Wind Turbine Transition Piece Platform for Service Lift Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wind turbine designs require labor- and cost-intensive installation of temporary scaffolds for accessing electrical equipment, complicating the installation of array cables and maintenance of service lifts, with inefficient space utilization and increased testing requirements.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine design featuring a permanent working platform below the service lift, suspended within the transition piece, providing access and space for servicing the lift and routing array cables, eliminating the need for temporary scaffolds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a temporary scaffold is installed below the switch gear platform to access electrical equipment, then accessibility for installation and maintenance is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to electrical equipmentVSAvoidcomplexity of temporary scaffold installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A permanent working platform is pre-installed below the switch gear platform during wind turbine manufacturing, providing ready-to-use access to electrical equipment. This preliminary action eliminates the need for temporary scaffold installation later, reducing both complexity and cost while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If temporary scaffolding is used for service access, then accessibility is improved, but labor intensity and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessVSAvoidlabor efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent working platform is designed to be self-sufficient, equipped with all necessary facilities for service personnel to access and maintain electrical equipment independently. This eliminates the need for additional temporary scaffold installation and dismantling, significantly reducing labor intensity and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If temporary scaffold is installed for array cable installation, then accessibility is improved, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable installation accessibilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent working platform is installed in advance during manufacturing, providing immediate access for array cable installation. This eliminates the time-consuming process of installing and dismantling temporary scaffolds, significantly reducing installation time and associated costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3879094B1Wind turbine
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS
  • EP3879094B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3879094B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3879094B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A wind turbine (1), comprising a tower (4), a foundation (14), a transition piece (15), which is arranged between the tower (4) and the foundation (14) and which connects the tower (4) to the foundation (14), a platform (19), which is arranged inside the transition piece (15), a service lift (31), which can be lowered to the platform (19), and a permanent working platform (32) which is arranged below the platform (19) and in a distance (d) thereof. Due to the permanent working platform (32), the service lift (31) is easily accessible from below. The labor- and cost-intensive installation of a temporary scaffold below the platform (19) is expendable. Advantageously, the working platform (31) can also be used for array cable installation.