Yawing Load Carrying Structure for Multirotor Wind Turbine Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complex and costly process of erecting and maintaining multirotor wind turbines requires extensive crane equipment, increasing installation and maintenance costs due to the need for multiple lifting operations and balancing acts to manage the weight and thrust forces of multiple energy generating units.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a yawing load carrying structure to position wind turbine components alternately on opposite sides of the tower, allowing for single-crane operations and reduced unbalance by rotating the load carrying structure approximately 180 degrees to align components for lifting, thereby simplifying the installation and maintenance process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple energy generating units are mounted on opposite sides of the tower in a multirotor wind turbine, then the total power produced increases, but the complexity and cost of crane equipment required for erection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrying structure is pre-assembled with energy generating units mounted on it before being lifted as a complete unit. This preliminary assembly allows the entire structure to be erected in fewer lifting operations, reducing crane complexity and cost while maintaining the multirotor configuration that produces higher total power
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple energy generating units are combined with the load carrying structure to form a single integrated assembly that is lifted together. This merging reduces the number of separate lifting operations needed, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of crane equipment while achieving the power increase from multiple units
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple lifting operations are performed to mount energy generating units on opposite sides of the tower, then all components can be positioned correctly, but the installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Energy generating units are pre-positioned on the load carrying structure before the lifting operation. This preliminary positioning ensures correct component placement is achieved in a single lifting operation rather than requiring multiple operations, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lifting operations are merged into a single operation by assembling the complete load carrying structure with all energy generating units before lifting. This combined approach achieves correct component positioning in one operation, significantly reducing installation time while maintaining the precision needed for proper component placement
3Ease of operation
If crane equipment is rented for erecting and maintaining multirotor wind turbines, then the components can be lifted into position, but the rental costs may exceed the costs of producing the wind turbine
Solution Approach 1:
The load carrying structure with energy generating units is pre-assembled on the ground before lifting. This reduces the complexity and duration of lifting operations, allowing the use of smaller, less expensive crane equipment that can be rented at lower costs, while still achieving the capability to lift heavy components into position
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lifting operations are combined into fewer operations by pre-assembling the complete structure. This reduction in operational complexity decreases the rental cost of crane equipment needed, making the ease of operation achievable with more cost-effective crane rental arrangements
Data Source
AI summary
A method for mounting or dismounting a wind turbine component of an energy generating unit in a multirotor wind turbine is disclosed. The multirotor wind turbine comprises a tower configured to support one or more load carrying structures each arranged for supporting at least two energy generating units arranged at or near its ends and at opposite sides of the tower. The method comprises positioning or dispositioning a first wind turbine component at a first end of the load carrying structure, yawing the load carrying structure approximately 180 degrees, and positioning or dispositioning a second wind turbine component at the second end of the load carrying structure opposite the first end. The method may be used in erecting or servicing a multirotor wind turbine.