Stacking Wind Turbine Blade Shell Half Parts Using Separator Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing length and fragility of wind turbine blades pose challenges in transportation, leading to damage and high costs, with existing solutions struggling to accommodate large blades within transport restrictions and efficiently stack multiple blades for storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
A transport system comprising a frame assembly with separator elements that allow blade shell half parts to be stacked efficiently, reducing height and enabling easier handling, suitable for road, rail, and sea transport, and storage of blades up to 50 meters in length, using detachable and hinged frames to minimize space and facilitate reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple blades are transported using the same packaging system, then transport costs are reduced, but transport restrictions and limits increase the difficulty of transporting a plurality of blades
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is divided into multiple transport frames that can be stacked vertically. Each frame contains separator elements that divide the frame into multiple compartments, allowing multiple blade sections to be transported simultaneously in a structured manner, thus reducing overall transport costs while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging system employs nested structures where transport frames are stacked vertically within each other, and separator elements are positioned within frames to create compartments. This nesting approach maximizes space utilization and allows multiple blades to be transported together while maintaining a compact overall structure that adheres to transport restrictions
2Length of moving object
If blade length increases, then wind turbine power generation capacity improves, but transportation damage risk and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The long blade is divided into multiple sections or segments that are transported separately on individual transport frames. Each segment is shorter and more manageable, reducing the risk of damage during transport while still allowing the construction of very long blades (up to 100 meters or more) by assembling these segments at the installation site
Solution Approach 2:
Separator elements are positioned between blade sections within the transport frames to provide cushioning and protection. These separators prevent direct contact between blade surfaces, reducing the risk of damage during handling and transport, thereby improving reliability for longer blades
3Reliability
If blades are carefully packaged to prevent damage, then transport safety improves, but transport complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system uses separator elements that divide the transport frame into multiple compartments, allowing careful packaging of each blade section independently. This segmentation enables targeted protection where needed while maintaining overall system simplicity through standardized modular components
Solution Approach 2:
The transport frames and separator elements are designed as universal, multi-functional components that can be used for transporting different blade configurations and sizes. This universality reduces overall packaging complexity by eliminating the need for custom-designed packaging for each blade, while still providing adequate protection
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport system for transport of blade shell half parts of a wind turbine blade, the blade shell half parts each having a tip end and a root end, wherein the transport system comprises a frame assembly comprising a first transport frame; and a first set of one or more separator elements, the first set of separator elements including a first primary separator element configured to separate a first blade shell half part and a second blade shell half part neighbouring the first blade shell half part such that the second blade shell half part is at least partly stacked above the first blade shell half part. Further, a blade shell half part system comprising the transport system and a plurality of blade shell half parts and related method is disclosed.