Wind Turbine Blade Maintenance Vehicle Edge Stabilization

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual maintenance of wind turbine blades is time-consuming and expensive, leading to inefficient operation due to debris accumulation and surface degradation, which reduces energy conversion efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An automated vehicle that traverses the blade's edge, equipped with self-contained drive, support, and cleaning systems, including a rotating brush and inspection instruments like digital cameras and ultrasonic transducers, to clean and inspect blades without external assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual blade maintenance is performed, then blade cleaning and inspection can be conducted, but maintenance time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade maintenance effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated vehicle performs blade cleaning and inspection operations independently without requiring manual intervention. The vehicle includes self-contained drive units, support structures, and cleaning/inspection equipment that enable it to autonomously traverse the blade surface and perform maintenance functions, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual hoisting and positioning processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of hoisting personnel to blades with an automated vehicle system. The automated vehicle uses its own drive units and support structures to access and traverse the blade, substituting the manual human labor and external hoisting machinery with an autonomous mechanical system that performs the same maintenance functions more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual blade maintenance is performed, then blade cleaning and inspection can be conducted, but maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade maintenance effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The automated vehicle performs blade cleaning and inspection operations independently without requiring manual intervention. The vehicle includes self-contained drive units, support structures, and cleaning/inspection equipment that enable it to autonomously traverse the blade surface and perform maintenance functions, thereby eliminating the time-consuming manual hoisting and positioning processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

This principle does not directly apply to the automated vehicle system. The patent focuses on automation and self-contained systems rather than creating inert environments. This principle is not relevant to resolving the cost contradiction in blade maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used, then blade conditions can be assessed, but inspection frequency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade inspection accuracyVSAvoidinspection frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical system of hoisting personnel to blades with an automated vehicle system. The automated vehicle uses its own drive units and support structures to access and traverse the blade, substituting the manual human labor and external hoisting machinery with an autonomous mechanical system that performs the same maintenance functions more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated vehicle enables continuous and frequent inspection operations by eliminating the need for manual hoisting and positioning. The vehicle can repeatedly access different sections of the blade for comprehensive inspection, allowing for more frequent maintenance cycles while maintaining thorough assessment accuracy through systematic coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Significantly reduces maintenance costs and enables more frequent cleaning and inspections, enhancing wind turbine efficiency by maintaining blade smoothness and detecting defects.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning system configured to clean the upwardly facing edge of the wind turbine blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

inspection instruments like digital cameras and ultrasonic transducers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8281442B2Wind turbine blade inspection and cleaning system

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a system includes a blade maintenance vehicle. The blade maintenance vehicle includes a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade.