Wind Turbine Blade Alignment Using Central Engagement Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine assembly systems face challenges in aligning rotor blades with hubs due to large relative movements caused by heavy winds and waves, requiring complex and expensive designs with reinforced blades and flexible spring elements that risk damage during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine assembly system featuring first and second aligning devices with an engagement section in the center area of the first portion, allowing for manipulation of orientation and force transmission, and a web-like structure to absorb force peaks, avoiding collisions with fastening means and enabling easy transport and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If flexible spring elements are used in the blade landing system to align the rotor blade with the hub, then alignment capability is improved, but the system becomes complex and expensive requiring reinforced blade structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment function from the blade structure itself and places it in a separate, dedicated aligning device attached to the hub. This separation allows the blade to remain simple while the hub-mounted device provides the necessary alignment capability through its specific geometric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The aligning device acts as an intermediary between the hub and the rotor blade during assembly. It provides a controlled interface that guides the blade into proper alignment without requiring complex interactions between the blade and hub structures directly.
2Manufacturing precision
If the blade landing system contacts the rotor blade wall section for alignment, then alignment is achieved, but the rotor blade requires extra reinforcement structures to avoid damages
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is extracted from the blade structure and placed in a separate hub-mounted aligning device. This eliminates the need for reinforcement structures in the blade while achieving the same alignment objective.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the blade stronger to withstand alignment forces, the patent inverts the approach by making the aligning device itself capable of providing controlled, gentle guidance forces through its geometric features, thereby protecting the blade from damage.
3Manufacturing precision
If large spring elements are used for large rotor blades, then alignment capability is maintained, but the assembly system becomes very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The hub-mounted aligning device serves multiple functions: it provides alignment guidance, defines the assembly sequence, and works with various blade sizes through its geometric features. This universal approach eliminates the need for different spring element sizes for different blade configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The aligning device uses simple geometric features rather than expensive, large-scale mechanical components. This approach provides effective alignment at a fraction of the cost of traditional spring element systems, especially for large blades.
4Manufacturing precision
If the engagement section is located near the fastening means, then alignment control is improved, but the risk of collision and damage during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning device has different functional zones: the engagement section is positioned to provide alignment control while being spatially separated from the fastening means. This local differentiation allows each feature to perform its specific function without interfering with or damaging other components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a wind turbine assembly system (1), comprising a first portion (2), a second portion (3) which is connectable to the first portion (2), a first aligning device (4), attached to the first portion (2) and a second aligning device (5), attached to the second portion (3). The first aligning device (4) comprises an engagement section (6) in a center area of the first portion (2) and a holding section (7) for holding the engagement section (6), wherein the second aligning device (5) is configured for engaging with the engagement section (6). The invention further relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine (20).