Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Access Device with Adjustable Contact Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine maintenance systems are cumbersome, unsafe, and inefficient, particularly when cleaning rotor blades, due to the need for heavy machinery and the instability of platforms in windy conditions, which limits access and increases the risk of damage.
Innovation Solution
A device designed to move longitudinally along the rotor blade, featuring a frame structure with adjustable contact means at the front and rear edges for secure guidance and support, allowing omnidirectional movement while minimizing friction and weight, and equipped with safety features like safety lines and automatic load adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a heavy platform is used for maintenance work, then the platform can support workers and equipment, but the platform requires heavy machinery for lifting and becomes unstable in windy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance system is divided into multiple segments: a lightweight mobile platform, separate suspension means attached to rotor blades, and individual worker positions. This segmentation allows the platform to be lightweight while maintaining functionality through distributed attachment points on the rotor blades, eliminating the need for a single heavy stable platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces suspension means as an intermediary element between the mobile platform and the rotor blades. These suspension means attach to the rotor blades and provide stable support points, allowing the lightweight platform to operate stably without requiring heavy machinery or large platform mass.
2Ease of operation
If a platform is used for cleaning rotor blades, then access to the blade surface is enabled, but the platform may be moved back and forth by wind and cause damage to the rotor blade
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension means act as an intermediary that attaches to the rotor blade edges rather than allowing the platform to hang freely. This intermediary connection points stabilize the platform relative to the rotor blade, preventing wind-induced back-and-forth movement while still enabling access for cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform design includes preliminary protective measures such as fenders or cushioning elements that prevent direct contact with the rotor blade surface. These preliminary anti-action features counteract potential damage before it occurs, allowing the platform to move slightly without causing harm to the blade.
3Reliability
If special machinery like cranes is used for fixation and lifting, then the platform can be securely positioned, but the complexity and cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile platform is designed to be self-sufficient by carrying its own suspension means and attachment mechanisms. The platform can independently attach to and detach from the rotor blades without requiring external cranes or heavy machinery, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension means serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the platform, enable secure attachment to rotor blades, allow for easy positioning and detachment, and facilitate both cleaning and maintenance operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized machinery for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A device 1 for enabling access to a rotor blade 54 of a wind turbine, said device being adapted for being moved in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade 54, the device comprisinga frame structure 2, means for supporting and guiding the device in relation to the rotor blade,means for lowering and/or lifting the device in relation to the rotor blade,wherein said means for supporting and guiding the device in relation to the rotor blade are configured for contacting the rotor blade at regionsat or near the front edge of the rotor blade andat or near the rear edge of the rotor blade, andwherein said means for supporting and guiding the device in relation to the rotor blade are configured for being adjusted to the rotor blade during movement of the device in order to maintain controllable contact at said regions, andwherein said means for supporting and guiding the device in relation to the rotor blade comprises a plurality of contact means 12, 14 at least one of which is adapted for being omnidirectionally movable along the surface of the rotor blade 54 while said means for supporting and guiding the device in relation to the rotor blade are being adjusted to the rotor blade during movement of the device.