Modular Wind Turbine Blade Transport System with Adjustable Retainers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transportation of large wind turbine rotor blades poses challenges due to their weight and fragility, requiring a secure and flexible system that protects against damage during transportation, loading, and unloading, while also efficiently utilizing available space, especially in remote locations where wind turbines are often situated.

Innovation Solution

A modular transportation system comprising separate root and tip end retainers that can be adjusted to accommodate different blade lengths and designs, equipped with forklift shoes for easy handling and twist lock flanges for secure attachment to vehicles, along with a transportation platform that allows upright stacking and efficient use of space, which can be disassembled for cost-effective return transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If rotor blades are transported as single integrated unit, then structural integrity is maintained, but flexibility and adaptability to different blade models is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different blade modelsVSAvoidcomplexity of transportation system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transportation system is divided into separate modular components: a root retainer for the blade root, tip end retainers for the blade tip, and intermediate supports. These segments can be independently adjusted and configured to match different blade models and lengths, providing versatility without requiring a completely different transportation system for each blade type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transportation system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements, such as adjustable intermediate supports and repositionable tip end retainers, allowing the system to dynamically adapt its configuration to match various blade lengths and models. This dynamic adjustability enables a single system to serve multiple blade types effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If rotor blades are transported in fixed position, then stability during transportation is improved, but space utilization efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization efficiencyVSAvoidstability during transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transportation system uses adjustable intermediate supports and repositionable retainers that can be dynamically positioned along the blade length. This allows the system to optimize both stability (by placing supports at critical locations) and space utilization (by adjusting the configuration to fit available transport space), rather than being constrained by fixed positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate supports and retainers are designed to perform multiple functions: providing structural support for stability, enabling vertical stacking to improve space utilization, and allowing configuration adjustments for different blade types. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between maintaining stability and optimizing space usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If rotor blades are transported horizontally, then space utilization is improved, but protection against damage during loading and unloading is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport space utilizationVSAvoiddamage risk during loading and unloading

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transportation system incorporates adjustable intermediate supports and repositionable retainers that can be dynamically positioned along the blade length. This allows the system to optimize both stability (by placing supports at critical locations) and space utilization (by adjusting the configuration to fit available transport space), rather than being constrained by fixed positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If transportation system is designed for specific blade model, then protection against damage is optimized, but adaptability to other models is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility across blade modelsVSAvoidprotection precision for specific model

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The transportation system is designed with universal components that can accommodate multiple blade models. The root retainer, tip end retainers, and intermediate supports are configured to work together in various arrangements, providing model-specific protection precision through proper configuration rather than through model-specific hardware. This universal design achieves both adaptability and protection precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8632286B2Transportation unit for a wind turbine rotor blade

Publication Date: 2014.01.21 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

A transportation system for a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The transportation system includes a root fixture adapted to receive the root end of the wind turbine rotor blade, and a tip end fixture adapted to receive a tip end of the wind turbine rotor blade. The root fixture and the tip end fixture are provided as separate transportable units.