Wind Turbine Nacelle Fixation Arm for Service Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size of wind turbines poses challenges in construction, maintenance, and servicing due to the need for larger crane equipment, which is costly and complicated by weather conditions, especially for sea-based turbines, and existing service cranes often interfere with rotor blades or require specific designs for each turbine size.
Innovation Solution
A fixation device with extendable arms that can be positioned forward of the nacelle at a level below the rotor blades' rotation axis, providing a stable fixation point for service tools and equipment without interfering with the rotor blades, allowing for vertical line deployment and reducing the need for large cranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If larger crane equipment is used to service increasing wind turbine sizes, then the wind turbine components can be serviced, but the costs increase considerably and weather conditions become more restrictive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fixation function from external crane equipment and integrates it directly into the wind turbine structure through fixation arms mounted on the nacelle. This eliminates the need for separate large crane equipment by providing built-in fixation capabilities that can directly support service tools and personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine becomes self-sufficient for servicing operations by incorporating fixation arms that can independently support work platforms and service equipment. The fixation device enables the wind turbine to service itself without requiring external crane assistance, reducing dependency on complex external equipment.
2Device complexity
If service cranes are mounted on wind turbines, then crane equipment size is reduced, but the service cranes often interfere with rotor blades or require specific designs for each turbine size
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation arms are designed as movable and adjustable structures that can be positioned and reconfigured as needed. The arms can be extended, retracted, and positioned at different angles to avoid interference with rotor blades during operation, providing dynamic adaptation to different servicing scenarios without requiring fixed interference-prone positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation arms extend in multiple spatial dimensions from the nacelle, utilizing three-dimensional positioning capabilities to reach optimal fixation points away from the rotor blade rotation path. By operating in multiple dimensions rather than a single fixed position, the system achieves fixation functionality without interfering with blade rotation.
3Productivity
If fixation points are positioned forward of the nacelle for optimal service access, then service efficiency improves, but the fixation structure may interfere with rotor blades during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation arms incorporate adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow them to be dynamically configured during different operational phases. During rotor blade rotation, the arms can be repositioned to clear the rotation path, while during servicing operations they can be extended to optimal positions forward of the nacelle for efficient access to rotor blades and other components.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation device for providing at least one fixation location at a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a wind turbine tower, a nacelle and a hub for a number of rotor blades. The fixation device includes at least one fixation arm configured for being arranged at the nacelle and/or the wind turbine tower, the at least one fixation arm being extendable. The at least one fixation arm in an inactive state, when arranged at the nacelle, is not extending essentially forward of the nacelle.