Wind turbine blade treatment apparatuses and methods
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wind turbine blade treatment apparatus comprises a support having a frame with an edge follower configured to be positioned near an edge of a wind turbine blade. The support also includes a side member connected to the frame, configured to extend at least partially along a width of the wind turbine blade and to be positionable near the wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade treatment apparatus further comprises a sprayer connected to the support, configured to spray fluid onto the wind turbine blade.
1. A wind turbine blade treatment apparatus, comprising:
a support comprising:
a frame with an edge follower configured to be positioned at or near an edge of a wind turbine blade, and
a side member connected to the frame, configured to extend at least partially along a width of the wind turbine blade and to be positionable near the wind turbine blade;
a sprayer connected to the support, configured to spray fluid onto the wind turbine blade, at least one sprayer being directly connected to the side member;
a linkage member rotatably connecting the side member to the frame, configured to enable the side member to be positioned near the wind turbine blade; and
a restraining device extending between the frame and linkage member, configured to cause rotation of the linkage member.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the edge of the wind turbine blade is a leading edge.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the edge of the wind turbine blade is a trailing edge.
4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the restraining device comprises an elastic member.
5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
a separator structure attached to the side member having a traversing end positionable near the wind turbine blade, the separator structure being configured to extend between the side member and the wind turbine blade to position the side member a predetermined distance away from the wind turbine blade; and
a mobility component attached to the traversing end of the separator structure, configured to facilitate movement along a surface of the wind turbine blade as the frame is moved along a length of the wind turbine blade.
6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the side member comprises a plurality of side members and the apparatus further comprises a flexible tube extending between two of the plurality of side members to allow the plurality of side members to be positioned near the wind turbine blade without disrupting fluid supply to the sprayer.
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a camera attached to the support.
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a hoist attached to the support for lifting and lowering the treatment apparatus.
9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sprayers connected to the support.
10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising at least one valve for selectively shutting off a portion of the sprayers while a second portion of the sprayers remain active.
11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the valve is solenoid valve controlled by a timer or radio frequency.
12. A wind turbine blade treatment apparatus, comprising:
a support configured to extend at least partially along a width of the wind turbine blade, the support further including:
an edge follower configured to be positioned at or near an edge of a wind turbine blade, wherein the edge follower comprises a motorized roller configured to move the support along an edge of the wind turbine blade, and
a biased hinge configured to allow for contraction or expansion of the support in relation to changing dimensions of the wind turbine blade along a length of the wind turbine blade; and
a sprayer connected to the support configured to spray fluid onto the wind turbine blade,
wherein the width of the wind turbine blade comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge that is opposite the leading edge and narrower than the leading edge, and
wherein the wind turbine blade treatment apparatus is configured to embrace and move along one of the leading edge or the trailing edge.
13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the edge follower includes a motorized wheel that causes the apparatus to travel along a length of the wind turbine blade.
14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising passive mobility components configured to contact the wind turbine blade resulting from pressure provided by the biasing hinge.
15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising a lower arm attachment with an additional mobility component and an additional sprayer, the lower arm attachment extending the support further along the width of the wind turbine blade.
16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising a camera attached to the support.
17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 , comprising a plurality of sprayers connected to the support.
18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 17 , further comprising at least one valve for selectively shutting off a portion of the sprayers while a second portion of the sprayers remain active.
19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 , wherein the valve is solenoid valve controlled by a timer or radio frequency.
20. A wind turbine blade treatment system, comprising:
a wind turbine blade treatment apparatus having
a support with an edge follower configured to be positioned at or near an edge of a wind turbine blade, the support also configured to extend at least partially along a width of the wind turbine blade and to be positionable near the wind turbine blade, wherein the support includes a frame and a side member connected to the frame, wherein the edge follower is part of the frame, and the side member is configured to extend at least partially along a width of the wind turbine blade;
a linkage member rotatably connecting the side member to the frame, configured to enable the side member to be positioned near the wind turbine blade;
a restraining device extending between the frame and linkage member, configured to cause rotation of the linkage member;
a sprayer connected to the support, configured to spray fluid onto the wind turbine blade, at least one sprayer directly connected to the side member;
a conveyor connected to the wind turbine blade treatment apparatus, configured to move the treatment apparatus along a length of the wind turbine blade; and
a fluid supply connected to the wind turbine blade treatment apparatus.
21. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the edge follower includes a mobility component configured to follow the wind turbine blade.
22. A system in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the edge follower includes multiple motorized mobility components configured to be positioned at or near a leading edge of the wind turbine blade.
23. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the conveyor comprises a winch and a cable or rope.
24. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the conveyor comprises a hoist attached to the wind turbine blade treatment apparatus and a cable or rope.
25. A system in accordance with claim 21 , wherein the conveyor comprises a motor attached to a mobility component, wherein the motor moves the mobility component, thereby causing the support to move along the wind turbine apparatus.
26. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the conveyor and the fluid supply are located on a utility vehicle.
27. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the conveyor is located on the wind turbine blade treatment apparatus, and the fluid supply is located on a utility vehicle.
28. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the fluid supply comprises a cleaning fluid.
29. A system in accordance with claim 20 , wherein the fluid supply comprises a coating material or paint.