Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Christian Skov Frederiksen

Anton Bech

Torben Ladegaard Baun

Gunnar K Storgaard Pedersen

Ivar J B K Jensen

Gerner Larsen

Klaus Lynge Petersen

Niels Vinther Voigt

Ivar JBK Jensen

A method of handling a wind turbine component () for assembly or maintenance, comprises coupling one or more unmanned air vehicles () with the wind turbine component () so that at least a portion of the weight of the wind turbine component () can be supported and lifted by the one or more unmanned air vehicles (). The method further comprises coupling one or more cranes () with the wind turbine component () so that at least a portion of the weight of the wind turbine component () can be supported and lifted by the one or more cranes (). The method further comprises controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicle () and crane () in coordination to lift the wind turbine component () and manoeuvre said component () with respect to a wind turbine ().

System and method for handling wind turbine components for assembly thereof

A method for mounting a blade root of a blade on a blade flange of a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising: attaching a control line between a hold structure at the blade flange and the blade root; lifting the blade with a blade lifting crane while the blade root is guided towards the blade flange by use of said control line, and connecting said blade root to said blade flange.

Method and assembly for handling wind turbine blades

A method of installing a rotor on a nacelle () on a wind turbine generally includes providing a rotor hub counterweight assembly (') which are rotated and lifted from a downtower location to an uptower location at which wind turbine blades () are progressively attached and the counterweights (), (&#x2032;) are progressively removed. The rotor hub and counterweight assembly (&#x2032;) for use when installing a rotor on a wind turbine () generally includes a rotor hub () having first, second and third flanges (), a first counterweight (&#x2032;), a second counterweight (&#x2032;), and a lifting apparatus connecting member (&#x2032;). A lifting apparatus connecting member () is configured with at least two connection points () being configured for allowing at least two of three operations including installation, rotating and lifting the rotor hub (), and removal of the lifting apparatus connecting member (&#x2032;).

Method of installing a rotor on a wind turbine, a rotor hub and counterweight assembly, and a lifting apparatus connecting member

A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

A system for a wind park including: a control system in communication with a plurality of unmanned air vehicles, wherein the control system is configured to deploy one or more unmanned air vehicles during a triggering condition; and wherein the deployed unmanned air vehicles are guided towards an assigned wind turbine and to interact with a blade of that wind turbine in order to control oscillation of the blade. The invention also embraces a method for reducing blade oscillations of a wind turbine, comprising: monitoring for a triggering condition associated with the wind turbine; on detecting the triggering condition, deploying unmanned air vehicles towards a wind turbine and interacting with a blade of the wind turbine using the unmanned air to control oscillation of the blade. The invention therefore provides an efficient approach to controlling blade oscillations with minimal human operator involvement. Drones may be deployed automatically once suitable conditions are detected and may automatically engage with the blades, either by contacting those blades physically, or by interacting with the blades in close proximity, in order to disrupt airflow around the blades thereby reducing oscillations.

Method for reducing oscillations in wind turbine blades

A method for mounting a blade root of a blade on a blade flange of a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising:&#x2014;attaching a control line between a hold structure at the blade flange and the blade root; &#x2014;lifting the blade with a blade lifting crane while the blade root is guided towards the blade flange by use of said control line, and&#x2014;connecting said blade root to said blade flange.

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Videbæk, Denmark

Christian Skov Frederiksen