Modular nacelle with storable support assembly for supporting wind turbine components and related methods

A main nacelle unit for forming a nacelle of a wind turbine, comprising:

• a main housing having at least a main housing outer wall and containing a base frame configured to be attached to a tower of the wind turbine;
• and
• a support assembly including at least one support frame configured to support a wind turbine component external to the main housing, wherein at least a portion of the at least one support frame is attached to the base frame and movable between a stored position and a deployed position,
• wherein in the stored position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to be positioned within the confines of the main housing,
• wherein in the deployed position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to extend through the main housing outer wall to support the wind turbine component external to the main housing, and
• wherein the support assembly comprises at least two support frames configured to support the wind turbine component external to the main housing.

A nacelle of a wind turbine, comprising:

• a main nacelle unit for forming a nacelle of a wind turbine, comprising:
• a main housing having at least a main housing outer wall and containing a base frame configured to be attached to a tower of the wind turbine;
• and
• a support assembly including at least one support frame configured to support a wind turbine component external to the main housing, wherein at least a portion of the at least one support frame is attached to the base frame and movable between a stored position and a deployed position,
• wherein in the stored position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to be positioned within the confines of the main housing,
• wherein in the deployed position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to extend through the main housing outer wall to support the wind turbine component external to the main housing;
• and
• an auxiliary nacelle unit attached to the main nacelle unit and comprising an auxiliary housing having at least an auxiliary housing outer wall, the auxiliary housing containing the wind turbine component,
• wherein the at least a portion of the at least one support frame extends through the auxiliary housing outer wall to support the wind turbine component.

A method of erecting a wind turbine, comprising:

• providing a main nacelle unit for forming a nacelle of a wind turbine, comprising:
• a main housing having at least a main housing outer wall and containing a base frame configured to be attached to a tower of the wind turbine;
• and
• a support assembly including at least one support frame configured to support a wind turbine component external to the main housing, wherein at least a portion of the at least one support frame is attached to the base frame and movable between a stored position and a deployed position,
• wherein in the stored position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to be positioned within the confines of the main housing, and
• wherein in the deployed position, the at least a portion of the at least one support frame is configured to extend through the main housing outer wall to support the wind turbine component external to the main housing;
• providing an auxiliary nacelle unit comprising an auxiliary housing having at least an auxiliary housing outer wall, the auxiliary housing containing the wind turbine component;
• moving the at least a portion of the at least one support frame from the stored position to the deployed position;
• and
• coupling the at least one support frame to the wind turbine component.