EP4419417A1

EP4419417A1 - Method and system for handling components of an offshore wind turbine

Info

Publication number: EP4419417A1
Application number: EP22769087.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adrian Botwright; Rasmus Clark MARKER; Claus Hald THERKILDSEN
Original assignee: Vestas Wind Systems AS
Current assignee: Vestas Wind Systems AS
Priority date: 2021-10-20
Filing date: 2022-09-06
Publication date: 2024-08-28
Also published as: WO2023066436A1

Abstract

A container support assembly (38) for supporting a container (36) on a deck (56) of a sea vessel (50) includes a load distribution platform (82) configured to be fixedly attached to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) and a support frame (80) configured to receive the container (36) and be positionable over the load distribution platform (82). The support frame (80) is movable relative to the load distribution platform (82) between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the support frame (80) is spaced from the load distribution platform (82) so the position of the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) is adjustable. In the lowered position, the support frame (80) engages the load distribution platform (82) so the load presented by the container (36) is distributed over the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) via the load distribution platform (82). A method of replacing a component (40b) of an offshore wind turbine (10) using the container support assembly (38) is also disclosed.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HANDLING COMPONENTS OF AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to wind turbines, and more particularly to a transport system for a sea vessel used in repair or replacement processes of components of an offshore wind turbine, and to a method of handling offshore wind turbine components using such a transport system on a sea vessel.

Background

Wind turbines are used to produce electrical energy using a renewable resource and without combusting a fossil fuel. Generally, a wind turbine converts kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power. A horizontal-axis wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle located at the apex of the tower, and a rotor having a plurality of blades and supported in the nacelle by means of a shaft. The shaft couples the rotor either directly or indirectly with a generator, which is housed inside the nacelle. Consequently, as wind forces the blades to rotate, electrical energy is produced by the generator. Wind turbines may be located either on a land mass (onshore) or within a body of water (offshore).

Over time, the wind turbine components, such as the generator, gearboxes, heat exchanges and the like, may have to be repaired or replaced. To facilitate repair or replacement processes, the nacelle may include or be fitted with a crane configured to lower old components from the nacelle to the ground or a water vessel and lift repaired or replacement components up to the nacelle. The lowering and lifting process is relatively straightforward with an onshore wind turbine, as the ground does not move relative to the wind turbine and ground equipment can be positioned close to the wind turbine. When the wind turbine is offshore, however, lowering and lifting wind turbine components can be challenging as the water may move relative to the wind turbine. Consequently, specialized sea vessels are typically used to facilitate the lowering and lifting of wind turbine components to and from the offshore wind turbine.

In existing approaches, sea vessels connect to the wind turbine with elaborate and complex linkages to allow the sea vessel to accommodate the moving water around the wind turbine while the components are being lowered and raised by a crane. These elaborate and complex linkages are expensive to design, install, maintain, and operate, which increases the cost of the repair or replacement process. Furthermore, if the water in which the wind turbine resides is turbulent, it may be difficult to safely connect to the wind turbine without possibly damaging the wind turbine.

It may be seen that what is needed is an improved method of replacing a component of an offshore wind turbine, and a transport system for handling components of an offshore wind turbine on a sea vessel. Preferably, the invention alleviates, mitigates, or eliminates one or more of the above or other disadvantages singly or in any combination.

Summary

A container support assembly for supporting a container on a deck of a sea vessel is disclosed in one aspect of the invention. The container support assembly includes a load distribution platform configured to be fixedly attached to the deck of the sea vessel and a support frame configured to receive the container and be positionable over the load distribution platform. The support frame is configured to be movable relative to the load distribution platform between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the support frame is configured to be spaced from the load distribution platform such that the position of the support frame relative to the load distribution platform may be adjusted. In the lowered position, the support frame is configured to engage the load distribution platform such that the load presented by the container is distributed over the deck of the sea vessel via the load distribution platform.

In one embodiment, the load distribution platform may include a plurality of discrete load distribution beams arranged in spaced relation to each other. Each of the plurality of load distribution beams may be configured to be fixedly attached to the deck of the sea vessel.

In one embodiment, the support frame may include a plurality of lift assemblies attached to the support frame and configured to engage with the deck of the sea vessel. The plurality of lift assemblies is configured to move the support frame relative to the load distribution platform between the lowered and raised positions. In one embodiment, each of the lift assemblies may include an actuator configured to selectively move the support frame relative to the load distribution platform between the lowered and raised positions and a roller configured to engage the deck of the sea vessel.

In one embodiment, the container support assembly may further include a plurality of lockdowns configured to secure the support frame to the load distribution platform when the support frame is in the lowered position. The container support assembly may further include least one adjustment device. The at least one adjustment device is configured to be mounted to the deck of the sea vessel and further configured to be attached to the support frame or the container that is being supported by the support frame. The at least one adjustment device is configured to adjust the position of the support frame relative to the load distribution platform when the support frame is in the raised position.

In another aspect, a transport system for handling components of an offshore wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes a tower and a nacelle attached to the tower and housing wind turbine components. The transport system includes the container support assembly according to the first aspect positionable on the deck of the sea vessel and a component handling assembly positionable on the deck of the sea vessel relative to the container support assembly. The component handling assembly is configured to handle wind turbine components while on the sea vessel. In one embodiment, the component handling assembly may include at least two transport frames movable along a translation axis defined by the component handling assembly between a first position and a second position. In one embodiment, the component handling assembly may further include a track that extends in a direction defined by the translation axis and configured to be attached to the deck of the sea vessel, a carriage including the at least two transport frames movable relative to the track to move the at least two transport frames between the first position and the second position, and a drive device coupled to the carriage for moving the at least two transport frames between the first position and the second position.

In one embodiment, the transport system may further include the container, where the container houses equipment for handling the wind turbine components. In one embodiment, the equipment housed in the container may include one or more winches having respective cables configured to extend from the container to the nacelle of the wind turbine during use. The transport system may addition include a crane configured to be coupled to the nacelle of the offshore wind turbine and configured to move wind turbine components between the nacelle and the sea vessel.

In another aspect of the invention, a method of replacing a component of an offshore wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes a tower and a nacelle rotatably attached to the tower and defining a nacelle axis, and where the component being replaced being located in the nacelle. The method includes providing a sea vessel adjacent the offshore wind turbine. The sea vessel includes a deck and includes a transport system for moving components between the nacelle and the deck of the sea vessel. The transport system includes a crane attached to the nacelle and defining a rotational axis and a container support assembly positioned on the deck of the sea vessel. The container support assembly includes a load distribution platform and a support frame. The load distribution platform is fixedly attached to the deck of the sea vessel and the support frame is movable relative to the load distribution platform. A container is attached to the support frame of the container support assembly. The container includes one or more winches having respective cables extending from the container to the nacelle, and the container defines an alignment axis. The method further includes adjusting the position of the container relative to the deck of the sea vessel so that a vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis of the nacelle.

In one embodiment, adjusting the position of the container relative to the deck of the sea vessel may further include raising the support frame relative to the load distribution platform so as to be spaced from the load distribution platform; moving the support frame relative to the load distribution platform so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis of the nacelle; lowering the support frame relative to the load distribution platform so that the support frame engages the load distribution platform; and coupling the support frame to the load distribution platform to secure the support frame to the deck of the sea vessel. In one embodiment, moving the support frame relative to the load distribution platform may further include supporting the support frame on the deck of the sea vessel by rollers and rolling the support frame to a position where the vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis of the nacelle.

In one embodiment, the transport system may further include a component handling assembly including a first transport frame and a second transport frame that are movable along a translation axis between a first position and a second position. In this embodiment, the method may further include positioning the component handling assembly on the deck of the sea vessel relative to the support frame of the container support assembly; arranging the first and second transport frames in the first position so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container intersects the first transport frame; moving the component to be replaced from the nacelle to the sea vessel using the transport system; placing the component to be replaced in the first transport frame; arranging the first and second transport frames in the second position so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container intersects the second transport frame; and moving another wind turbine component in the second transport frame from the sea vessel to the nacelle using the transport system.

In one embodiment, the method may further include adjusting the position of the container relative to the deck of the sea vessel so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis of the container includes the rotational axis of the crane.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an offshore wind turbine, a jack-up vessel, and a transport system lowering a wind turbine component from the nacelle of the wind turbine to the jack-up vessel; Fig. 2A is perspective view of a container supported on a container support assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2B is a disassembled perspective view of the container and container support assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of a locking device for securing a support frame to a load distribution platform of the container support assembly;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional, elevational view of the locking device securing the support frame (and thus the container) to the load distribution platform;

Fig. 5A is an elevational view of a lift assembly of the support frame for moving the support frame relative to the load distribution platform, the support frame being shown in a lowered position;

Fig. 5B is an elevational view similar to Fig. 5A but being shown in a raised position;

Figs. 6A and 6B are a sequence of steps for replacing one wind turbine component with another wind turbine component using a component handling assembly;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the wind turbine, jack-up vessel, and the transport system of Fig. 1 with the wind turbine component approaching the jack-up vessel;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the wind turbine, jack-up vessel, and the transport system of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the of wind turbine, jack-up vessel, and the transport system of Fig. 1 with the jack-up vessel mis-aligned with the wind turbine; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the of wind turbine, jack-up vessel, and the transport system of Fig. 1 with the jack-up vessel aligned with the wind turbine. Detailed Description

Fig. 1 depicts a wind turbine 10 in an offshore location, i.e., in a body of water 12. The wind turbine 10 includes a tower 14 anchored to the bottom of the body of water 12 through a suitable foundation 16, a nacelle 18 disposed at the upper end of the tower 14, a rotor 20 operatively coupled to a generator (not shown) housed inside the nacelle 18, and a gearbox (not shown) also housed inside the nacelle 18. In addition to the generator and gearbox, the nacelle 18 may house various components needed to convert wind energy into electrical energy and to operate and optimize the performance of the wind turbine 10. The tower 14 supports the load presented by the nacelle 18, rotor 20, and other wind turbine components housed inside the nacelle 18 and operates to elevate the nacelle 18 and rotor 20 to a height above the water level at which air currents having lower turbulence and higher velocity are typically found.

The rotor 20 includes a hub 22 and one or more (e.g., three) blades 24 attached to the hub 22 at locations distributed about the circumference thereof. The blades 24 project radially outward from the hub 22 and are configured to interact with passing air currents to produce rotational forces that cause the hub 22 to spin about its longitudinal axis. This rotational energy is delivered to the generator housed within the nacelle 18 and converted into electrical power.

Fig. 1 also depicts a transport system 30 that includes a crane 32, a component handling assembly 34, a container 36, and a container support assembly 38. The crane 32 may be positioned in or on the nacelle 18 and is configured to lift a wind turbine component 40a from the component handling assembly 34 to the nacelle 18 or lower a wind turbine component 40b from the nacelle 18 to the component handling assembly 34. For example, the movement of wind turbine components 40a, 40b may be part of a repair or replacement process for the offshore wind turbine 10. In one embodiment, the onboard crane 32 may permanently reside in or on the wind turbine 10. In an alternative embodiment, however, the onboard crane 32 may be temporary and connected to the nacelle 18 for the specific purpose of replacing the wind turbine component 40b. The crane 32 defines a rotational axis RA (Figs. 7 and 10). Such cranes are generally known in the wind turbine industry and thus will not be described in further detail for sake of brevity. To this end, a sea vessel 50, such as a jack-up vessel, may be positioned adjacent to the wind turbine 10. As is generally known, the jack-up vessel 50 includes extendible legs 52 at the approximate comers of the jack-up vessel 50 that are configured to move downwardly from the main hull 54 of the jack-up vessel 50 and contact the seabed. Upon contacting the seabed, the extendible legs 52 are extended further so as to lift the main hull 54 upwardly and away from the body of water 12 so that the main hull 54 will not interact/move in the presence of waves, a rise/fall in tide, or wind. Advantageously, in this jacked up configuration, the jack-up vessel 50 remains substantially stationary relative to the offshore wind turbine 10. The container support assembly 38 is supported by a deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50.

Fig. 1 further depicts wind turbine component 40b being lowered from the nacelle 18. The wind turbine component 40b is attached to a C-shaped lift hook 60 which is connected to the crane 32 via a lift line 62. The lift hook 60 includes a pair of grooved guide wheels 64a, 64b (see also Fig. 6A) which engage spaced apart cables 66a, 66b which extend from a pair of winches 68a, 68b (Fig. 2A) located in the container 36 as will be discussed in greater detail below. The cables 66a, 66b guide the lift hook 60 and, more particularly, the wind turbine component 40b towards the component handling assembly 34 as the crane lowers the lift hook 60 via lift line 62.

Figs. 2A and 2B depicted the container 36 and the container support assembly 38. The container support assembly 38 includes a support frame 80 and a load distribution platform 82 fixedly attached to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50. In an embodiment the load distribution platform 82 may be comprised of discrete load distribution beams 82a, such as I-beams, arranged in spaced relation to each other, wherein each of the load distribution beams 82a is fixedly attached to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50. The container support assembly 38 also includes one or more lockdowns 84 that are configured to couple to the load distribution beams 82a. The support frame 80 includes a plurality of lift assemblies 86, where each lift assembly 86 is coupled to a respective corner connector 88 of the support frame 80. The container 36 also includes a corner connector 90 so that when the container 36 is placed upon the support frame 80, a connector assembly 92 may be used to secure the corner connector 88 of the support frame 80 to the corner connector 90 of the container 36. The support frame 80 includes a plurality of longitudinal frame members 94 extending in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 80. The support frame 80 also includes a plurality of transverse frame members 96 extending generally transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support frame 80. The transverse frame members 96 are connected to the longitudinal frame members 94 to from the support frame 80.

A lockdown 84 in an exploded view is illustrated in Fig. 3. The lockdown 84 includes flanges 100 with slots 102. A center piece 104 is configured to be held between flanges 100 via fasteners 106. The center piece 104 includes first and second plates 108, 110. A threaded fastener 112 engages a hole in the first plate 108 and the end of the fastener engages the second plate 110. With the lockdown 84 disassembled, the slots 102 are fitted onto an upper flange 120 of one of the load distribution beams 82a. When reassembled, the lockdown 84 may slide along the upper flange 120. Fig. 4 illustrates the second plate 110 engaging a lower flange 122 of the support frame 80. When tightened, the fastener 112 presses the second plate 110 into the lower flange thereby securing the lockdown 84 to the load distribution beam 82a. Consequently, the support frame 80 and the attached container 36 cannot not move relative to the load distribution beam 82a in either a horizontal or vertical direction.

The lift assemblies 86 include an actuator 130 and a roller 132 configured to engage the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50. The actuator 130 is configured to selectively move the support frame 80 relative to the load distribution platform 82 between a lowered position (Fig. 5A) and a raised position (Fig. 5B). In the lowered position, the support frame 80 engages the load distribution platform 82 such that the load presented by the container 36 is distributed over the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50 via the load distribution platform 82. In addition, the lockdowns 84 secure the support frame 80 to the load distribution platform 82 when the support frame 80 is in the lowered position. In the raised position, the support frame 80 is spaced from the load distribution platform 82 such that the position of the support frame 80 relative to the load distribution platform 82 may be adjusted, as explained in more detail below. Of course, the lockdowns 84 should be removed from the support frame 80 prior to the support frame 80 being moved to the raised position.

In an embodiment, the container support assembly 38 may include at least one adjustment device 134 (Fig. 6A) mounted to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50. The adjustment device 134 may include a winch, a come-along, a hydraulic or electrically operated cylinder, or a rack and pinion assembly. The adjustment device 134 may include a cable 136 that attaches to either the support frame 80 or the container 36 on the support frame 80. The adjustment device 134 is configured to adjust the position of the support frame 80 (and thus the container 36) relative to the load distribution platform 82 when the support frame 80 is in the raised position (Fig. 5B). In one embodiment, there will be an adjustment device 134 attached to each corner of the support frame 80 or the container 36. As such, the adjustment devices 134 may be controlled so as to adjust the position of the support frame 80 and the container 36 in either the X or Y directions or both (Figs. 6A) relative to the load distribution platform 82. The adjustment devices 134 may also be controlled so as to rotate the support frame 80 and the container 36 about a vertical axis perpendicular to the X and Y directions. In an embodiment, the adjustment devices 134 may move the support frame 80 and the container 36 ±1 meter in the X direction and ±1 meter in the Y direction from a centered position relative to the load distribution platform 82.

With reference to Figs. 6A and 6B, the component handling assembly 34 is positioned on the deck 56 proximate the container support assembly 38 and the open end of the container 36 where the cables 66a, 66b extend from the winches 68a, 68b towards the nacelle 18 of the wind turbine 10. The component handling assembly 34 includes at least two transport frames 140a, 140b that are movable along a translation axis TA defined by the component handling assembly 34 between a first position (Fig. 6A) and a second position (Fig. 6B). When the transport frames 140a, 140b are in the first position, the wind turbine component 40b may be lowered down for placement on one of the transport frames 140b, where wind turbine component 40a is positioned in transport frame 140a. When the transport frames 140a, 140b are in the second, position, the wind turbine component 40a may be lifted out of transport frame 140a and lifted towards the nacelle 18. In an embodiment, the component handling assembly 34 may include a track 142 that is attached to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50. The track 142 extends in a direction defined by the translation axis TA. The component handling assembly 34 may further include a carriage 144 that has the at least two transport frames 140a, 140b. The carriage 144 is movable relative to the track 142 to move the at least two transport frames 140a, 140b between the first position (Fig. 6A) and the second position (Fig. 6B). The component handling assembly 34 may also include a drive device 146 coupled to the carriage 144. The drive device 146 is adapted to move the carriage 144 and the at least two transport frames 140a, 140b between the first position and the second position. The drive device 146 may be a geared motor, a rack and pinion system, a push-pull cylinder unit, or any other suitable system to move the carriage 144 along the track 142.

In use, the transport system 30 is configured to move the wind turbine component 40b from the nacelle 18 to the component handling assembly 34 and then lift the wind turbine component 40a from the component handling assembly 34 up to the nacelle 18. To ensure that the wind turbine component 40b lands on the component handling assembly 34 when it is being lowered down from the nacelle 18, the winches 68a, 68b in the container 36 may be spaced from the wind turbine 10 a desired distance D as depicted in Fig. 7. The distance D is determined in part by knowing a height H of the nacelle 18 above the component handling assembly 34 as depicted in Fig. 7.

When the jack-up vessel 50 arrives at the wind turbine 10 to be serviced, the goal is to position the jack-up vessel 50 so that the desired distance D is achieved. Because of wind and wave action, for example, the jack-up vessel 50 may be positioned slightly further away from or slightly closer to the wind turbine 10 such that the desired distance D is not achieved. In that circumstance, the lift assemblies 86 may be actuated to lift the support frame 80 and the container 36 off the load distribution platform 82. Then, one or more of the adjustment devices 134 may be actuated to move the support frame 80 and the container 36 in the X direction either toward or away from the wind turbine 10 until the desired distance D is achieved. The lift assemblies 86 may then be actuated to lower the support frame 80 and the container 36 back onto the load distribution platform 82.

In addition to positioning the jack-up vessel 50 the desired position D from the wind turbine D, it is also advantageous to position the jack-up vessel 50 relative to the wind turbine 10 so that the cables 66a, 66b are aligned with the crane 32 as will be described. Properly alignment of the cables 66a, 66b will help ensure that the lift hook and, more particularly, the guide wheels 64a, 64b roll freely along the cables 66a, 66b as the wind turbine components 40a, 40b are being lowered from and raised to the nacelle 18. With reference to Fig. 8, the nacelle 18 defines a nacelle axis NA and the container 36 defines an alignment axis AA. The cables 66a, 66b are properly aligned when a vertical plane through the alignment axis AA of the container 36 is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis NA of the nacelle NA as depicted in Fig. 8. As used herein, substantially perpendicular means 90° ± 5°.

Fig. 9 schematically depicts the jack-up vessel 50 positioned adjacent to the wind turbine 10, but the vertical plane through the alignment axis AA of the container is not substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis NA of the nacelle 18. In this situation, the container 36 needs to be repositioned relative to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel 50 and thus the load distribution platform 82. To accomplish this, the lift assemblies 86 are actuated to lift the support frame 80 and the container 36 to the raised position (Fig. 5B), i.e., the support frame 80 is spaced from the load distribution platform 82. Then the adjustment devices 134 are used to adjust the position of the support frame 80 and the container 36 relative to the deck 56 of the jack-up vessel and the load distribution platform 82 so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis AA of the container 36 is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis NA of the nacelle 18 as schematically depicted in Fig. 10. The lift assemblies 86 are then actuated so as to lower the support frame 80 and the container 36 so that the support frame 80 engages the load distribution platform 82. The lockdowns 84 are then used to secure the support frame 80 to the load distribution platform 82, thereby preventing the support frame 80 and the container 36 from moving in the X and Y directions and in the vertical direction.

To further ensure that the guide wheels 64a, 64b roll freely along the cables 66a, 66b, the vertical plane of the alignment axis AA preferably includes the rotational axis RA of the crane 32 mounted to the nacelle 18. There may be instances where the jackup vessel 50 is positioned adjacent to the wind turbine 10 such that the vertical plane of the alignment axis AA is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis NA of the nacelle 18, but the vertical plane of the alignment axis AA does not include the rotational axis RA. In those instances, the support frame 80 and the container 36 need to be moved in the Y direction (using the procedure discussed above) until the vertical plane of the alignment axis AA includes the rotational axis RA of the crane 32. Once the jack-up vessel 50 is in position and the support frame 80 and container 36 are aligned with the nacelle axis NA of the nacelle 18 and the rotational axis RA of the crane 32, the wind turbine component 40b may be replaced by wind turbine component 40a. To that end, the component handling assembly 34 is positioning on the deck 56 adjacent to the open end of the container 36. The cables 66a, 66b are extended from the winches 68a, 68b up to the nacelle 18. The carriage 144 with the transport frames 140a, 140b is positioned on the track 142 so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis AA of the container 36 intersects transport frame 140b. The crane 32 connects the lift hook 60 to the wind turbine component 40b to be replaced and lifts it from the nacelle 18. The crane 32 then manoeuvres to place guide wheels 64a, 64b onto the cables 66a, 66b and then proceeds to lower the wind turbine component 40b down to the transport frame 140b as schematically depicted in Fig. 6A. The carriage 144 is then moved along the track 142 until the vertical plane through the alignment axis AA of the container 36 intersects the transport frame 140a, which carries the wind turbine component 40a to be lifted up to the nacelle 18. The lift hook 60 is then connected to the wind turbine component 40a and the crane 32 begins lifting the wind turbine component 40a up to the nacelle 18 as schematically depicted in Fig. 6B.

The wind turbine component 40a may then be installed in the nacelle 18 using the crane 32. Subsequent to the installation, the crane 32 may be stored or removed from the wind turbine 10 and the cables 66a. 66b may be reeled in by the winches 68a, 68b in the container 36. With the old wind turbine component 40b firmly on board, the sea vessel 50 may depart for the port or another wind turbine that is in need of a repair or replacement process.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various preferred embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in some detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Thus, the various features of the invention may be used alone or in any combination depending on the needs and preferences of the user.

Claims

1 . A container support assembly (38) for supporting a container (36) on a deck (56) of a sea vessel (50), comprising: a load distribution platform (82) configured to be fixedly attached to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50); and a support frame (80) configured to receive a container (36) and be positionable over the load distribution platform (82), wherein the support frame (80) is configured to be movable relative to the load distribution platform (82) between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein in the raised position, the support frame (80) is configured to be spaced from the load distribution platform (82) such that the position of the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) is adjustable, and wherein in the lowered position, the support frame (80) is configured to engage the load distribution platform (82) such that the load presented by a container (36) is distributed over the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) via the load distribution platform (82).

2. The container support assembly (38) of claim 1 , wherein the load distribution platform (82) includes a plurality of discrete load distribution beams (82a) arranged in spaced relation to each other, and wherein each of the plurality of load distribution beams (82a) is configured to be fixedly attached to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50).

3. The container support assembly (38) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support frame (80) comprises: a plurality of lift assemblies (86) attached to the support frame (80) and configured to engage with the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50), wherein the plurality of lift assemblies (86) is configured to move the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) between the lowered and raised positions.

4. The container support assembly (38) of claim 3, wherein each of the lift assemblies (86) comprises: an actuator (130) configured to selectively move the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) between the lowered and raised positions; and a roller (132) configured to engage the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50).

5. The container support assembly (38) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of lockdowns (84) configured to secure the support frame (80) to the load distribution platform (82) when the support frame (80) is in the lowered position.

6. The container support assembly (38) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one adjustment device (134), wherein the at least one adjustment device (134) is configured to be mounted to the deck (56) of a sea vessel (50) and further configured to be attached to the support frame (80) or the container (36) that is being supported by the support frame (80), and wherein the at least one adjustment device (134) is configured to adjust the position of the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) when the support frame (80) is in the raised position.

7. A transport system (30) for handling components (40a, 40b) of an offshore wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) comprising a tower (14) and a nacelle (18) attached to the tower (14) and housing wind turbine components (40a, 40b), the transport system (30) comprising: the container support assembly (38) according to any of claims 1 -6 positionable on the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50); and a component handling assembly (34) positionable on the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) relative to the container support assembly (38) and configured to handle wind turbine components (40a, 40b) while on the sea vessel (50).

8. The transport system (30) of claim 7, wherein the component handling assembly (34) comprises at least two transport frames (140a, 140b) movable along a translation axis (TA) defined by the component handling assembly (34) between a first position and a second position.

9. The transport system (30) of claim 8, wherein the component handling assembly (34) further comprises: a track (142) that extends in a direction defined by the translation axis (TA) and configured to be attached to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) ; a carriage (144) including the at least two transport frames (140a, 140b) movable relative to the track (142) to move the at least two transport frames (140a, 140b) between the first position and the second position; and a drive device (146) coupled to the carriage (144) for moving the at least two transport frames (140a, 140b) between the first position and the second position.

10. The transport system (30) of any of claims 7-9, further comprising: the container (36), wherein the container (36) houses equipment for handling the wind turbine components (40a, 40b), the equipment including one or more winches (68a, 68b) having respective cables (66a, 66b) configured to extend from the container (36) to the nacelle (18) of the wind turbine (10) during use; and a crane (32) configured to be coupled to the nacelle (18) of the offshore wind turbine (10) and configured to move wind turbine components (40a, 40b) between the nacelle (18) and the sea vessel (50).

11. A method of replacing a component (40b) of an offshore wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) including a tower (14) and a nacelle (18) rotatably attached to the tower (14) and defining a nacelle axis (NA), the component (40b) to be replaced being located in the nacelle (18), the method comprising: providing a sea vessel (50) adjacent the offshore wind turbine (10), the sea vessel (50) having a deck (56); providing a transport system (30) for moving components (40a, 40b) between the nacelle (18) and the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50), the transport system (30) comprising: a crane (32) attached to the nacelle (18) and defining a rotational axis (RA); a container support assembly (38) positioned on the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50), the container support assembly (38) comprising a load distribution platform (82) and a support frame (80), the load distribution platform (82) fixedly attached to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) and the support frame (80) movable relative to the load distribution platform (82), and a container (36) attached to the support frame (80) of the container support assembly (38), the container (36) comprising one or more winches (68a, 68b) having respective cables (66a, 66b) extending from the container (36) to the nacelle (18), and the container (36) defining an alignment axis (AA); and adjusting the position of the container (36) relative to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) so that a vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis (NA) of the nacelle (18).

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the position of the container (36) relative to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) further comprises: raising the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) so as to be spaced from the load distribution platform (82); moving the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis (NA) of the nacelle (18); lowering the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) so that the support frame (80) engages the load distribution platform (82); and coupling the support frame (80) to the load distribution platform (82) to secure the support frame (80) to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein moving the support frame (80) relative to the load distribution platform (82) further comprises: supporting the support frame (80) on the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) by rollers (132); and rolling the support frame (80) to a position where the vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) is substantially perpendicular to the nacelle axis (NA) of the nacelle (18).

14. The method of any of claims 11 -13, wherein the transport system (30) further comprises: a component handling assembly (34) including a first transport frame (140b) and a second transport frame (140a) that are movable along a translation axis (TA) between a first position and a second position, wherein the method further comprises: positioning the component handling assembly (34) on the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) relative to the support frame (80) of the container support assembly (38), arranging the first and second transport frames (140b, 140a) in the first position so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) intersects the first transport frame (140b); moving the component (40b) to be replaced from the nacelle (18) to the sea vessel (50) using the transport system (30); placing the component (40b) to be replaced in the first transport frame (140b); arranging the first and second transport frames (140b, 140a) in the second position so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) intersects the second transport frame (140a); and moving another wind turbine component (40a) in the second transport frame (140a) from the sea vessel (50) to the nacelle (18) using the transport system (30).

15. The method of any of claims 11-14, further comprising adjusting the position of the container (36) relative to the deck (56) of the sea vessel (50) so that the vertical plane through the alignment axis (AA) of the container (36) includes the rotational axis (RA) of the crane (32).