Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Mhi Vestas Offshore Wind A/s

Gerner Larsen

Niels Christian Olsen

Gunnar K Storgaard Pedersen

Ivar J B K Jensen

Frank Møller Hansen

Christian Skov Frederiksen

Michael Staghøj

Klaus Lynge Petersen

Anton Bech

Srikanth Narasimalu

Julio Xavier Vianna Neto

Tusitha Abeyasekera

Thomas Hjort

Ravi Kandasamy

Jörg Wadehn

Søren Poul Jensen

Allan Hjarbæk Holm

Niels Martin Henriksen

Jan Bjerre Christensen

Ian Stewart

Voon Hon Wong

Peter C Knudsen

Tobias Lidegaard Rossel

Abdalla Khamas

Satish Raja Arigela

Miguel Fernandez Perez

Søren P Jensen

Ivar JBK Jensen

A system () and method are described herein for manufacturing a wind turbine blade () proximate to the final installation site of a wind turbine (). The system () includes a creel () of feeders () configured to apply strengthening elements () onto a plurality of shell core sections () coupled together and fed through the creel (). The shell core sections () include an external surface () with a plurality of external grooves () recessed into the external surface () such that the strengthening elements () are laid into the external grooves (). The system () also includes a deposition station () configured to apply an outer surface material layer () in fluid form to cover the external surface () and the plurality of strengthening elements (). A curing station () heats and consolidates the shell core sections (), the strengthening elements (), and the outer surface material layer () together into a final consolidated part, with the outer surface material layer () defining an external profile of the blade () following curing.

Wind turbine blades and manufacturing systems and methods using segmented blade assembly

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.

System and method for handling wind turbine components for assembly thereof

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 wind turbine blade has a blade body and a leading edge fairing. The blade body has a root, a tip, and a longitudinal direction extending between the root and the tip. The 5 blade body also has a channel extending in the longitudinal direction. The leading edge fairing has a projection extending into the channel and extending in the longitudinal direction so as to be received in the channel. Also, a leading edge fairing for attachment to a blade body of a wind turbine blade; a method of fitting a leading edge fairing to a wind turbine blade; and a kit of parts with a number of the leading edge fairings.

Wind turbine blade leading edge pairing

A locking unit () for a rotor lock system () of a wind turbine (), the locking unit () comprising: a locking shaft () that is slidably movable within a barrel () under the influence of an actuator (); and an angular drive arrangement () which is configured to enable angular movement of the locking shaft () about a longitudinal axis as the locking shaft () is moved linearly within the barrel () by the actuator ().

Rotor lock system for a wind turbine

A method of removing a wind turbine component includes assembling a transport system having a track, one or more support frames, and a carriage movably coupled to the track, the transport system having a first end positioned inside the tower and a second end positioned outside of the tower such that the track extends through an opening in the tower; raising the wind turbine component off of a platform located within the tower and above the door; moving at least part of the platform to allow the component to pass; lowering the wind turbine component onto the carriage; moving the carriage along the track from inside the tower to outside the tower; and removing the wind turbine component from the carriage. A transport system having a track, one or more support frames, and a carriage is also disclosed.

Method for moving wind turbine components and transport system for moving wind turbine components

The present invention provides a method of installing a foundation for an offshore wind turbine and a template for use herein. In illustrative embodiments, the template is releasably anchored in a seafloor and the template is leveled before installing a pile. In a method according to some illustrative embodiments herein, a template may be provided, the template comprising at least one hollow guiding element for receiving the pile, at least one suction bucket, a frame body to which the at least one hollow guiding element and the at least one suction bucket are coupled, and controlling means configured to supply a pressure to the at least one suction bucket. The method may comprise disposing the template on the seafloor, supplying a negative pressure to the at least one suction bucket for driving the suction bucket in to the seafloor, and controlling the negative pressure supplied to the at least one suction bucket to adjusting a penetration depth of the at least one suction bucket so as to level the frame relative to the seafloor.

Method of installing an offshore foundation and template for use in installing an offshore foundation

A node structure () for connecting two or more convergent members () of a lattice frame to each other and to one or more other members of the lattice frame. The node structure () comprises a pair of opposed spaced-apart faces () that are substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other. At least one pair of root formations () with respective central longitudinal axes define an interior angle between them, those axes diverging outwardly for alignment with respective members of the lattice frame and converging inwardly between the faces (). An inner connecting wall () between the root formations () of the pair connects concave-curved inner edges () of the faces and extends in a concave curve around the interior angle to join the root formations () of that pair.

Node structures for lattice frames

A node structure for connecting a member of a lattice frame to one or more other members of the frame comprises a hollow brace having opposed walls that converge outwardly at an acute angle in cross-section toward a central plane to connect at an outer edge. At least one root portion has a central longitudinal axis extending outwardly in the central plane of the brace for alignment with a member of the frame. The root portion has an inner end cut away at opposite sides around the central plane to leave a joining surface that intersects the converging walls of the brace while embracing an outer region of the brace extending inwardly from the outer edge.

A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.

Wind turbine generator with fluid film bearing units

A generator () for a wind turbine () is disclosed. The generator () comprises a rotor () configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator () arranged next to the rotor (). Each stator () comprises at least two subunits (), the subunits () being arranged side-by-side along a moving direction of the rotor (). Each subunit () comprises at least one flux-generating module () facing the rotor () but spaced therefrom, thereby defining an air gap between the rotor () and each flux-generating module (). The subunits () are movable relative to each other along a direction which is substantially transverse to the moving direction of the rotor (). This allows a subunit () to move in a manner which adjusts the air gap without affecting the position and the air gap of a neighboring subunit (). Thereby variations in the rotor () can be compensated and a uniform and constant air gap can be maintained. The invention further provides a wind turbine () comprising such a generator () and a method for performing service on a generator ().

Wind turbine generator with movable stator subunits

A transition structure for a tower comprises a plurality of panels that each includes a panel body having opposed upper and lower ends, a lower mounting surface at the lower end, an upper mounting surface at the upper end, and a pair of lateral mounting surfaces at lateral edges. The upper mounting surfaces are generally planar, and the panel bodies taper from their upper mounting surface to their lower mounting surface. Each panel is mounted to at least another of the panels at corresponding lateral surfaces to form, with the upper ends, the shape that conforms to the lower end of the tower to be supported. The transition structure also comprises a plurality of footings, each having an upper end mated to the lower mounting surface of one of the panels, a lower end configured to mate with a post of a foundation, and a footing body between the upper and lower ends.

Transition structure for a wind turbine tower

A wind turbine includes a nacelle which accommodates at least a generator and power electronics electrically interconnected between the generator and a power grid. At least one power electronic component is removably arranged in the nacelle in a region positioned between a floor level of the nacelle and a lower limiting surface, e.g. a bottom wall, of the nacelle. The space available in the interior parts of the nacelle is thereby utilized to a greater extent than in prior art wind turbines, and replacement of a power electronic component can be performed using ordinary lifting equipment. Furthermore, the risk of injury to maintenance personnel is reduced.

Wind turbine having power electronics in the nacelle

A heat exchanger assembly for cooling a heat-generating component, such as a generator or power electronics module, within a wind turbine nacelle comprises a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element, having a first section arranged in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, and a second section arranged in a second region of a relatively low temperature. The thermoelectric element is configured to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature with consumption of electrical energy. A source of electrical energy is provided for the thermoelectric element, and a control unit may be provided for controlling the energy supply in order to control the temperature of the component or surface area cooled by the thermoelectric element. A further cooling element including a so-called heat pipe may be provided to enhance cooling efficiency.

Wind turbine nacelle comprising a heat exchanger assembly

A wind energy converter includes a wind turbine, a wind turbine foundation including a strengthening structure, and a temperature control mechanism for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of the wind turbine. The wind energy converter is characterized in that at least a part of the temperature control mechanism adjoins the strengthening structure. Also contemplated is a wind turbine foundation including a strengthening structure. The wind turbine foundation is characterized in that the foundation includes at least a part of a temperature control mechanism for heat exchanging with one or more areas of a wind turbine and in that at least a part of the temperature control mechanism adjoins the strengthening structure. Even further contemplated is a method for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of a wind turbine and use of a wind turbine foundation.

Growing community of inventors

Hinnerup, Denmark

Gerner Larsen