Abstract: A method of maintaining a power generating apparatus includes a separation step of separating a mooring line and a cable from a floating body of a first floating-body type wind turbine power generating apparatus including a maintenance-target section; a retention step of retaining the mooring line and the cable by a floating-body structure, after the separation step; a first transfer step of transferring the first floating-body type wind turbine power generating apparatus from the mooring position, after the separation step; a second transfer step of transferring a second floating-body type wind turbine power generating apparatus having no maintenance-target section to the mooring position; and a connection step of detaching the mooring line and the cable from the floating-body structure and connecting the mooring line and the cable to the second floating-body type wind turbine power generating apparatus, after the second transfer step.

Abstract: A method of controlling a floating-body wind turbine power generating apparatus including a wind turbine generator disposed on a floating body includes a pitch-angle increasing step of increasing a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine generator when the wind turbine generator is stopped, so that an aerodynamic braking force is applied to a rotor of the wind turbine generator. In the pitch-angle increasing step, a first change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a first period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward an upwind side from a vertical direction due to sway of the floating body, is smaller than a second change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a second period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward a downwind side from the vertical direction due to the sway of the floating body.

Abstract: A floating-body type wind turbine power generating apparatus includes a floating body floating on a water surface; and a wind turbine disposed on the floating body and configured so that at least a part of the wind turbine is submersible. The wind turbine includes: at least one blade; a hub to which the blade is mounted; a tower erected on the floating body; a nacelle disposed on the tower; a first electrical device disposed inside the hub or the nacelle; and a second electrical device connected to the first electrical device via a cable and configured to be movable relative to the tower in a vertical direction so as not be submerged upon submergence of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A node structure (12, 14) for connecting two or more convergent members (16, 26) of a lattice frame to each other and to one or more other members of the lattice frame. The node structure (12, 14) comprises a pair of opposed spaced-apart faces (30) that are substantially planar and substantially parallel to each other. At least one pair of root formations (32) 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 (30). An inner connecting wall (34) between the root formations (32) of the pair connects concave-curved inner edges (36) of the faces and extends in a concave curve around the interior angle to join the root formations (32) of that pair.

Abstract: A sealing device for a tubing arrangement, preferably for use in an offshore facility, such as an offshore wind turbine or an oil rig. The tubing arrangement has a cable or an inner tube arranged in an interior part thereof. The sealing device comprises a substantially rigid housing and a flexible plug part arranged in an interior part of the housing. The housing is mountable on or forms part of the tubing arrangement in such a manner that the interior part of the housing communicates with the interior part of the tubing arrangement. The flexible plug part comprises an inlet opening connectable to a grout source. When grout material is supplied to the flexible plug part, the flexible plug part expands, thereby providing sealing between the housing and a cable or inner tube arranged in the interior of the tubing arrangement. The sealing device can be mounted on the tubing arrangement before the tubing arrangement is mounted on an offshore facility, and the grout material can be supplied at a later time.

Abstract: A power pack is located within a housing on the platform of a wind turbine generator tower. The power pack is supplied from a fuel tank. With the door of the housing open, the power pack may be removed for servicing and repair by using a U-shaped support structure to which an electric motor is mounted. Two support rails permanently located within the housing support the housed power pack. A chain attached to the power pack is driven by the motor to remove the power pack from the housing by sliding the power pack along the support structure. A pulley arrangement reduces the necessary torque. After removing the power pack from the housing, a crane is used to lift the power pack from the platform and to lower it down to a sea vessel. The crane may also be used in the refilling of the fuel tank by hauling a fuel line from a sea vessel up to the platform and connecting it to the fuel tank.

Abstract: An offshore wind turbine generator comprises a tower 1 and a platform 2. The tower 1 is provided with a side door 4 accessed from the platform 2 using a stairway 5 leading to an upper platform 6. The upper platform 6 is formed from the upper surface of a cabinet 7 which houses a diesel backup generator. Both the backup generator and the cabinet 7 are mounted to the tower 1 by bolts, such that the cabinet and backup generator are fully supported by the tower 1. A diesel fuel tank 12 is also mounted to the tower 1 by bolts. The fuel tank supplies diesel fuel to the backup generator.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electrical energy may include a tower, a nacelle at the top of the tower, and a rotor coupled to a generator within the nacelle. The wind turbine further includes a cooler including a spoiler and at least one cooler panel projecting above a roof of the nacelle. A heliplatform includes a support structure extending from the nacelle and at least partially integrated with the cooler. The wind turbine may also include a crane coupled to the nacelle and configured to move between a first stowed position underneath the nacelle roof and a second operational position. In the operational position, the crane is selectively positionable over the heliplatform. A method of using the wind turbine and crane is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heli-hoist pad (18) that is incorporated into a wind turbine nacelle (12) in a manner that is optimized for helicopter approach and positioning of the heli-hoist pad (18), such as by being located within a recess (20) in an upper surface (28) of the wind turbine nacelle (12). Heat exchangers (50) may also be positioned within the free flow of wind outside of a nacelle (12) in manners that provide for serviceability while also allowing for optimal positioning of a heli-hoist pad (18).

Abstract: A method of controlling a floating-body wind turbine power generating apparatus including a wind turbine generator disposed on a floating body includes a pitch-angle increasing step of increasing a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine generator when the wind turbine generator is stopped, so that an aerodynamic braking force is applied to a rotor of the wind turbine generator. In the pitch-angle increasing step, a first change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a first period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward an upwind side from a vertical direction due to sway of the floating body, is smaller than a second change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a second period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward a downwind side from the vertical direction due to the sway of the floating body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, controllers and computer program products for determining an optimal tilt angle for a wind turbine. One or more signals indicating site conditions at and/or near a wind turbine are received 402 and an optimal tilt angle for said wind turbine based on said received one or more signals indicating site conditions is determined 403. The optimal tilt angle is then transmitted 404 to a platform controller such that said wind turbine can be inclined said optimal tilt angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for coordinating the control of a floating wind turbine (101) between a wind turbine controller (111) and a platform controller (110). One or more wind turbine control systems and/or one or more platform control systems may be altered based on 102 said coordinated control of said floating wind turbine (101).

Abstract: The control system of this floating wind turbine generator is a control system of a floating wind turbine generator in which the control system controls a pitch angle control section by a pitch angle instruction value calculated on the basis of signals detected by a second sensor detecting a relative angle between a nacelle and a tower and a third sensor detecting a yaw angle from a reference position of the tower so that a signal detected by a first sensor detecting wind direction deviation relative to a vertical direction of a rotation plane of wind turbine blades indicates an angle within a predetermined range from the vertical direction of the rotation plane of the wind turbine blades, and controls a yaw driving device by a yaw driving instruction value calculated on the basis of the signals detected by the second sensor and the third sensor.