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EP-4187085-B1 - METHODS OF INSTALLING A MECHANICAL DAMPER APPARATUS

EP4187085B1EP 4187085 B1EP4187085 B1EP 4187085B1EP-4187085-B1

Inventors

  • PAURA, INGO
  • Emily Jacob, Palmer

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20211129

Claims (13)

  1. A method of installing a mechanical damper apparatus (110) to an external surface of a tower (120) of a wind turbine, the tower (120) being in an erect state, the method comprising: passing (1010) a first rope-type guide element (130) through a first receiving opening (140) arranged at a first fixing point on the external surface of the tower (120), the first fixing point being for mounting the mechanical damper apparatus (110), at a mounting position, to the external surface of the tower (120); and while keeping the first rope-type guide element (130) passed through the first receiving opening (140), performing the following: lowering (1020) a first end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130) to a first height position lower than the first fixing point; attaching (1030) the first end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130) to a protruding portion of a first connector (150) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110), the first connector (150) being configured for mating with the first receiving opening (140); and lifting (1040) the mechanical damper apparatus (110), and mounting (1050) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the external surface of the tower (120); wherein mounting (1050) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120) comprises guiding the protruding portion of the first connector (150) into the first receiving opening (140) by tensioning the first rope-type guide element (130).
  2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after guiding the protruding portion of the first connector (150) into the first receiving opening (140), securing the first connector (150) to the tower (120) from inside the tower (120).
  3. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein mounting (1050) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120) comprises securing the protruding portion of the first connector (150) within the first receiving opening (140).
  4. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein tensioning the first rope-type guide element (130) comprises pulling a second end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130) from inside the tower (120).
  5. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein lowering (1020) the first end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130) comprises letting out the first rope-type guide element (130) from inside the tower (120).
  6. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the mechanical damper apparatus (110) comprises a second connector (350) configured for mating with a second receiving opening (340), the second receiving opening (340) being arranged at a second fixing point, the second fixing point being for mounting the mechanical damper apparatus (110), at the mounting position, to the external surface of the tower (120), and wherein the method further comprises: passing a second rope-type guide element (330) through the second receiving opening (340); and while keeping the second rope-type guide element (330) passed through the second receiving opening (340), and prior to the lifting (1040) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110), and prior to the mounting (1050) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120), performing the following: lowering a first end portion of the second rope-type guide element (330) to a second height position lower than the second fixing point; and attaching the first end portion of the second rope-type guide element (330) to a protruding portion of the second connector (350); wherein mounting (1050) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120) further comprises: while guiding the protruding portion of the first connector (150) into the first receiving opening (140), guiding the protruding portion of the second connector (350) into the second receiving opening (340) by tensioning the second rope-type guide element (330).
  7. A method of installing a mechanical damper apparatus (110) to an external surface of a tower (120) of a wind turbine, the tower (120) being in an erect state, the method comprising: passing (1110) a first rope-type guide element (130) through a receiving portion of a fourth connector (460); and while keeping the first rope-type guide element (130) passed through the receiving portion of the fourth connector (460), performing the following: attaching (1120) a first end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130) to a protruding portion of a third connector (450) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110), the third connector (450) configured for mating with the fourth connector (460), and attaching (1130) the fourth connector (460) to a first rope-type hoist element (430); lifting (1140) the fourth connector (460), using the first rope-type hoist element (430), to a first receiving opening (140) arranged at a first fixing point on the external surface of the tower (120), the first fixing point being for mounting the mechanical damper apparatus (110), at a mounting position, to the external surface of the tower (120); fixing (1150) the fourth connector (460) to the tower (120) at the first fixing point; and lifting (1160) the mechanical damper apparatus (110), and mounting (1170) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the external surface of the tower (120); wherein mounting (1170) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120) comprises guiding the protruding portion of the third connector (450) into the receiving portion of the fourth connector (460) by tensioning the first rope-type guide element (130).
  8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the receiving portion of the fourth connector (460) is a ring-type element and the protruding portion of the third connector (450) is a pin-type element, and wherein mounting (1170) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) further comprises lowering the protruding portion of the third connector (450) into the receiving portion of the fourth connector (460), and supporting a weight of the mechanical damper apparatus (110) on at least the fourth connector (460).
  9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein fixing (1150) the fourth connector (460) to the tower (120) comprises fixing the fourth connector (460) to the tower (120) from inside the tower (120), and/or securing the fourth connector (460) within the first receiving opening (140).
  10. The method according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein tensioning the first rope-type guide element (130) comprises pulling a second end portion of the first rope-type guide element (130), from a first height position lower than the first fixing point.
  11. The method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the mechanical damper apparatus (110) comprises a fifth connector (750) configured for mating with a sixth connector (760), the method further comprising: passing a second rope-type guide element (330) through a receiving portion of the sixth connector (760); and while keeping the second rope-type guide element (330) passed through the receiving portion of the sixth connector (760), and prior to the lifting (1160) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110), and prior to the mounting (1170) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120), performing the following: attaching a first end portion of the second rope-type guide element (330) to a protruding portion of the fifth connector (750), and attaching the sixth connector (760) to a second rope-type hoist element; lifting the sixth connector (760), using the first rope-type hoist element, to a second receiving opening (340) arranged at a second fixing point on the external surface of the tower (120), the second fixing point being for mounting the mechanical damper apparatus (110), at the mounting position, to the external surface of the tower (120); and fixing the sixth connector (760) to the tower (120) at the second fixing point; wherein mounting (1170) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120) further comprises: while guiding the protruding portion of the third connector (450) into the receiving portion of the fourth connector (460), guiding the protruding portion of the fifth connector (750) into the receiving portion of the sixth connector (760) by tensioning the second rope-type guide element (330).
  12. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the lifting (1040, 1160) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110) is performed using a lifting apparatus (310), and the method further comprising, after mounting (1050, 1170) the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120), remotely unhooking the mechanical damper apparatus (110) from the lifting apparatus (310) using a remotely controlled hook device (320).
  13. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein, following the mounting (1050, 1170) of the mechanical damper apparatus (110) to the tower (120), the method further comprises removing at least a portion of a nacelle of the wind turbine.

Description

The present disclosure relates generally to methods of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to a tower of a wind turbine, and more particularly, to methods of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to a tower of a wind turbine when the tower is in an erect state. BACKGROUND Generally, a wind turbine includes a turbine that has a rotor that includes a rotatable hub assembly having multiple blades. The blades transform wind energy into a mechanical rotational torque that drives one or more generators via the rotor. The generators are sometimes, but not always, rotationally coupled to the rotor through a gearbox. The gearbox steps up the inherently low rotational speed of the rotor for the generator to efficiently convert the rotational mechanical energy to electrical energy, which is fed into a utility grid via at least one electrical connection. Gearless direct drive wind turbines also exist. The rotor, generator, gearbox and other components are typically mounted within a housing, or nacelle, that is positioned on top of a base that may be a truss or tubular tower. Wind turbine towers, in specific contexts, are at risk of vortex-induced vibrations. Vortex-induced vibrations are structural vibrations that can occur due to the shedding of flow vortices when a fluid flow passes around a structure. Increasing rotor height and diameter of wind turbines makes vortex-induced vibrations increasingly important. Vortex-induced vibrations are important when the tower does not have the rotor-nacelle assembly or a substantial portion thereof, for example, when the tower is stored or transported erect, during installation process before the installation of the rotor-nacelle assembly, or during service such as during retrofits, or maintenance when the rotor-nacelle assembly, or a major portion thereof, is absent. During these times, the tower acts as a beam clamped at one of its ends and subjected to a wind flow. Because of the vortex shedding developing in the tower wake, the tower may start to oscillate. Mechanical dampers, e.g. tuned mass damper, are used to mitigate vortex-induced vibrations. In the cases where the tower does not have a pre-fitted mechanical damper, one can be installed. Improvements to the practical realization of mechanical dampers, e.g. to the process of fitting a mechanical damper, would create benefit for existing wind turbines, and future wind turbines. For example, if a quick and easy method of installing a mechanical damper is available, then any need for pre-fitted mechanical dampers is even reduced. The subject-matter described herein, is intended to provide improved methods of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to a tower of a wind turbine, and in particular, improved methods of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to a tower of a wind turbine when the tower is in an erect state. DE 10 2018 100868 B3 describes a method and device for damping tower vibrations in a wind turbine and tower with such a device; US 2021/246880 A1 describes a method of erecting a wind turbine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. According to an aspect, there is provided a method of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to an external surface of a tower of a wind turbine, the tower being in an erect state, the method including: passing a first rope-type guide element through a first receiving opening arranged at a first fixing point on the external surface of the tower, the first fixing point being for mounting the mechanical damper apparatus, at a mounting position, to the external surface of the tower; and while keeping the first rope-type guide element passed through the first receiving opening, performing the following: lowering a first end portion of the first rope-type guide element to a first height position lower than the first fixing point; attaching the first end portion of the first rope-type guide element to a protruding portion of a first connector of the mechanical damper apparatus, the first connector being configured for mating with the first receiving opening; and lifting the mechanical damper apparatus, and mounting the mechanical damper apparatus to the external surface of the tower; wherein mounting the mechanical damper apparatus to the tower includes guiding the protruding portion of the first connector into the first receiving opening by tensioning the first rope-type guide element. According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of installing a mechanical damper apparatus to an external surface of a tower of a wind turbine, the tower being in an erect state, the method including: passing a first rope-type guide element through a receiving portion of a fourth connector; and while keeping the first rope-type guide element passed through the receiving portion of the fourth connector, performing the