Wind Turbine Blade Support Frames for Stackable Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transportation and storage systems for wind turbine blades are inefficient due to multiple handling steps and lack of suitable support mechanisms, particularly for horizontal surfaces, leading to challenges in supporting and stacking the blades during transport and storage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a tip end frame assembly with a tip end receptacle and a root end frame assembly, featuring supporting surfaces that allow upright placement on horizontal surfaces, releasable retaining means, and stacking capabilities, designed to facilitate handling, storage, and transport of wind turbine blades by truck, train, or ship, with adaptable materials to prevent scratching and distribute load effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wind turbine blades are transported using conventional methods (truck, train, ship with multiple reloading), then the blades can be moved from production facility to wind farm, but the handling complexity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transportation functions into a single integrated transport system. The support frame assembly with tip end frame, intermediate support frame, and root support frame creates a unified structure that can handle the entire blade length, eliminating the need for multiple reloading operations between different transport modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The support frame assembly is designed to be multi-functional, serving both as a structural support during transport and as a stacking mechanism for storage. The same assembly can be used across different transportation modes (truck, train, ship) without requiring mode-specific equipment, reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If intermediate support frames use clamps without ball joints allowing upright resting, then the blade intermediate portion can be secured, but the support structure cannot be stacked or stored efficiently on horizontal surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing clamps that prevent upright resting to secure the blade, the patent inverts the approach by providing a lower surface on the intermediate support frame that enables upright resting on horizontal surfaces. This inverted design allows the support structure to be stacked efficiently while still maintaining blade security through the positioning means and support parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The support frame is segmented into distinct functional components: the intermediate support frame with positioning means for securing the blade, and the lower surface for stacking. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling both secure blade support and efficient stacking capability.
3Strength
If blades are supported at a point within the inboard 50% of blade length, then the blade can be transported, but the load distribution is suboptimal and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing distributed support along the blade length rather than concentrated support at a single point. The intermediate support frame includes multiple support parts positioned at different locations, and the positioning means are distributed along the inboard portion of the blade, creating optimal load distribution across critical blade sections.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transportation modes are used for blade transport, then the blades can reach distant wind farms, but reloading operations increase handling time and potential for damage
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame assembly is designed as a universal system that can be used across different transportation modes (truck, train, ship) without requiring mode-specific equipment. The standardized design with lower surfaces for stacking and positioning means for securing allows the same assembly to be transferred between transport modes, eliminating the need for reloading operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade (1) comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle (12) and a tip end frame (11). The tip end receptacle (12) comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space (22) for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface (23) for supporting the blade, a lower surface (20) allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means (26) for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space (22) of the tip end receptacle (12). The tip end frame (11) comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space (50) for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle (12) in the tip end frame. A base part (35) defines a bottom surface (36) allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground.