System and method for the service and exchange of a yaw bearing for a machine head of a wind turbine

A yaw bearing servicing and exchange system for a wind turbine, comprising:

• a support stand comprising:
• a base assembly configured to be positioned outside a nacelle of the wind turbine between the nacelle and a support surface of the wind turbine;
• at least one support post extending perpendicularly from the base assembly, the at least one support post having a first post end coupled to the base assembly and an opposing, second post end;
• at least one first post cap removably coupled to the second post end, the at least one first post cap defining a first support surface for supporting at least a portion of the yaw bearing, the first support surface defining at least a portion of a first diameter greater than an outside diameter of an inner race of the yaw bearing, the first support surface defining a support plane;
• and
• at least one leveler operably coupled to at least one first post cap for establishing a level orientation of the support plane with respect to a horizontal plane, the level orientation of the support plane having a deviation from the horizontal plane of less than or equal to five degrees;
• the system further comprising a leveling-lifting assembly for suspending and leveling the nacelle, the leveling-lifting assembly coupled between a lifting apparatus that is configured to be positioned outside the nacelle and configured to be in contact with the support surface of the wind turbine and a bedplate support frame of the nacelle so as to suspend and level a yaw bearing interface on a level plane having a deviation from the horizontal plane of less than or equal to five degrees, the leveling-lifting assembly comprising:
• a lifting beam configured to be positioned outside and above the nacelle and operably coupled to the lifting apparatus,
• a plurality of lifting straps coupled to the lifting beam and suspended therefrom, and
• at least one tensioning device coupled between the plurality of lifting straps and the bedplate support frame.