System and method for installation of an open-sleeve add-on device on a wind turbine blade

A method for installing an add-on device onto a blade of a wind turbine, wherein the blade is mounted to a rotor at a hub that is atop a tower, the add-on device including a pliant-material wrap that drapes around a leading edge of the blade, the method comprising:

• configuring a plurality of tag lines to the wrap, the tag lines having a length so as to extend to a ground location when the add-on device is positioned on the blade;
• with the rotor, positioning the blade to a first rotated position;
• locating the add-on device at a desired span-wise location on the blade such that the wrap forms an open-sleeve configuration draped around the leading edge of the blade and span-wise sides of the wrap extend along pressure and suction sides of the blade, respectively, adjacent a trailing edge of the blade;
• with the tag lines, tensioning the wrap against the blade;
• affixing attachment devices configured with the wrap to the trailing edge of the blade;
• and
• wherein the add-on device is located at the desired span-wise location by:
• with a technician at the rotor hub, positioning the wrap around the leading edge of the blade and dropping the tag lines to the ground location;
• and
• with technicians at the ground location, using the tag lines to move the wrap span-wise along the blade to the desired span-wise location.

A method for installing an add-on device onto a blade of a wind turbine, wherein the blade is mounted to a rotor at a hub that is atop a tower, the add-on device including a pliant-material wrap that drapes around a leading edge of the blade, the method comprising:

• configuring a plurality of tag lines to the wrap, the tag lines having a length so as to extend to a ground location when the add-on device is positioned on the blade;
• with the rotor, positioning the blade to a first rotated position;
• locating the add-on device at a desired span-wise location on the blade such that the wrap forms an open-sleeve configuration draped around the leading edge of the blade and span-wise sides of the wrap extend along pressure and suction sides of the blade, respectively, adjacent a trailing edge of the blade;
• with the tag lines, tensioning the wrap against the blade;
• affixing attachment devices configured with the wrap to the trailing edge of the blade;
• and
• wherein the add-on device is located at the desired span-wise location by:
• with one or more technicians at the ground location below the desired span-wise location on the blade, propelling one or more of the tag lines up and over the leading edge of the blade;
• with the technicians at the ground location, pulling the propelled tag lines to raise the wrap up an over the leading edge of the blade to form the open-sleeve configuration wrapped around the leading edge;
• and
• with the technicians at the ground location, pulling on the tag lines to tension the wrap against the blade and affix the attachment devices to the trailing edge of the blade.

A wind turbine blade add-on device, comprising:

• a pliant-material wrap having a size and dimensions so as to form an open-sleeve configuration that drapes around a leading edge of the wind turbine blade at a desired span-wise location along the wind turbine blade, wherein span-wise sides of the wrap extend along pressure and suction sides of the blade, respectively, adjacent a trailing edge of the blade;
• a plurality of tag lines attached to the wrap, the tag lines having a length so as to extend from the desired location of the add-on device on the wind turbine blade to a ground location so that technicians at the ground location can handle the tag lines to locate the add-on device at the desired location on the blade;
• attachment devices connected to the wrap, the attachment devices configured to secure the wrap to a trailing edge of the blade;
• and
• wherein the attachment devices are attached to the wrap via elastic members and the tag lines are attached to the attachment devices, the elastic members having a length so as to tension the wrap against the blade when the attachment devise are affixed to the trailing edge.

A wind turbine blade add-on device, comprising:

• a pliant-material wrap having a size and dimensions so as to form an open-sleeve configuration that drapes around a leading edge of the wind turbine blade at a desired span-wise location along the wind turbine blade, wherein span-wise sides of the wrap extend along pressure and suction sides of the blade, respectively, adjacent a trailing edge of the blade;
• a plurality of tag lines attached to the wrap, the tag lines having a length so as to extend from the desired location of the add-on device on the wind turbine blade to a ground location so that technicians at the ground location can handle the tag lines to locate the add-on device at the desired location on the blade;
• attachment devices connected to the wrap, the attachment devices configured to secure the wrap to a trailing edge of the blade;
• the trailing edge of the blade at the desired span-wise location of the add-on device including serrations, the attachment devices configured to attach onto, between, or over the serrations without damaging the serrations;
• and
• wherein the attachment devices comprise a body with one or more protrusions on a side thereof that fit between the serrations along the trailing edge.

A wind turbine blade add-on device, comprising:

• a pliant-material wrap having a size and dimensions so as to form an open-sleeve configuration that drapes around a leading edge of the wind turbine blade at a desired span-wise location along the wind turbine blade, wherein span-wise sides of the wrap extend along pressure and suction sides of the blade, respectively, adjacent a trailing edge of the blade;
• a plurality of tag lines attached to the wrap, the tag lines having a length so as to extend from the desired location of the add-on device on the wind turbine blade to a ground location so that technicians at the ground location can handle the tag lines to locate the add-on device at the desired location on the blade;
• attachment devices connected to the wrap, the attachment devices configured to secure the wrap to a trailing edge of the blade;
• and
• further comprising a guideline attached to a chord-wise side of the wrap, the guideline having a length to allow a technician at a rotor hub of the wind turbine to handle the guideline as the add-on device is moved span-wise to the desired location on the blade.