Orsted has filed a patent for a system and method to transport wind turbine towers. The system includes a vessel to transport the towers to the installation site, a cradle to secure the towers horizontally during transportation, and an upending device to transition the towers from horizontal to vertical orientation for installation on a foundation. GlobalData’s report on Orsted gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Orsted, DC-DC converters was a key innovation area identified from patents. Orsted's grant share as of September 2023 was 37%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Transportation system for wind turbine towers
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230296083A1) describes a system and method for transporting wind turbine towers to installation sites. The system includes a vessel for transporting the towers, a cradle for securing the towers horizontally during transportation, and an upending device for transitioning the towers from a horizontal to a vertical orientation for installation on a foundation.
The upending device in the system consists of a pivot tool connected to the lower end of each tower and a lifting tool attached to the top end of the tower. This allows for the upending and lifting of the tower when connected to the pivot tool. The lifting tool can be connected to a crane for lifting the top end of the tower.
Additionally, the system may include one or more transporters, known as SPMTs, for supporting the towers horizontally and loading them onto the vessel. The patent also mentions the use of multiple vessels, with one vessel used for transporting the towers and another vessel equipped with the upending device.
To compensate for movement of the vessel during the transition of the tower to a vertical orientation, the upending device may include a motion compensating device. The cradle used in the system is a multi-purpose frame that supports the towers during onshore storage, load-out, and transportation on the vessel.
The method described in the patent involves securing the towers to the cradle on the vessel in a horizontal orientation, transporting them to the installation site, and then using the upending device to transition the towers to a vertical orientation for installation on a foundation. The upending process involves connecting the lower end of the tower to the pivot tool, attaching the top end of the tower to the lifting device, and lifting the top end to upend the tower.
The method may also include connecting the lifting device to a crane, which can be provided on a jack-up vessel or a floating heavy-lift vessel. Additionally, the towers can be supported horizontally using transporters and loaded onto the vessel. The patent mentions the use of multiple vessels, with one vessel for transportation and another vessel equipped with the upending device.
Overall, this patent describes a system and method that facilitate the transportation and installation of wind turbine towers, providing a more efficient and effective process for the wind energy industry.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Orsted, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
