Vertical Blade Lifting Frame for Wind-Stable Turbine Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large wind turbine blades is challenging due to their susceptibility to wind loads, requiring low wind conditions for stability, and the need for larger cranes and vessels, which are expensive and limited in availability, especially for offshore installations.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine blade installation apparatus that supports blades in a vertical orientation using a rigid connector to a crane arm, allowing for stable and precise handling and installation, even with shorter cranes, by pivoting and rotating the blade into position above the crane's boom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional horizontal blade suspension with flexible hoist rope is used, then blade lifting is achieved, but blade stability deteriorates due to susceptibility to wind loads and difficulty in maintaining position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal suspension approach by implementing vertical blade orientation during installation. The blade is suspended vertically from the crane hook with its root end facing downward, fundamentally changing the orientation from horizontal to vertical to improve stability and reduce wind load susceptibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the blade from horizontal to vertical during installation. This parameter change transforms the blade's exposure to wind loads, reducing aerodynamic forces and improving stability while maintaining lifting capability
2Productivity
If larger wind turbine blades are installed, then turbine capacity increases, but installation complexity increases due to greater wind loads and requirement for larger vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional installation approach by using vertical blade orientation instead of horizontal suspension. This allows larger blades to be installed with reduced wind load exposure, thereby reducing the size and complexity of required vessels and equipment while maintaining the ability to handle larger blade dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter from horizontal to vertical, which fundamentally alters how wind loads act on the blade during installation. This parameter change reduces the effective wind load area and makes larger blade installation feasible with less complex equipment
3Ease of operation
If vertical blade installation is implemented, then blade stability improves and weather window requirements are reduced, but crane arm length requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by using the crane's hoisting mechanism to elevate the blade to a vertical position above the hub before final installation. The blade is first lifted vertically using the hoist rope, then the crane arm is positioned to support the blade in the vertical orientation, allowing installation without requiring excessively long arm spans
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Wind turbine blade installation apparatus for attaching a wind turbine blade (13) to the hub (12) of a wind turbine (11). The apparatus comprises a primary frame (14) for supporting the wind turbine blade (13) in a vertical orientation. An interface (23) connects the wind turbine blade (13) to the primary frame (14). A rigid connector (15) connects the primary frame (14) to the boom (6) of a crane (4). The rigid connector (15) includes a moveable coupling to the boom (6) such that the primary frame (14) is moveable between a first position for receiving the blade (13) lifted by the crane (4), and a second position for holding a root (131) of the blade (13) in its vertical orientation above the head (9) of the boom (6) of the crane (4).