System for installing a cable in a tower of a wind turbine and method therefor

Abstract

A system for installing an electric cable in a tower of a wind turbine is provided. This system comprises at least one cable drum designed for carrying and controlled releasing of at least one electric cable for a wind turbine. Further, the system contains a drum support for rotatably supporting said at least one cable drum, wherein the drum support is configured to be mounted within an interior of a segment of the tower.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for installing an electric cable in a tower of a wind turbine, comprising:
 at least one cable drum designed for carrying and controlled releasing of at least one electric cable for a wind turbine;   a drum support for rotatably supporting said at least one cable drum, wherein the drum support is configured to be within an interior of a segment of the tower.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum support is designed to be mounted to an inner surface of a lateral wall or to a support beam of the segment 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  further comprising at least one releasable connector for mounting the drum support to an inner surface of a lateral wall or to a support beam of the segment. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the drum support comprises an axle and an attachment device, wherein the cable drum is rotatably supported to the axle. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  being configured that the cable drum, axle and attachment device can be disassembled. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the axle is fixed to the attachment device and the cable roll is rotatably supported by the axle or the axle is rotatably held by the attachment device and the cable roll is fixed to the axle. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1  comprising a locking device for preventing an undesired rotation of the cable drum or a locking device which is configured as a brake. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable drum comprises at least one electric cable for a wind turbine having a weight of more than 100 kilograms and a length of more than 60 meters, and the cable drum is designed for carrying and controlled releasing of said cable. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the cable drum comprises at least two different types of cables wherein the cables are wound in in a serial and/or parallel manner. 
     
     
         10 . A segment for a tower of a wind turbine comprising:
 a longitudinal axis;   a lateral wall surrounding the axis and or a plurality of support beams arranged partially parallel to the axis;   a platform mounted therein between mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis for receiving wind turbine related personal and equipment; and   a system for installing an electric cable in the tower of a wind turbine comprising
 at least one cable drum designed for carrying and controlled releasing of at least one electric cable for a wind turbine and 
 a drum support for rotatably supporting said at least one cable drum, wherein the drum support is mounted within an interior of the segment. 
   
     
     
         11 . The segment according to  claim 10 , wherein the drum support is mounted to the segment in such that the entire cable drum is fully arranged within the interior of the segment. 
     
     
         12 . The segment according to  claim 10  comprising a receptacle on an radially inner surface of the lateral wall or on one of the support beams, wherein
 the receptacle is designed to carry a cable saddle for supporting electrical cables between a nacelle and the tower during normal operation of the wind turbine, and 
 the system for installing an electrical cable is mounted to the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         13 . The segment according to  claim 10  comprising:
 a longitudinal ladder mounted to the inner surface of the lateral wall or to any of the support beams of the segment; 
 fixation means for fixing in respect to the segment a plurality of cables to the fixation means, wherein the fixation means are mounted in such suitable vicinity of the ladder that installation personal when present on the ladder is able to access these fixation means for mounting the cable thereto. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for installing an electric cable to a tower of a wind turbine, wherein the tower comprises at least one tower segment having a longitudinal axis, a lateral wall surrounding the axis and or a plurality of support beams arranged partially parallel to the axis, a platform mounted thereinbetween mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis for receiving wind turbine related personal and equipment, the method comprising the following steps:
 a. providing a system for installing the electrical cable within an interior of the at least one tower segment;   b. mounting a drum support for rotatably supporting at least one cable drum to the interior of the at least one tower segment;   c. mounting at least one cable drum carrying at least one electric cable for a wind turbine to the drum support;   d. erecting the tower including lifting the at least one tower segment;   e. unwinding the electric cable essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis through an opening in or near the platform;   f. fixing the cable in respect to the segment;   g. optionally repeating steps e) to f).   
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14  comprising the step: cutting the cable after step e) or f). 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 14 , comprising the step: disassembling the system into at least two separate components. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 14  comprising the step: disassembling the cable role into at least two separate components. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 16  and/or  17  comprising the step: lowering the components down from the platform. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 14  comprising the step: mounting a cable saddle for supporting electrical cables between a nacelle and the tower during normal operation of the wind turbine to the inner wall of the segment. 
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein no electrical power is required and only mechanical energy is used.