Hoisting One for Wind Power: Climbing Crane Expected to Keep Vestas Turbines Spinning [Slide Show]

A Danish wind-power provider develops its own technology to maintain towering turbines in gusts roaring at up to 15 meters per second

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL ITI Energy tested Orangutan on a tower built at one-fifth scale (compared with a normal turbine tower) and is now looking for partners to turn the prototype into a climbing machine that can be commercialized. © ITI ENERGY, PART OF SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE
ORANGUTAN ITI Energy's "Orangutan" wind turbine access system is made up of two friction clamps, connected by a hydraulic structure that allows caterpillar-like motion up and down the turbine tower. © ITI ENERGY, PART OF SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE
TOWER OF POWER The current version of the crane features a single crane arm that can install and remove gearboxes and generators. Future versions are expected to be able to do replacement or repair work to the rotor blades themselves. © VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
ON THE RISE Vestas is developing its climbing crane (still in prototype) to help avoid maintenance delays caused by a shortage of heavy cranes. © VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
Advertisement
STRONG ARM After the crane reaches the top of the tower it clamps its four claws around the post like a giant robotic hand to provide stability, allowing the crane to operate 100 or more meters above the ground in winds as strong as 15 meters per second. © VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
A NEW OPTION The Tower Crane, which measures 10 meters long, 2.9 meters high and 3.3 meters wide, ascends through a multistep process. © VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S