Pro-Bel/Skyman 10/04 11010 MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT

wind turbine blade cleaning

BLADE ACCESS CLEANING SYSTEM

FOR WIND TURBINES

1-800-461-0575
www.pro-belusa.com
info@prob-bel.ca

SUSPENDED EQUIPMENT & FALL PROECTION EXPERTS

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 BLADE ACCESS CLEANI NG SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINES
Designed to Maintain Peak Generator Performance
EXPLANATION

The purpose of blade cleaning is to eliminate dust and insect buildup, which otherwise deforms
the shape of the airfoil and degrades performance. Blade cleaning is especially important in arid
climates where there is not sufficient rainfall to help keep the blades clean (reference: American
Wind Energy Association).

DES CRIPTION

The Pro-Bel/Skyman Wind Turbine Blade Access System is an innovative, engineered,

suspended maintenance solution to blade cleaning that is typically offered under a maintenance
service contract.

Typically, a Pro-Bel/Skyman crew arrives at the turbine site with specialized rigging equipment
consisting of a square-shaped modular aluminum platform with a “hole” in the center (square
donut). The platform, configured to suit the size of the blade, is suspended using twin traction
hoists and a four cable system secured to a single anchor point (upper suspension points) at the
top of the turbine tower on the underside of the nacelle or generator housing.

The cables from the hoists (two primary and two secondary) are also connected on the ground to
“pulling frame” structures mounted on a flatbed truck or trailer that reels the cables in and out to
access the blades. A movable counterbalance weight mounted to outriggers keeps the platform
horizontal during use.

The complete system is controlled from either the platform mounted central control box or the
ground and includes anti-tilt safety devices, emergency stop buttons, overload protection, top
limit switches and safety brakes connected to the two secondary steel wire ropes.

M aintenance personnel employ industry standard fall protection harnesses, lifelines and
anchorages.

Another area of concern over time is the maintenance of the tube itself; this requires another
smaller platform that is set up in the same manner as the blade access platform.

With this unit two smaller baskets are on the end in order to have some access to the blade if
required. A pull back unit is located on the trailer in order to pull the unit towards the blade.

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 KEY LI NE DIAGRAM

SIDE VIEW O F BLADE CLEANING SYSTEM

PLAN VIEW O F BLADE CLEANING SYSTEM

M odel: 11370000

M odel: S0710103

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US E

For horizontal rotor (propeller) type wind turbines mounted on conical tubular steel towers.

Access platform can be adapted to any specific size of wind turbine tower or blades.

Suitable for any tower height.

LIMITATIONS

Not recommended for lattice-type wind turbine towers. (special rigging is required)

FEATURES

Modular, convertible platform; can be adapted to any size of tower or blade.

S tandards conformance; system complies with OSHA, ASM E/ANSI and CSA safety
requirements and various materials standards.

Engineer certified; OSHA, ANSI and CSA states that anchorages supporting the platform be
designed by or under the direction of a registered professional engineer experienced in such
design. Pro-Bel/Skyman applications meet this criteria and anchor point performance is based
on data derived from testing and/or engineering calculations.

S ole responsibility; Pro-Bel/Skyman provides a complete service from structural anchorage

installation to blade cleaning.

S pecific liability insurance; all Pro-Bel/Skyman activities carry $5,000,000.00 + product

liability insurance coverage.

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RIGGING S EQUENC E

1. Rig the two primary and two safety wire ropes 2. Drive plat form transport vehicle up to base of
to upper suspension points on underside of nacelle tower directly below suspension points and prepare
or generato r, and to reeler hoist vehicle on ground. platfo rm fo r hoisting. Adjust position of balance
weights to level platform horizontally.

3. Drive reeler hoist vehicle 165’-0” (50 metres) 4. Lift assembled platfo rm into position and check that
away from turbine tower and align with vertical all controls are fun ctioning properly including
center line o f tower. communications between plat form and ground
personnel.

5. To move the platform up or down, operate hoists 6. To bring the platform out or in from the tower and
on main frame o f plat form. beneath the blades, operate the hoists on the reeler
hoist vehicle.

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 AVAILABILITY & COS T

Available throughout North America and Internationally. Contact Pro-Bel/Skyman for current
pricing.

WARRANTY

Normal one year against faulty materials.

TECHNIC AL CONS ULTATION

Pro-Bel/Skyman Limited provides a complete technical consultation service, available to

facilities owners and managers. Without obligation, Pro-Bel will provide interested parties with
a proposed blade access maintenance program to comply with OSHA, CSA or department of
labor requirements, including designing and installing anchorages.

PRO-BEL/S KYMAN

The Blade Access Cleaning System for propeller-type wind turbines is a joint venture service
being offered by Pro-Bel Enterprises Limited and Skyman International N.V.

Pro-Bel, with over 25 years experience in the suspended maintenance industry, has acquired a
reputation as a highly qualified authority for any organization contemplating on specialized
approach to suspended access requirements. Pro-Bel’s greatest customer benefit lies in an
extensive knowledge of rigging practices and expertise with OSHA, CSA and other safety
standards and regulations.

Skyman International N.V., manufacturers of a full range of suspended powered platforms, is

based in Belgium and operates through a distributor network in over 50 countries worldwide.
For the North American market, Skyman has established a strategic alliance partnership with
Pro-Bel Enterprises Limited. Together, the Pro-Bel/Skyman team of engineers are qualified
experts in the field of suspended access systems.

S E R V I NG U . S . A . A N D C A NA D A , C O A S T T O C O A S T .
PRO-BE L ENTERPRI SES LIMITED
He a d Offi ce
765 Wes tn ey Ro ad S,
Aj ax , ON Can ad a L1 S 6 W1
[ t ] 905.427.0616
[t f ] 800.461.0575
[ f ] 905.427.2545
[e] info@pro- bel .c a
W e ste r n Offi ce
#103-3 50, East K en t Av e S
Vanco uv er, B C, Can ada
V5 X 4N6
[ t ] 604.687.1301
[ f ] 604.687.1306
[ e] infov an @pro-b el .ca
PRO-GRESS • PRO-BEL
Pro -Bel U SA w ww.pro-bel.ca
29320 Union City Blvd.
Unio n Ci ty, CA, 9 458 7 USA Dis trib u ted By:
[t] 510.4 77.9666
[f] 510.4 77.9555
[tf] 866-577-6235