Portable Wind Turbine Blade Load Device via Tower Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and logistical challenges of using external cranes for maintaining and testing wind turbine blades, particularly due to remote locations and safety concerns, necessitate a more efficient method for applying loads to blades without the need for costly hoisting devices.
Innovation Solution
A portable blade loading system comprising a motorized cable reel, tower support, and blade attachment device that allows for the application of forces to wind turbine blades without external cranes, utilizing a closed-loop ring member and guide system to redirect cables and a friction coupling for secure attachment, enabling the system to be operated from the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an external mobile crane is used to apply load to the blade, then the blade can be tested under load conditions, but the cost of the maintenance project significantly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load application function from the expensive external crane system and implements it using a portable load device with cable that can be deployed from the nacelle, eliminating the need for costly external mobile crane equipment while maintaining blade load testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a portable load device with cable as an intermediary mechanism between the nacelle and the blade, allowing load application through the rotor system rather than direct external crane attachment, thereby reducing costs while achieving the same testing objective
2Ease of operation
If an external mobile crane is used to access the blade, then personnel and equipment can be transported to the blade, but the time required for the project increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for external crane operations by deploying the load application equipment from the nacelle itself, eliminating multiple crane lifts and associated setup/teardown time while maintaining the ability to transport personnel and equipment to the blade
Solution Approach 2:
The nacelle serves itself by providing the load application functionality through its own onboard equipment (portable load device and cable), eliminating the need for external service equipment and reducing project duration
3Reliability
If an external mobile crane is used for blade maintenance, then load application is possible, but the number of personnel required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load application capability from the external crane system and implements it using a portable load device that can be operated with fewer personnel, reducing the team size from three or more workers to a more manageable number while maintaining full load application functionality
4Reliability
If an external mobile crane is used to apply load to the blade, then the blade can be tested, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential load application function from the complex external crane system and implements it using a simple portable load device with cable that can be deployed from the nacelle, maintaining blade testing capability while dramatically reducing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters from ground-based external crane operations to airborne nacelle-based operations, using the rotor system as the deployment mechanism, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining testing capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces maintenance costs and logistical challenges by allowing for efficient and safe application of loads to wind turbine blades, enabling timely and cost-effective inspections, repairs, and tests without the need for external cranes, while minimizing personnel and equipment requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a portable load device having a motor and a supply of cable, wherein the motor is configured to reel in/reel out the cable
Implementation Method 2
the tower support has a guide member for redirecting the cable from the load device
Implementation Method 3
The blade attachment device is configured to couple to the at least one blade through only a friction coupling
Data Source
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AI summary
A blade loading system for imposing a force on a wind turbine blade includes a portable load device having a cable, a tower support movably coupled to the tower, and a blade attachment device coupled to the blade and coupled to the cable, wherein when the blade attachment device is coupled to the blade and the tower support is adjacent the blade, the load device induces tension in the cable so that a force is imposed on the blade in a direction toward the tower. A method of applying a force to a blade includes: coupling a tower support to the tower adjacent the base, coupling a cable to the blade attachment device, raising the tower support along the tower, coupling the blade attachment device to the blade, and tensioning the cable to provide a force on the blade in a direction toward the tower.