From May 8th to 10th, 2021, ASAT trainers brought two models of portable powered ascending device, 

i.e., ACE-01 and ACE-31, to GaoChuanGuanTan wind farm in Xuyi County, Huaian City, Jiangsu Province 

to conduct the simulated training on maintenance of offshore WTG blades.  On the site, the blades of the

WTG No.13 had been repaired. The type of WTG used for the simulated training is Goldwind 2.0MW, with 

a blade length of 59 m.

Regarding to maintenance of off-shore WTG blades, normally the traditional blade maintenance platform 

is considered to be adopted as the first choice.  However, using ASAT portable powered ascending device

for blade maintenance breaks through the traditional thinking and enables the new maintenance solution 

to be put into practice.

Owing to larger elevation angle of the blades on offshore WTG, the distance from the blade tip to the tower 

is farther. At the time being, the distance from the blade tip to the tower of the mainstream models is normally 

about 15 m. The base platform of the offshore WTG does not have the condition for blade inspection and repair 

using blade maintenance platform as its sizes are too small. In order to meet the challenge, ASAT has designed 

a solution for offshore WTG blade maintenance by means of portable powered ascending device.

Two sets of portable powered ascending device are used in the solution. Two operators ascend from the 

ground by means of the portable powered ascending device and reach the working position easily without 

hauling assistance of the staff on the base platform, to process normal blade maintenance, such as grinding,

polishing, puttying,painting, drainage dredging and photo recording.  The work completed successfully is 

praised by the customers.

Comparing with traditional blade maintenance platform, portable powered ascending device has the advantages 

as follows:

1、Less equipment needed.

In addition to personal protective equipment, only 4 pieces of ropes, 2 sets of portable powered ascending 

device, several pieces of auxiliary ropes, anchor points and rope protective sleeves are required, the total 

self-weight of which is less than a quarter of that of blade maintenance platform.

2、No hauling needed from the ground.

Hauling to the blade maintenance platform is crucially necessary for offshore WTG blade maintenance.  

Because there is no position for hauling by the staffs on the base platform, a large vessel should be involved in 

the operation, for which the expense increases dramatically.

3、Faster ascending speed, higher efficiency.

Offshore WTG maintenance is greatly affected by climatic environments, and the window period suitable for 

operation is very precious. The lifting speed of the maintenance platform is about 8 m/min, but the ascending 

speed of the portable powered ascending device is 26 m/min, which is three times more as the lifting speed 

of the maintenance platform. The time saved from equipment running up or down can be used for maintenance 

work, so the working efficiency is improved.

4、Rigging of the fiber rope for portable powered ascending device is easier than rigging of the 

steel wire ropes for maintenance platform, and less likely to damage the blades.