Arrangement and method for transporting a wind turbine rotor

• US 8,465,237 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Lynderup, Henrik Fomsgaard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutman, H
• Application Number:
  US13/307,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20120148361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 410/44, 416/244.R
• US Class Current: 410/44
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/003 for transporting very large loads, e.g. offshore structure modules construction methods for artificial islands mounted on piles E02B17/00; for transporting marine vessels B63B35/40; docks B63C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/6102 carried on a floating platform
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/232 conical
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/314 the axes being inclined in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/727 Offshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An arrangement for transporting a rotor of a wind turbine at sea is provided. The arrangement includes a vessel having a deck. Moreover, the arrangement includes at least one rotor including a hub and at least one blade affixed to the hub. The hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the at least one blade is at least partially located above the sea surface and that the center axis of the hub is tilted in relation to the deck so as to increase the distance between the at least one blade and the sea surface. Furthermore, a method for transporting a wind turbine rotor at sea on a vessel having a deck is also provided.

Claims

1. An arrangement for transporting a rotor of a wind turbine at sea, comprising:

a vessel including a deck; and

a rotor including a hub and a blade affixed to the hub,

wherein the hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the blade is at least partially located above the sea surface and that a center axis of the hub is tilted in relation to the deck so as to increase the distance between the blade and the sea surface.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the center axis of the hub is tilted substantially along a longitudinal direction of the vessel.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the center axis of the hub is tilted substantially towards the center of the deck.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a tilting angle between the center axis of the hub and the deck is in a range of 3 to 15 degrees.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1,

wherein the blade includes a blade tip, a substantially concave face and a substantially convex face, and

wherein the substantially convex face is directed downwards in relation to the deck and the substantially concave face is directed upwards in relation to the deck such that the blade is bended off the sea surface and the distance between the blade tip and the sea surface is further increased.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1,

wherein a first rotor and a second rotor are arranged on the deck,

wherein the first rotor comprises a first hub and the second rotor comprises a second hub,

wherein at least one blade is affixed to each of the hubs;

wherein the first hub and the second hub are positioned on the deck in such a way that the blades affixed to the respective hub are at least partially located above the sea surface, and

wherein the first hub and the second hub are positioned on the deck in such a way that a first center axis of the first hub and a second center axis of the second hub are tilted in relation to the deck so as to increase the distance between the blades affixed to the respective hub and the sea surface.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6,

wherein the second hub is located above the first hub in such a way that the second center axis of the second hub is tilted in relation to the deck in the same manner as the first center axis of the first hub.

8. The arrangement according to claim 6,

wherein the second hub is located on the deck of the vessel adjacent to the first hub in such a way that the second center axis of the second hub is tilted in relation to the deck in the same manner as the first center axis of the first hub.

9. The arrangement according to claim 6,

wherein the first rotor comprises a first blade and a second blade, and

wherein the first blade is located at least partially above the sea surface, and

wherein the second blade is located entirely above the deck.

10. A method for transporting a rotor of a wind turbine at sea on a vessel having a deck, comprising:

positioning a rotor with a hub and a blade on the deck in such a way that a center axis of the hub is tilted in relation to the deck so as to increase the distance between the blade and the sea surface.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the center axis of the hub is tilted substantially along a longitudinal direction of the vessel.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the hub is positioned on the deck in such a way that the center axis of the hub is tilted substantially towards the center of the deck.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein a tilting angle between the center axis of the hub and the deck is in a range of 3 to 15 degrees.

14. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the blade includes a blade tip, a substantially concave face and a substantially convex face, and

wherein the substantially convex face is directed downwards in relation to the deck and the substantially concave face is directed upwards in relation to the deck such that the blade is bended off the sea surface and the distance between the blade tip and the sea surface is further increased.

15. The method according to claim 10,

wherein a first rotor and a second rotor are arranged on the deck,

wherein the first rotor comprises a first hub and the second rotor comprises a second hub,

wherein at least one blade is affixed to each of the hubs,

wherein the first hub and the second hub are positioned on the deck in such a way that the blades affixed to the respective hub are at least partially located above the sea surface, and

wherein the first hub and the second hub are positioned on the deck in such a way that a first center axis of the first hub and a second center axis of the second hub are tilted in relation to the deck so as to increase the distance between the blades affixed to the respective hub and the sea surface.

16. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the second hub is located above the first hub in such a way that the second center axis of the second hub is tilted in relation to the deck in the same manner as the first center axis of the first hub.

17. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the second hub is located on the deck of the vessel adjacent to the first hub in such a way that the second center axis of the second hub is tilted in relation to the deck in the same manner as the first center axis of the first hub.

18. The method according to claim 15,

wherein the first rotor comprises a first blade and a second blade, and

wherein the first blade is located at least partially above the sea surface, and

wherein the second blade is located entirely above the deck.