and unsuitable as a surface to abut against when the turbine blade is pushed into the desired sawing position. By padding the recess stop surfaces with a type of plastic material, or by aligning the recess stop surfaces with a wider flat stop surface, it will reduce friction and the emission of plastic particles from the turbine diaphragm as it is pushed into the desired position for sawing.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the turbine blade is inserted with its first end in the desired position for sawing using a tractor having a plane arranged to hold root on the turbine blade. By placing the root of the turbine blade on the plane of a tractor, the turbine blade can be easily pushed into the desired position for sawing until only the root remains. The root can then be sent as a component to a disposal site or for recovery / recycling.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the container comprises a base and four side walls, two short walls and two long walls.

[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, the wire saw apparatus comprises a pulley located at the opposite end of the reservoir to where the wire saw is located. The pulley guides the moving shear wire so that the shear wire moves substantially horizontally through the water, see Figure 6. The pulley also helps to lower the cutting wire through the water so that debris / sawdust is released into the water during cutting.

[0039] Thus, in a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for sawing turbine blades comprising the following steps: a) providing a wire sawing apparatus as defined in one or more of the following 10 claims 1-11 , b) aligning the turbine blade of the wire saw on at least two of the upper surfaces above the side of the watertight partition of the reservoir where water is to be present, the sawing area; c) encirclement of the turbine blade by the moving cutting wire d) fill water into the part of the reservoir under the turbine blade, e) start the wire saw, f) saw all the way through the turbine blade.

[0040] In a further embodiment, the method comprises repeating steps b) to f) until the turbine blade is divided into the desired number of parts. The parts are usually of a length that can be transported in a closed reservoir, typically 10-12 metres per part.

[0041] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step g) after step f), wherein the water and sawdust are removed from the reservoir.

[0042] The water can be removed using a wet-dry vacuum, vacuum pump or similar, and placed in a closed reservoir for transport to a treatment or recycling facility. The same can be said for sawdust that is in a location other than the water in the reservoir. The advantage is that the sawdust from cutting the turbine blade can be easily collected, reducing the impact on the environment.

[0043] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step h) after step b), but before step e), enclosing the turbine blade with a tarpaulin.

[0044] This is to prevent, or at least reduce, floating debris / sawdust from the sawing process from being released into the environment and collected by the tarpaulin for disposal site or recycling.

[0045] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step i) after step a), lifting the turbine blade so that the root of the turbine blade rests on a tractor unit comprising a plane arranged to hold and push the turbine blade into the desired position for sawing.

[0046] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step j) after step f) or after step g), placing the cut-off, the part that is sawn off furthest away from the root of the turbine blade, in a reservoir for further transport to a disposal site or recycling plant. In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step k) after step j), pushing the turbine blade further from the root portion over the upper surfaces of the reservoir in the axial direction of the turbine blade to the next desired position for sawing.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step I) after step e) but before step f), securing the part of the turbine blade which is sawn off (cut) in lifting loops and / or supporting the part of the turbine blade which is sawn off (cut) so that it does not fall onto the substrate when sawn off.

[0048] In a further embodiment, the method comprises the following step I) after step e) of starting the wire saw, but before step f) of sawing all the way through the turbine blade, holding the part of the turbine blade to be sawn off (cut off) in lifting loops and / or supporting what is to be sawn off (cut off) beforehand so that it does not fall onto the substrate.

[0049] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, where:

[0050] - Fig. 1 shows an oblique view from above of a turbine blade 2 placed in a wire saw apparatus 1.

[0051] - Fig. 2 shows an enlarged area D1 as shown in Fig. 1.

[0052] - Fig. 3 shows an oblique view from above of a wire saw 1 .

[0053] - Fig. 4 shows an elongated turbine blade 2 in a wire saw apparatus 1 , seen directly from above.

[0054] - Fig. 5 shows an enlarged area B as shown in Fig. 4.

[0055] - Fig. 6 shows a cross-section A-A as shown in Fig. 4.

[0056] - Fig. 7 shows an enlarged area D1 as shown in Fig. 6.

[0057] - Fig. Fig. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a wire saw apparatus 1 , with a reservoir 3, of the horizontally divided reservoir type, having recesses 37b on the longitudinal sides.

[0058] - Fig. 9 shows a wire saw 1 seen obliquely from above.

[0059] - Fig. 10 shows a wire saw apparatus 1 seen from above.

[0060] Figure 1 shows a typical turbine blade 2 having a longitudinal axis A, a root 20 and a foil 21 , the turbine blade having a first end 22 and a second end 23. The first end 22 is the end of the foil 21 furthest from the root 20, while the second end 23 is the end at the root 20. The turbine blade is shown positioned in a wire saw apparatus 1 . An area marked with a circle D1 is shown in Figure 1 , which is the area magnified in Figure 2.

[0061] Figure 2 shows the enlarged area D1 in Figure 1. Here the reservoir 3 is shown as a reservoir having recesses 36 b and d with their respective recess tops 37 b and 37 d on the longitudinal side of the reservoir 3. The turbine blade 2 is shown in a position where it abuts the upper surfaces of the recesses 37b and 37d. The figure shows the wire saw 4, which is placed in one side of the reservoir 3, which is divided by a watertight partition 5. The watertight partition wall 5 is vertically divided by a lower part of the reservoir 3 into two parts, namely a sawing area 6, which is to be filled with water during sawing, and a sawing support frame area 7, which is kept substantially dry and is not to be filled with water. The wire saw 4 is located in the saw support frame area 7, while the movable cutting wire 40 runs around and cuts through the turbine blade 2 over the sawing area 6.

[0062] Figure 3 shows the wire saw apparatus 1 without the turbine blade 2. The figure shows how the wire saw apparatus 1 is constructed with a base plate / bottom 30 and four orthogonally arranged side walls 31a, 31 b, 31c and 31 d. The figure shows how the four orthogonally arranged side walls 31a, 31b, 31c and 31 d are perpendicular to the base 30 and perpendicular to each other at the corners 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d. The figure also shows the upper surfaces 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d of the four side walls 31a, 31b, 31c and 31 d. The figure also shows four vertical longitudinal profiles 33a, 33b, 33c and 33d. The figure also shows the two areas 6 and 7, the saw area 6 and the saw support frame area 7, and how they are divided by the watertight dividing wall 5. The wire sawing apparatus is shown arranged in the support frame area 7, comprising a movable cutting wire 40 extending in a vertical ring in the sawing region 6.

[0063] Figure 4 shows a typical turbine blade 2 placed in a wire saw apparatus 1 , viewed directly from above. The figure shows an embodiment in which a movable cutting wire 40 surrounds the turbine blade 2, the foil 21 of the turbine blade 2. The area of the wire saw 1 is outlined by a ring marked B, which is shown enlarged in Figure 5. The figure shows the turbine blade 2 comprising a root portion 20 having a second end 23 and a foil portion 21 having a first end 22. An elongated axis A is shown along the longitudinal direction of the turbine blade 2. Figure 2 also marks an area A-A, which is again shown as a cross section in Figure 6.

[0064] Figure 5 shows an enlarged area B from Figure 4. The figure shows the wire saw 1 located in a substantially dry area, the saw support frame area 7 and the foil 21 of the turbine blade 2 aligned on the upper surfaces 37b and 37d above the sawing area 6. The figure also shows the top of the vertical longitudinal profiles 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d, and how a roller cloth 35 is aligned between two of the four vertical longitudinal profiles 33a and 33b.

[0065] Figure 6 shows the cross section A-A marked in Figure 4. The figure shows a longitudinal cross section of the wire saw apparatus 1 and the turbine blade 2 resting on the upper surface 37b. The figure shows the wire saw 4 arranged in a support frame area 7 on the side of the transverse watertight partition 5 of the reservoir 3 which is to be substantially dry, while the turbine blade 2 abuts the upper surface 37 above the sawing area 6 which is to be filled with water during sawing. The figure also shows a movable cutting wire 40 surrounding the foil 21 of the turbine blade 2. The cutting wire 40 can saw in either direction, but the preferred direction is from the wire saw 4 over the foil 21 and down through the water back to the wire saw 4. The figure shows a pulley 41 which guides the movable cutting wire 40 so that the cutting wire moves substantially horizontally through the cutting area 6. The pulley 41 thus assists in bringing the cutting wire 40 down through the water in the sawing area 6, so that polluting particles / saw dust are discharged into the water in a more efficient manner. Figure 6 shows an area marked with a ring D1 , which is further enlarged in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the arrangement of the wire saw 4 in the sawing support frame area 7 and the vertical watertight partition 5 which divides the reservoir 3 into two areas, the sawing support frame area 7 and the sawing area 6.

[0066] Figure 8 shows a cross-section of a wire sawing apparatus comprising a reservoir 3 in one embodiment of a reservoir. Reservoir 3 is shown with the recess 36b marked by hatching on the long side of reservoir 3. Also shown is the recessed top surface 37b. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a wire saw apparatus 1 , wherein the reservoir 3 is a horizontal container having recesses 37b and 37d marked with dotted lines. The figure shows a watertight partition 5 separating the two areas, the saw support frame area 7 and the sawing area 6. The wire saw 4 is shown in the saw support frame area 7, where it is arranged on a wire saw support frame 41 .

[0067] Figure 10 shows the wire saw apparatus with a reservoir 3, seen directly from above. The reservoir is shown with side walls 31a, 31 b, 31c and 31 d, where 31a and 31c are the short walls and 31 b and 31 d are the long walls of the reservoir. The side walls extend vertically upwards from the bottom plate / bottom 30 and meet perpendicularly at the four respective corners 34a, 34b, 34c and 34d. The reservoir 3 is divided by a watertight partition 5 which extends vertically upwards from the bottom plate / bottom 30 between the two longitudinal side walls 31 b and 31 d of the reservoir. The watertight partition 5 divides the reservoir 3 into two areas, a wire support frame area 7 and a sawing area 6. The wire support frame area 7 is designed to mount the wire saw 4, while the saw area 6 is designed to contain water and collect particles from the wire saw.

[0068] The invention has now been explained with several non-limiting embodiments. A person skilled in the art will now understand that a wire sawing apparatus may include a number of combinations and variations of the examples given.

[0069] Table 1:

Claims

Patent Claims1. A wire saw apparatus (1) for sawing turbine blades (2) comprising- a substantially watertight reservoir (3) comprising a horizontal base plate (30), preferably of rectangular shape, and four orthogonal side walls (31a, 31 b, 31c, 31 d) extending upwardly from the base plate (30), each side wall (31a, 31b, 31c, 31 d) having a respective upper surface (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d),- a wire saw (4) comprising a movable cutting wire (40), and- a watertight partition (5), wherein the watertight partition (5) is arranged to vertically divide a lower part of the reservoir (3) into two areas, a wire saw support frame area (7) and a sawing area (6), and wherein the wire saw (4) is arranged in the wire saw support frame area (7), and wherein the turbine blade (2) can be arranged to abut against at least two of the upper surfaces (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) over the sawing region (6) so that the movable cutting wire (40) completely or partially surrounds the turbine blade (2) and can saw through the turbine blade (2) over the sawing region (6).

2. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir (3) comprises four vertically stretched longitudinal profiles (33a, 33b, 33c, 33d) located in respective corners (34a, 34b, 34c, 34d) formed by the orthogonal side walls (31a, 31b, 31c, 31 d) of the reservoir (3) and extending from the bottom (30) and upwardly beyond the upper surfaces (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d).

3. Wire saw apparatus (1) according to claim 2, wherein the four longitudinal profiles (33a, 33b, 33c, 33d) are adjustable in their longitudinal direction.

4. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of claims 2 or 3, wherein a roller cloth (35) is arranged between at least two of the four longitudinal profiles (33a, 33b, 33c, 33d) so that the roller cloth (35) can be pulled over the turbine blade (2).

5. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wire saw (4) is arranged on a foundation (41).

6. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper surfaces (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) are covered by a wear-resistant material, typically a plastic material, to facilitate pushing the turbine blade (2) along theupper surfaces (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) when the turbine blade (2) is to be pushed into a position for sawing.

7. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two opposite side walls (31b, 31 d) comprise recesses (36b, 36d) open vertically upwards, each recess having a recess top surface (37b, 37d), the turbine blade (2) being arranged to abut against the recess top surfaces (37b, 37d) arranged for positioning the turbine blade (2).

8. A wire saw apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein said recess top surfaces (37b, 37d) are encased in a wear resistant material, typically a plastic material, to more easily push said turbine blade (2) along said recess top surfaces (37b, 37d) when said turbine blade (2) is to be pushed into a position for sawing.

9. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (3) is a horizontally divided container, preferably an offshore container.

10. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the turbine blade (2) is inserted with its first end (21) in the desired position for sawing using a tractor unit having a plane arranged to hold the root of the turbine blade (20).

11. The wire saw apparatus (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the reservoir (3) is provided with a pulley (41) in the sawing area (6) arranged to guide the moving cutting wire (40) from or to the wire saw (40) and under the turbine blade (2).

12. A method of sawing turbine blades (2) comprising the steps of a) providing a wire saw apparatus (1) according to one or more of claims 1-11 , b) aligning the turbine blade (2) of the wire saw apparatus (1) on at least two of the upper surfaces (32a, 32b, 32c and 32d) above the side of the watertight partition (5) of the reservoir (3) in which there is to be water; c) encircling the turbine blade (2) by the moving cutting wire (40). d) filling water into the part of the reservoir (3) under the turbine blade (2), e) starting the wire saw (4), f) sawing completely through the turbine blade (2).

13. The method according to claim 12, whereinsteps b) to f) are repeated until the turbine blade (2) is divided into the desired number of parts.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: g) removing the water and sawdust from the reservoir (3).

15. The method of any one of claims 12-14, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: h) after step b), covering the turbine blade (2) with a tarpaulin (35).

16. The method of any of the preceding claims 12-15, wherein the method further comprises the steps of i) after step a) but before step b), lifting the turbine blade (2) so that the root of the turbine blade (20) rests on a tractor unit comprising a plane arranged to hold and push the turbine blade (20) in the desired position for sawing.

17. The method of any of the preceding claims 12-16, wherein the method further comprises the steps of j) after step f) or after step g), placing the cut-off, the part sawn off furthest from the root of the turbine blade (20), in a container for further transport to a disposal site or recycling plant.

18. The method of any of the preceding claims 12-17, wherein the method further comprises the steps of k) after step j), pushing the turbine blade (2) further from the root portion (20) over the upper surfaces (36b and 36d) of the reservoir (3) in the axial direction of the turbine blade (A) to the next desired position for sawing.

19. A method according to any of the preceding claims 12-18, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:(I) after step (e) but before step (f), securing the sawn (cut) portion of the turbine blade in lifting loops and / or supporting the sawn (cut) portion of the turbine blade so that it does not fall onto the substrate as it is sawn.

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