Abstract: In a first aspect, the embodiments of the invention provide a surveillance system for a wind park comprising a detection system configured to detect flying birds and issue a detection signal; one or more drones; and a control system configured to command one or more of said drones to be deployed based on the detection of birds flying in the vicinity of the wind park. The invention extends to a wind park comprising a plurality of wind turbines and a system as defined above. The invention also embraces a method of operating a surveillance system in a wind park, comprising scanning a geographical area proximal to a wind park using a surveillance system for the detection of birds; on detecting the presence of birds in the vicinity of the wind park, automatically commanding the deployment of one or more drones to act as a deterrent to the detected birds.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower is tethered by a number of cables, each cable extending between a first end anchored to an anchoring element and a second end attached to the tower at an attachment element. Two cables extending from two different anchoring elements are attached to the tower such that projection lines from the second ends of the two cables converge at a point which lies inside the tower wall thickness or within a distance of three wall thicknesses from the wall inner surface. A method of erecting a wind turbine tower includes positioning a first tower section, attaching at least some tethering cables to a second tower section while the second tower section is on the ground, lifting the second tower section with the attached cables onto the first tower section, and joining the second tower section to the first.

Abstract: A system for a wind park including: a control system in communication with a plurality of unmanned air vehicles, wherein the control system is configured to deploy one or more unmanned air vehicles during a triggering condition; and wherein the deployed unmanned air vehicles are guided towards an assigned wind turbine and to interact with a blade of that wind turbine in order to control oscillation of the blade. The invention also embraces a method for reducing blade oscillations of a wind turbine, comprising: monitoring for a triggering condition associated with the wind turbine; on detecting the triggering condition, deploying unmanned air vehicles towards a wind turbine and interacting with a blade of the wind turbine using the unmanned air to control oscillation of the blade. The invention therefore provides an efficient approach to controlling blade oscillations with minimal human operator involvement.

Abstract: A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower configured to support a wind turbine nacelle and a rotor, and with a tower wall of an inner surface and an outer surface. The tower is tethered by a number of cables, each cable extending between a first end anchored to an anchoring element and an opposite, second end attached to the tower at an attachment element. Two cables extending from two different anchoring elements are attached to the tower such that longitudinal projection lines from the second ends of the two cables converge at a convergence point, which lies at a location at a certain height and inside the tower wall thickness. Alternatively, the convergence point lies inside the tower within a distance of three wall thicknesses from the wall inner surface as measured at the height and in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tower.

Abstract: A lifting arrangement (1) for lifting a wind turbine tower segment (2), the lifting arrangement (1) comprising at least two component pulley arrangements (3) connected to a flange (5) of the tower segment, and at least one hoisting pulley arrangement (4), arranged to be connected to a hoisting apparatus. A rope (8) interconnects the component pulley arrangements (3) and the hoisting pulley arrangements (4), in such a manner that each component pulley arrangement (3) is connected to two hoisting pulley arrangements (4), or to one hoisting pulley arrangement (4) and a rope end attachment point (9), via the rope (8), and each hoisting pulley arrangement (4) is connected to two component pulley arrangements (3), via the rope (8), the rope (8) being arranged movably in each pulley arrangement (3, 4). The tower segment (2) is automatically rotated from a first orientation into a second orientation during the lifting process. Load distribution among various parts of the rope (8) is ensured.

Abstract: Equipment for handling a wind turbine component includes a lifting cable and a mounting block having a block main body with a cable passage and a pair of bushings coupled to the mounting block. Each bushing has an aperture defined by an aperture wall and the lifting cable extends through the aperture of each of the bushings. At least an outer region of the aperture wall forms a closed loop about the lifting cable and is substantially circumferentially continuous. This allows the lifting cable extending the bushings to move in a circumferential direction along the aperture wall relative to the bushings during use. A method of assembling such handling equipment and a method of using such equipment for handling a wind turbine component is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of erecting a tower such as a wind turbine tower tethered by a number of cables where each of the cables extend between the tower and an anchoring element on an anchor block. The method comprises attaching at least some of the tethering cables to the tower, detachably fastening a motorized winch on an anchor block and connecting the wire of the winch to the end of a tethering cable. The winch is then operated to wind up the wire of the winch pulling the cable end towards the anchor block and into position for fastening the cable end to the anchoring element, where the cable end is then fastened to the anchoring element while held in position by the winch. The invention further relates to the use of a motorized winch to connect a cable to an anchor block when erecting a tower tethered by a number of cables as mentioned above.

Abstract: A method for erecting a multirotor wind turbine (10) is disclosed. A carrier structure (1, 1a, 1b) is arranged circumferentially with respect to a tower structure (2) and hoisted to an upper part of the tower structure (2), using a hoisting arrangement, such as a wire winch arrangement (3, 4, 8). Furthermore, energy generating units (5) may be hoisted to the carrier structure (1, 1a, 1b) using the hoisting arrangement (3, 4, 8). A similar method for dismantling a multirotor wind turbine (10) is also disclosed. The multirotor wind turbine (10) can be erected or dismantled without the need for an external crane.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising a tower structure configured to hold a nacelle with a rotor and a parking structure for holding the rotor. To improve the ability to carry out maintenance and to allow easier assembly and disassembly of the wind turbine, the parking structure is configured to connect the rotor directly to the tower structure to thereby allow removal of the nacelle while the rotor remains fixed to the tower structure.

Abstract: This application relates to tower segment handling methods and apparatus and, in particular, to methods and apparatus for handling segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. The tower segments are combined into a tower section using a flat roller bed on which the segments can be assembled. A method of assembling a tower section is discussed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for lifting a component (1a, 1b) of a multirotor wind turbine (100) from an initial position to an operating position. The initial position is near a base (2a) of a tower structure (2) of the wind turbine (100) while the operating position is arranged at a distance from the tower structure (2), on a load carrying structure (3) connected to the tower structure (2) and extending away from the tower structure (2). By operating a first hoisting mechanism provided at or near a connecting point between the tower structure (2) and a load carrying structure (3), and a second hoisting mechanism provided at or near the operating position, the component (1a, 1b) is moved from the initial position to the operating position along a predetermined path. The component (1a, 1b) is finally mounted on the load carrying structure (3) at the operating position.

Abstract: This application relates to tower segment handling methods and apparatus and, in particular, to methods and apparatus for handling segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. The tower segments are combined into a tower section using a flat roller bed on which the segments can be assembled. A method of assembling a tower section is discussed.

Abstract: An alignment tool for the alignment of a pair of vertical flanges for the connection of the longitudinal edges of adjacent segments of a cylindrical section of a wind turbine tower, comprises mounting means for connecting the alignment tool to a portion of a vertical flange of a tower segment; and a longitudinal alignment head for aligning the vertical flange with an opposing vertical flange of an adjacent tower segment. The alignment head comprises a front portion extending in a forwards direction from the mounting means, the front portion comprising a lower guiding surface adapted to abut with a top guiding edge of the opposing vertical flange or a bracket or tool mounted thereon and to guide the alignment head over the top edge of the opposing flange, bracket or tool as the vertical flanges are brought towards each other during connection of the adjacent tower segments.

Abstract: A method for mounting a rotor to a drive shaft of a wind turbine, the method comprising placing a hub on a surface, attaching a first, a second, and a third rotor blade to the hub to thereby make a rotor in situ. To protect the blades and to avoid fixed lifting lugs on the rotor, the method includes the step of wrapping a sling about each of the blades, attaching each sling to a fitting, lifting each fitting to thereby raise the rotor from the surface, and attaching the rotor to the drive shaft while the position and orientation of the rotor is controlled by the slings.

Abstract: This application relates to tower segment handling methods and apparatus, and in particular to methods and apparatus for handling segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. The tower segments have support members facilitating storage and transport of the segments. A method of assembling and disassembling a tower section on a roller bed is also disclosed.

Abstract: This application relates to tower segment handling methods and apparatus, and in particular to methods and apparatus for handling segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their vertical edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. The tower segments are combined into a tower section using a flat roller bed on which the segments can be assembled. A method of assembling a tower section is discussed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of erecting a tower such as a wind turbine tower tethered by a number of cables where each of the cables extend between the tower and an anchoring element on an anchor block. The method comprises attaching at least some of the tethering cables to the tower, detachably fastening a motorized winch on an anchor block and connecting the wire of the winch to the end of a tethering cable. The winch is then operated to wind up the wire of the winch pulling the cable end towards the anchor block and into position for fastening the cable end to the anchoring element, where the cable end is then fastened to the anchoring element while held in position by the winch. The invention further relates to the use of a motorized winch to connect a cable to an anchor block when erecting a tower tethered by a number of cables as mentioned above.

Abstract: A lifting arrangement (1) for lifting a wind turbine tower segment (2), the lifting arrangement (1) comprising at least two component pulley arrangements (3) connected to a flange (5)of the tower segment, and at least one hoisting pulley arrangement (4), arranged to be connected to a hoisting apparatus. A rope (8) interconnects the component pulley arrangements (3) and the hoisting pulley arrangements (4), in such a manner that each component pulley arrangement (3) is connected to two hoisting pulley arrangements (4), or to one hoisting pulley arrangement (4) and a rope end attachment point (9), via the rope (8), and each hoisting pulley arrangement (4) is connected to two component pulley arrangements (3), via therope (8), the rope (8) being arranged movably in each pulley arrangement (3, 4). The tower segment (2) is automatically rotated from a first orientation into a second orientation during the lifting process. Load distribution among various parts of the rope (8) is ensured.

Abstract: This application relates to hinged tower segments and transport methods, and particularly to methods and apparatus for transporting and storing hinged segments of steel wind turbine towers. The wind turbine tower comprises a plurality of cylindrical vertical tower sections, which in the finished tower are mounted on top of one another. The vertical section of the tower has a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of wind turbine tower segments, the tower segments have vertical and horizontal edges and combine to form a complete vertical tower section by joining along their edges. Adjacent vertical tower sections are joined to each other along the horizontal edges of the wind turbine tower segments. Hinges are secured between tower segments and the tower segments rotated about the hinged axis to make them suitable for transport or storage. A method of assembling a tower section is discussed.