METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REMOVING AND/OR INSTALLING WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES

摘要

A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine may generally include installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade, coupling a support cable to the blade root, lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable, coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch using at least one pulley, moving the pulley cable relative to the pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub, applying a force through the blade sock as the pulley cable is moved relative to the pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.

主权项

1. A method for removing a rotor blade from a wind turbine, the method comprising:
installing a blade sock around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade at an intermediate location defined between a blade root and a blade tip of the rotor blade; coupling a support cable to the blade root, wherein the support cable extends from the blade root and into a hub of the wind turbine; lowering the rotor blade relative to the hub using the support cable such that the rotor blade is spaced apart from the hub by an initial vertical distance; coupling at least one pulley cable between the rotor blade and a winch located on or adjacent to a support surface of the wind turbine using at least one pulley; moving the at least one pulley cable relative to the at least one pulley to lower the rotor blade relative to the hub beyond the initial vertical distance; applying a force through the blade sock as the at least one pulley cable is moved relative to the at least one pulley in order to control an orientation of the rotor blade relative to at least one of a tower of the wind turbine or the support surface; and further lowering the rotor blade to a location on or adjacent to the support surface.