Wind Turbine Assembly Structure with Heave Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling wind turbines, particularly in deeper waters and floating foundations, are challenged by sensitivity to vessel movements due to waves and wind, requiring coordinated operations and significant space, and are weather-dependent.
Innovation Solution
A device with a base extending in the x-y direction and an assembling structure in the z-direction, featuring a hoisting device, support arrangement, and rotor blade manipulator, allowing for independent and weather-independent assembly of wind turbine components, including a hoisting device with movable gripping means and heave compensating apparatus to manage ocean waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wind turbine components are assembled on a floating vessel using heavy lift cranes, then installation can be performed in deeper waters, but the assembly becomes highly sensitive to vessel movements caused by waves and wind
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the assembly process into two independent phases: (1) assembling wind turbine components onshore at a shipyard or quay where stability is guaranteed, and (2) transporting the assembled components to the installation location on a floating vessel. This segmentation eliminates the sensitivity to vessel movements during the critical assembly phase while still enabling deep water installation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine components are assembled in advance onshore at a shipyard or quay before being transported to the installation location. This preliminary action ensures that the assembly process occurs in a stable environment, free from vessel movement and wave interference, while still allowing the floating vessel to operate in deeper waters.
2Reliability
If wind turbine assembly is performed onshore at a shipyard or quay, then assembly stability is guaranteed, but the installation location must be far from the assembly site requiring towing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the overall process into onshore assembly and offshore installation phases. The onshore assembly at a shipyard or quay ensures stability and quality control, while the floating vessel transports the pre-assembled components to the installation location, minimizing towing time and operational delays.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing the assembly operation in advance onshore, the invention eliminates the need for time-consuming assembly operations at sea. The pre-assembled components are then quickly transported to the installation location, reducing the overall project timeline and minimizing weather window dependencies.
3Reliability
If jack up type installation vessels are used for wind turbine installation, then assembly stability is maintained, but the vessels are limited to relatively calm sea conditions with wave heights below 2-3 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the assembly operation (performed onshore on stable ground) from the installation operation (performed offshore by floating vessel). This allows the use of floating vessels that can tolerate higher wave heights and more severe sea conditions, while the critical assembly phase remains unaffected by sea state.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an onshore shipyard or quay as an intermediary location for assembly operations. This intermediary provides a stable platform for assembling wind turbine components, eliminating the need for jack up vessels to operate in calm seas, while still enabling installation in deeper waters with more favorable sea conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If floating vessels are used for wind turbine installation, then operation in deeper waters is enabled, but the assembly becomes dependent on suitable weather windows with limited wind velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the process so that wind-sensitive assembly operations are performed onshore where wind velocity limits do not constrain operations. The floating vessel is then used only for transport and final installation, where weather window requirements are reduced compared to performing full assembly at sea.
Solution Approach 2:
The onshore shipyard or quay acts as an intermediary that shields the assembly operations from wind and wave effects. By performing assembly in this protected environment and then transporting components to the offshore location, the invention reduces the impact of wind sensitivity while maintaining deep water installation capability.
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
Enables safe, efficient, and weather-independent assembly of wind turbines, reducing the need for large operational spaces and allowing multiple operations simultaneously, even in challenging marine conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a hoisting device with movable gripping means and heave compensating apparatus to manage ocean waves
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method are for assembling a wind turbine. The device has an assembling structure including a space for assembling a tower and a nacelle of a wind turbine, the space being defined by side portions of the assembling structure, and a hoisting device configured for handling the wind turbine tower and for hoisting the nacelle onto a top of the wind turbine tower while being positioned within said space, the hoisting device being movably connected to a hoisting device support structure arranged on top of the assembling structure. The device further includes a support arrangement for supporting a portion of the wind turbine at least when being within said space and a rotor blade manipulator for bringing rotor blades in contact with the nacelle.