Wind Turbine Blade Bearing Replacement Service Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for replacing blade bearings in wind turbines, especially offshore and floating wind turbines, are complex and costly, requiring large cranes and involving the need to lower components to the ground or a ship deck, which is impractical for floating turbines.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a service platform installed within the free space created by lowering a rotor blade, allowing the blade bearing to be replaced without lowering it to the ground or ship deck, utilizing the wind turbine's own crane or a helicopter for lifting tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a ground-based crane or jack-up-vessel crane is used to replace the blade bearing, then the blade bearing can be lowered to the ground or ship deck for replacement, but the complexity and cost of the servicing operation increases noticeably
Solution Approach 1:
A service platform is introduced as an intermediary structure positioned between the rotor blade and the ground/ship deck. This platform allows the blade bearing to be replaced at an intermediate elevation without requiring complete lowering to the ground, thereby eliminating the need for large ground-based cranes and reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine's own crane, normally used for operational tasks, is utilized to service the blade bearing replacement. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external large-scale cranes and jack-up-vessels, reducing both cost and complexity while using resources already available on the turbine
2Ease of repair
If a jack-up-vessel is used for offshore wind turbine servicing, then the blade bearing can be replaced on fixed-bottom turbines, but it is not possible for floating wind turbines due to relative movement between the crane and turbine
Solution Approach 1:
The service platform acts as a stable intermediary that moves with the floating turbine, maintaining a consistent working position relative to the rotor blade. This eliminates the relative movement problem between crane and turbine by creating a moving reference frame that travels with the floating platform
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a ground-fixed reference frame to a turbine-relative reference frame by positioning the service platform on the floating structure itself. This dimensional shift allows servicing operations to proceed without being constrained by the floating turbine's movement relative to the seabed
3Ease of repair
If the wind turbine is drawn into shallow waters for blade bearing replacement, then the replacement can be performed using conventional methods, but this increases downtime and operational expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The floating wind turbine services itself by utilizing its own crane and a service platform that operates in deep water conditions. This eliminates the need to relocate the turbine to shallow waters, allowing replacement operations to occur in-situ and significantly reducing downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The service platform is pre-positioned and prepared on the floating turbine before the blade bearing failure occurs or at the first opportunity, allowing immediate replacement when needed without requiring time-consuming relocation to shallow waters
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for replacing a previously installed blade bearing (1) with a replacement blade bearing (2) in a wind turbine (3), comprising the steps of - orienting a rotatable component (4) of the wind turbine (3) into a service position (5), in which the previously installed blade bearing (1) is arranged at the lower side of the rotatable component (4), - disconnecting a rotor blade (6) from the previously installed blade bearing (1) and lowering the rotor blade (6) to create a free space (7) below the previously installed blade bearing (1), - installing a service platform (8) within the free space (7) by attaching connecting means (9) for the service platform (8) to the rotatable component (4) and/or at least one supporting component (10) of the wind turbine (3) in such a way, that the weight of the service platform (8) is at least partially supported by the rotatable component (4) and/or supporting component (10), - unmounting the previously installed blade bearing (1) from the rotatable component (4) and mounting the replacement blade bearing (2) to the rotatable component (4), wherein the previously installed blade bearing (1) is located on the service platform (8) during and/or after its unmounting and/or wherein the replacement blade bearing (2) is located on the service platform (8) before and/or during its mounting, and - uninstalling the service platform (8) and connecting the rotor blade (6) to the replacement blade bearing (2).