Method for exchanging an up-tower main component of an off-shore wind turbine

{
  "publication_number": "US12429033B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method for exchanging an up-tower main component of an off-shore wind turbine",
  "abstract": "In order to provide an improved and cost-efficient method for performing an exchange of up-tower main components on an off-shore wind turbine a method is disclosed in during which a non-permanent service platform is temporarily coupled to a wind turbine tower lower section. In addition, a wind turbine structure and a system including such a structure are described, the wind turbine structure and the respective system being designed to allow performing the described method.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for exchanging an up-tower component of an off-shore wind turbine with a replacement component, the off-shore wind turbine having a tower with a near and above water-level tower lower section having a permanent service platform, a nacelle with a nacelle structure directly or indirectly carrying the up-tower component, the method including the steps of transporting the replacement component to the off-shore wind turbine with a vessel, attaching a temporary service platform to the tower lower section on or adjacent the permanent service platform, lowering the up-tower main component to be exchanged from the nacelle to the temporary service platform, lifting the replacement component from the vessel to the temporary service platform, lifting the replacement component from the temporary service platform to the nacelle, and removing the temporary service platform from the tower lower section.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is a constantly floating vessel equipped with an on-vessel lifting apparatus.",
    "3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the on-vessel lifting apparatus comprises a heave compensated crane.",
    "4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one component exchange-tool is lifted from the vessel to the temporary service platform with an on-vessel lifting apparatus and that the at least one component exchange-tool is lifted from the temporary service platform to the nacelle using a nacelle-integrated lifting apparatus.",
    "5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the at least one component exchange-tool comprises at least one of a heavy-duty lifting apparatus and a sliding tool.",
    "6. The method according claim 1, wherein the nacelle and/or a component exchange-tool is aligned to the temporary service platform via a yaw mechanism to align the nacelle or the component exchange-tool with the temporary service platform.",
    "7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary service platform is transported to the wind turbine with the vessel and wherein attaching the temporary service platform to the tower lower section and removing the temporary service platform from the tower lower section is performed by an on-vessel lifting apparatus.",
    "8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temporary service platform is coupled to the tower lower section via a non-permanent coupling system.",
    "9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the non-permanent coupling system is designed to allow tool-less coupling of the temporary service platform to the tower lower section.",
    "10. The method according to claim 8, wherein for coupling the temporary service platform to the tower lower section, the service platform is gravity hooked onto the tower lower section.",
    "11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the method for exchanging the up-tower component of the off-shore wind turbine is performed with the temporary service platform on a first off-shore wind turbine and is subsequently performed on a second off-shore wind turbine using one and the same temporary service platform.",
    "12. A system for exchanging an up-tower component of an off-shore wind turbine with a tower lower section having a permanent service platform mounted thereto, the tower lower section or the permanent service platform mounted to the tower lower section is provided with at least one of a non-permanent coupling structure and a supporting structure for the temporary non-permanent coupling and supporting of a temporary service platform to be non-permanently coupled to the tower lower section, wherein the system comprises the temporary service platform provided with at least one of a non-permanent coupling structure and a supporting structure corresponding to the at least one of the non-permanent coupling structure and supporting structure provided on the tower lower section or the permanent service platform.",
    "13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the temporary service platform has a platform section and a supporting carrier strut wherein at least one of the platform section and the supporting carrier strut is designed to positively interlock with a corresponding coupling structure provided on the tower lower section.",
    "14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the corresponding non-permanent coupling structure and/or supporting structure on the tower lower section and the temporary service platform are designed to allow for a gravity driven hooking of the temporary service platform to the tower lower section."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a method for exchanging up-tower main components of an off-shore wind turbine (Main Component Exchange - MCE) during which a main component of the wind turbine is exchanged by a replacement part. The invention further relates to a wind turbine tower section specifically designed and prepared for performing the method and a system containing such a tower section.\n\nThe exchange of up-tower main components located in a nacelle of a wind turbine requires loosening, moving and lowering the up-tower component from the nacelle (deinstallation of the component to be replaced including lowering the component from the nacelle) and lifting into the nacelle, bringing into place and mounting for operation of the replacement component (reinstallation of the replacement part). Due to the high weight of up-tower main components of a wind turbine (a Generator may weigh about 30 tons and a Gearbox may weigh about 70 tons), an MCE procedure requires the use of very heavy machinery such as large cranes and/or heavy-duty winches which are not present on site. The limited lifting capacity of potential nacelle integrated lifting apparatuses is typically not sufficient for performing an MCE. Nacelle integrated lifting apparatuses such as cranes or winches are typically used for maintenance, are designed to be used in periodic inspection and have capacities capable of replacing only lightweight components of just a few tons.",
  "cpc": [
    "F03D 80/50",
    "B63B 75/00",
    "B63B 81/00",
    "B66C 23/52",
    "E02B 17/003",
    "E02B 17/0034",
    "E02B 2017/0065",
    "E02B 2017/0091",
    "E04G 3/243",
    "F03D 13/25",
    "F03D 80/501",
    "F05B 2230/61",
    "F05B 2230/6102",
    "F05B 2230/80",
    "F05B 2240/95",
    "Y02E 10/72",
    "Y02E 10/727",
    "Y02P 70/50"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B63B 75/00",
    "B63B 81/00",
    "B66C 23/52",
    "E02B 17/00",
    "E04G 3/24",
    "F03D 13/25",
    "F03D 80/50"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Vestas Wind Systems AS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Adrian Botwright"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-07-27",
  "publication_date": "2025-09-30",
  "grant_date": "2025-09-30",
  "priority_date": "2020-08-10",
  "application_number": "US-202118040663-A",
  "family_id": "72039389",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20100230370A1",
    "US20120282099A1",
    "US20180022424A1",
    "CN208763821U",
    "KR101999500B1"
  ]
}