Wind Turbine Generator Lifting Frame for Offshore Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The removal and replacement of offshore wind turbine generators are complex and costly due to the marine environment, requiring large crane jack-up vessels and significant deck space, limiting the ability to replace multiple generators simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine generator lifting device with a frame and couplings that attach to the generator's hub and nacelle faces, allowing hoisting and manipulation without detaching the nacelle, and a detachable support member for upright storage, reducing deck space requirements and lifting complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire nacelle and generator assembly is lifted as one piece, then the generator can be removed from the up-tower location, but the lifting weight and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the removal operation into two distinct phases: first removing the generator from the nacelle while it remains attached to the tower, then removing the nacelle separately. This is achieved through a lifting device that can attach to the generator's hub flange and lift it independently, avoiding the need to lift the entire nacelle-generator assembly and significantly reducing lifting weight and complexity
2Ease of operation
If the entire nacelle and generator assembly is lifted as one piece, then the generator can be removed, but the deck space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the removal operation to extract the generator first while the nacelle remains attached to the tower, the invention eliminates the need for large deck space to accommodate both the nacelle and generator simultaneously. The generator can be lowered to a vessel or adjacent area while the nacelle remains in place, dramatically reducing the required deck footprint
3Ease of operation
If a large crane jack-up vessel is used, then the generator can be removed from the up-tower location, but the operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented removal approach using a smaller crane vessel that can handle only the generator (not the entire nacelle) dramatically reduces charter costs and operational expenses compared to requiring a large jack-up vessel capable of lifting the combined nacelle-generator assembly
4Ease of operation
If significant deck space is available, then the generator can be accommodated once detached, but the vessel complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the operation to remove only the generator rather than the entire nacelle, the invention enables the use of simpler, smaller vessels with less complex deck arrangements, eliminating the need for elaborate nacelle accommodation facilities while still providing adequate space for generator handling
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Wind turbine generator lifting device (1) for conveying a wind turbine generator (2), wherein the wind turbine generator (2) has a hub face (4) to which a blade hub is attachable to the generator (2) and a nacelle face (3) to which the generator (2) is attachable to a nacelle (17), the device (1) comprising: a frame (5) having a crane coupling (6) for hoisting by a crane; a first coupling (8) connectable to the hub face (4) for mounting the generator (2) onto the frame (5) in a first mounted configuration; and a second coupling (9) connectable to the nacelle face (3) for mounting the generator (2) onto the frame (5) in a second mounted configuration.