Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Installation Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of rotor blades and other components on wind turbines is hindered by the need for good weather conditions, as manual alignment and positioning are required, making it difficult to install in stormy, foggy, or low-visibility situations, which can compromise safety and quality.
Innovation Solution
A method using measuring sensors to record and transmit position and orientation data of the rotor blade or component, allowing for automated alignment and positioning, even in poor visibility, through a system that includes sensors for vertical position, inclination, and wind conditions, with data transmitted to a monitoring station for control and display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual alignment and positioning methods are used for rotor blade installation, then the installation process is simple and requires minimal equipment, but it cannot operate in adverse weather conditions such as storms, fog, or low visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment methods with an automated measurement and control system. Sensors (optical, acoustic, or radar) automatically measure the rotor blade's position and orientation, while a control system directs the crane's movements, eliminating the need for visual alignment by operators in adverse weather conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces measurement sensors and a control system as intermediaries between the crane operator and the rotor blade positioning process. These intermediaries automatically detect position data and transmit control signals, enabling operation in conditions where direct visual contact is impossible due to fog, rain, or darkness.
2Productivity
If manual coordination of rotor blade attachment is used, then communication requirements are minimal, but installation time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where sensors continuously monitor the rotor blade's position and orientation during lifting and alignment. This real-time position data is fed back to the control system, which automatically adjusts the crane's movements to achieve precise alignment, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of the rotor blade's position and orientation before the actual attachment operation. The control system uses this advance data to pre-calculate and execute the optimal lifting and alignment sequence, reducing on-site coordination time and accelerating the installation process.
3Measurement precision
If visual alignment methods are used for positioning the rotor blade, then the system remains simple, but measurement precision is insufficient for safe installation in poor visibility conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual alignment with automated optical, acoustic, or radar sensors that can detect the rotor blade's position and orientation with high precision regardless of visibility conditions. These sensors provide accurate measurement data even in fog, rain, or darkness, enabling safe installation where visual methods fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy or representation of the rotor blade's physical position and orientation through sensor data. This virtual model allows the control system to accurately determine and control the blade's state without requiring direct visual observation, maintaining measurement precision in adverse weather conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for installing a rotor blade (2) on a wind turbine (100), wherein the rotor blade (2) comprises: a blade root (4) for securing the rotor blade (2) on a hub; a blade tip (6) facing away from the blade root (4); and a longitudinal axis running from the blade root (4) to the blade tip (6). In addition, the method comprises the following steps: raising the rotor blade (2) using a crane; receiving measurement data relating to the position and/or orientation of the rotor blade (2) using at least one measuring means (20, 22, 26, 38, 30) during the raising process; and transmitting the measurement data to at least one monitoring station (32) for monitoring the raising process, and/or to at least one control device for controlling the position and/or orientation of the rotor blade (2).