Method and system for servicing a horizontal-axis wind power unit
AssigneeNorthern Power Systems, Inc.
InventorsGarrett L. Bywaters, Trevor H. Cole, Adam R. Olsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for attaching a service device to a wind turbine of a wind power unit, using the wind turbine to rotate the service device into one or more service positions, and using the service device to perform servicing on the wind power unit. In some embodiments, a blade of the wind turbine is removed and the service device is mounted in its place. In other embodiments, the service device is mounted to a device mount approximately in a saddle region between adjacent blades. In one example, the service device is a crane. In another example, the service device is a stator module installation/removal tool.
Claims23
A method, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a hub of a horizontal-axis wind turbine;
- mounting the service device to the hub;
- rotating the hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- immobilizing the rotor hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- and
- prior to said mounting, removing a wind-turbine blade from the hub to free-up a blade mount, said mounting including connecting the service device to the blade mount;
- wherein the blade mount includes a pitch-bearing assembly and said mounting includes securing the service device to the pitch-bearing assembly, the method further comprising using a blade-pitch-control system to effect slewing of the service device.
A method, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a hub of a horizontal-axis wind turbine;
- mounting the service device to the hub;
- rotating the hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- and
- immobilizing the rotor hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- wherein the service device is a crane.
A method, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a hub of a horizontal-axis wind turbine;
- mounting the service device to the hub;
- rotating the hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- and
- immobilizing the rotor hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- wherein the service device includes a stator module removal/installation tool for removing/installing a stator module from/to a wind-power-unit generator mechanically coupled to the horizontal-axis wind turbine.
A method, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a hub of a horizontal-axis wind turbine;
- mounting the service device to the hub;
- rotating the hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- and
- wherein:
- said lifting the service device includes running a lifting cable through opening in a service device mount on the hub;
- and
- said lifting the service device further includes lifting the service device with a nacelle-mounted winch.
A method for in-situ servicing of a generator of a horizontal-axis wind power unit, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a wind-turbine hub of the horizontal-axis wind power unit;
- mounting the service device to the wind-turbine hub;
- rotating the wind-turbine hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- immobilizing the wind-turbine hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- and
- servicing the generator using the service device;
- wherein said servicing the generator includes using the service device to lift a component of the generator to a generator servicing tool.
A method for in-situ servicing of a generator of a horizontal-axis wind power unit, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a wind-turbine hub of the horizontal-axis wind power unit;
- mounting the service device to the wind-turbine hub;
- rotating the wind-turbine hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- immobilizing the wind-turbine hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- and
- servicing the generator using the surface device;
- wherein the generator includes a stator comprising a plurality of stator modules and said servicing the generator includes using the service device to lift one of the plurality of stator modules.
A method for in-situ servicing of a generator of a horizontal-axis wind power unit, comprising:
- lifting a service device to a wind-turbine hub of the horizontal-axis wind power unit;
- mounting the service device to the wind-turbine hub;
- rotating the wind-turbine hub to move the service device to a rotational service position;
- immobilizing the wind-turbine hub so that the service device is fixed in the rotational service position;
- and
- servicing the generator using the service device;
- wherein the generator includes a rotor, having a rotational axis, and a stator comprising a plurality of stator modules slidably engageable with a stator frame in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor, said servicing the generator including using the service device to slidably engage/disengage one of the plurality of stator modules to/from the stator frame.
A wind power unit having a wind turbine hub and being configured for use with a service device that mounts to the wind turbine hub, the wind power unit comprising:
- a service device mount on the wind turbine hub;
- a lifting system for lifting service device to said service device mount;
- and
- a system controller responsive to commands from a remote control unit so as to control rotation of the wind turbine to:
- position said service device mount at a service device lifting position;
- and
- once the service device is secured to the service device mount, position the service device at one or more service positions different from the service device lifting position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.