Wind Turbine Component Placement Guide Frame Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in placing wind turbine components, such as nacelles and blades, on towers is exacerbated by movements caused by vessels and wind loads, leading to instability and increased assembly time, especially in unfavorable conditions like high winds and waves.
Innovation Solution
A device with a hoisting means and a positioning tool connected via an intermediate construction and guide frame, which engages with the wind turbine tower to stabilize the component, allowing for precise positioning and absorption of movements, enabling assembly in harsher conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lifting crane is used to take up and place wind turbine components, then the components can be transported and installed on the tower, but relative movements between the component and the tower increase due to vessel and wind loads
Solution Approach 1:
The guide frame acts as an intermediary element between the lifting crane and the wind turbine component. It provides a stable reference frame that engages with the tower structure, mediating the transfer of the component while reducing the impact of vessel and wind loads on positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces part of the mechanical positioning system with a guide frame that uses geometric constraints and engagement with the tower structure to define the component's position, rather than relying solely on active mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
2Productivity
If traditional hoisting methods are used, then components can be lifted and placed, but assembly time increases in unfavorable weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The guide frame converts the harmful effect of vessel and wind loads into a beneficial constraint system. By engaging with the rigid tower structure, it uses the stability of the tower to counteract the dynamic loads, allowing assembly to proceed in conditions that would otherwise be too harsh.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide frame is positioned and engaged with the tower structure before the final component placement is completed. This preliminary engagement creates stabilizing constraints that prevent excessive movements during the critical positioning phase, countering the destabilizing effects of environmental loads in advance.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise positioning is required for bolt connections, then assembly accuracy must be high, but the complexity of the positioning system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented between the guide frame (which provides the primary geometric constraints and engages with the tower) and the component mounting system (which performs the final precise alignment). This division allows each subsystem to be optimized for its specific function without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide frame uses the tower structure itself as part of its positioning mechanism. By engaging with existing features of the tower, it leverages the tower's inherent precision and rigidity to achieve accurate positioning without requiring all precision features to be built into the positioning tool itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a device for placing a component of a wind turbine on a wind turbine tower. The device includes a hoisting means with a hoisting cable for taking up the component. A positioning tool is connected to the hoisting cable by means of an intermediately arranged intermediate construction which forms part of the positioning tool. A guide frame of the positioning tool is connected on one side to the intermediate construction and is provided on another side with engaging means for engaging a peripheral part of the wind turbine tower. The invention likewise relates to a method which makes use of the invented device.