Palfinger cranes for offshore wind farm

Palfinger systems and BESCO, its German sales partner, along with experts from the wind power industry, have developed a service handling concept for this purpose. The outcome is special nacelle and add-on cranes that have been adapted to the conditions of the turbine room and nacelle environment of the 5MW turbines.

The result is self-sufficient turbines which are not reliant on external lifting apparatus for supply or servicing work within a predictable framework. By using two different types of crane, work can be carried out in tandem, thus, reducing the time spent by the team on the wind turbine.

REpower and Areva Multibrid each have six wind turbines in the wind farm. REpower use a four-leg, lattice tower structure which ends at the work platform, while Areva Multibrid focuses on a three-legged substructure, merged under the water surface into a monopile. The platform cranes can be used up to a wave height of 2m.

The nacelle crane in the turbine room on top of the wind turbine is a Palfinger PK 40002MD-GL-WM (PWK400). When extended, it has a 14m outreach and offers high loads at close range, with a compact design, despite its’ power capacities, said Palfinger. Other features include cable winch, workman basket for cable repairs and maintenance, and optional sonar collision control system.

Both cranes were installed before the final installation of the wind turbine at sea, making it easier for the classification society and certifier to conduct the examination, and also for training crane operators and the service team.

Palfinger supplies the marine sector with knuckle-boom, telescopic shipboard and marine cranes.

BESCO is an engineer and selling agency based in Cuxhaven, Germany which supplies and installs approximately 140 cranes on ships and wind turbines per year.