Motion Compensation Mechanism for Offshore Wind Turbine Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine assembly and disassembly methods face challenges in maintaining component alignment and stability under dynamic environmental conditions, particularly in marine settings where wind and waves affect crane operations, posing risks to technicians and equipment.
Innovation Solution
A motion compensation mechanism with tension elements and control systems that maintain constant tension between components, guiding them along a predefined trajectory while compensating for deviations, using sensors and actuators to adjust tension forces dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If components are moved by a crane on a floating vessel in marine environment, then assembly operations can be performed offshore, but environmental conditions (wind and waves) cause high loads on the heaving system and endanger technician safety
Solution Approach 1:
A motion compensation mechanism acts as an intermediary between the crane and the wind turbine components. This mechanism includes a tension element (cable or chain) and a tensioning device that compensates for crane movements caused by waves and wind, thereby stabilizing component positioning and ensuring technician safety during offshore assembly operations
2Adaptability or versatility
If components are moved by a heaving system in dynamic marine environment, then offshore assembly is enabled, but component alignment and stability cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The motion compensation mechanism serves as a mediator that decouples the crane's heaving movements from the components being assembled. The tension element and tensioning device actively compensate for positional deviations, maintaining precise component alignment despite dynamic marine environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the positions and movements of components, feeding this information back to a control system. The control system adjusts the tensioning device in real-time to counteract deviations from the desired assembly trajectory, ensuring precise component alignment during offshore operations
3Ease of operation
If tension elements are used to connect components, then movement control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion compensation mechanism with tension elements serves as an intermediary control system that simplifies movement management. By introducing this dedicated control layer between the crane and components, the system achieves better movement control despite the added complexity of the tensioning device and sensors
4Manufacturing precision
If motion compensation mechanism is implemented, then component stability and alignment are improved, but crane load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion compensation mechanism acts as a force-distributing intermediary. The tension element and tensioning device share part of the load management responsibility, allowing the crane to maintain precise component alignment and stability while distributing mechanical stresses through the compensation mechanism rather than concentrating them on the crane alone
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
Ensures precise alignment and stability of wind turbine components during assembly/disassembly, reducing load on cranes and safeguarding technician safety by minimizing off-trajectory movements.
Implementation Method 1
a tension element connecting the first connection interface and the second connection interface, and a tension device for keeping the tension element under constant tension
Implementation Method 2
a contact sensor for sensing a contact between the first component and the second component
Implementation Method 3
the tension device applies a force on the tension element that blocks a movement of the first component back and forth on the given trajectory
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (100) for assembling or disassembling components (111, 113) of a wind turbine comprising: - a motion compensation mechanism (101), wherein the motion compensation mechanism (101) comprises: - a first connection interface (103) for connection with a first component (111) of the wind turbine moved by a crane (115), - a second connection interface (105) for connection with a second component (113) of the wind turbine, - a tension element (107) connecting the first connection interface (103) and the second connection interface (105), and - a tension device (109) for keeping the tension element (107) under constant tension as the first component (111) and the second component (113) move relative to each other, wherein the motion compensation mechanism (101) allows a movement of the first component (111) relative to the second component (113) as the first component (111) and the second component (113) are moved relative to each other on a given trajectory.