EP2499357A2 - A method and an apparatus for assembling a wind power plant - Google Patents

A method and an apparatus for assembling a wind power plant

Info

Publication number
EP2499357A2
EP2499357A2 EP10795029A EP10795029A EP2499357A2 EP 2499357 A2 EP2499357 A2 EP 2499357A2 EP 10795029 A EP10795029 A EP 10795029A EP 10795029 A EP10795029 A EP 10795029A EP 2499357 A2 EP2499357 A2 EP 2499357A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wind power
power plant
mast
installation construction
elements
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10795029A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pekka Luhtala
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EASYWIND Oy
Original Assignee
EASYWIND Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EASYWIND Oy filed Critical EASYWIND Oy
Publication of EP2499357A2 publication Critical patent/EP2499357A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D13/00—Assembly, mounting or commissioning of wind motors; Arrangements specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • F03D13/10—Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H12/00—Towers; Masts or poles; Chimney stacks; Water-towers; Methods of erecting such structures
    • E04H12/34—Arrangements for erecting or lowering towers, masts, poles, chimney stacks, or the like
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
    • F05B2240/91—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure
    • F05B2240/915—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable
    • F05B2240/9151—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a stationary structure which is vertically adjustable telescopically
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/728—Onshore wind turbines

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of the claim 1 for assembling a wind power plant.
  • the invention also relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 6.
  • the heights of wind power plants have been continuously increased, as the unit size of power plants applied in wind farms has been continuously increased because of e.g. better profitability of energy production that can be achieved with larger units.
  • the hub heights of wind power plants were normally in the order of about 30 m above the ground, whereas in the largest power plants at present, for example, in the 5 MW power plants recently designed to be taken into use e.g. in Denmark, the hub heights are as great as about 165 m.
  • the mounting of wind power plants which are even clearly smaller than this last-mentioned height may be very laborious and difficult by the methods of prior art, e.g. when they are installed on top of hills or mountains which are, nev- ertheless, normally very good locations for producing wind power, in view of the wind conditions.
  • wind power plants are mounted by transporting the mast of the wind power plant and the other parts of the wind power plant to be mounted on it, in the form of separate elements to the mounting site and by lifting and mounting the parts of the mast and the other parts of the wind power plant in place by means of cranes brought to the site.
  • the cranes to be used must always be taller than the wind power plant to be assembled; in other words, the taller and heavier the wind power plants to be mounted, the larger and taller cranes will be needed.
  • the taller the wind power plant to be installed the larger is also the flat area required at the site of mounting when assembling methods of prior art are applied.
  • a larger crane also normally requires a wider and better driveway to the mounting site of the construction than a smaller crane. Meeting these criteria is naturally technically very challenging and expensive, for example when wind power plants are mounted on mountain tops, hill tops or other locations of undulating terrain.
  • a method which utilizes a particular installation construction to be built around the wind power plant, which is transported and installed at the mounting site of the wind power plant.
  • the elements of the mast of the wind power plant are placed on top of each other and connected to each other by transferring the elements one by one from the outside to the inside of the installation con- struction, where the next element of the mast to be installed in the wind power plant is always fitted underneath the preceding elements brought to the inside, placed on top of each other and already connected to each other, in such a way that the preceding elements of the mast are lifted up for at least the height of the next element to be placed underneath it, before the next element is transferred to the inside.
  • Another aim of the invention is to present an apparatus according to the method of the invention.
  • the inventive idea in the method and apparatus according to the invention is to use an installation construction, brought to the mounting site of the wind power plant, that is lower than the wind power plant to be assembled; when it is used, the power plant unit to be fastened to the uppermost element of the mast of the wind power plant, or a part of it, is mounted in place in the uppermost element of the mast before the mast elements that are lower than this mast element are installed and connected underneath the topmost element of the mast.
  • the method and the apparatus according to the invention provide significant advantages to the prior art. Because, in the method of the invention, the power plant unit, or some of its parts, to be mounted to the uppermost element of the mast of the wind power plant can be connected at a much lower level than in the methods of prior art, and the construction to be assembled is lifted upwards so that next element to be added into the construction is always connected underneath the construction, any lifting devices having the height of the whole finished construction will not be needed for the assembly, irrespective of the height of the wind power plant to be mounted. Moreover, the method does not require that the connection and structures between the power plant unit and the mast of the wind power plant be changed for assembling the power plant unit to be mounted to the upper part of the mast, as the method disclosed e.g.
  • the power plant unit part of the wind power plant, which conventionally comprises the generator of the wind power plant, a set of propellers connected to a hub, axles and possible transmission devices between them, as well as other conventional parts to be mounted in the top part of the mast of the wind power plant, is called the power plant unit.
  • the power plant unit is divided into two parts which are the generator part and the set of propellers.
  • the set of propellers comprises a hub and the propellers connected to it, and the generator part comprises all the other parts of the power plant unit.
  • Fig. 1 shows an installation construction used in a method according to the invention, seen from the direction of a transfer opening in the construction, before the parts of the wind power plant are transferred to the inside of the installation construction;
  • Fig. 2 shows the installation construction according to Fig. 1 , seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being transferred to the installation construction;
  • Fig. 3 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures, seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being turned to the installation position;
  • Fig. 4 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures, seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, after a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant has been put in place and connected to the preceding elements;
  • Fig. 5 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures seen from above, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being transferred into the installation construction;
  • Fig. 6 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures seen from above, after a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant has been put in place and connected to the preceding elements.
  • a wind power plant 2 is assembled by the method according to the invention by lifting elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 in the installation construction 1 and already connected to each other, as well as the generator unit 20 fixed to the uppermost element 3" of the mast, upwards, and by adding the next lower element 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant under- neath the preceding elements 3' lifted upwards.
  • the installation construction 1 comprises in this case a frame 5 to be installed at the mounting site 18 of the wind power plant 2, inside which frame 5 a space is formed whose inner dimensions are clearly greater than the outer dimensions of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 and whose height is, in this case, slightly greater than twice the height of one element 3 of the mast 4 to be installed.
  • the installation construction 1 further comprises a lifting device 6, by which the elements 3' of the mast 4 to be assembled, brought into the installation construction, and the generator part 20 connected to their upper end after the installation of the first (topmost) element 3" of the mast, can be lifted up by means of the installation construction in a way required by the method.
  • the installation construction 1 comprises a transfer device 8, by means of which the elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 are transferred through a transfer opening 9 in the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 from the outside to the inside of the installation construction and are turned from a horizontal transport position to a vertical installation position.
  • the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 has, in this case, a cylindrical shape (that is, a circular cross-section) and is thereby very suitable for the assembly of masts of wind power plants with a normally circular cross-section.
  • the frame 5 is, in this case, formed of a sheet structure whose side walls 21 form in this case a primarily solid structure, except for the transfer opening 9 and a possible smoke outlet.
  • the frame 5 can be formed so that when installed, it is assembled of, for example, two or more parts to be connected to each other and supported and connected to the foundation 17 of the wind power plant at the mounting site 18 of the wind power plant 2.
  • working levels 10 are provided, one of which is, in this case, placed approximately at the height level of one element 3 to be assembled. It is thus possible, among other things, to connect two successive elements (e.g. by welding) when working on the working levels.
  • Another working level 10 can be placed, for example, clearly above the first level in the upper part of the frame so that one can, for example, do finishing, such as painting, of the mast elements 3' and 3" already installed on top of each other, or installation of various auxiliary parts in the construction, or the like, when working on the level.
  • the working levels 10 may be stationary or assembled from parts and removable. Assembled working levels have the advantage that they can be installed in the frame according to the needs of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled.
  • the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is also covered with a partial roofing 19 in the area between the wind power plant 2 to be assembled and the walls of the frame 5. Thanks to this, the elements inside the frame 5 are relatively well protected from the weather.
  • the wind power plant 2 to be assembled is supported to the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 according to the invention at its upper mouth and lower, for example at the lifting device 6, by supporting members 7 and sliding sheets 11 connected to their ends. The precise dimensions and number of the support members 7 and the sliding sheets 11 are designed according to the requirements of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled.
  • the transfer opening 9 in the lower part of the installation construction 1 forms an open location, from which the elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled are transferred from the outside to the inside of the installation construction 1.
  • the transfer opening 9 has an oval shape, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the transfer opening 9 has such a size that the elements 3 of the mast 4 to be brought to the inside of the installation construction 1 fit to turn from the horizontal transfer position to the vertical installation position as they extend partly through the transfer opening 9 to the outside of the installation construction 1 , as can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.
  • the transfer opening 9 must have a width at least equal to the outer diameter of the elements 3, but it does not need to have a height equal to the height of a single element 3.
  • the lifting device 6 for the elements 3' of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 is, in this case, a jacking device extending from the lower part of the frame 5 upwards. It is used to lift up elements 3' of the wind power plant, already brought to the inside of the installation construction 1 and connected to each other, with hydraulic jacks 12 which are connected to the target by means of tension bars 13.
  • a suitable number of jacks 12 and tension bars 13 can be selected, for example, depending on the weight of the construction to be lifted. Naturally, it is obvious that there must be at least two jacks to enable balanced lifting.
  • the lifting height of the lifting device 6 must be greater than the height of the highest single element 3 of the wind power plant, and the length of the tension bars 13 must be slightly greater than this lifting height.
  • the travel length of the jacks 12 themselves may, however, be significantly shorter than the lifting height (for example, 500 mm, if the length of the ten- sion bar 13 is 13 m), because the lifting takes place stepwise by means of pairs of jaws 22 gripping the tension bars 13.
  • the tension bars 13 are connected to the elements 3' to be lifted by means of reusable brackets 23.
  • the connecting may also be provided in another way, for example by welding or by means of holes or recesses formed on the side of the element 3'.
  • the capacity of each tension bar 13 movable by a jack 12 is 42.5 tons, which suffices well for lifting, for example, the elements 3 of a mast of a wind power plant and the gen- erator unit 20 at their end.
  • the control of the jacks 12 is implemented in a remote-controlled manner, wherein it can take place from a desired location, for example from a working level, from which the movements of the element/elements 3' to be lifted and the jacks 12 to be controlled are well visible.
  • the jacking device used as the lifting device 6 is placed on firm supports 24 built in the frame 5, slightly higher than the height of the elements 3 to be lifted, wherein it is used to move the tension bars 13 by pulling them upwards.
  • the jacking device comprises for each tension bar 13 a jack with two hydraulic cylinders and two pairs of jaws 22. The first ones of them are connected to the moving ends of the hydraulic cylinders and the second ones in the lower part of the frame part of the jacks. The first jaws are arranged to bite into the tension bar when it is being pulled upwards (during the work movement of the hydraulic cylinders) and the second ones when the moving ends of the hydraulic cylinders are moved downwards (during the return movement).
  • the transfer device 8 is formed of three traction cables 14a-14c as well as winches 15a-15c for moving the same, connected to the frame 5 of the installation construction 1.
  • the traction cables 14a and 14b are led to the inside and the traction cable 14c to the outside of the installation construction, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
  • suitable lifting devices for example, shackles
  • the installation construction 1 already comprises at least one mast element 3' lifted up
  • the traction cables 14a and 14b led to the inside of the installation construction 1 are connected to the next mast element 3 to be transferred to the inside, at fixing points 16a and 16b formed on its both sides.
  • the traction cable 14c led to the outside of the installation construction 1 is connected to a fixing point 16c at the rear end of the next element 3 of the mast 4 to be transferred to the inside.
  • the element 3 of the mast 4 to be transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 is provided with corresponding fixing loops, to which the shackles at the ends of the traction cables 14a-14c can be locked.
  • the element 3 of the mast 4 brought to the front of the transfer opening 9 can be moved, by suitably controlling the winches 15a- 15c that move the traction cables 14a-14c, to the inside of the installation construction 1 and turned from the horizontal position to the vertical position by the principle shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
  • the turning is naturally not necessary if the element 3 to be installed is such in size that it can be moved in vertical position to the inside of the installation construction 1.
  • the above-described installation construction 1 is installed at the mounting site 4 of the wind power plant 2. It can be brought there, for example, in pieces of suitable size and assembled onto the foundation 17 of the wind power plant around the mounting site of the mast 4.
  • the foundation 17 has naturally been made at this site in advance when the surrounding ground has been worked and levelled out and, if necessary, reinforced and, for example, drained in this area.
  • the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 it is always taken into account that the frame is fixed and supported in place in a sufficiently firm manner so that it will withstand the loads to which it will be sub- jected during the mounting of the wind power plant 2.
  • the lifting device 6 and the transfer device 8 as well as the supporting members 7 and the working levels 10 are installed in it. After these steps, the installation construction 1 is ready for the assembly of the wind power plant 2.
  • the assembly of the wind power plant 2 from elements similar to those shown in the figures is started by bringing its first element 3 with a suitable transport vehicle to the front of the transfer opening 9 of the installation construction 1 , where it is placed, for example, on cradles or other supports cor- responding to the curvature of its outer surface.
  • the traction cables 14a-14c of the transfer device 8 are connected in the above-mentioned manner to the fixing points 16a-16c of the element 3 to be transferred.
  • yet another auxiliary cable (not shown in the figures) that can be moved by a separate winch fixed to a suitable location is connected to a suit- able point at the rear end of the element 3 to be transferred, to prevent the element 3 from pendulating too fast forward in the initial step of transferring to the inside of the installation construction 1.
  • the traction cables 14a- 14c of the installation construction 1 are tightened by the winches so that the element 3 to be transferred can be lifted up, off the cradles.
  • the auxiliary cable is removed and one starts to turn the element 3 from the horizontal transfer position to the vertical installation position. This is done by tightening the traction cables 14a and 14b equally and simultaneously, and by slackening the traction cable 14c. As the traction cables 14a and 14b become shorter and the traction cable 14c becomes longer, the elements first turns from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and from that further to a fully vertical position.
  • first element 3 immediately after the transfer and the turning to the installation position, it is lifted upwards with the lifting device 6.
  • the second and the following elements 3 they are first connected to the preceding element 3' above them, already installed in place. This is done by moving the element 3 to be transferred at the turning step so that its front end comes against the lower end of the preceding element 3', as shown in Fig. 4, and by connecting the next element 3 then to the lower end of the preceding element 3' in a way known as such (for example by welding).
  • the lifting step is performed first after the connecting step.
  • the traction cables 14a-14c are removed as soon as the element 3 transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 and turned to the lifting position has been connected to the lifting device 6.
  • the traction cables 14a-14c are removed first after the element has been connected to the preceding upper element 3'.
  • the above-described step of transferring the element 3 of the wind power plant can also be started by bringing the elements 3 with a transport vehicle directly to the location shown in Fig. 2, that is, mostly inside the installation construction 1.
  • a transport vehicle directly to the location shown in Fig. 2, that is, mostly inside the installation construction 1.
  • the transport vehicle must thus be such that the elements 3 of the wind power plant can be fitted with it to the inside of the transfer opening, approximately to the location shown in Fig. 2.
  • the wind power plant 2 is lifted upwards.
  • the lower sliding sheets 11 of the supporting mem- bers 7 at the lifting device 6 are put in place.
  • the lifting device 6 In the case of the first element 3", the lifting device 6 only needs to lift this element 3" of the wind power plant.
  • the lifting device 6 In the case of the second or a following element 3', the lifting device 6 must lift all the preceding elements 3' and 3" in addition to the element 3', from which the lifting takes place, at a time.
  • the tension bars 13 of the jacking device used as the lifting device 6 are connected to brackets, holes or recesses made in advance in the lower part of the element 3' to be lifted. After this, the actual lifting is started.
  • the jaws 22 of the hydraulic jacks 12 of the lifting device are first put at such positions in the upper part of the tension bars 13, from which the lifting is started to achieve a sufficient lifting height in said case.
  • the movable ends of the jacks 12 are moved upwards by their travel length.
  • the tension bars 13 are temporarily locked to the lower pairs of jaws in the frame of the jacks, the jaws being spring-driven in such a way that they always bite into and grab the tension bars automatically when the lifting movement is stopped.
  • the moving ends of the jacks 12 are moved to the lower position again, in which the upper jaws are placed to a new lifting position and take a new grip.
  • the tension bars 13 are moved down and connected to the hoist brackets in the lower part of the next element 3 transferred to the inside. Hoisting brackets are being removed from the preceding element 3' lifted up as the tension bars are being removed one by one and transferred to the next element 3' to be lifted. Thus, the tension bars 13 still fastened to the preceding element 3' take care of supporting the preceding element 3' where this is not yet done by the new element 3' already placed underneath this element and fastened to it.
  • the second element 3 of the mast 4 is transferred by the transfer device 8 to the inside of the installation construction 1 and connected to the lower end of the first element 3", after which these two elements joined together are lifted upwards by the lifting device 5, after which the next element 3 is transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 again and connected to the lower end of the wind power plant 2 formed by the two preceding elements.
  • the upper supporting members 7 with the sliding sheets 11 are also installed to keep the wind power plant upright during its assembly.
  • the generator unit 20 of the wind power plant is fixed to the upper end of the uppermost element 3" of the mast 4 in the step when the end of this element has risen above the installation construction 1.
  • the steps of transferring, connecting and lifting new lower elements of the wind power plant are repeated until all the lower elements of said mast have been placed, one on the other, and connected to each other.
  • the set of propellers of the wind power plant is connected to the generator unit in the step when the generator unit at the end of the uppermost element 3" of the mast has risen so high that the propellers of the set fit between the hub connection in the generator unit 20 and the ground surface.
  • the lowermost, last element 3' is connected so that it is no longer lifted up, but after being transferred into its place in the installation construction, this element is connected to the foundation 17.
  • the other elements already transferred to the installation construction are lowered onto the last element and connected to it. All the elements installed in their place are finished to be quite complete during the assembly inside the installation construction 1. This is normally done on working levels 10 which are higher in the installation construction. For example, the painting of the elements 3' and 3" can be performed in this way.
  • the assembly comprises elements whose shape or size differs from the elements 3' to be installed on top of each other, also these can be installed inside the installation construction 1 if they fit inside the installation construction 1.
  • the uppermost element 3" of the mast 4 and the generator unit 20 can be installed by lifting the first element 3" of the mast and the generator unit 20 already con- nected to its end with a crane from above the installation construction 1 to the inside of the installation construction 1. Applying such an alternative method to start the assembly, a crane brought to the mounting site is needed for help. However, this crane is only slightly taller than the installation construction 1 , that is, much lower than the whole wind power plant when it is com- plete.
  • the above-described method of the invention and the apparatus according to it can be implemented in a way that is, in many respects, different from the example embodiment presented above.
  • the frame of the installation con- struction that constitutes an essential part of the method does not necessarily need to be completely closed, but it can be, for example, fully open or slightly more open than in the above-described example; that is, it may comprise more than just one transfer opening.
  • the installation construction may comprise only two or more buttresses or supporting beams placed around the mast of the wind power plant to be assembled, to which buttresses or beams the transfer device and the lifting device are connected.
  • the frame does not necessarily need to be, for example, slightly more than twice as high as the elements to be assembled.
  • the height of the frame is only slightly greater than the height of one element of the structure.
  • the lifting device and the transfer device can also be implemented in a variety of ways.
  • the lifting device it is possible to apply, for example, lifting devices driven by wire ropes, chains or other suitable means, instead of a jacking device.
  • the advantage of such lifting devices is naturally the fact that with them, the lifting can be imple- mented in a single step.
  • the jacking device has the advantage of achieving easily a greater power production, which is advantageous particularly when the wind power plants to be assembled are tall and/or large in size and their elements are heavy in weight.
  • the transfer device used for transferring the elements of the wind power plant could be alternatively implemented by means of, for example, chains, lifting straps, mechanical gripping arms, roller conveyors, conveyor belts, etc. to achieve a function corresponding to that described above.
  • the elements of the wind power plant can also be transferred to the inside of the installation construction in the form of parts smaller than a single element, from which the actual elements to be lifted are then assembled.
  • the step of transferring also in this case there is no need for turning from the transfer position to the installation position but the parts are thus assembled inside the installation construction so that they will be ready in the correct installation position.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assembling a wind power plant (2), wherein the wind power plant (2) is assembled from elements (3) by placing these elements (3) on top of each other and by connecting the elements (3\ 3") placed on top of each other together. At the mounting site (4) of the wind power plant, an installation construction (1 ) is formed, which surrounds the wind power plant (2) to be assembled at at least two points spaced from each other and whose height is at least the height of one single element (3) of the mast of the wind power plant but is lower than the complete wind power plant (2), with at least one open location (9), through which at least the elements (3) of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) can be transferred at least partly to the inside of the installation construction (1 ). Elements (3', 20) of the wind power plant (2) in the installation construction (1 ) are lifted with a lifting device (6) upwards by at least the height of the next element (3) of the mast (4) to be brought into the installation construction (1 ); and the next lower element (3) of the mast (4) is always transferred and placed under each preceding element (3') of the mast (4) transferred into the installation construction (1 ). In the method according to the invention, at least one unit (20) of the wind power plant (2) that comes in the upper part or on the upper end of the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) is mounted on the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) before the elements (31) of the mast (4) lower than the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) are installed below the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4). The invention also relates to an apparatus according to the method of the invention.

Description

A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING A WIND POWER PLANT
The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of the claim 1 for assembling a wind power plant. The invention also relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 6.
Recently, the heights of wind power plants have been continuously increased, as the unit size of power plants applied in wind farms has been continuously increased because of e.g. better profitability of energy production that can be achieved with larger units. In the early days of utilizing wind power, the hub heights of wind power plants were normally in the order of about 30 m above the ground, whereas in the largest power plants at present, for example, in the 5 MW power plants recently designed to be taken into use e.g. in Denmark, the hub heights are as great as about 165 m. However, the mounting of wind power plants which are even clearly smaller than this last-mentioned height (for example, 1 MW power plants which are common at present) may be very laborious and difficult by the methods of prior art, e.g. when they are installed on top of hills or mountains which are, nev- ertheless, normally very good locations for producing wind power, in view of the wind conditions.
At present, wind power plants are mounted by transporting the mast of the wind power plant and the other parts of the wind power plant to be mounted on it, in the form of separate elements to the mounting site and by lifting and mounting the parts of the mast and the other parts of the wind power plant in place by means of cranes brought to the site. Thus, the cranes to be used must always be taller than the wind power plant to be assembled; in other words, the taller and heavier the wind power plants to be mounted, the larger and taller cranes will be needed. Because of using the larger cranes, the taller the wind power plant to be installed, the larger is also the flat area required at the site of mounting when assembling methods of prior art are applied. Furthermore a larger crane also normally requires a wider and better driveway to the mounting site of the construction than a smaller crane. Meeting these criteria is naturally technically very challenging and expensive, for example when wind power plants are mounted on mountain tops, hill tops or other locations of undulating terrain.
At present, a method is also known, which utilizes a particular installation construction to be built around the wind power plant, which is transported and installed at the mounting site of the wind power plant. By means of such an installation construction, the elements of the mast of the wind power plant are placed on top of each other and connected to each other by transferring the elements one by one from the outside to the inside of the installation con- struction, where the next element of the mast to be installed in the wind power plant is always fitted underneath the preceding elements brought to the inside, placed on top of each other and already connected to each other, in such a way that the preceding elements of the mast are lifted up for at least the height of the next element to be placed underneath it, before the next element is transferred to the inside. In this method of prior art, disclosed in US 2009/008731 1 , the generator part of the wind power plant, in which e.g. the generator and the gearbox are placed, must be installed in a particular nacelle construction which is movable with respect to the mast and which has an opening, through which the mast of the wind power plant extends, and by means of which the generator part can be moved to the upper part of the mast or to another desired height. For this reason, such a method is only suitable for a wind power plant construction of a particular design but not, for example, for such very commonly used wind power plants, in which the generator part is mounted to the upper end of the mast without fitting the mast through it.
It is an aim of the invention to introduce a new method for eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks relating to the methods of prior art for mounting and assembling wind power plants, particularly at mounting sites in a hilly and/or undulating terrain. In particular, it is an aim of the invention to introduce a method, by which a conventional wind power plant, having a power plant unit installed at the end of a mast, can be assembled, irrespective of the method of connection between its mast and power plant unit, without tall cranes and a large flat area required by them at the mounting site of the con- struction. Another aim of the invention is to present an apparatus according to the method of the invention.
The inventive idea in the method and apparatus according to the invention is to use an installation construction, brought to the mounting site of the wind power plant, that is lower than the wind power plant to be assembled; when it is used, the power plant unit to be fastened to the uppermost element of the mast of the wind power plant, or a part of it, is mounted in place in the uppermost element of the mast before the mast elements that are lower than this mast element are installed and connected underneath the topmost element of the mast.
To put it more precisely, the method and apparatus according to the invention are characterized in what will be presented in the claims.
The method and the apparatus according to the invention provide significant advantages to the prior art. Because, in the method of the invention, the power plant unit, or some of its parts, to be mounted to the uppermost element of the mast of the wind power plant can be connected at a much lower level than in the methods of prior art, and the construction to be assembled is lifted upwards so that next element to be added into the construction is always connected underneath the construction, any lifting devices having the height of the whole finished construction will not be needed for the assembly, irrespective of the height of the wind power plant to be mounted. Moreover, the method does not require that the connection and structures between the power plant unit and the mast of the wind power plant be changed for assembling the power plant unit to be mounted to the upper part of the mast, as the method disclosed e.g. in US 2009/0087311 does. Consequently, with the method and apparatus of the invention, it is possible to mount even very tall wind power plants without making changes in the structure of the wind power plant, by applying considerably smaller cranes and a smaller area than before. Also, all the heavy structures belonging to the construction, such as the generator, the gearbox, the hub and the propellers of the wind power plant, can be installed at a much lower level than when assembled with con- ventional cranes. Consequently, these features that make the assembly work of the construction easier than before, reduce, among other things, the costs caused by the mounting to a significant extent.
It should also be noted that to simplify the description in the present applica- tion, that part of the wind power plant, which conventionally comprises the generator of the wind power plant, a set of propellers connected to a hub, axles and possible transmission devices between them, as well as other conventional parts to be mounted in the top part of the mast of the wind power plant, is called the power plant unit. Furthermore, the power plant unit is divided into two parts which are the generator part and the set of propellers. The set of propellers comprises a hub and the propellers connected to it, and the generator part comprises all the other parts of the power plant unit.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows an installation construction used in a method according to the invention, seen from the direction of a transfer opening in the construction, before the parts of the wind power plant are transferred to the inside of the installation construction;
Fig. 2 shows the installation construction according to Fig. 1 , seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being transferred to the installation construction;
Fig. 3 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures, seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being turned to the installation position;
Fig. 4 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures, seen directly from the side of the transfer opening, after a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant has been put in place and connected to the preceding elements;
Fig. 5 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures seen from above, in the step when a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant is being transferred into the installation construction; and
Fig. 6 shows the installation construction according to the preceding figures seen from above, after a new element to be installed in the mast of the wind power plant has been put in place and connected to the preceding elements.
By means of the installation construction 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, a wind power plant 2 is assembled by the method according to the invention by lifting elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 in the installation construction 1 and already connected to each other, as well as the generator unit 20 fixed to the uppermost element 3" of the mast, upwards, and by adding the next lower element 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant under- neath the preceding elements 3' lifted upwards. To enable such action, the installation construction 1 comprises in this case a frame 5 to be installed at the mounting site 18 of the wind power plant 2, inside which frame 5 a space is formed whose inner dimensions are clearly greater than the outer dimensions of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 and whose height is, in this case, slightly greater than twice the height of one element 3 of the mast 4 to be installed. The installation construction 1 further comprises a lifting device 6, by which the elements 3' of the mast 4 to be assembled, brought into the installation construction, and the generator part 20 connected to their upper end after the installation of the first (topmost) element 3" of the mast, can be lifted up by means of the installation construction in a way required by the method. In connection with and above the lifting device 6, there is also provided a lateral support for the wind power plant 2 to be assembled with supporting members 7 mounted to the installation construction 1 , to secure that the construction remains upright. Furthermore, the installation construction 1 comprises a transfer device 8, by means of which the elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 are transferred through a transfer opening 9 in the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 from the outside to the inside of the installation construction and are turned from a horizontal transport position to a vertical installation position.
As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 6, the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 has, in this case, a cylindrical shape (that is, a circular cross-section) and is thereby very suitable for the assembly of masts of wind power plants with a normally circular cross-section. The frame 5 is, in this case, formed of a sheet structure whose side walls 21 form in this case a primarily solid structure, except for the transfer opening 9 and a possible smoke outlet. The frame 5 can be formed so that when installed, it is assembled of, for example, two or more parts to be connected to each other and supported and connected to the foundation 17 of the wind power plant at the mounting site 18 of the wind power plant 2. Thus, it can be conveniently assembled ready before the assembly of the wind power plant 2 is started, and it can be removed from around the wind power plant 2 after the latter has been completed. Furthermore, inside the installation construction 1 , working levels 10 are provided, one of which is, in this case, placed approximately at the height level of one element 3 to be assembled. It is thus possible, among other things, to connect two successive elements (e.g. by welding) when working on the working levels. Another working level 10 can be placed, for example, clearly above the first level in the upper part of the frame so that one can, for example, do finishing, such as painting, of the mast elements 3' and 3" already installed on top of each other, or installation of various auxiliary parts in the construction, or the like, when working on the level. The working levels 10 may be stationary or assembled from parts and removable. Assembled working levels have the advantage that they can be installed in the frame according to the needs of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled. The frame 5 of the installation construction 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is also covered with a partial roofing 19 in the area between the wind power plant 2 to be assembled and the walls of the frame 5. Thanks to this, the elements inside the frame 5 are relatively well protected from the weather. The wind power plant 2 to be assembled is supported to the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 according to the invention at its upper mouth and lower, for example at the lifting device 6, by supporting members 7 and sliding sheets 11 connected to their ends. The precise dimensions and number of the support members 7 and the sliding sheets 11 are designed according to the requirements of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled.
In this case, the transfer opening 9 in the lower part of the installation construction 1 forms an open location, from which the elements 3 of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 to be assembled are transferred from the outside to the inside of the installation construction 1. In this embodiment, the transfer opening 9 has an oval shape, as shown in Fig. 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transfer opening 9 has such a size that the elements 3 of the mast 4 to be brought to the inside of the installation construction 1 fit to turn from the horizontal transfer position to the vertical installation position as they extend partly through the transfer opening 9 to the outside of the installation construction 1 , as can be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. For this reason, the transfer opening 9 must have a width at least equal to the outer diameter of the elements 3, but it does not need to have a height equal to the height of a single element 3.
The lifting device 6 for the elements 3' of the mast 4 of the wind power plant 2 is, in this case, a jacking device extending from the lower part of the frame 5 upwards. It is used to lift up elements 3' of the wind power plant, already brought to the inside of the installation construction 1 and connected to each other, with hydraulic jacks 12 which are connected to the target by means of tension bars 13. A suitable number of jacks 12 and tension bars 13 can be selected, for example, depending on the weight of the construction to be lifted. Naturally, it is obvious that there must be at least two jacks to enable balanced lifting. The lifting height of the lifting device 6 must be greater than the height of the highest single element 3 of the wind power plant, and the length of the tension bars 13 must be slightly greater than this lifting height. The travel length of the jacks 12 themselves may, however, be significantly shorter than the lifting height (for example, 500 mm, if the length of the ten- sion bar 13 is 13 m), because the lifting takes place stepwise by means of pairs of jaws 22 gripping the tension bars 13.
In this case, the tension bars 13 are connected to the elements 3' to be lifted by means of reusable brackets 23. The connecting may also be provided in another way, for example by welding or by means of holes or recesses formed on the side of the element 3'. In this case, the capacity of each tension bar 13 movable by a jack 12 is 42.5 tons, which suffices well for lifting, for example, the elements 3 of a mast of a wind power plant and the gen- erator unit 20 at their end. The control of the jacks 12 is implemented in a remote-controlled manner, wherein it can take place from a desired location, for example from a working level, from which the movements of the element/elements 3' to be lifted and the jacks 12 to be controlled are well visible. The jacking device used as the lifting device 6 is placed on firm supports 24 built in the frame 5, slightly higher than the height of the elements 3 to be lifted, wherein it is used to move the tension bars 13 by pulling them upwards. The jacking device comprises for each tension bar 13 a jack with two hydraulic cylinders and two pairs of jaws 22. The first ones of them are connected to the moving ends of the hydraulic cylinders and the second ones in the lower part of the frame part of the jacks. The first jaws are arranged to bite into the tension bar when it is being pulled upwards (during the work movement of the hydraulic cylinders) and the second ones when the moving ends of the hydraulic cylinders are moved downwards (during the return movement).
In this case, the transfer device 8 is formed of three traction cables 14a-14c as well as winches 15a-15c for moving the same, connected to the frame 5 of the installation construction 1. The traction cables 14a and 14b are led to the inside and the traction cable 14c to the outside of the installation construction, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. There are three winches 15a-15c, and the first two of them move the two traction cables 14a and 14b led to the inside of the installation construction 1 , and the third one moves the single traction cable 14c led to the outside of the installation construction. All the winches 15a-15c are motor-driven and remote-controlled so that they can be controlled from the inside or the outside of the installation construction. At the ends of the traction cables 14a-14c, suitable lifting devices (for example, shackles) are provided, by which they can be connected to the element 3 of the wind power plant to be transferred into the installation construction 1. When the installation construction 1 already comprises at least one mast element 3' lifted up, the traction cables 14a and 14b led to the inside of the installation construction 1 are connected to the next mast element 3 to be transferred to the inside, at fixing points 16a and 16b formed on its both sides. The traction cable 14c led to the outside of the installation construction 1 , in turn, is connected to a fixing point 16c at the rear end of the next element 3 of the mast 4 to be transferred to the inside. For the fixing, the element 3 of the mast 4 to be transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 is provided with corresponding fixing loops, to which the shackles at the ends of the traction cables 14a-14c can be locked. With such traction cables 14a-14c, the element 3 of the mast 4 brought to the front of the transfer opening 9 can be moved, by suitably controlling the winches 15a- 15c that move the traction cables 14a-14c, to the inside of the installation construction 1 and turned from the horizontal position to the vertical position by the principle shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this context, it should also be noted that the turning is naturally not necessary if the element 3 to be installed is such in size that it can be moved in vertical position to the inside of the installation construction 1. Thus, it can be lifted by the traction cables 14a and 14b before fixing it to the lifting device 6. Before starting the mounting of the wind power plant 2, the above-described installation construction 1 is installed at the mounting site 4 of the wind power plant 2. It can be brought there, for example, in pieces of suitable size and assembled onto the foundation 17 of the wind power plant around the mounting site of the mast 4. The foundation 17 has naturally been made at this site in advance when the surrounding ground has been worked and levelled out and, if necessary, reinforced and, for example, drained in this area. When installing the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 , it is always taken into account that the frame is fixed and supported in place in a sufficiently firm manner so that it will withstand the loads to which it will be sub- jected during the mounting of the wind power plant 2. After the frame 5 of the installation construction 1 has been mounted, the lifting device 6 and the transfer device 8 as well as the supporting members 7 and the working levels 10 are installed in it. After these steps, the installation construction 1 is ready for the assembly of the wind power plant 2.
The assembly of the wind power plant 2 from elements similar to those shown in the figures is started by bringing its first element 3 with a suitable transport vehicle to the front of the transfer opening 9 of the installation construction 1 , where it is placed, for example, on cradles or other supports cor- responding to the curvature of its outer surface. After this, the traction cables 14a-14c of the transfer device 8 are connected in the above-mentioned manner to the fixing points 16a-16c of the element 3 to be transferred. Furthermore, yet another auxiliary cable (not shown in the figures) that can be moved by a separate winch fixed to a suitable location is connected to a suit- able point at the rear end of the element 3 to be transferred, to prevent the element 3 from pendulating too fast forward in the initial step of transferring to the inside of the installation construction 1. Next, the traction cables 14a- 14c of the installation construction 1 are tightened by the winches so that the element 3 to be transferred can be lifted up, off the cradles. Immediately after this, one starts to slowly loosen the auxiliary cable and simultaneously to shorten all the traction cables 14a-14c of the installation construction, wherein the element 3 to be transferred starts to move through the transfer opening 9 from the outside to the inside of the installation construction 1. After the element 3 to be transferred has been brought to the position shown in Fig. 2, the auxiliary cable is removed and one starts to turn the element 3 from the horizontal transfer position to the vertical installation position. This is done by tightening the traction cables 14a and 14b equally and simultaneously, and by slackening the traction cable 14c. As the traction cables 14a and 14b become shorter and the traction cable 14c becomes longer, the elements first turns from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and from that further to a fully vertical position.
In the case of the first element 3, immediately after the transfer and the turning to the installation position, it is lifted upwards with the lifting device 6. In the case of the second and the following elements 3, they are first connected to the preceding element 3' above them, already installed in place. This is done by moving the element 3 to be transferred at the turning step so that its front end comes against the lower end of the preceding element 3', as shown in Fig. 4, and by connecting the next element 3 then to the lower end of the preceding element 3' in a way known as such (for example by welding). Thus, in the case of the second and the following elements 3, the lifting step is performed first after the connecting step. In the case of the first element 3, the traction cables 14a-14c are removed as soon as the element 3 transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 and turned to the lifting position has been connected to the lifting device 6. In the case of the second and the following elements 3, the traction cables 14a-14c are removed first after the element has been connected to the preceding upper element 3'.
The above-described step of transferring the element 3 of the wind power plant can also be started by bringing the elements 3 with a transport vehicle directly to the location shown in Fig. 2, that is, mostly inside the installation construction 1. Thus, there is no need for the above-mentioned auxiliary cable and the extra winch required for it. However, the transport vehicle must thus be such that the elements 3 of the wind power plant can be fitted with it to the inside of the transfer opening, approximately to the location shown in Fig. 2.
In the lifting step, the wind power plant 2 is lifted upwards. At the same time when the lifting is started, the lower sliding sheets 11 of the supporting mem- bers 7 at the lifting device 6 are put in place. In the case of the first element 3", the lifting device 6 only needs to lift this element 3" of the wind power plant. In the case of the second or a following element 3', the lifting device 6 must lift all the preceding elements 3' and 3" in addition to the element 3', from which the lifting takes place, at a time. Before starting the lifting, the tension bars 13 of the jacking device used as the lifting device 6 are connected to brackets, holes or recesses made in advance in the lower part of the element 3' to be lifted. After this, the actual lifting is started. It is done stepwise so that the jaws 22 of the hydraulic jacks 12 of the lifting device are first put at such positions in the upper part of the tension bars 13, from which the lifting is started to achieve a sufficient lifting height in said case. During the lifting, the movable ends of the jacks 12 are moved upwards by their travel length. After the end of the lifting movement, the tension bars 13 are temporarily locked to the lower pairs of jaws in the frame of the jacks, the jaws being spring-driven in such a way that they always bite into and grab the tension bars automatically when the lifting movement is stopped. Next, the moving ends of the jacks 12 are moved to the lower position again, in which the upper jaws are placed to a new lifting position and take a new grip. After this, a new lifting is performed again by moving the moving ends of the jacks 12 upwards. Thus, the lower pairs of jaws disengage the tension bars and the tension bars move upwards by the travel length of the jacks. As soon as the movable ends of the jacks 12 are in the upper position again, they are moved back to the lower position and locked to a new lifting position again. Such stepwise lifting, that is, moving of the tension bars 13 upwards, is continued until the tension bars 13 have moved upwards by at least the height of the next element 3 of the mast 4 to be transferred into the installation construction 1 (which is the target lifting height). After the last lifting step, the next element 3 is installed and connected to the preceding elements 3'. One by one, the tension bars 13 are moved down and connected to the hoist brackets in the lower part of the next element 3 transferred to the inside. Hoisting brackets are being removed from the preceding element 3' lifted up as the tension bars are being removed one by one and transferred to the next element 3' to be lifted. Thus, the tension bars 13 still fastened to the preceding element 3' take care of supporting the preceding element 3' where this is not yet done by the new element 3' already placed underneath this element and fastened to it.
After the transfer and lifting steps of the first, that is, the uppermost element 3' of the mast 4, the second element 3 of the mast 4 is transferred by the transfer device 8 to the inside of the installation construction 1 and connected to the lower end of the first element 3", after which these two elements joined together are lifted upwards by the lifting device 5, after which the next element 3 is transferred to the inside of the installation construction 1 again and connected to the lower end of the wind power plant 2 formed by the two preceding elements. As soon as the assembled wind power plant 2 has risen to a sufficient height, the upper supporting members 7 with the sliding sheets 11 are also installed to keep the wind power plant upright during its assembly. The generator unit 20 of the wind power plant is fixed to the upper end of the uppermost element 3" of the mast 4 in the step when the end of this element has risen above the installation construction 1. The steps of transferring, connecting and lifting new lower elements of the wind power plant are repeated until all the lower elements of said mast have been placed, one on the other, and connected to each other. The set of propellers of the wind power plant is connected to the generator unit in the step when the generator unit at the end of the uppermost element 3" of the mast has risen so high that the propellers of the set fit between the hub connection in the generator unit 20 and the ground surface. The lowermost, last element 3' is connected so that it is no longer lifted up, but after being transferred into its place in the installation construction, this element is connected to the foundation 17. After this, the other elements already transferred to the installation construction are lowered onto the last element and connected to it. All the elements installed in their place are finished to be quite complete during the assembly inside the installation construction 1. This is normally done on working levels 10 which are higher in the installation construction. For example, the painting of the elements 3' and 3" can be performed in this way. If the assembly comprises elements whose shape or size differs from the elements 3' to be installed on top of each other, also these can be installed inside the installation construction 1 if they fit inside the installation construction 1. Alternatively, the uppermost element 3" of the mast 4 and the generator unit 20 can be installed by lifting the first element 3" of the mast and the generator unit 20 already con- nected to its end with a crane from above the installation construction 1 to the inside of the installation construction 1. Applying such an alternative method to start the assembly, a crane brought to the mounting site is needed for help. However, this crane is only slightly taller than the installation construction 1 , that is, much lower than the whole wind power plant when it is com- plete.
The above-described method of the invention and the apparatus according to it can be implemented in a way that is, in many respects, different from the example embodiment presented above. The frame of the installation con- struction that constitutes an essential part of the method does not necessarily need to be completely closed, but it can be, for example, fully open or slightly more open than in the above-described example; that is, it may comprise more than just one transfer opening. In some applications, the installation construction may comprise only two or more buttresses or supporting beams placed around the mast of the wind power plant to be assembled, to which buttresses or beams the transfer device and the lifting device are connected. The frame does not necessarily need to be, for example, slightly more than twice as high as the elements to be assembled. In principle, in its simplest form, it will be sufficient if the height of the frame is only slightly greater than the height of one element of the structure. The lifting device and the transfer device can also be implemented in a variety of ways. As the lifting device, it is possible to apply, for example, lifting devices driven by wire ropes, chains or other suitable means, instead of a jacking device. The advantage of such lifting devices is naturally the fact that with them, the lifting can be imple- mented in a single step. However, compared to these devices, the jacking device has the advantage of achieving easily a greater power production, which is advantageous particularly when the wind power plants to be assembled are tall and/or large in size and their elements are heavy in weight. The transfer device used for transferring the elements of the wind power plant, in turn, could be alternatively implemented by means of, for example, chains, lifting straps, mechanical gripping arms, roller conveyors, conveyor belts, etc. to achieve a function corresponding to that described above. In an application of the method, the elements of the wind power plant can also be transferred to the inside of the installation construction in the form of parts smaller than a single element, from which the actual elements to be lifted are then assembled. Naturally, in the step of transferring, also in this case there is no need for turning from the transfer position to the installation position but the parts are thus assembled inside the installation construction so that they will be ready in the correct installation position. Such an alternative is useful par- ticularly in embodiments, in which the frame of the installation construction is covered and at least primarily solid, wherein the assembly of the elements can be performed in a place protected from the weather. The invention is not limited to the above-presented example embodiments, but it may vary within the scope of the inventive idea presented in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:
1. A method for assembling a wind power plant (2), in which method the wind power plant (2) is assembled from elements (3) by placing these elements (3) on top of each other and by connecting the elements (3', 3") placed on top of each other together; at the mounting site (4) of the wind power plant, an installation construction (1 ) is formed, which surrounds the wind power plant (2) to be assembled at at least two locations spaced from each other and whose height is at least the height of one single element (3) of the mast of the wind power plant but is lower than the complete wind power plant (2), with at least one open location (9), through which at least the elements (3) of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) can be transferred at least partly to the inside of the installation construction (1 ); the elements (3', 20) of the wind power plant (2) inside the installation construction (1 ) are lifted with a lifting device (6) upwards by at least the height of the next element (3) of the mast (4) to be brought to the inside of the installation construction (1 ); and the next lower element (3) of the mast (4) is transferred and placed below each element (3') of the mast (4) transferred into the installation construction (1 ), higher than the lowest element (3') of the mast (4); characterized in that
- at least one unit (20) of the wind power plant that comes in the upper part or on the upper end of the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) is fixed to the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) before the elements (3') of the mast (4) lower than the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) are installed below the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4).
2. The method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the installation construction ( ) is supported to the foundation of the wind power plant (2).
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the elements (3) of the wind power plant (2) which are in whole or in part outside the installation construction (1 ) are transferred by the transfer device (8) at least primarily to the inside of the installation construction (1 ).
4. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the elements (3) of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) are transferred to the inside of the installation construction (1 ) in a primarily horizontal transfer position and are, before their installation, turned to an at least primarily vertical installation position.
5. The method according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wind power plant (2) is supported at at least one point by supporting members (7, 11 ) fastened to the installation construction (1 ) in the lateral direction.
6. An apparatus for assembling a wind power plant (2), the apparatus comprising
- means (1 , 6, 8) for assembling the wind power plant (2) by placing elements (3) of the wind power plant (2) on top of each other and connecting them to each other; - an installation construction (1 ), which surrounds the wind power plant (2) to be assembled at at least two locations spaced from each other and whose height is at least the height of one single element (3) of the mast of the wind power plant but is lower than the complete wind power plant (2), having at least one open location (9), through which the elements (3) of the wind power plant (2) can be transferred to the inside of the installation construction (1 );
- a lifting device (6) in the installation construction (1 ), for lifting the elements (3', 20) of the wind power plant (2), already existing in the installation construction (1), upwards by at least the height of one element (3) of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2);
- a transfer device (8) for transferring the next lower element (3) of the wind power plant (2) and for placing it below the preceding elements (3') of the wind power plant (2); characterized in that - at least one unit (20) of the wind power plant that comes in the upper part or on the upper end of the uppermost element (3") of the ' mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) is arranged to be mounted on the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) before the elements (3') of the mast (4) lower than the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4) are installed below the uppermost element (3") of the mast (4).
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the installation construction (1 ) comprises a frame (5) supported to the foundation (17) of the wind power plant (2).
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the frame (5) is formed, except for the transfer opening (9), of primarily solid side walls (21 ) and a roofing (19) on at least the area between the elements (3', 3") of the mast (4) of the wind power plant (2) to be assembled and the side walls (21 ).
9. The apparatus according to any of the claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the transfer device (8) is a device in the installation construction (1 ), comprising movable transfer means (14a-14c) arranged to be connected to the element (3) of the wind power plant (2) to be transferred.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the transfer means (14a-14c) of the transfer device (8) are traction cables (14a-14c) movable by winches (15a-15c) driven by actuators.
11. The apparatus according to any of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the lifting device (6) is a jacking device (12, 13, 22).
12. The apparatus according to any of the claims 6 to 11 , characterized in that the installation construction (1 ) comprises at least one working level (10) between the ground level and the uppermost point of the installation construction (1 ).
EP10795029A 2009-11-09 2010-11-08 A method and an apparatus for assembling a wind power plant Withdrawn EP2499357A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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FI20096161A FI20096161A (en) 2009-11-09 2009-11-09 Method and apparatus for assembling a wind turbine
PCT/FI2010/050898 WO2011055021A2 (en) 2009-11-09 2010-11-08 A method and an apparatus for assembling a wind power plant

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EP2499357A2 true EP2499357A2 (en) 2012-09-19

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FI122698B (en) 2010-12-28 2012-05-31 Easywind Oy Method and apparatus for mounting a wind turbine to a high basic structure
EP3130796B1 (en) 2014-04-01 2019-06-12 Nabrawind Technologies SL Wind turbine assembly system and related method
ES2717257T3 (en) * 2014-05-19 2019-06-20 Soletanche Freyssinet Assembly system and assembly procedure of a wind turbine tower
EP3705718B1 (en) 2019-03-07 2022-08-17 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S Assembly of a tower section of a wind turbine tower
CN113323811B (en) * 2021-08-02 2021-10-12 山东辛丁技术有限公司 Wind power generation equipment based on double generators
NO347712B1 (en) * 2022-02-16 2024-02-26 Tebina Energi As A windmill construction and a method for assembly of a windmill construction

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ATE517254T1 (en) * 2006-05-20 2011-08-15 W2E Wind To Energy Gmbh DEVICE FOR BUILDING A WIND TURBINE TOWER COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUAL TOWER SEGMENTS
US20090087311A1 (en) 2007-09-29 2009-04-02 Gavin Raymond Wyborn Vertically Adjustable Horizontal Axis Type Wind Turbine And Method Of Construction Thereof
US8011098B2 (en) * 2008-08-19 2011-09-06 Vorhies Roger W Wind turbine erector
EP2340369A2 (en) * 2008-10-31 2011-07-06 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Method of erecting a tower

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EA201290328A1 (en) 2012-11-30
WO2011055021A3 (en) 2011-11-17
FI20096161A (en) 2011-05-10
FI20096161A0 (en) 2009-11-09
WO2011055021A2 (en) 2011-05-12

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