Method and system for performing operations on a wind turbine

• US 20070200103A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V. (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: S.Coop.C.L Ecotecnia
• Inventors: Viladomiu i Guarro, Pere, Lefuente, Sebastian V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 254/334
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/207 with supporting couples provided by wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/61 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/916 with provision for hoisting onto the structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A wind turbine has a nacelle frame and a first hoist substantially permanently mounted on the frame. The method comprises the processes of hoisting a second, more powerful hoist and crane on the frame with the first hoist; removably mounting the second hoist and the crane on the nacelle frame; hoisting a winch using the second hoist and the crane on the frame, and removably mounting the winch on said frame; performing operations involving handling heavy parts employing said winch; and removing and lowering said winch, crane, and second hoist from the frame.

Claims

1. A method for performing operations on a wind turbine that involve handling heavy parts, said generator comprising a nacelle frame and a first hoist substantially permanently mounted on the nacelle frame, characterized in that it comprises the processes of:

hoisting a second hoist on the nacelle frame by means of the first hoist, the second hoist being more powerful than the first hoist;

removably mounting the second hoist on the nacelle frame;

performing operations that involve handling heavy parts, employing the second hoist; and

removing from the nacelle frame the second hoist and lowering it with the first hoist.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the process of hoisting a crane and removably mounting said crane on the nacelle frame.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the process of hoisting a winch on the nacelle frame, and removably mounting said winch on the nacelle frame.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said hoisting a winch comprises hoisting said winch utilizing said crane and said second hoist.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising moving said first hoist along said nacelle frame.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said moving said first hoist comprises moving on one or more wheels or one or more rails.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the winch is hoisted on the nacelle frame together with a coupling structure for mounting said winch to the nacelle frame.

8. A method as in claim 4, further comprising moving said winch along said nacelle frame.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said moving said winch comprises moving on one or more wheels or one or more rails.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising using said winch for handling heavy parts of the wind turbine.

11. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the process of removing and lowering said winch from the nacelle frame.

12. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the process of removing and lowering said crane from the nacelle frame.

13. A method for performing operations on a wind turbine that involve handling heavy parts, said wind turbine comprising a nacelle frame and a first hoist permanently mounted on the nacelle frame, said method comprising:

lifting a second hoist on the nacelle frame using said first hoist, said second hoist being more powerful than said first hoist;

removably mounting said second hoist on said nacelle frame;

hoisting a cable winch on the nacelle frame by said second hoist;

removably mounting said winch on said nacelle frame;

performing operations that involve handling heavy parts employing said winch;

removing and lowering said winch from said nacelle frame; and

removing from said nacelle frame said second hoist and lowering it using said first hoist.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising moving at least one of said first hoist and said winch on one or more wheels or one or more rails.

15. A system for performing operations on a wind turbine that involve handling heavy parts, said wind turbine comprising:

a nacelle frame;

said system comprising a first hoist substantially permanently mounted on said nacelle frame;

a second hoist adapted to be hoisted on said nacelle frame by said first hoist; and

a winch adapted to be hoisted on said nacelle frame by said second hoist;

said winch suitable for handling a part selected from the group consisting of;

a generator, a gearbox, and a transformer of said wind turbine.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that said first hoist is mounted on a structure consisting of one or more wheels or one or more rails.

17. A nacelle frame assembly for a wind turbine, said assembly comprising:

a nacelle frame;

a first hoist substantially permanently mounted on said nacelle frame;

a second hoist which is appropriate for being hoisted to said nacelle frame by said first hoist and temporarily mounted on said nacelle frame for performing operations that involve handling heavy parts when said nacelle frame is arranged on a wind turbine.

18. A nacelle frame assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a winch suitable for being hoisted and temporarily mounted on said nacelle frame for performing operations that involve handling a part selected from the group consisting of:

a generator, a gearbox, and a transformer of said wind turbine when said nacelle frame is arranged on a wind turbine.