US 2026/0235111 A1 · METHODS FOR RETROFITTING WIND TURBINE BLADES ON WIND TURBINES

Abstract

A method of retrofitting wind turbine blades (26a, 26b, 26c) on a wind turbine (10) is disclosed. The wind turbine blades (26a, 26b, 26c) each include a plurality of sections. An inner blade section (36a, 36b, 36c) is coupled to the rotor hub (24). An outer blade section (38a, 38b, 38c) is coupled to the inner blade section (36a, 36b, 36c) at an interface bracket (34a, 34b, 34c). A blade (26a, 26b, 26c) is selected. For the selected blade (26a, 26b, 26c), the method includes (i) coupling a lifting tool (42, 62, 72) to the interface bracket (34a, 34b, 34c). The lifting tool (42, 62, 72) includes a hoist (50) and a lifting cable (52, 66, 88) operatively coupled to the hoist (50). The method further includes (ii) coupling the lifting cable (52, 66, 88) to the outer blade section (38a, 38b, 38c), iii) disconnecting the outer blade section (38a, 38b, 38c) from the inner blade section (36a, 36b, 36c) so that the inner blade section (36a, 36b, 36c) remains coupled to the rotor hub (24) and the outer blade section (38a, 38b, 38c) is supported by the lifting tool (42, 62, 72), and iv) using the lifting tool (42, 62, 72), lowering the outer blade section (38a, 38b, 38c) to a support surface adjacent the wind turbine (10).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of retrofitting a wind turbine having a plurality of wind turbine blades coupled to a rotor hub, wherein each of the plurality of wind turbine blades is a split blade defining an inner blade section coupled to the rotor hub and an outer blade section coupled to the inner blade section at an interface bracket, the method comprising:

selecting a blade from the plurality of wind turbine blades;
and
for the blade, the method further comprising:
(i) coupling a lifting tool to the interface bracket, the lifting tool comprising at least one hoist and at least one lifting cable operatively coupled to the at least one hoist;
(ii) coupling the at least one lifting cable of the lifting tool to the outer blade section;
iii) disconnecting the outer blade section from the inner blade section so that the inner blade section remains coupled to the rotor hub and the outer blade section is supported by the lifting tool;
and
iv) using the lifting tool, lowering the outer blade section to a support surface adjacent the wind turbine.

5 more elements

wherein the wind turbine includes a cable system with cable assemblies where one or more of the cable assemblies extend between adjacent blades of the plurality of wind turbine blades, and wherein the one or more cable assemblies attach to the blade at the interface bracket;
the method comprising:
selecting a blade from the plurality of wind turbine blades;
and
coupling a lifting tool, to the interface bracket of the selected blade, the lifting tool comprising at least one hoist and at least one lifting cable operatively coupled to the at least one hoist;
coupling the at least one lifting cable of the lifting tool to the outer blade section of the selected blade;
disconnecting the outer blade section from the inner blade section of the selected blade so that the inner blade section remains coupled to the rotor hub and the outer blade section is supported by the lifting tool;
using the lifting tool, lowering the outer blade section of the selected blade to a support surface adjacent the wind turbine;
prior to disconnecting the outer blade section from the inner blade section of the selected blade, releasing a fairing at the interface bracket of the selected wind turbine blade;
and
prior to disconnecting the outer blade section from the inner blade section of the selected blade, adjusting tension in one or more of the cable assemblies coupled to the selected blade.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for retrofitting wind turbine blades on wind turbines

Life of this patent

Methods for retrofitting wind turbine blades on wind turbines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20