In accordance with a method for assembling a rotor bearing arrangement of a wind turbine, individual slide bearing pads are inserted in the bearing block. The bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads is then joined to a rotor block. During the joining of the rotor shaft and of the bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads, the rotor shaft may be installed on a rotor shaft support so as to be vertically upright. A rotor shaft flange of the rotor shaft may rest on the rotor shaft support. The bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads may be placed upon the rotor shaft vertically from above.

The present disclosure relates to methods for rotating a locked rotor of a wind turbine in case of an imbalance in a rotor plane of the rotor, comprising: rotating the rotor using an inching tool to apply torque on a drive train of the wind turbine to reduce the imbalance in the rotor plane; and removing a locking pin from a locking disc operatively connected to the rotor after reducing the imbalance in the rotor plane. The methods further comprise estimating a direction of a torque load due to the imbalance in the rotor plane using one or more sensors, and impeding the inching tool to apply torque on the drive train of the wind turbine in the estimated direction of the torque load due to the imbalance. The present disclosure further relates to inching tools and to methods for installing rotor blades on a hub of a wind turbine.

A method of dismounting or mounting a rotor blade of a wind turbine involves: supporting a rotor blade of a wind turbine with a ground-based lift system at a tip-side position on the rotor blade in relation to a center of gravity of the rotor blade, and supporting the rotor blade with a nacelle-mounted lift system at a hub-side position on the rotor blade in relation to the center of gravity of the rotor blade, so that the rotor blade is supported by the ground-based lift system and the nacelle-mounted lift system in a substantially non-vertical orientation with respect to the ground; and, then separating the rotor blade from or connecting the rotor blade to a rotor hub of the wind turbine.

The invention relates to a method of prolonging pitch bearing lifetime for a wind turbine as well as the pitch bearing itself. The method comprises the steps of: stopping the rotor (4) from rotating; removing a plurality of first fastening means used for mounting the blade (5) to the outer bearing ring (24); mounting a strengthening arc structure (10) on said outer bearing ring (24), opposite the blade (5); installing a plurality of second fastening means, thereby connecting said blade (5) and said strengthening arc structure (10) to said outer bearing ring (24).

In accordance with a method for assembling a rotor bearing arrangement of a wind turbine, individual slide bearing pad are inserted in the bearing block. The bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads is then joined to a rotor block. During the joining of the rotor shaft and of the bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads, the rotor shaft may be installed on a rotor shaft support so as to be vertically upright. A rotor shaft flange of the rotor shaft may rest on the rotor shaft support. The bearing block fitted with the slide bearing pads may be placed upon the rotor shaft vertically from above.

A component platform lock for holding a wind turbine blade component during attachment of the wind turbine blade component to a wind turbine blade shell part, the component platform lock comprising a first and second moving pin, first and second inner cone stud and first and second collets surrounding the inner cone stud, the collets expanding based on the movement of the inner cone stud relative to the collets.

Wind turbine blade installation apparatus for attaching a wind turbine blade (13) to the hub (12) of a wind turbine (11). The apparatus comprises a primary frame (14) for supporting the wind turbine blade (13) in a vertical orientation. An interface (23) connects the wind turbine blade (13) to the primary frame (14). A rigid connector (15) connects the primary frame (14) to the boom (6) of a crane (4). The rigid connector (15) includes a moveable coupling to the boom (6) such that the primary frame (14) is moveable between a first position for receiving the blade (13) lifted by the crane (4), and a second position for holding a root (131) of the blade (13) in its vertical orientation above the head (9) of the boom (6) of the crane (4).

Disclosed is a method for lifting and lowering blades without using a crane, which uses an aligning and inserting device to solve the problem caused by the tilt and coning of the first/last 200-400 mm of the blade. The device comprises at least one hoist (4) and a pair of cables (5) coordinated by a pulley (10) and screwed to a bearing (12) by means of connecting elements at the ends thereof. The cables (5) are screwed diametrically opposite and as close as possible to the centre of gravity (CG) of the blade. After the initial descent, the blade is secured and a stiffening plate (20) is added to the blade root (13), and the lowering device, formed by a drumless hoist (18) and a set of pulleys (19), is used to lower the blade by means of a passing cable (22) joined to the plate (20). A crane disposed on the ground moves an auxiliary sling placed on the tip (23) of the blade and helps to navigate the transition piece (24) and bottom part (25) of a tower.

A method (100) of servicing or installing a component of a wind turbine (10) using a crane (50), the wind turbine (10) comprising a nacelle (16) and a rotor hub (20) coupled to the nacelle (16) and rotatable about a rotor axis, the method (100) comprising rotating the rotor hub (20) about the rotor axis to a first rotational position; lifting the crane (50) to the rotor hub (20) while the rotor hub (20) is positioned at the first rotational position; mounting the crane (50) to a mounting portion (21) of the rotor hub (20) while the rotor hub (20) is positioned at the first rotational position; and rotating the rotor hub (20) together with the crane (50) from the first rotational position to a second rotational position.

Method for installing a wind turbine blade to a nacelle of an offshore wind turbine, comprising the steps of: providing a vessel or barge with wind turbine blades and a blade installer unit comprising a blade receiving cart; at the offshore wind turbine, bringing a boom of the blade installer unit towards a wind turbine tower of the wind turbine; actuating a tower gripping device unit until the tower gripping device unit engages the tower; inserting a blade into the blade receiving cart, wherein the blade is in approximately horizontal position in the cart; moving the blade receiving cart up towards the upper end of the boom of the blade installer unit; rotating the blade until the blade is in approximately vertical position; moving the blade with respect to the cart until the blade engages the nacelle for coupling to the nacelle.