Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy

The invention describes an attitude adjustment assembly (1) for use in handling a load (20) freely suspended from a suspension point (30) of a lifting apparatus (3), comprising a torque generation apparatus (10) adapted to generate a turning moment about the vertical axis (Z); a means of attaching the torque generation apparatus (10) to the load (20); and a control unit (16) for controlling the torque generation apparatus (10) to effect a rotation (R_Z) of the freely-suspended load (20) about the vertical axis (Z) to bring the freely-suspended load (20) into a desired attitude during a load handling manoeuvre. The invention further describes a method of handling a freely-suspended load (20) using the claimed attitude adjustment assembly (1), and a method of assembling a wind turbine tower.

The invention describes a retention assembly (1) for installation on a rotary shaft (20), comprising a retaining ring (11), which retaining ring comprises an essentially cylindrical main body (111) dimensioned to fit about the rotary shaft and a number of flexible elements (113) extending axially from the main body, wherein each flexible element is dimensioned to clear the rotary shaft by a predefined gap (G) when mounting the retaining ring on the rotary shaft, and wherein each flexible element is adapted to bear an arrangement of inwardly-directed projections (12P) shaped to engage with the outer surface (20S) of the rotary shaft; and wherein the retention assembly further comprises a choking ring (13) adapted to exert an inwardly-directed radial force (13F) on the retaining ring during installation of the retention assembly to engage the projections of the flexible elements with the outer surface of the rotary shaft. The invention further describes a drivetrain comprising the inventive retaining assembly and a method of assembling such a drivetrain.

The invention describes an apparatus (1) for moving a wind turbine gearbox (24) along a bedplate (22) of a wind turbine installation (2), comprising a pair of torque arm supports (10L, 10R), wherein each torque arm support (10L, 10R) is adapted for connection to the bedplate (22) and for installation about a torque arm (24L, 24R) of the gearbox (24); and a means (11) of effecting a displacement (Δ24) of the gearbox (24) relative to the torque arm supports (10L, 10R). The invention further describes a method of moving a wind turbine gearbox (24) along a bedplate (22) of a wind turbine installation (2), which method comprises providing such an apparatus (1) and actuating the displacement means (11) to effect a displacement (Δ24) of the gearbox (24) along the bedplate (22).

The invention relates to a method for repairing a wind turbine blade (1) comprising a composite material shell (11) with a root section (12), wherein the root section (12) comprises circumferentially distributed fixation elements (2) arranged within the composite material shell (11). The fixation elements (2) are adapted for a connection of the wind turbine blade (1) to a hub (101) of a wind turbine (10). The composite material shell (11) shows a laminate damage (18) around at least one of the fixation elements (2). The method comprising the steps: a) providing a repair patch (3) comprising a contact surface (32) and at least one recess (31); b) placing the repair patch (3) on a surface (14,15) of the composite material shell (11) with the fixation element (2) protruding at least partially into the recess (31) of the repair patch (3) and c) adhering the repair patch (3) to the surface (14,15) of the composite material shell (11) to restore force transmission between the at least one of the fixation elements (2) and the composite material shell (11) by providing a load path through the repair patch (3). Further, a repair patch (3) for use in the method and a wind turbine blade (1) are disclosed.

A lightning protection assembly for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The lightning protection assembly comprises at least a first prefabricated assembly comprising a first conductive element and a first connector element that is in electrical contact with or formed by the first conductive element and a second prefabricated assembly comprising a second conductive element and a connector element that is in electrical contact with or formed by the second conductive element. The first and second prefabricated assemblies are configured to form at least part of a shell of the rotor blade. The lightning protection assembly further comprises an electrical connection between the first connector element and the second connector element.

A method of servicing a component of a wind turbine is provided. The component is located in a space that is at least partly confined by a rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method comprises bringing the rotor blade into a vertical position pointing upwards by rotating a rotor hub of the wind turbine; transporting a crane through an opening in a separation wall between the hub and the space; positioning the crane on the separation wall; and servicing the component using the crane.

A method of operating a wind turbine, the method comprising determining a rotational speed of a main rotor of the wind turbine, determining a rotational direction of the main rotor, identifying a reverse overspeed condition when the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor exceeds a predefined rotational speed limit and the rotational direction is reverse, and in particular, upon determining that the reverse overspeed condition persists for at least a threshold duration, initiating a mitigation action to reduce or halt the reversed rotational speed.

A spar cap assembly for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The spar cap assembly (100) comprises a stack (50) of layers (51, 52, ...) of carbon fiber composite material, wherein the layers are stacked in a thickness direction (111) and wherein the stack (50) extends in a longitudinal direction (110), and further comprises a lightning conductor (40) of a lightning protection system extending along the stack of layers. At least one potential equalization assembly (120) configured to electrically connect the stack (50) of layers of carbon fiber composite material to the lightning conductor (40) provides an equipotential bonding (121) at an equipotential bonding position (122) in the longitudinal direction. Two or more longitudinal contact ranges are arranged in longitudinal direction (110) next to each other, wherein each longitudinal contact range (10, 20, ...) comprises at least a first sheet (11, 21, ...) of conductive material that is arranged on and in direct electrical contact with a layer (51, 52, ... ) of the stack (50) and that rests against the lightning conductor (40).

The invention relates to a method for producing a pre-impregnated reinforcement fabric for building a preform element, with the steps:- Building a layer arrangement from a reinforcement fabric layer (1) composed of weaved or stitched fibers (19) and a perforated polymer film layer (3) arranged in contact to the reinforcement fabric layer (1),- applying heat to the layer arrangement for providing at least a tacky surface of the polymer film layer (3) such that the polymer film layer surface (3) adheres to the contacted reinforcement fabric layer (1),- cooling the layer arrangement.

The present invention relates to a method of operating a wind farm (2) including a plural of wind turbines (3), the method including for at least a group of the wind turbines (3) to be uprated wind turbines (3u) adapted to produce power in an uprated zone (25u) being power above the design power of the wind turbines (3u), and wherein the method includes, if an under-frequency deviation event in the grid (9) is detected, then (120) to operate least one of the uprated wind turbines (3u) to produce power in the uprated zone (25u) and provide this as control power to stabilize the grid (9).The present invention further relates to a wind turbine or wind farm operated according to the method and a controller adapted to operate the method.