Segmented Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Assembly Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for assembling or disassembling rotor blades of wind turbines are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly, often requiring cranes for maintenance or repair, which increases operational expenses and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rotor blade composed of two segments with a releasable locking device and a connecting device that allows for the safe, fast, and cost-efficient assembly or disassembly of the rotor blade without the need for cranes, by extending through the root of the rotor blade and at least partially through the first blade segment to the second segment, using a guiding device and fastening mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cranes are used to lower rotor blades from the rotor hub to the ground for maintenance or repair, then the rotor blades can be safely handled and replaced, but the costs associated with repair or replacement procedures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple blade segments (first blade segment, second blade segment, third blade segment) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows maintenance to be performed on individual segments without requiring complete blade replacement or expensive crane operations, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining safety through controlled segment handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a releasable locking device that can be quickly engaged and disengaged to connect and disconnect blade segments. This dynamic connection system enables rapid assembly and disassembly operations without requiring heavy lifting equipment, thereby reducing maintenance costs while ensuring safe handling through designed connection mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If rotor blades are manufactured in blade segments to reduce transportation and erection costs, then the costs of pre-forming, transporting, and erecting wind turbines are reduced, but the assembly and disassembly processes become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple blade segments (first blade segment, second blade segment, third blade segment) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows maintenance to be performed on individual segments without requiring complete blade replacement or expensive crane operations, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining safety through controlled segment handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a releasable locking device that can be quickly engaged and disengaged to connect and disconnect blade segments. This dynamic connection system enables rapid assembly and disassembly operations without requiring heavy lifting equipment, thereby reducing maintenance costs while ensuring safe handling through designed connection mechanisms.
3Ease of repair
If traditional methods are used for blade repair, then the repair process can be performed, but the repair process becomes very time-consuming and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple blade segments (first blade segment, second blade segment, third blade segment) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows maintenance to be performed on individual segments without requiring complete blade replacement or expensive crane operations, reducing maintenance costs while maintaining safety through controlled segment handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a releasable locking device that can be quickly engaged and disengaged to connect and disconnect blade segments. This dynamic connection system enables rapid assembly and disassembly operations without requiring heavy lifting equipment, thereby reducing maintenance costs while ensuring safe handling through designed connection mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method (800,900) of assembling or disassembling a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower and a rotor coupled to the nacelle, the rotor having a rotor hub and a rotor blade, the rotor blade comprising a first blade segment connected with the rotor hub, a second blade segment, wherein the second blade segment is configured for joining to the first blade segment such that the second blade segment extends from the first blade segment towards a blade tip of the rotor blade, and a releasable locking device configured for joining the second blade segment to the first blade segment, the releasable locking device comprising a structural member of the second blade segment, the structural member being configured for engaging a further structural member of the first blade segment for releasable locking with the further structural member, wherein a fastening device of the second blade segment is arranged on the structural member; the method comprising raising (950) or lowering (860) the second blade segment using a connecting device fastened to the fastening device of the second blade segment, wherein the connecting device extends through a root of the rotor blade and at least partially through the first blade segment to the second blade segment.