Method for exchanging an up-tower main component of an off-shore wind turbine
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorAdrian Botwright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to provide an improved and cost-efficient method for performing an exchange of up-tower main components on an off-shore wind turbine a method is disclosed in during which a non-permanent service platform is temporarily coupled to a wind turbine tower lower section. In addition, a wind turbine structure and a system including such a structure are described, the wind turbine structure and the respective system being designed to allow performing the described method.
Claims14
A method for exchanging an up-tower component of an off-shore wind turbine with a replacement component, the off-shore wind turbine having a tower with a near and above water-level tower lower section having a permanent service platform, a nacelle with a nacelle structure directly or indirectly carrying the up-tower component, the method including the steps of
- transporting the replacement component to the off-shore wind turbine with a vessel,
- attaching a temporary service platform to the tower lower section on or adjacent the permanent service platform,
- lowering the up-tower main component to be exchanged from the nacelle to the temporary service platform,
- lifting the replacement component from the vessel to the temporary service platform,
- lifting the replacement component from the temporary service platform to the nacelle, and
- removing the temporary service platform from the tower lower section.
A system for exchanging an up-tower component of an off-shore wind turbine with a tower lower section having a permanent service platform mounted thereto, the tower lower section or the permanent service platform mounted to the tower lower section is provided with at least one of a non-permanent coupling structure and a supporting structure for the temporary non-permanent coupling and supporting of a temporary service platform to be non-permanently coupled to the tower lower section,
- wherein the system comprises the temporary service platform provided with at least one of a non-permanent coupling structure and a supporting structure corresponding to the at least one of the non-permanent coupling structure and supporting structure provided on the tower lower section or the permanent service platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.