Barnhart erected 120 Vestas V82-80m wind turbines direct for EDPR in central IL. One value add innovation Barnhart developed came with the design and utilization of the tower top lifting beam. The V82 tower top required dampening oil to be installed after it was erected. The typical method of installation was to set the top, unrig, come back down and grab a small oil tank and fly it back to the top of the turbine and dump the oil. That process could easily add an hour, and even more when the weather was cold. One hour x 120 turbines x 11 person erection crew and main crane adds up… 120 crew hours alone would add 2 weeks to the project schedule. So, Barnhart developed a spreader bar that also doubled as a oil reservoir and even had a heater installed. The lifting beam was filled, attached to the tower top as normal and when the upending process began, so did the dumping of the oil. When the tower reached the top, the oil was fully discharged and the lifting bar/oil tank was ready to be disconnected. Innovative thought coupled with strong project planning and leadership led to a highly successful project and a delighted customer.
