Wind Turbine Alignment Tools with Protruding Arresters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of wind turbine towers and segments is challenging due to the need for precise alignment, which is often hindered by the weight and movement of these large components, especially under windy conditions, requiring manual intervention that can lead to safety risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An alignment arrangement comprising first and second alignment tools that protrude beyond the physical dimensions of the wind turbine part, with the second area acting as an arrester to stop lateral movement and a guide pin unit to fix rotational position, allowing for automated or remote-controlled alignment without direct human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual alignment assistance is used with ropes and visual control, then alignment can be achieved, but safety risks increase due to personnel exposure to heavy moving components and wind influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces automated alignment tools as intermediary devices that mediate between the tower segment and the foundation. These tools include alignment indicators, guide pins, and automated positioning systems that eliminate the need for personnel to physically guide the heavy components, thereby maintaining alignment reliability while removing personnel from hazardous zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment methods (ropes, visual control) with automated mechanical systems. The alignment tools incorporate automated sensors, actuators, and control systems that can precisely position and align tower segments without human intervention in the immediate hazard zone, substituting the mechanical human-guidance system with an automated mechanical guidance system
2Reliability
If tower segments are aligned with human assistance using ropes and visual control, then alignment can be performed, but installation time increases due to the complexity of manual coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tools are designed to perform alignment operations autonomously without requiring continuous human intervention. The automated systems can self-position, self-align, and self-adjust the tower segments based on pre-programmed parameters and real-time sensor feedback, enabling the system to serve itself in the alignment process and significantly reducing installation time while maintaining high accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous automated alignment monitoring and adjustment throughout the installation process. Rather than intermittent manual checks and adjustments, the automated alignment tools continuously monitor position, orientation, and alignment status, making real-time adjustments to maintain optimal alignment, thereby eliminating downtime associated with manual repositioning and speeding up the overall installation process
3Ease of operation
If alignment tools protrude beyond the physical dimensions of the wind turbine part, then alignment control is improved, but the complexity of the arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tools are segmented into modular functional units that can be independently positioned and configured. Each protruding alignment tool is divided into separate components (mounting mechanism, alignment indicator, adjustment device) that can be independently controlled and maintained. This segmentation allows for improved alignment control through distributed sensing and actuation while managing complexity through modular design that enables independent optimization of each segment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement and a method to align a part of a wind turbine to a counterpart. The part of the wind turbine and its counterpart are approached in a main direction of approach, to be connected. The arrangement comprises a first and a second alignment tool 20, whereby the alignment tools 20 comprise a first area to be connected to the part of the wind turbine, and a second area that protrudes over the physical dimensions of the part of the wind turbine mainly in the main direction of approach. The second area is arranged and prepared in a way to abut on the counterpart, in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of approach, as an arrester to stop and/or hinder a movement of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart during the alignment. The first alignment tool 20 stops and/or hinders a movement in a first direction, so that the position of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart is fixed in a first direction, and the second alignment tool 20 stops and/or hinders a movement in a second direction. The arrangement comprises at least one guide pin unit 1, that interacts with a hole in the counterpart, to arrest the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine in respect to the counterpart, after the rotational position of the part of the wind turbine was aligned to the counterpart.