Sarens replaces 17 t blade at Therparak wind farm

Since it was commissioned in 2018, this facility, located in Nakhon Ratchasima, has become a key part of Thailand's transition to cleaner energy use and achieving Net Zero by 2050, providing electricity to more than 30 000 homes in the region.

To carry out this work, the first step taken by the Sarens team was to conduct a preliminary study of the site in order to select the right equipment to carry out the work efficiently and in accordance with the strictest safety conditions. The main points considered in this exhaustive investigation were crane accessibility, ground bearing capacity, and the lifting sequences.

Following the study, Sarens team selected the SCC8000A crawler crane, with a lifting capacity of 800 t, opting for the main boom plus wind jib configuration. This equipment was chosen due to its high load capacity, given the infrastructure being worked on: wind turbines over 150 m high.

Sarens’ scope consisted of replacing one of the blades, with a weight of 17.5 t and a length of 67.2 m. The tower itself is 157 m high. This involved removing the old blade, then slewing and placing it down. Next, the new blade was lifted and installed in its corresponding position. The total weight of the operation amounted to 41.5 t.

The main challenges faced by the Sarens team in undertaking this operation were the weather conditions and the workspace itself. Firstly, there was limited space to carry out the lift, with restricted access routes and small working areas, requiring careful planning of equipment transport, traffic control, and positioning to ensure a safe and efficient operation. This, combined with strong winds in the region, required close supervision and precise control to avoid excessive movement during the lift, which was carried out only within the permitted wind limits to ensure safety.

The crane was transported from the Sarens yard to Nakhon Ratchasima in 5 days, requiring 44 trips. Although the crane assembly was challenging due to limited space and site layout constraints, requiring careful sequencing and strict adherence to assembly procedures to ensure safety, it was completed within the planned time frame of 5 days.

Theparak wind farm, located in Huaybong, is the most important wind farm in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, with a higher production than other wind farms such as Lam Takhong (with a capacity of 24 MW). It is also one of the most important in Thailand, although behind parks such as Khao Yai Thiang (100 MW), which is why it is considered strategic to achieve the country’s objectives of achieving 20% renewable energy in its grid by 2030, according to the country's Power Development Plan.

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Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/wind/14012026/sarens-replaces-17-t-blade-at-therparak-wind-farm/