Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine (1) with a drive train (12) placed partly or entirely in a nacelle (3) of said wind turbine (1). The drive train (12) comprises an epicyclical gearbox (15) including at least one gear stage (11) comprising a plurality of planet gears (10) meshing with a sun gear (7) and/or an annulus gear (8). The gearbox partly or completely speeds up the rotation speed of a rotor (4) of the wind turbine (1) to at least one generator (17) of the wind turbine (1). The drive train (12) further comprises at least one locally radial self tracking bearing (23) for enabling the rotation of the rotor (4) in relation to a nacelle structure (19) of the nacelle (3).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a pitch bearing (14) for a wind turbine (1) comprising a first and second axial row (9, 10) of bearing rolling elements, said rows being positioned in a distance of each other, and one or more radial rows (17, 18, 24-27) of bearing elements, where said one or more rows of bearing elements are positioned outside an area defined in between said first and second axial row. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and method for servicing a bearing hereof.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell member (2) having an incorporated fastening member (4) near the root is provided. According to the method, a fastening member 4 is positioned in a mould (14) with pre-fabricated sticks (8, 10) surrounding a substantial longitudinal part of the fastening member (4) prior to resin infusion. Furthermore, a wind turbine blade comprising a wind turbine blade shell member (2) with a fastening member (4) is provided. Finally, a guiding means for aligning a fastening member (4) relative to a further fastening member and/or relative to the mould during moulding and a subassembly comprising a guiding means is provided.
Abstract:
A mould (2) for preparing of large structures, such as wind turbine blades, is provided. Furthermore, methods of manufacturing and use of such a mould (2) are provided. The mould (2) comprises a support structure (4), an air-drainage structure (6) and an air-permeable surface member (8). The mould is particularly suitable for preparing of moulded items with an in-mould coating.
Abstract:
A connection between composites (10, 12) with non-compatible properties and a method of preparing of such connections are provided. The composites comprise first and second type fibres, respectively, as well as resin. The connection comprises a transition zone (52) between the composites (10, 12) having a layered structure. The transition zone may optionally comprise a transition member and the transition member may optionally be integrated with one or more of the composites. Examples of non-compatible properties where the present connection will be appreciated are great differences in stiffness, e.g. Young's modulus, or in coefficient of thermal expansion.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade having a spanwise direction extending from a root end to a tip end, and a chordwise direction. A spar cap extends in the spanwise direction and includes electrically conductive material. A lightning protection layer extends over the spar cap. The lightning protection layer includes a fabric web and a plurality of electrically conductive strands upon a surface of the fabric web. The electrically conductive strands are located adjacent an outer surface of the blade. The lightning protection layer has electrically conductive stitching joining the electrically conductive strands to the fabric web. The electrically conductive stitching contacts the spar cap and the electrically conductive strands to electrically connect the spar cap and the electrically conductive strands.
Abstract:
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a wind turbine blade (10) comprising an outer shell formed from first and second half shells (12a, 12b) joined together, the first half shell comprising a first longitudinally-extending web locator (56a) that is curved in transverse cross section. The blade further comprises a shear web (24) arranged inside the outer shell and connected between the first and second half shells. The shear web has a first web head (46a) that is curved in transverse cross section. The first web locator (56a) is one of concave-curved or convex-curved in transverse cross section, and the first web head (46a) is the other of concave-curved or convex-curved in transverse cross section. The curved first web head (46a) is seated in or on the curved first web locator (56a) and bonded thereto via a first bondline (68) that is curved in transverse cross section.
Abstract:
In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a modular wind turbine blade. The modular wind turbine blade comprises first and second blade modules configured for connection end to end and a plurality of mutually spaced first inserts which each have a fixed end integrated with a connection end of the first blade module, and a free end which projects from the connection end of the first blade module. The free ends have a profiled contour. The modular wind turbine blade further comprises a plurality of mutually spaced second inserts which each have a fixed end integrated with the connection end of the second blade module and a free end which projects from the connection end of the second blade module. The free ends have a profiled contour. The free ends of the first inserts abut the free ends of the second inserts when the first and second blade modules are arranged end to end, and one or more connection cavities are defined between the profiled contours of adjacent pairs of abutting inserts. The modular wind turbine blade further comprises at least one connecting element configured for insertion into a respective connection cavity to connect the first and second blade modules together. The at least one connecting element has a first end and a second end. The first end has a profile configured to intermesh with the profiled contours of adjacent first inserts, and the second end has a profile configured to intermesh with the profiled contours of adjacent second inserts.
Abstract:
A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a shear web (20, 22) bonded between first and second half shells (16, 18) is described. The method involves providing a web locator (40) on an inner surface of a half shell. The web locator has a fixed portion (42) and a spring portion (44) extending from the fixed portion. The spring portion is moveable relative to the fixed portion between compressed and relaxed states.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade assembly comprising: a first wind turbine blade portion having a first attachment portion and a first metallic plate, a second wind turbine blade portion having a second attachment portion and a second metallic plate, and at least one tension member for coupling to the first and second attachment portions to join the first wind turbine blade portion to the second wind turbine blade portion, wherein the first and second metallic plates are configured to abut in compression due to tension in the tension member when the first wind turbine blade portion is joined to the second wind turbine blade portion with the at least one tension member. Also, a method of joining blade portions to construct a blade.