Abstract:
A method of joining components of a wind turbine blade involves the use of an adhesive arrestor rail positioned at the side of a joining surface of a first member of a wind turbine blade, the rail arranged to form an acute angle to a second opposed joining surface of a second member of a wind turbine blade. The arrestor rail acts to retain flowable adhesive within the bonding area between two joining surfaces, ensuring a full and complete bond is provided between the blade members. The rail provides a valve action, deflecting to allow for excess adhesive to extrude past the rail, indicating that the bonding area between the joining surfaces is filled with adhesive. The arrangement of the arrestor rail results in a tapering edge of the adhesive bond layer between two members. The arrangement provides a reduced likelihood of substantial crack formation in the adhesive bond layer.
Abstract:
A system and method of mounting a wind turbine blade is described, designed to aid in the guiding and alignment of wind turbine blade roots with hub-side components, e.g. a blade pitch system. Furthermore, the system is operable to reduce the effect of blade root ovalisation. At least one circular collar is provided which can bear against at least a section of the mounting elements, e.g. blade root bushings, projecting from the root end of a wind turbine blade. The collar acts to absorb the forces pushing the blade root towards an oval shape, thereby providing for improved handling of blade root ovalisation and ensuring accurate radial alignment of mounting elements, e.g. stay bolt bores and blade root bushings. Such an improved alignment system reduces the likelihood of bolt failure as a result of component misalignments.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade is described wherein at least one stall fence is provided on the blade surface, where the stall fence is arranged such that it extends at an angle to the chord of the blade. The stall fence acts to re-direct airflow over the blade, to improve wind turbine performance. The stall fence may be a provided towards the blade root end, acting to divert airflow towards the root end of the blade to prevent separation of attached airflow. Additionally or alternatively, the stall fence may be arranged as a flow diverter provided towards the blade tip end, to increase airflow in the tip region for increased performance and/or to disrupt the formation of tip vortices.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade is described having noise reduction features. The blade has a plurality of projecting elements provided at the blade trailing edge to reduce the scattering noise produced during operation of the blade. The blade further comprises a fluid injection system which can inject a fluid into the turbulent airflow at the trailing edge of the blade, to absorb some of the turbulent kinetic energy at the trailing edge and accordingly further reduce the levels of output noise produced by the blade. In a further aspect, the fluid injection system may be adjustable to inject fluid in an upstream direction, i.e. against the oncoming airflow, in order to provide an increased absorption of turbulent kinetic energy from the incident airflow, and accordingly to provide improved noise-reduction characteristics.
Abstract:
A shear web mould system for manufacturing a wind turbine component in form of an I-shaped shear web having a web body and a first web foot flange at a first end of the web body and a second web foot flange at a second end of the web body is described. The system comprises a central moulding portion for forming at least a part of the web body, a first moulding plate for forming at least a part of the first web foot flange, and a second moulding plate for forming at least a part of the second web foot flange. The angles of the first moulding plate and the second moulding plate relative to the central moulding portion are adjustable.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade (10, 610) for a rotor of a wind turbine (2) having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft is described. A surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770) is attached to a surface of the wind turbine blade (10). The surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770) is attached to the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610) via at least a first attachment part (77, 77′), which is connected to a part of the surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770). The attachment part (77, 77′) comprises a flexible housing (80, 80′, 680, 780) that forms a cavity (81, 81′, 681, 781) between at least the housing (80, 80′, 680, 780) and the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610). The cavity (80, 80′, 680, 780) is filled with an adhesive that provides an adhesive bonding to the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part is described. Fibre mats and a root end insert are laid up in a mould part in a layup procedure by use of an automated layup system. The fibre mats are laid up by use of a buffer so that the fibre mats may continuously be laid up on the mould surface, also during a cutting procedure. The root end insert is prepared in advance and mounted on a mounting plate. The root end insert is lowered onto the mould by use of the mounting plate and a lowering mechanism. After the wind turbine blade shell has been moulded, the mounting plate is removed.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade (10, 610) for a rotor of a wind turbine (2) having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft is described. A surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770) is attached to a surface of the wind turbine blade (10). The surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770) is attached to the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610) via at least a first attachment part (77, 77′), which is connected to a part of the surface mounted device (70, 70′, 170, 270, 370, 470, 570, 670, 770). The attachment part (77, 77′) comprises a flexible housing (80, 80′, 680, 780) that forms a cavity (81, 81′, 681, 781) between at least the housing (80, 80′, 680, 780) and the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610). The cavity (80, 80′, 680, 780) is filled with an adhesive that provides an adhesive bonding to the surface of the wind turbine blade (10, 610).
Abstract:
A serrated panel (70) for a wind turbine blade is disclosed. The panel (70) is configured to be attached to the trailing edge of a blade to form a plurality of serrations (71) at the trailing edge of the blade. The serrated panel comprises a base part (72) for attaching the panel (70) to the trailing edge of the blade. An exterior surface (78) of the base part comprises a corrugated surface in direction between longitudinal ends of the panel such that the exterior surface comprises crests (82) aligned substantially with midpoints of bases (80) of the serrations (71) and valleys (83) aligned substantially between serrations (71).
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced polymer object by means of vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM), wherein fibre material is impregnated with liquid resin in a mould cavity comprising a rigid mould part having a mould surface defining an outer surface of the object, is described. One or more pressure sensors are connected to resin inlets of the VARTM system. A control unit is used for controlling a polymer supply unit based on measured resin pressure and is adapted to adjusting a resin flow rate, if pressure measured by the pressure sensors is below a lower threshold level or above a higher threshold level.