Rotor Tilting Traverse

Rotor Tilting Traverse

Quick and safe assembly and disassembly of the rotor spider

The rotor star is assembled in several steps. The rotor star lying on the erector ship is first picked up in a horizontal position. After being lifted slowly and carefully, it is swivelled into a vertical position. Once it has reached its target position, the vertically suspended rotor star is mounted to the nacelle of the wind turbine at a dizzying height. Even in the case of dismantling, everything proceeds slowly and carefully: the rotor star hanging vertically on the nacelle is struck, lifted and swivelled back into the horizontal position. Finally, it is placed back on the jack-up erector ship as a complete unit in a horizontal position.

Gentle tilting process due to patented inner shell

The Axzion Rotor Tilting Traverse for offshore assembly of wind turbines is designed for use on jack-up erector vessels. It is used for the assembly and disassembly of complete rotor stars – i.e. the rotor hub with three mounted rotor blades – at sea. With the powerful tilting crossbeam, the rotor can easily be turned 90° in the air, even with the pre-assembled rotor blades. High loads are no problem, as the rotor, which weighs almost 150,000 kg, only needs an incredible ten minutes to turn. This is done with hydraulic cylinders permanently installed in the tilting crossbeam. Electric and hydraulic units are also permanently installed on the tilt traverse. It is operated and controlled by radio. Certification and acceptance were carried out by Germanischer Lloyd; the load test was carried out on the Axzion test stand in the company of Germanischer Lloyd.