How can maintenance crews safely and cost effectively service &/or replace wind turbines that are located above “cherry picker” truck or crane levels?
Servicing can be accomplished either through the WARP tower interior or (optionally) the exterior. The preferred interior approach protects service personnel from hostile environments. Typically, traveling within the WARP core tower, a man lift or elevator can access any module. To service or remove a wind turbine, an access panel is removed from a parked/locked-down module. A platform deployed from the elevator extends through the access port for conducting repair or equipment removal. For removal of a generator, a telescoping engine type hoist on the elevator can provide means to retrieve it to the interior for subsequent disposition to the tower base. An exterior approach is also possible.