Wind Turbine Blade Replacement Without External Cranes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for replacing wind turbine blades require large cranes, which can cause imbalance and damage during the process, necessitating multiple crews and complex maneuvers to avoid tip contact with the ground.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a combination of support members, hydraulic jacking cylinders, cable climbing members, and hoisting devices to lift and lower wind turbine blades from the hub, allowing for blade replacement without the need for ground-based cranes, enabling safer and more efficient blade exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large ground or sea based cranes are used to lower the blade, then the blade can be retained and lowered to the surface, but the cranes cause imbalance and damage during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external crane system from the blade replacement process and extracts only the essential function of lowering the blade, which is achieved through the turbine's own braking system and controlled descent mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine uses its own braking system to control the blade descent, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for external cranes that cause imbalance and potential damage
2Device complexity
If the blade is placed in a position perpendicular to ground for lowering, then the blade can be lowered without crane, but multiple crews are required to rotate the blade to prevent tip contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the blade positioning system, allowing the blade to be rotated and positioned in real-time during descent, eliminating the need for multiple crews to manually guide the blade tip
3Ease of operation
If the blade is placed in a horizontal position using brake system, then the blade can be positioned for replacement, but other blades are off-balance imparting forces to the braking system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary braking force to the other blades before the target blade is positioned horizontally, pre-loading the braking system to counteract the off-balance forces that will be generated when one blade is in horizontal position
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 the replacement of wind turbine blades without the use of large cranes, reducing the risk of damage and imbalance, and simplifying the process by using multiple hoisting devices to lower the blades to the ground, facilitating easier maintenance and installation.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic jack cylinder is placed over each support member and extended to lift the blade from the support hub
Implementation Method 2
A cable climbing member is attached to each cable and the cable climbing members are lowered to the ground by the cables
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A method of replacing a wind turbine blade 9 includes connecting a plurality of first hoisting devices 204 between a wind turbine support hub 4 and the wind turbine blade 9, suspending the wind turbine blade 9 from the wind turbine support hub 4 through the plurality of first hoisting devices 204, connecting a plurality of second hoisting devices 230 between the wind turbine support hub 4 and the wind turbine blade 9, supporting the wind turbine support blade 9 with the plurality of second hoisting devices 230, disconnecting the plurality of first hoisting devices (204) from the wind turbine blade 9, and lowering the wind turbine blade 9 to the ground.