System for handling a wind turbine tower section and corresponding method

A method for operating a system for handling a wind turbine tower section, the tower section having a longitudinal axis and extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end with a flange to an opposing second end, the system comprising:

• a first frame configured to support the first end of the tower section, said first frame including a first support base and a first connecting plate provided on said first support base;
• said first connecting plate including a first base portion configured to be attached to said first support base and a first abutment portion extending transversely from said first base portion;
• said first abutment portion being configured to be attached to the flange of the first end of the tower section;
• a second frame configured to support the second end of the tower section, said second frame comprising a second support base and a second connecting plate provided on said second support base;
• said second connecting plate including a second base portion configured to be attached to said second support base and a second abutment portion extending transversely from said second base portion;
• and,
• said second abutment portion being configured to be attached to a flange of the second end of the tower section, wherein the first support base includes a first upper surface configured to be attached to the first base portion of the first connecting plate;
• the second support base includes a second upper surface configured to be attached to the second base portion of the second connecting plate;
• wherein the first upper surface, the first base portion of the first connecting plate when connected to the first upper surface, the second upper surface and the second base portion of the second connecting plate when connected to the second upper surface, extend parallel to ground, the method comprising:
• providing in a horizontal orientation a first wind turbine tower section extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end with a flange to an opposing second end;
• selecting a connecting plate, arranging the connecting plate such that an abutment portion of the connecting plate faces the flange and fixedly connecting the abutment portion to the flange;
• and,
• providing a support base, arranging the connecting plate such that a base portion of the connecting plate faces the support base and fixedly connecting the base portion to the support base.

A kit of parts for handling wind turbine tower sections, each of the tower sections having a longitudinal axis and extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end with a flange to an opposing second end with another flange, each of the flanges including a plurality of bolt holes along a respective bolt hole curvature, wherein the tower sections include at least a tower section having a flange having a first bolt hole curvature and a flange having a second bolt hole curvature, the kit of parts comprising:

• a support base;
• and
• a plurality of connecting plates,
• each of the connecting plates including:
• a base portion configured to be attached to the support base to form a frame configured to support a respective end of one of the tower sections, and
• an abutment portion extending transversely from the base portion and configured to be attached to a flange of a particular tower section,
• wherein the kit of parts includes at least one first connecting plate with an abutment portion including bolt holes corresponding to the first bolt hole curvature, and one second connecting plate with an abutment portion including bolt holes corresponding to the second bolt hole curvature;
• and,
• wherein the first support base includes a first upper surface configured to be attached to the first base portion of the first connecting plate;
• the second support base includes a second upper surface configured to be attached to the second base portion of the second connecting plate;
• wherein the first upper surface, the first base portion of the first connecting plate when connected to the first upper surface, the second upper surface and the second base portion of the second connecting plate when connected to the second upper surface, extend parallel to ground.