WO2016183416A1 - Systèmes et procédés de transport de pales d'éolienne - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés de transport de pales d'éolienne Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016183416A1
WO2016183416A1 PCT/US2016/032306 US2016032306W WO2016183416A1 WO 2016183416 A1 WO2016183416 A1 WO 2016183416A1 US 2016032306 W US2016032306 W US 2016032306W WO 2016183416 A1 WO2016183416 A1 WO 2016183416A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
frame
pair
wind turbine
corner fittings
side frame
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2016/032306
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Sigurd Ernir Sigurdsson
Original Assignee
Bnsf Logistics, Llc
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
Priority claimed from US15/153,325 external-priority patent/US10030633B2/en
Application filed by Bnsf Logistics, Llc filed Critical Bnsf Logistics, Llc
Publication of WO2016183416A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016183416A1/fr

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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
    • F03D13/40—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to wind turbine blades, and in particular to systems and methods for transporting wind turbine blades.
  • Wind turbines have become an important source of electrical power worldwide.
  • wind turbines are supported by a tower and driven by multiple wind turbine blades, each of which is typically tens of meters in length.
  • the length of the wind turbine blades has also correspondingly increased.
  • the blade manufacturer typically bolts fixtures to the blade root and tip sections, which provide points for the blades to be lifted and moved without damage, as well as for securing the blades to ship decks and other transportation vehicles.
  • fixtures are usually designed and fabricated for reuse, in actual practice their components, including the bolts, are often lost or discarded at the wind turbine farms, which can result in a significant, and often avoidable, monetary loss to the wind turbine blade manufacturer.
  • Another factor is maximizing the number of wind turbine blades that can be carried per shipload.
  • the blades are stacked in an edge-horizontal orientation to increase packing density; however, depending on the size of the ship, the loading applied during transport at sea can cause the horizontally-oriented bodies of the stacked blades to flex vertically, which can result in undue stress, contact between vertically adjacent blades, and blade damage.
  • the principles of the present invention are generally embodied in a system for transporting wind turbine blades, which includes a root support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade root and tip section support structure for supporting a wind turbine blade tip section.
  • Each of the root and tip section support structures includes upper and lower frames, first and second side frames, a set of upper corner fittings disposed at upper corners of the support structure, and a set of lower fittings disposed at lower corners of the support structure.
  • the sets of corner fittings allow the root and tip support structures to be coupled to vertically or horizontally adjacent root and tip section support structures to form an array of support structures for transporting multiple wind turbine blades.
  • the set of corner fittings also allow for attachment to handling equipment, as well as to reinforcing structures for reinforcing an array of tip section support structures.
  • the present principles are also embodied in a reinforcing tower, which reinforces vertically adjacent tip section support structures within an array of like tip support structures.
  • the reinforcing tower advantageously stiffens the array, as well as reduces the number of chains, ropes, or cables required for lashing the array to a ship deck or other base structure.
  • a handling system is disclosed, which can be attached to the root and tip section support structures to allow a cell transporting a pair of horizontally interleaved wind turbine blades to be lifted and moved by a pair of standard cranes or stackers.
  • Wind turbine blade transport systems embodying the present principles realize a number of substantial advantages over the prior art.
  • the fixtures typically used to transport wind turbine blades are no longer required, which reduces the unnecessary expenses that are often incurred at the wind farm work sites when fixture components are lost or discarded.
  • the effects of the forces typically incurred during ocean transport are minimized.
  • Blade transport systems embodying the inventive principles when not in use, can be disassembled for storage and transport in standard land-sea shipping containers.
  • FIGURES 1 A - 1 C are respectively top, side, and end views of a generic wind turbine blade suitable for describing the principles of the present invention (the dimensions shown provide a reference as to scale and relative proportions and may vary in actual practice);
  • FIGURE 2A is a top perspective view of a representative wind turbine blade pack embodying the principles of the present invention, as loaded with wind turbine blades similar to those shown in FIGURES 1 A - 1 C;
  • FIGURE 2B is a top plan view of the loaded wind turbine blade pack shown in FIGURE 2A;
  • FIGURE 2C is a side elevational view of the loaded wind turbine blade pack shown in FIGURE 2A
  • FIGURE 2D is a partial side elevational view showing in further detail the root-to-tip interleaving of adjacent wind turbine blades loaded into the wind turbine blade pack of FIGURE 2A;
  • FIGURE 2E is a top plan view illustrating the root-to-tip interleaving of a representative pair of horizontally adjacent wind turbine blades loaded into the wind turbine blade pack of FIGURE 2A;
  • FIGURE 3A is an elevational view of one of the two substantially similar end frames of FIGURE 2A, shown without the associated wind turbine blades installed within the wind turbine blade pack;
  • FIGURE 3B is an exploded view of the end frames shown in FIGURE
  • FIGURE 3C is an exploded view of one of the wind turbine blade root support assemblies shown in FIGURE 3A;
  • FIGURE 3D is a top plan view showing in detail the cylindrical ends of a pair of horizontally adjacent wind turbine blades supported by corresponding blade root support assemblies, as shown in FIGURE 3C, and the corresponding end frame shown in FIGURE 3A;
  • FIGURE 4A is an exploded view of one of the two substantially similar middle frames shown in FIGURE 2A;
  • FIGURE 4B is a side plan view showing one of the substantially similar wind turbine blade tip section support structures of FIGURES 2C and 2D in further detail, as supporting a corresponding wind turbine blade tip section;
  • FIGURE 4C is an exploded view of the wind turbine blade tip section support structure shown in FIGURE 4A;
  • FIGURE 4D is an end plan view of one end the wind turbine blade tip section support structure shown in FIGURE 4A in an open state;
  • FIGURE 4E is an end plan view of the opposing end of the wind turbine blade tip section support structure shown in FIGURE 4A, in a closed state;
  • FIGURE 5A is a top perspective view of an alternate wind turbine transportation cell (pack) embodying the principles of the present invention, as loaded with a pair of interleaved wind turbine blades;
  • FIGURE 5B is an end elevational view of the loaded wind turbine transportation cell of FIGURE 5A;
  • FIGURE 5C is a side perspective view of a selected one of the root frames shown in FIGURE 5A;
  • FIGURE 5D is a side perspective view of a selected one of the wind turbine blade tip section support frames of FIGURE 5A, shown with the upper frame section and one of the side frame sections detached;
  • FIGURE 5E is an end elevational view of a selected one of the blade tip section support structures of FIGURES 5B and 5D
  • FIGURE 5F is an end elevational view of the blade tip section support structure of FIGURE 5E, shown in the open position;
  • FIGURE 5G is an end elevational view of the blade tip section support structure of FIGURE 5A, shown in the closed position;
  • FIGURE 6A is a perspective view of a position template system suitable for assembling the wind turbine transportation cell of FIGURE 5A;
  • FIGURE 6B is a more detailed view of a selected one of a pair of corner twist locks of the position template system of FIGURE 6A;
  • FIGURE 6C is a perspective view illustrating the use of the position template system of FIGURE 6A with respect to a selected one of the blade tip section support frames of FIGURES 5A and 5D;
  • FIGURE 7A is a side perspective view of a wind turbine transportation cell loaded with a pair of interleaved wind turbine blades and illustrating the use of a cell handling beam and frame system according to the principles of the present invention;
  • FIGURE 7B is more detailed view illustrating the interconnections between a selected one of the root frames of the wind turbine transportation cell of FIGURE 7A with the corresponding cell handling frame and corresponding cell handling beam;
  • FIGURE 7C is a top perspective view of the cell handling beam of
  • FIGURE 7A
  • FIGURE 7D is a top perspective view of the cell handling frame of
  • FIGURE 8A is a top perspective view of an array the wind turbine transportation cell shown in FIGURE 5A each loaded with a pair of interleaved wind turbine blades and fastened to a ship deck for transport;
  • FIGURE 8B is a more detailed view of a pair of stacked blade tip section support frames along with support (reinforcing) tower according to the principles of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 8C is a more detailed view of the twist lock connections between the support frame and the blade tip section support frames of FIGURE 8B.
  • FIGURES 1 - 8 of the drawings in which like numbers designate like parts.
  • FIGURES 1A - 1 C are conceptual diagrams of a generic wind turbine blade 100 suitable for describing the principles of the present invention.
  • a typical wind turbine blade 100 will include a root with a cylindrical section 101 and skin panels or shells supported by the root, which extend to a blade tip 102 and provide the surfaces of the blade airfoil.
  • Each manufacture typically provides a reinforced blade tip section 103 for allowing wind turbine blade 100 to be secured, transported, and supported without damage to the outer shell or root.
  • FIGURES 1A - 1 C Representative dimensions are shown in FIGURES 1A - 1 C to provide the reader with a sense of scale, although wind turbine blades of 75 meters or more are currently viable and the trend in the wind turbine industry is to use increasingly longer blades. (Generally, longer turbine blades, and increased airfoil surface area, allow for an increase in power output from the wind turbine.) Application of the principles of the present invention are generally not dependent on the particular configuration or dimensions of the wind turbine blade itself.
  • FIGURE 2A provides a top perspective view of a representative loaded wind turbine blade pack 200 embodying the principles of the present invention.
  • Wind turbine blade pack 200 is most advantageously used for the securing a set of wind turbine blades during transport by ship, although other applications are possible.
  • wind turbine blade pack 200 is being used on a ship deck, which could by an upper (open) ship deck or a deck within a ship's hold.
  • the modular construction of wind turbine pack 200 provides flexibility such that wind turbine pack 200 may be used in circumstances where the available deck or hold space differs.
  • end frames 202a - 202b and middle frames 203a - 203b each define four (4) longitudinally aligned 5 x 3 arrays of rectangular subframes 201 , which are shown fully loaded with thirty (30) wind turbine blades 100.
  • Each set of four longitudinally subframes 201 supports and secures a pair of wind turbine blades, which are disposed root-to-tip with the airfoil edges extending vertically within the subframes 201 , as shown in detail in FIGURE 2B.
  • edge-vertical packing according to the principles of the present invention provides increased blade support in light of the forces applied during typical ship borne transit, minimizes blade flexing, and reduces the probability of cracked or damaged blade shells.
  • FIGURE 2A shows a configuration of wind turbine pack 200 comprising four 5 x 3 aligned arrays of subframes 201
  • the modular construction of wind turbine pack 200 generally allows end frames 202a - 202b and middle frames 203a - 203b to define arrays of subframes 201 having m number of horizontal rows and n number of vertical columns for securing up to m x n x 2 number of wind turbine blades 100.
  • end frames 202a - 202b and middle frames 203a - 203b define four single longitudinally aligned subframes 201 for transporting and securing one or two wind turbine blades 100.
  • wind turbine pack 200 can be customized depending on the number of wind turbine blades being transported, any limitations on ship deck or hold space, and similar factors.
  • Wind turbine blade pack 200 is secured and stabilized by a series of conventional maritime fasteners 204, such as chains, cables, or composite fiber lines, which extend from fastening points 205 on the ship deck to fastening points 206 on end frames 202a - 202b and middle frames 203a - 203b. While four exemplary fasteners 204a - 204d, along with the associated fastening points 205a - 205d and 206a - 206d are indicated for reference, in actual practice the number of fastening devices 204 used may vary significantly, as necessary to secure the loaded wind turbine blade pack 200 to the ship deck.
  • conventional maritime fasteners 204 such as chains, cables, or composite fiber lines
  • fasteners may be required to secure a loaded turbine blade pack 200 the ship deck; however, because wind turbine blade pack 200 provides significant support and stability to wind turbine blades 100, the number of fasteners 204 required may be substantially reduced in view of existing methods of securing wind turbine blades to ship decks, which typically may require 300 or more similar fasteners. In addition, by providing fixed attachment fastening points 205 on wind turbine pack 200, interference between the wind turbine blades 100 and fasteners 204 is minimized.
  • FIGURE 2C is a side elevational view showing the packing of wind turbine blades 100 in wind turbine blade pack 200.
  • FIGURE 2D shows one end of packed wind turbine blade pack 200 in further detail.
  • the reinforced tip section 103 of each blade 100 is supported by a blade tip support assembly ("taco") 207 and the corresponding cylindrical root section 101 is supported by a blade root support assembly ("saddle") 301 , discussed below in conjunction with FIGURES 3A - 3D.
  • blade tip support assembly 207b supports the reinforced tip section 103 of wind turbine blade 100b
  • blade tip support assembly 207c and blade tip support assembly 207d supports the reinforced tip section 103 of wind turbine blade 100d.
  • end frame sections 202a - 202b and middle frame sections 203a - 203b will therefore depend on the length of the wind turbine blades 100 being secured, as well as the location of reinforced blade sections 103.
  • the modular construction of wind turbine blade pack 200 allows the spacing between end frames 202a - 202b and middle frames 203a - 203b to be set to accommodate wind turbine blades of different lengths and with reinforced sections in different locations.
  • Blade tip support assemblies 207 are discussed in further detail below in conjunction with FIGURES 4A - 4E. However, generally, each blade tip support assembly 207 includes a U-shaped receptacle for receiving the blade edge in reinforced tip section 103 of the corresponding wind turbine blade 100. A pair of opposing flaps contract onto the opposing blade outer surfaces to secure and stabilize the wind turbine blade tip section. [0054] The interleaving (packing) of a representative pair of wind turbine blades 100, in this example wind turbine blades 100c and 100d, within wind turbine blade pack 200 is shown in further detail in the top plan view of FIGURE 2E.
  • the blade root support assembly (saddle) 301 elevates the cylindrical root section 101 of each pair of horizontally interleaved pair of wind turbine blades with respect to the tip 102 of the opposing blade of the pair.
  • the curved tip section 102 (see FIGURE 1 B) of one blade curls underneath the cylindrical root section 101 of the other.
  • the curling of the tip of one blade under the cylindrical root section of the other, in addition to the edge-vertical orientation, helps reduce the horizontal distance required to pack each pair of blades.
  • FIGURE 3A is an end elevation view of end frame 202a, which is shown without installed wind turbine blades 100 for clarity.
  • the configuration of opposing end frame 202b is similar.
  • Each end frame 202 is supported on the ship deck by a bottom beam
  • each bottom beam 300 is received within a shoe on the ship deck (not shown), although bottom beams 300 may also be fastened to the ship deck by welding, bolts, brazing, or other similar conventional techniques.
  • bottom beams 300 of end frames 202 are wider than the bottom beams of middle frames 203, discussed below.
  • Each subframe 201 of each end frame 202 includes a blade root support assembly 301 ("saddle"), which supports and stabilizes the cylindrical root section 101 of a corresponding wind turbine blade 100.
  • FIGURE 3B An exploded view of one end frame 202 is shown in FIGURE 3B.
  • the array of subframes 201 of each end frame 202 is constructed from a set of outer vertical beams 303, horizontal beams 304, and interior vertical beams 305.
  • Vertical beams 303 and 305 and horizontal beams 303 are preferably fabricated from steel.
  • Outer vertical beams 303 form columns defining the lateral edges of the given end frame 202. Interior vertical beams 305 are shared by horizontally adjacent subframes 201 . Horizontal beams define the top and bottom vertically adjacent subframes 201 . [0059] Outer vertical beams of vertically adjacent subframes 201 bolt together at plates 306 and with the associated horizontal beams 304 at plates 307. Interior vertical beams 305 of vertically adjacent subframes 201 are bolted together, along with the adjacent horizontal beams 304, at steel crosses 308.
  • bottom beam 300 of each end frame 202 is formed from multiple steel sections 302a - 302e, which are fastened together using conventional techniques such as welding or brazing.
  • Outer vertical steel beams 303 and interior vertical steel beams 304 are preferably bolted to plates 309 disposed in slots in bottom beam 300.
  • end frames 202 In the preferred embodiment of end frames 202, the various structures forming the assembly (e.g., outer vertical beams 303, horizontal beams 304, and inner vertical beams 305) are fastened together with bolts or similar removal fastening devices, which advantageously allows end frames 202 to be quickly assembled and disassembled for use, movement, and storage. In alternate embodiments, end frames 202 may also be assembled using other techniques such as welding, brazing, or the like.
  • FIGURE 3C An exemplary blade root support assembly (saddle) 301 is shown in further detail in the exploded view of FIGURE 3C. Blade root support assemblies 301 in the array of subframes 201 of each end frame 202a - 202b are similar.
  • blade root support assembly 301 is supported by a pair of interior vertical steel beams 305a and 305b and a pair of horizontal steel beams 304a and 304b, discussed above in conjunction with FIGURE 3B.
  • a pair of opposing strap support assemblies 310a - 310b support and adjust the length of a conventional flexible strap 31 1 .
  • strap 31 1 lies underneath and supports the cylindrical root section 101 of the associated wind turbine blade 100.
  • Ears 212a - 212b include apertures for receiving bolts that thread into the end of the cylindrical root section 101 of the associated wind turbine blade, as shown in FIGURE 3D. (These bolts also fasten the wind turbine blade to the hub of the wind turbine, as known in the art).
  • FIGURE 3D is a top plan view showing exemplary cylindrical root sections 101 a and 101 e of a pair of exemplary horizontally adjacent wind turbine blades 101 a and 101 e within loaded wind turbine blade pack 200 of FIGURE 2A (see FIGURE 1A).
  • a second flexible strap 313 extends around the periphery of each cylindrical root section 101 and attaches to either end frame bottom beam 300, in the case of the lowest row in the array of subframes 201 , or horizontal steel beam 304 disposed immediately below, in the case of rows in the array of subframes 201 above the bottom row.
  • straps 313a and 313e respectively secure and stabilize the cylindrical root sections 101 a and 101 e of wind turbine blades 101 a and 101 e of FIGURE 2A.
  • Each middle frame 203 includes a bottom beam 400, which preferably is formed from steel beam sections 401 a - 401 e, which are fastened together, as well as to the ship deck, using conventional methods such as welding, brazing, or bolting.
  • Middle frames 203 include outer vertical beams 402, horizontal beams 403, and interior vertical beams 404.
  • outer vertical beams 402, horizontal beams 403, and interior vertical beams 404 are fabricated from steel.
  • Outer vertical steel beams 402 bolt together at plates 407 to form columns defining the lateral edges of the given middle frame 203a - 203b.
  • Horizontal steel beams 403 define the top and bottom of each subframe 201 in the array of subframes 201 defined by the middle frame 203.
  • Plates 406 on horizontal beams 403 bolt to plates 405 on outer vertical beams 402. Interior vertical beams 404 and horizontal beams 403 bolt together through steel crosses 408 to form the array of subframes 201 . Plates 409 allow outer vertical beams 402 and interior vertical beams 404 to be bolted to beam sections 401 a - 401 e of bottom beam 400.
  • middle frames e.g., outer vertical beams 402, horizontal beams 403, and interior vertical beams 404
  • bolts or similar removal fastening devices which advantageously allows middle frames 203 to be quickly assembled
  • middle frames 203 may also be assembled using other techniques such as welding, brazing, or the like.
  • FIGURE 4B is a side elevational view of one of two symmetrical sides of a representative blade tip support assembly 207, in this example, blade tip support assembly 207b supporting and stabilizing the reinforced tip section 103 of wind turbine blade 100b (see FIGURE 2D). A corresponding exploded view is shown in FIGURE 4C.
  • Each blade tip support assembly 207 includes a steel U-shaped receptacle 410, which is adapted to receive the edge of the reinforced tip section 103 of the corresponding wind turbine blade 100.
  • U-shaped receptacle 410 is supported by steel U-shaped ribs 413a - 413d and a steel U-shaped liner 417.
  • a pair of opposing flaps 41 1 a - 41 1 b extend from the upper edges of U-shaped receptacle 410 and are supported by support structures 418a - 418b. Flaps 41 1 a - 41 1 b and support structures 418a - 418b rotate around a
  • shafts 412a - 412b rotate within tubes 416a - 416b, which are disposed along the upper edges of an U-shaped liner 417 and U- shaped ribs 413a - 413d.
  • Tubes 420a - 420b are fastened to the lower edges of flap support structures 418a - 418b and rotate along with shafts 412a - 412b.
  • Flaps 41 1 a - 41 1 b pivot in response to torque applied to threaded screws 414a - 414d.
  • flap 41 1 a pivots in response to torque applied to threaded screws 414a and 414b, which respectively move through the threaded bores of nuts 415a and 415b supported by slots formed in the ends of U-shaped ribs 413a - 413d (see FIGURES 4B and 4C).
  • flap 41 1 b pivots in response to torque applied to threaded screws 414c and 414d, which respectively move through the threaded bores of nuts 415c and 415d supported by slots formed in the opposite ends of U-shaped ribs 413a - 413d).
  • Bolt holes 419 though the lower portions of ribs 413a - 413d allow blade tip support assembly 207 to be bolted to the underlying horizontal steep beam 403 of the corresponding subframe 201 .
  • FIGURE 4D is a end plan view of representative blade tip support assembly 207a in the open position, which allows edge of the associated reinforced turbine blade tip section 103 to be inserted and removed from U-shaped receptacle 410.
  • flaps 41 1 a and 41 1 b have been retracted using threaded screws 414a - 414b.
  • FIGURE 4E is a end plan view of the opposing end of representative blade tip support assembly 207a in the closed position, which allows flaps 41 1 a - 41 1 b to contact corresponding surfaces of the corresponding reinforced turbine blade tip section 103 and retain and stabilize that reinforced turbine blade tip section 103 within U-shaped receptacle 410. (The wind turbine blade tip section 103 is not shown in FIGURE 4E for clarity.) In the closed position, flaps 41 1 a and 41 1 b have contracted towards the surfaces of the wind turbine blade using threaded screws 414a - 414b.
  • wind turbine blade pack 200 is assembled as it is being loaded with wind turbine blades 100.
  • the vertical beams 303 and 305 for the lowest row of the array subframes 201 are fastened to bottom steel beams 300 of each end frame 202a - 202b (FIGURE 3B).
  • the blade root support assemblies 301 are fastened to vertical beams 303 and 305 for each subframe 201 in the row (FIGURE 3C).
  • the lower steel beams 400 of middle frames 203a - 203b are fastened to the ship deck and vertical steel beams 402 and 404 for the lowest row of the array of subframes 201 are fastened to bottom steel beams 400 (FIGURES .
  • Blade tip support assemblies 207 are fastened to bottom steel beams 400 of middle frames 203a - 203b for the lowest row.
  • the wind turbine blades 100 are then loaded into the lowest row in the arrays of subframes 201 .
  • the cylindrical root section 101 of each blade is lowered onto strap 31 1 of the corresponding root support assembly 301 while the reinforced blade tip section 103 is lowered into U-shaped receptacle 410 of the corresponding blade tip support assembly 207.
  • each blade is bolted into the corresponding blade root support assembly 301 through ears 312 (FIGURE 3D). Straps 313 are disposed around the periphery of each cylindrical root section 100 and fastened to the bottom steel beam 300 of the corresponding end frame 202 (FIGURE 3D). Flaps 41 1 a - 41 1 b for each blade tip support assembly 207 are then retracted into contact with the surfaces of the corresponding reinforced blade tip section 104 (FIGURE 4E).
  • This process of assembling and loading wind turbine blade pack 200 repeats for each subsequent vertically adjacent row of subframes 201 until the entire m row by n column array of subframes 201 is assembled and loaded.
  • Fastening devices 204 secure and stabilize the entire loaded assemble to the ship deck.
  • FIGURE 5A is a perspective view of an alternate wind turbine blade transportation cell (pack) 500 according to an alternate embodiment of the principles of the present invention.
  • Wind turbine blade cell 500 includes a pair of opposing root frames 501 a and 501 b, which are shown respectively securing the cylindrical section 101 of the root of interleaved wind turbine blades 100a - 100b.
  • the tip section 103 of wind turbine blade 100a is secured by wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502a and the tip section 103 of wind turbine blade 100b is secured by wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502b.
  • FIGURE 5B is an end elevational view taken from the root frame 501 a end of wind turbine blade transportation cell 500.
  • a sling 503a loops under and supports the cylindrical section 101 of wind turbine blade 100a.
  • the ends of sling 503 respectively attach to apertures in diagonal support plate 507a and vertical support plate 508a on root frame 501 a.
  • a similar sling 503b supports the cylindrical section 101 of wind turbine blade 100b and is attached to apertures in diagonal support plate 507b and vertical support plate 508b on root frame 501 b (see FIGURE 5A).
  • a strap 504 loops over the cylindrical section 101 of the root of wind turbine blade 100a.
  • the ends of strap 504 attach to the base of root frame 501 a.
  • Each root frame 501 includes a pair of reinforcing members 506a and 506b.
  • FIGURE 5C illustrates the preferred structure of root frames 501 , which include a pair of opposing frame sides 509a and 509b.
  • Each frame side 509 is constructed from a pair of parallel vertical members 510a - 510b, a diagonal member 51 1 , and a set of horizontal reinforcing members 512 spanning the space between vertical members 510a - 510b.
  • Each root frame 501 also includes a base section 513 having a pair of parallel side members 514a - 514b and pair of parallel end members 515a - 515b.
  • Four (4) standard ISO 1 161 lower container corner fittings 532 are disposed at the lower corners of each root frame 501 , with lower corner fittings 532a - 532c visible in FIGURE 5C.
  • a pair of reinforcing members 533a and 533b are span the space between side members 514a - 514b of base section 513 of each root frame 501 and provide points for securing the ends of strap 504 of FIGURE 5A.
  • each root frame 501 includes a pair of parallel side members 517a - 517b, a pair of parallel end members 518a - 518b, and a pair of reinforcing members 534a - 534b.
  • Four (4) standard ISO 1 161 upper container corner fittings 519a - 519d are disposed at the upper corners of each root frame 501 .
  • FIGURE 5D A representative wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502 is shown in FIGURE 5D.
  • Each wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502 includes opposing frame sides 521 a - 521 b, which are similar in construction to frame sides 509a and 509b of root frames 501 , and a base section 522, which is similar in construction to base section 513 of root frames 501 .
  • Each representative wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502 includes four (4) upper standard ISO 1 161 container corner fittings 529a - 529b and four (4) lower standard ISO 1 161 container corner fittings 535, three of which are visible in FIGURE 5D at 535a - 535c.
  • upper standard corner fittings are 529a and 529b are releasably fastened to frame side 521 a by intervening standard corner fittings 536a and 536b and associated twist locks.
  • lower standard corner fittings 535c and 535d are releasably fastened to frame side 521 b by intervening standard corner fittings 536c and 536d and associated twist locks.
  • This configuration allows upper frame section 523 and frame side 521 b to be detached from the remainder of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 during the loading and unloading of wind turbine blades.
  • FIGURES 5E - 5G shows a representative blade tip section support structure 505 in further detail.
  • Blade tip section support structure 505 is similar in structure and operation to blade tip section support structure 207 discussed above in conjunction with FIGURES 4A - 4E, with the primary differences being that blade tip section support structure 505 has one flap fixed flap and one pivoting flap, which pivots in response to a singled threaded screw assembly.
  • blade tip section support structure 505 includes a fixed flap
  • FIGURES 5E and 5G show blade tip section support structure 505 in the closed position without a wind turbine blade tip section received in liner 530.
  • FIGURE 5F shows blade tip section support structure 505 in the open position in preparation to receive a wind turbine blade tip section.
  • a hinge 531 supported on the base section 522 of the underlying wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502, allows blade tip section support structure 505 to accommodate wind turbine blades of varying curvatures, as well has helps distribute the weight of the blade tip section across a larger portion of the surface of liner 530.
  • template system 600 for positioning the root frames 501 and wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 during the assembly of transportation cell 500.
  • template system 600 includes root frame placement templates 601 a and 601 b for respectively positioning root frames 501 a and 501 b.
  • Blade tip section support frame placement templates 602a and 602b respectively position wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502a and 502b.
  • Root frame placement templates 601 a - 601 b and blade tip section support frame placement templates 602a - 602b are placed on the ground and fastened together with a set of flat steel bars 604a - 604f using bolts or a similar fastening technique.
  • template system can be disassembled for transport and stackers can drive over flat steel bars 604 during transfer of the assembled transportation cell 600.
  • Each root frame template 601 includes four (4) twist locks adapted to mate with lower standard container corner fittings 535a - 535d of the corresponding root frame 501 .
  • each blade tip section support frame placement template 602 includes four (4) twist locks adapted to mate with the lower standard container corner fittings 532a - 532d of the corresponding wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502.
  • FIGURE 6B shows one pair of twist locks 603a - 603b disposed at a pair of longitudinally adjacent corners of root frame placement template 601 a for reference.
  • the other twist locks at the other corner of root frame template 601 a, as well as the twist locks at the corners of root frame placement template 601 b and blade tip section support frame placement templates 602 are similar.
  • FIGURE 6C shows the base section 522 and side 521 of wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502a mounted on blade tip section support frame placement template 602a and ready to receive the tip section of a wind turbine blade.
  • the configuration of wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502b is similar prior to loading. Only after wind turbine blades 100a - 100b are loaded are frame sides 521 b and upper frames 523 attached to complete the assemblies of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502a - 502b.
  • FIGURE 7A is a perspective diagram of loaded transportation cell 500 along with a cell handling system 700 according to the principles of the present invention.
  • Cell handling system 700 includes a pair of handling beams 701 a - 701 b, each connected to a corresponding pair of handling frames 702a - 702b and 702c - 702d by cables, chains, or ropes.
  • Handling frames 702a - 702b respectively mate with upper corner fittings 519a - 519d of root frame 501 a and upper corner fittings 529a - 529d of wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502b.
  • Handling frames 702c - 702d respectively mate with upper corner fittings 529a - 529d of wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502a and upper corner fittings 519a - 519d of root frame 501 b.
  • FIGURE 7B illustrates the interface between handling beam 701 a, handling frame 702a, and root frame 501 a, which is representative of the remaining interfaces between transportation cell 500 and handling beams 701 a - 701 b.
  • FIGURE 7C depicts the preferred structure of handling beams 701 and FIGURE 7D depicts the preferred structure of handling frames 702.
  • handling beams 701 shown in FIGURE 7C includes four (4) standard ISO 1 161 container corner fittings 704a - 704d spaced to receive the connector twist locks of a standard stacker/crane. Loops, two of which are shown for reference at 707a and 707b, allow handling frames 702 to be connected at different points along the length of handling beams 701 with
  • chains/cables/ropes 703 to accommodate different configurations of transportation cell 500 required for transporting wind turbine blades of different types and lengths.
  • each handling frame 702 includes three pairs of standard twist locks 705a - 705c, which mate with the corresponding standard upper container corner fittings 519a - 519d of root frames 501 a and the upper standard corner fittings 529a - 529d of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502. (Three pairs of twist locks 705a - 705b are provided to accommodate different width root support frames 501 and/or wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502). A number of loops, two of which are shown at 706a - 706b, allow
  • cables/ropes/chains 703a - 703d (FIGURE 7B) to be attached to the given handling frame 701 .
  • twist locks 705 on handling frames 702a - 702b mate with the upper standard corner fittings 519a - 519d of root frames 501 and upper standard corner fittings 529a - 529d of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502.
  • Handling frames 702a - 702b in turn connect to respective ends of handling beam 701 with cables/ropes/chains 703.
  • handling system 700 allows the stacker/crane operators to detect when lifting of the two cell ends is out of synchronization.
  • FIGURE 8A shows a typical use of multiple transportation cells 500 in front and rear stacks fastened to a ship deck 800. Similar stacks may be used within the hold of a ship. Moreover, the number of transportation cells 500 in a stack, the number and type of wind turbine blades 100, and so on, may vary in actual wind turbine transportation systems.
  • One technique for forming stacks of transportation cells 500 such as those shown in FIGURE 8A is to use cell handling system 700 and a pair of standard stackers/cranes, as discussed above in conjunction with FIGURES 7A - 7C.
  • one stack of transportation cells 500 is a 4 x 3 stack of twelve (12) cells 500 transporting twenty four (24) wind turbine blades 100.
  • the is stack is supported by 4 x 3 array 801 a of root frames 501 , 4 x 3 arrays 802a and 802b of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502, and 4 x 3 array 801 b of root frames 501 .
  • the other stack of transportation cells 500 is a 4 x 3 stack of twelve (12) cells 500 transporting twenty four (24) wind turbine blades 100.
  • This stack is supported by a 4 x 3 array 801 c of root frames 501 , 4 x 3 arrays 802c and 802d of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502, and 4 x 3 array 801 d of root support frames 501 .
  • the lower corner fittings 532a - 532d of root support frames 501 and the lower corner fittings 535a - 535d of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 of the lowest row of transportation cells 500 are fastened to deck 800 using standard twist locks or similar devices.
  • Laterally adjacent root support frames 501 within a row are preferably fastened together by fastening together corresponding pairs of laterally adjacent root frame upper corner fittings 519 and corresponding pairs of laterally adjacent root frame lower corner fittings 532.
  • Laterally adjacent wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 are preferably fastened together by fastening together corresponding pairs of laterally adjacent blade tip section support frame upper corner fittings 529 and corresponding pairs of laterally adjacent blade tip support frame lower corner fittings 533 using standard twist locks or similar devices.
  • Vertically adjacent pairs of root support frames 501 are preferably fastened together by fastening together the corresponding lower corner fittings 532 of the upper frame of the pair of frames and the corresponding vertically adjacent upper corner fittings 519 of the lower frame of the pair of frames with twist locks or a similar device.
  • Similar, vertically adjacent pairs of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 are preferably fastened together by fastening together corresponding lower corner fittings 535 of the upper frame of the pair of frames with the corresponding vertically adjacent upper corner fittings 529 of the pair of frames using twist locks or a similar device.
  • FIGURES 8B and 8C illustrate a further feature according to the present inventive principles.
  • FIGURE 8B shows a pair of vertically adjacent wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502 such as found at the lateral exterior of one of the columns of arrays 802 of FIGURE 8A.
  • a tower of reinforcing frames are fastened laterally adjacent the lateral exterior sides of a given array of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502.
  • these reinforcing towers stiffen the array of wind turbine blade tip section support frames 502, as well as reduce the amount of required lashing by chains, cables, or ropes.
  • a lower support frame 803 with a broad base includes a set of standard corner fittings attached to a ship deck by a corresponding set of standard twist locks, two of these interconnection points are shown for reference at 805a - 805b.
  • the top of lower support frame 803 includes a pair of standard corner fittings, which mate with a corresponding pair of upper corner fittings 529 on the laterally adjacent lower wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502d using standard twist locks.
  • One such connection point is shown in FIGURE 8B at 806.
  • the bottom of lower support frame 803 includes a pair of standard corner fittings, which mate with a corresponding pair of lower corner fittings 535 on the laterally adjacent lower wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502d using standard twist locks.
  • One such connection point is shown in FIGURE 8B at 807.
  • FIGURE 8A Four (2) lower standard corner fittings of an upper support frame 804 mate with four (4) upper standard corner fittings of lower support frame 803 with standard twist locks. One of these interconnection points is shown at 808 FIGURE 8A.
  • two (2) of the lower standard corner fittings of upper support frame 804 mate with two (2) corresponding corner fitting lower corner fittings 533 of the laterally adjacent upper wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502c, including the interconnection at point 809.
  • FIGURE 8A As shown in FIGURE 8A, and in further detail in FIGURE 8B, two (2) upper standard corner fittings of upper support frame 804 mate with two (2) corresponding upper corner fittings 529 of adjacent upper wind turbine blade tip section support frame 502c at points 810a and 810b.
  • wind turbine blade packs embodying the principles of the present invention realize substantial advantages over the prior art. Among other things, by packing the wind turbine blades with their edges disposed vertically, not only is the packing density increased, but the wind turbine blades are now in a position better suited to withstand the forces applied during a typical sea journey. In addition, the stability provide by the structure of the wind turbine blade pack allows for a substantial reduction in the number of cables, chains, and composite fiber lines that are required to secure and stabilize each wind turbine blade to the ship deck.
  • the embodiments of the present invention are modular and scalable. By varying the distances between end and middle frames, wind turbine blades having different lengths and/or having reinforced tip sections in different locations can be accommodated. Different arrays of subframes can be assembled as needed to transport a particular number of wind turbine blades and/or to meet constraints such as limitation on the deck or hold space available. When not in use transporting wind turbine blades, the structural components of the wind turbine packs can be disassembled for transportation and storage in a standard air- sea transportation container.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wind Motors (AREA)

Abstract

Un système de transport de pales d'éolienne comprend une structure de support d'emplanture pour supporter une emplanture de pale d'éolienne et une structure de support de section d'extrémité pour supporter une extrémité de pale d'éolienne. Chacune des structures de support d'emplanture et d'extrémité comprend des cadres supérieur et inférieur, des premier et second cadres latéraux, un jeu de pièces d'angle supérieures disposées aux angles supérieurs de la structure de support, et un jeu de pièces d'angle inférieures disposées aux angles inférieurs de la structure de support. Les jeux de pièces d'angle permettent de coupler les structures de support d'emplanture et d'extrémité à des structures de support d'emplanture et d'extrémité adjacentes dans le sens vertical ou horizontal de façon à former un groupement de structures de support en vue d'un transport de plusieurs pales d'éolienne. Les jeux de pièces d'angle permettent également une fixation à des équipements de manutention ainsi qu'à des structures de renforcement pour renforcer un groupement de structures de support d'extrémité.
PCT/US2016/032306 2015-05-14 2016-05-13 Systèmes et procédés de transport de pales d'éolienne WO2016183416A1 (fr)

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US201562161387P 2015-05-14 2015-05-14
US62/161,387 2015-05-14
US15/153,325 US10030633B2 (en) 2014-01-16 2016-05-12 Systems and methods for transporting wind turbine blades
US15/153,325 2016-05-12

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