Guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade and use method

2- Guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower anchor that joins the retaining lines (5) forming the catenary is formed by a counterweight (6) anchored to the ground (onshore wind turbine) and is formed with several beams (14) fixed to the jacket

(2) itself the retaining lines (5) are kept in a semi-rigid manner, from the nacelle (2) a clip (7) is raised and when the clip (7) reaches the lower part of the blade (4) it is fixed there, the blade is lowered with the lifting and lowering system (9) independent of the guiding system, when the tip of the blade (4) reaches the end, the clip (7) is fixed to the ship's crane (10′) or to the dock crane (10″), the lateral anchors that the clip (7) has are released to slide along the path of the retainers (5), the blade is arranged (4) in a horizontal position and rests on the auxiliary boat (15) or on the dock (16) itself.

3- Guiding system for the exchange a wind turbine blade according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of the lower anchors is formed with cables (11) and pulleys (12) to the retainers (5) and to a point on the ground arranged:

• in the foundation of the tower (1) or in its auxiliary counterweight (6′).

4- Guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade according to the first claim, characterized in that the clip (7) rotates along the catenary and horizontalizes the blade (4) by releasing it from the retainers (5) and using an auxiliary crane (10) for an onshore wind turbine, using a crane on a ship (10′) and a crane on a dock (10″) for a floating or fixed offshore wind turbine, which is applied in all cases to the tip of the blade (4) which covers the first third thereof.

(4) said clip (7) slides between the retaining lines (5) and by the action of a lifting and lowering system (9) independent of the guiding system and fixed inside the rotor (3), guides the tip of the blade (4) without leaving the retained lines (5),

• and finally and optionally, the clip (7) is attached to an auxiliary crane-type element (10, 10′, 10″) that pulls the tip of the blade (4), separates the clip (7) from the retained lines (5) and places the blade (4) horizontally.

5- Guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade according to the first claim, characterized in that the clip (7) rises and is attached to the tip of the blade (4) by means of manual or automatic elements arranged in the nacelle (3).

6- Guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the tension applied to the retained lines (5) with the tensioners of the ground, the jacket (13), or the nacelle (2) is gradual depending on the incident wind.

7- Method of use of the guiding system for exchanging a wind turbine blade, characterized in that:

• passive and semi-rigid retaining lines (5) are arranged from the nacelle (2), anchored on one side to the lower part of the nacelle (2) and on the other to the ground or to the jacket (13), forming a catenary or safe path for lowering the blade (4) arranged parallel to the tower (1),
• the retaining lines (5) are tensioned with a tensioner arranged in the nacelle (2) or in the lower anchorage of the ground or the final part of the jacket (13),
• a clip (7) is raised from the nacelle (2) and fixed to the end or tip of the blade

8- Method of use of the guiding system according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining lines (5) separated from the tower (1) are anchored with a counterweight (6) arranged on the ground and form the catenary or safe path.

9- Method of use of the guiding system according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining lines (5) are separated from the tower (1) and fixed with two auxiliary anchors:

• one formed by cables (11) fixed at the base of the tower (1) and another formed by cables (11) fixed to an auxiliary counterweight (6′), and with the use of a final counterweight (6) and with pulleys (12) at the end of the cables (11) a catenary is formed that does not require an auxiliary crane to horizontalize the blade (4).

10- Method of use of the guiding system according to claim 7, characterized in that the retaining lines (5) are anchored with two pairs of beams attached to the foundation of the tower (1) and form the catenary or safe route.

11- Method of use of the guiding system according to claim 7, characterized in that two retainers (5) extend from the lower front part of the nacelle (2) of a floating or offshore wind turbine installed at sea to the beams (14) arranged at the base of the jacket (13), with the actuation of tensioners in the beams (14) or in the nacelle

(13) (offshore wind turbine).