Adjustable Rotor Blade Enclosure for In-Situ Weather Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing enclosures for wind turbine blades are not optimally adaptable to the complex and varying shapes of modern rotor blades, particularly from the root to the tip, complicating maintenance and protection from weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A temporary enclosure system with a framework comprising frame parts, activation means, and adaptable walls and roof, allowing for dynamic adjustment of volume and shape to fit the rotor blade's dimensions and shape, using telescopic and pivotable connections and actuators for precise size and form changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-volume enclosure is used for rotor blade maintenance, then the enclosure structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to the complex and varying shape of modern rotor blades from root to tip
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure employs a dynamic framework with telescopic frame parts that can change length and pivotable connections that can change angle, allowing the enclosure volume and shape to adapt dynamically to the rotor blade's varying dimensions along its span, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure framework is divided into multiple telescopic frame parts connected by pivotable connections, enabling independent adjustment of each segment to conform to the rotor blade's complex geometry, thereby achieving adaptability while maintaining manageable structural complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure volume is large to accommodate the rotor blade, then the blade can be fully enclosed, but the enclosure is less efficient in protecting against wind and rain
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure volume is dynamically adjusted by extending or retracting telescopic frame parts, allowing the enclosure to minimize its volume when not in use or when the blade is small, thereby reducing exposure to wind and rain while still providing full enclosure capability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure changes its volume parameter by adjusting the length of telescopic frame parts and the angles of pivotable connections, enabling optimal protection by matching the enclosure volume to the actual size of the rotor blade section being maintained
3Ease of manufacture
If the enclosure is lowered to the ground for adjustments, then the framework can be modified, but maintenance time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure framework performs self-adjustment through telescopic frame parts and pivotable connections that can be modified while the enclosure is suspended, eliminating the need to lower it to the ground for adjustments and thereby reducing maintenance time while maintaining ease of modification
Solution Approach 2:
The framework is pre-configured with telescopic and pivotable elements that enable easy adjustment without requiring ground-based assembly or disassembly, allowing rapid modifications to be made in-situ before maintenance operations begin
Data Source
AI summary
Temporary enclosure (1) for at least a part of a rotor blade connected to a wind power plant having a tower and a rotor top part, the enclosure (1) having a framework (2); one or more walls (3); a roof (4); said roof extends from said wall towards said blade; said framework (2) stretching said walls (3) said that a volume is enclosed below the roof (4) wherein said framework (2) includes one or more frame parts (5), a connection (6) for connection of the one or more frame parts (5) and an activation means (7) for activation a change in the framework (2) whereby the volume enclosed by the enclosure (1) change.