Tower-Mounted Wind Turbine Blade Positioning Tool
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of wind turbine blades is challenging due to their large and heavy nature, requiring accurate alignment and positioning, which is inefficient and costly, especially in offshore environments where crane usage is inconvenient and costly, and prior solutions lack practicality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A tool mounted on the wind turbine tower with linear and angular actuators for translating and tilting the blade, allowing precise positioning and alignment for connection to the hub, including a gripping device and a winch for secure attachment and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cranes are employed to lift and position blades, then positioning accuracy is improved, but cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a positioning tool as an intermediary device mounted on the tower to assist in blade positioning. This tool includes a positioning mechanism that can adjust and hold the blade at the correct pitch angle, serving as a mediator between the blade and the hub connection process, thereby improving positioning accuracy without requiring complex crane systems
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning tool is designed to be self-contained and operable by the installation team without requiring external crane equipment. The tool includes its own positioning and adjustment mechanisms that can be operated independently, making the system self-sufficient and reducing dependency on complex external lifting equipment
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated crane barges are commissioned for offshore sites, then blade installation capability is improved, but cost and logistical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning tool acts as a portable intermediary device that can be installed on the tower at offshore sites without requiring dedicated crane barges. The tool is mounted directly on the tower structure, providing the necessary positioning capability for blade installation in offshore environments while eliminating the need for complex external support vessels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential blade positioning function from the complex crane barge system and concentrates it into a compact, tower-mounted positioning tool. This extraction removes the dependency on large external support vessels while retaining the core capability of accurate blade positioning and pitch adjustment
3Ease of operation
If blades are transported in disassembled condition, then transportability is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning tool is pre-assembled and mounted on the tower before the blade installation process begins. This preliminary setup includes positioning the tool at the correct location and configuring its adjustment mechanisms, so that when the blade arrives, it can be directly positioned and connected without requiring complex assembly procedures or time-consuming setup operations
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
Facilitates efficient and precise alignment and installation of wind turbine blades, reducing the need for cranes and dedicated vessels, enhancing on-site assembly efficiency and reducing costs, especially in offshore installations.
Implementation Method 1
at least one linear actuator for driving the linear translation of the main body relative to the support
Implementation Method 2
at least one linear actuator for driving the angular movement of the mount relative to the main body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
There is described a tool for positioning a blade for a wind turbine for facilitating installation of the blade, a related an installation assembly, and method. In various embodiments, the wind turbine includes a tower and a rotatable hub on an upper end of the tower, and the tool is mounted on a side of the tower so that the blade is supported on the tower in an initial configuration. The tool may have at least one part and at least one other part, the one part being arranged to be angularly movable relative to the other part for tilting the blade with respect to the tower to position the blade in a position that can allow the blade to be connected to the hub.