Installing blades in a wind turbine and wind turbine lifting systems

Abstract

An apparatus for lifting a wind turbine blade to a rotor hub includes a blade holder configured to receive and support the wind turbine blade. A connection element is configured on the blade holder and is adapted to attach directly to a mounting surface of a wind turbine rotor hub. A lifting equipment attachment is configured on the blade holder to attach to the blade holder to lifting equipment. A first steering mechanism is operably connected between the blade holder and the lifting equipment attachment to control an orientation of the blade held by the blade holder with respect to the lifting equipment attachment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for lifting a rotor blade to a rotor hub of a wind turbine, comprising: a blade holder configured to receive and support the rotor blade, wherein the blade holder is operably attached to a lifting equipment via a lifting equipment attachment; a connection element configured on the blade holder and adapted to attach directly to a mounting surface of the rotor hub; a first steering mechanism operably connected between the blade holder and the lifting equipment attachment to control an orientation of the rotor blade held by the blade holder with respect to the lifting equipment attachment; and a second steering mechanism operably connected between the blade holder and the connection element to control an orientation of the rotor blade held by the blade holder with respect to the connection element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection element comprises one or more studs located at an end thereof and configured to attach to the mounting surface of the wind turbine rotor hub.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first steering mechanism is configured to rotate the blade held by the blade holder to an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees relative to a horizontal plane.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the connection element comprises one or more studs located at an end thereof and configured to attach to the mounting surface of the wind turbine rotor hub.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an illustration of a block diagram describing an example of a method of installing a blade in a wind turbine;

(3) FIGS. 2a-2h schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a first blade of a wind turbine according to an example;

(4) FIGS. 2i-2j schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a second blade of a wind turbine according to an example;

(5) FIGS. 2k-2s schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a third blade of a wind turbine according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 is an illustration of a block diagram describing an example of a method of installing a blade in a wind turbine. For the sake of simplicity, references to times indicated by an imaginary clock may also be included in descriptions relating to FIG. 1 (and further figures). The references to times may be used to indicate approximate positions of the blade holder and/or the blade holder and the blade by considering the blade holder or the blade holder and the blade as an hour hand of the imaginary clock. Thus, for example, reference may be made to the blade holder or the blade holder and the blade pointing to 6 o'clock to indicate that the blade holder or the blade holder and the blade is vertically pointing downwards.

(7) At block 101, a blade holder may be provided. The blade holder may be e.g. a device for clamping a blade or a lifting beam with one or more controllable slings around the blade. The blade holder may be provided with a first steering mechanism adapted to control an orientation of the blade holder with respect to the lifting equipment attachment. The first steering mechanism may allow the installation and the removal of the blade at different angles e.g. one position between 9 o'clock and 7 o'clock and between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock. The actuation of the steering mechanism may be operated by electric current, hydraulic fluid pressure, or pneumatic pressure, although other ways are possible as well.

(8) At block 102, lifting equipment may be provided such as e.g. a crane. The lifting equipment may also be provided with a steering mechanism. At block 103, the blade holder may be attached to the blade. The blade may comprise a blade root portion e.g. a blade flange with fasteners for eventually mounting the blade to a rotor hub.

(9) At block 104, the lifting equipment may further be connected to the blade holder. At block 105, the blade holder (and thus the blade) may be hoisted towards the rotor hub. At block 106, the blade holder may be attached to a mounting surface of the hub using a connection element. Furthermore, the connection element may be provided with one or more fasteners e.g. studs or bolts. The fasteners may be situated at a proximal end of the connection element, although some other positions may be possible. The fasteners may allow a strong connection between the connection element and the hub, and thus the torque to rotate the rotor hub may easily be borne.

(10) At block 107, the rotor hub may be rotated using the weight of the blade holder and the blade to a first desired position for mounting the blade to the rotor hub. At block 108, the blade holder may be detached from the hub. Then, the blade may be mounted to the hub at block 109.

(11) FIGS. 2a-2h schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a first blade of a wind turbine according to an example. Same reference numbers denote the same elements. The method is described below with reference to the sequences of situations illustrated by FIGS. 2a-2h.

(12) In FIG. 2a, the rotor hub 5 may be mounted on the nacelle (not shown) in such a way that the rotor hub 5 is rotatable around an axis with respect to the nacelle. The rotor hub is shown comprising a first mounting surface 23 adapted to receive the blade root of a first blade, a second mounting surface 22 adapted to receive the blade root of a second blade, and a third mounting surface 21 adapted to receive the blade root of a third blade. Each of these mounting surfaces 23, 22, 21 may comprise a pitch system (not shown) for rotating the blade to be mounted to the mounting surfaces. The rotation may be about a pitch axis i.e. a longitudinal axis of the blade when mounted to the hub.

(13) The pitch system may be a standard pitch system, either hydraulic or electromechanical. In some implementations, a more powerful pitch system may be provided.

(14) The blade holder 3 of FIG. 1 is shown having a first steering mechanism 1 and a second steering mechanism 2. The blade holder 3 may comprise a lifting equipment attachment 24 configured to be attached to a lifting equipment (not shown). The blade holder 3 may be provided with a connection element 4 e.g. studs or bolts configured to be attached to a mounting surface.

(15) The first steering mechanism 1, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder, may be located at the upper part of the blade holder 3. The first steering mechanism may be attached between the lifting equipment attachment 24 and an upper portion of the blade holder 3. The first steering mechanism 1 may be configured to rotate the blade holder at different angles with respect to a lifting equipment attachment 24. This way, the blade may be installed at different angles (with respect to a horizontal plane). The first steering mechanism is configured to rotate the blade held by the blade holder to an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees relative to a horizontal plane.

(16) The second steering mechanism 2 may be e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder and may be located at the lower part of the blade holder 3. The second steering mechanism may be attached between the connection element 4 and a lower support of the blade holder 3. The second steering mechanism may be configured to rotate the blade holder 3 with respect to the connection element 4. This way, once the blade holder 3 is attached to the rotor hub 5 using the connection element 4, the blade holder 3 (and thus the blade 7) may be repositioned in a horizontal position. Therefore, a torque may be induced to the rotor hub 5 and the rotation of the rotor hub 5 may be achieved.

(17) The hub may be configured to carry a plurality of blades. Only one blade 7 is shown in FIG. 2a.

(18) FIG. 2a illustrates an initial situation. In this initial situation, the rotor hub 5 may be situated in a position which may not be appropriate for installing the first blade 7. Such a situation in which mounting surfaces 21, 22 and 23 are arranged so as to receive blades in a bunny ears configuration may typically result from lifting the hub towards the top of the tower or nacelle.

(19) A way to define these positions is with reference to an angular position of the hub. The 0 position for a blade may be regarded as a position in which it is arranged substantially vertically, pointing upwards. The mounting surfaces are thus arranged in the specific situation shown at 60 (mounting surface 23), 180 (mounting surface 22) and 300 (or 60 for mounting surface 21).

(20) The blade holder 3 may be attached to the first blade 7. The lifting equipment (not shown) may be attached to the blade holder 3 using the lifting equipment attachment 24. The blade holder 3 and the blade 7 may be brought near the rotor hub using the lifting equipment. The blade holder 3 (and thus the blade 7) may be situated in a substantially horizontal position using the first steering mechanism 1, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder.

(21) In FIG. 2b, the blade holder 3 connection element 4 is attached to the first blade mounting surface 23 of the rotor hub 5. In this particular example, the connection element 4 is suited for being connected to the mounting surfaces of the blade. This way, there is no need for extra mounting surfaces of any type at the rotor hub for holding the connection element 4.

(22) In FIGS. 2c and 2d, the rotor hub 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction to a desired position using the weight of the blade holder 3 and the first blade 7. The weight of the blade holder 3 and the blade 7 induces a torque (due only to weight loads) in the rotor hub 5. Therefore, no additional systems, e.g. a wind turbine generator operated by a motor, or an auxiliary gear motor, are necessary for acting on the hub. Once the desired position for mounting the first blade 7 is achieved, the rotor hub 5 may be blocked using a locking mechanism, e.g. an actuator for selectively switching the hub between an engaged position for rotatably fixing the hub to an axle and a disengaged position for freeing rotation of the hub on the axle. The locking mechanism of the hub may ensure that the hub 5 remains in the desired position during the entire mounting operation of a first blade 7.

(23) In an alternative method, a first rotation of the hub (not carrying any blades) may be carried out using a generator for the wind turbine, or some auxiliary driving equipment.

(24) In FIG. 2e, the connection element 4 is detached from the first blade mounting surface 23 of the rotor hub 5. The blade holder 3 (and thus the blade 7) may be separated from the rotor hub 5 using the lifting equipment (not shown).

(25) In FIG. 2f, the blade holder 3 (and thus the first blade 7) is rotated to a substantially horizontal position using the first steering mechanism 1, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder. The first steering mechanism 1 may be configured to install the first blade at an angle, e.g. a position between 9 and 7 o'clock or between 3 and 5 o'clock.

(26) In FIG. 2g, the blade holder 3 (and thus the first blade 7) is brought into contact with the rotor hub 5 using the lifting equipment (not shown). In this way, the blade root portion 8 of the first blade may be attached to the first blade mounting surface 23 of the rotor hub 5. The blade 7 may thus be mounted horizontally. Mounting blades in a substantially horizontal manner is generally a preferred option since such an operation may be carried out at higher wind speeds than other operations, and importantly there is no need to lift a blade at a substantial height above the hub. But other non-horizontal orientations may be possible depending on e.g. the particular configuration of the wind turbine.

(27) FIG. 2h illustrates the first blade 7 mounted to the first blade mounting surface 23 (and thus the rotor hub 5). The locking mechanism of the rotor hub may be disconnected. This way, once the first blade 7 is mounted, the rotor hub 5 may rotate in a clockwise direction e.g. towards a position in which the second blade mounting surface is arranged so as to receive a blade in a substantially horizontal manner (i.e. at 270). At that point, the locking mechanism can be activated again.

(28) Alternatively, the locking mechanism of the rotor hub 5 may be maintained activated, thus the rotor hub 5 may remain in a position wherein mounting surface 23 is at the 90 position. The mounting surface 22 is then at the 210 position, which could also be appropriate to install the second blade using a suitable blade holder. The blade holder 3 is detached from the first blade 7. Therefore, the blade holder 3 may be ready for the installation of a second blade.

(29) Alternatively, the hub could be allowed to move and the locking mechanism (not shown) of the rotor hub 5 could be reactivated e.g. when the rotor hub 5 is in a position wherein mounting surface 23 is at the 120 position. The mounting surface 21 is then at the 240 position, which could also be appropriate to install the second blade using a suitable blade holder. The blade holder 3 is detached from the first blade 7. Therefore, the blade holder 3 may be ready for the installation of a second blade.

(30) FIGS. 2i-2j schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a second blade of a wind turbine according to an example. Prior to this, the hub may be unlocked in order to cancel the locking of the hub occurred in the previous installation of the first blade. In FIGS. 2i-2j, same elements denote the same numbers as described in FIGS. 2a-2h.

(31) FIG. 2i illustrates a situation in which the rotor hub 5 may be situated in a position which may be appropriate for installing the second blade 10. The blade holder 3 is attached to the second blade 10. The lifting equipment is attached to the blade holder 3 using the lifting equipment attachment 24. The blade holder 3 and the second blade 10 may be brought near the rotor hub using the lifting equipment. The blade holder (and thus the second blade 10) may be situated at the 8 o'clock position using the first steering mechanism, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder.

(32) FIG. 2j illustrates the second blade 10 mounted to the second blade mounting surface 22. This way, once the second blade 10 is mounted, the rotor hub 5 is substantially balanced.

(33) FIGS. 2k-2s schematically illustrate a sequence of situations that may occur during the performance of a method for installing a third blade of a wind turbine according to an example. Prior to this, the hub may be unlocked in order to cancel the locking of the hub occurred in the previous installation of the second blade. In FIGS. 2k-2s, same elements denote the same numbers as described in FIGS. 2a-2h.

(34) FIG. 2k illustrates an initial situation for the installation of the third blade. In this initial situation, the rotor hub 5 may be situated in a position which may not be appropriate for installing the third blade 15. In this situation, a crane or other lifting equipment would have to lift the blade to much higher heights in order to mount the blade from above the hub.

(35) According to this example, the blade holder 3 may be attached to the third blade 15. The lifting equipment may be attached to the blade holder 3 using a lifting equipment attachment 24. The blade holder 3 and the blade 15 may be brought near the rotor hub 5 using the lifting equipment. The blade holder 3 (and thus the third blade 15) is situated in a substantially horizontal position using the first steering mechanism, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder.

(36) In FIG. 2l, the blade holder may comprise a connection element 4 that is attached to the third blade mounting surface 21. This way, the connection element 4 (and thus the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15) is attached to the third blade mounting surface of the rotor hub 5.

(37) In FIG. 2m, the rotor hub 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction using the weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 to a first intermediate position shown in FIG. 2m. The first two blades were substantially in equilibrium, but the extra weight of the blade holder 3 and the blade 15 induces a torque (due only to weight loads) in the hub.

(38) Therefore, no additional systems, e.g. a wind turbine generator operated by a motor, or an auxiliary gear motor, may be necessary for rotating the rotor hub 5. Once the first intermediate position is achieved, the rotor hub may be blocked using the locking mechanism, e.g. an actuator for selectively switching the hub between an engaged position for rotatably fixing the hub to an axle and a disengaged position for freeing rotation of the hub.

(39) In FIG. 2n, the blade holder 3 (and thus the third blade 15) is rotated to a position substantially horizontal using the second steering mechanism 2. This way, the weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 again induces a torque (due only to weight loads) in the rotor hub 5.

(40) In FIG. 2o, as commented above in FIG. 2n, the extra weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 may again induce a torque (due only to weight loads) in the hub sufficient to overcome the counter torque caused by the other blades. This way, the rotor hub 5 may be rotated in a clockwise direction using the weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 to a second intermediate position. Prior to this, the hub may be unlocked to allow rotation of the hub.

(41) In FIG. 2p, the rotor hub 3 may again be blocked using the locking mechanism. Once the rotor hub 5 is blocked, the blade holder 3 is rotated to a position substantially horizontal using the second steering mechanism 2, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder. This way, the weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 again induce a torque (due only to weight loads) in the hub.

(42) By repeatedly returning the blade and blade holder upwards, e.g. to a horizontal position, the torque delivered by the weight of the blade may be increased, so that the hub can be rotated further again.

(43) In FIG. 2q, the rotor hub 5 may be rotated in a clockwise direction to a desired position using the weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15. The weight of the blade holder 3 and the third blade 15 induces a torque (due only to weight loads) in the hub. Therefore, no additional systems, e.g. a wind turbine generator operated by a motor or an auxiliary gear motor, may be needed for acting on the hub. Once the second desired position for mounting the third blade 15 is achieved, the rotor hub 5 again may be blocked using a locking mechanism e.g. an actuator for selectively switching the hub between an engaged position for rotatably fixing the hub to an axle and a disengaged position for freeing rotation of the hub. The locking mechanism of the hub may ensure that the hub remains in the second intermediate position.

(44) In FIG. 2r, the connection element 4 is detached from the third blade mounting surface 21 of the rotor hub 5. The blade holder 3 (and thus the third blade 15) may be separated from the rotor hub 5 using the lifting equipment. The blade holder 3 (and thus the third blade 15) is rotated to a substantially horizontal position using the first steering mechanism 1, e.g. a levelling system provided with a hydraulic cylinder.

(45) In FIG. 2s, the blade holder 3 (and thus the third blade 15) is brought into contact with the rotor hub using the lifting equipment. In this way, the third blade root portion 16 of the third blade 15 may be attached to the third blade mounting surface 21 of the rotor hub. The blade is mounted horizontally, although other non-horizontal orientations may be possible depending on, e.g., the particular configuration of the wind turbine.

(46) A wind turbine comprising a rotor hub, a plurality of blades mounted on the hub, and a blade lifting system in accordance with the invention is also provided.

(47) Although only a number of examples have been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents thereof are possible. Furthermore, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.