Crane stabilization system eases placement of offshore wind turbine blades
April 20, 2023
Huisman and Siemens Gamesa are co-developing a method for stabilizing offshore wind turbine components during installation.
Courtesy Siemens Gamesa / Huisman
Offshore staff
Courtesy Siemens Gamesa / Huisman
SCHIEDAM, the Netherlands—Huisman and Siemens Gamesa are co-developing a method for stabilizing offshore wind turbine components during installation.
This applies in particular to blades, but also nacelles and tower segments. According to Huisman, controlling the movements of the relatively light blades of a turbine when suspended from a crane, can be problematic due to wind load.
The duo’s travelling load stabilizing system for heavy-lift cranes comprises two pairs of tuggers working in unison to control the position of the load. One pair is placed on independent trolleys that travel on integrated rail along the crane’s stiff boom; the trolleys automatically follow the main block to maintain an optimized tugger line configuration.
A second pair of tugger lines deployed from the crane tip generate a force perpendicular to the first pair of tuggers. By approaching the load from two different directions, Huisman said, the system provides greater control than a conventional single pair of tuggers.
Courtesy Siemens Gamesa / Huisman
A control system maintains the position of the load, leading to a much stiffer restraint and a higher position accuracy compared to conventional tugger systems that rely on constant tension, the company added.
Should an unexpected overload occur, the system will give way but return to its position setpoint when the force drops below the threshold again.
The system can be operated from the crane's cabin or from an optional walk around box.
