Abstract:
A yaw ring assembly (1) for a yaw gear of a wind turbine is disclosed. The yaw ring assembly (1) comprises a yaw ring (2), and a plurality of independent tooth parts (9) mounted circumferentially on the yaw ring (2). A single tooth part (9) can easily be replaced without dismantling the yaw ring assembly (1) or replacing the entire yaw ring assembly (1). A load distribution among the teeth (9) is obtained which resembles the load distribution in a yaw ring having the teeth formed directly therein.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for applying a layer of material to a leading edge of a wind turbine blade. The apparatus comprises: a flexible substrate capable of supporting the layer of material, the flexible substrate being reconfigurable between convex and concave configurations; and a support structure for supporting the flexible substrate in the concave and convex configurations. The flexible substrate and support structure are configured such that in use, with the flexible substrate in the convex configuration, the layer of material can be offered up to the leading edge of the wind turbine blade in a convex form to define an initial area of contact between the layer of the material and the leading edge, and thereafter the flexible substrate can be reconfigured into the concave configuration by increasing the area of contact between the layer of material and the leading edge, such that the layer of material is applied to, and adopts the contours of, at least a portion of the leading edge.
Abstract:
A method of making a wind turbine blade in a blade mould is described. The wind turbine blade comprises a plurality of elongate reinforcing structures each comprising a stack of strips of fibre- reinforced polymeric material, and the method comprises: stacking strips of fibre-reinforced polymeric material to form a plurality of stacks (40), each defining a longitudinal axis; aligning the stacks relative to one another in an alignment zone outside the blade mould; supporting the stacks to maintain their relative alignment; transferring the plurality of stacks into the blade mould simultaneously while maintaining the relative alignment of stacks as the stacks are transferred; and integrating the stacks with other blade materials forming the blade in the blade mould. An apparatus for use in the method is also described.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade comprising at least two wind turbine blade sections connected in a blade connection joint, where each blade section at their connection end comprises a number of corresponding dentations arranged to interconnect across the blade connection joint. One of the blade sections comprises a spar cap structure and a connecting part with a first end joined to the spar cap structure and an opposite second end positioned at the blade section connection end and comprising a number of the dentations. The connecting part further comprises a number of sheets which are interleaved with the fibre-reinforced layers of the spar cap structure in an overlapping zone thereby joining the spar cap structure and the connecting part. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a wind turbine blade section as mentioned above. The invention also relates to a method of preparing a sheet for a connecting part with a number of dentations at one end, which method involves cutting and rolling a number of unidirectional prepreg sheets to form fingers, placing in an open mould the fingers next to each other and partially apart such as to form the dentations, closing the mould, and fully or partially curing the sheet.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade comprising a lightning protection system is provided. The lightning protection system comprises a lightning conductor located along a longitudinal portion of the wind turbine blade and is coupled to an electrical ground. A lightning receptor module is arranged on an external surface of the wind turbine blade and electrically coupled to the lightning conductor. An elongate receptor band is installed on the external surface of the wind turbine blade, over the lightning receptor module, and the receptor band is arranged to receive a stroke of lightning and transfer electrical current from the lightning stroke to the lightning conductor through the lightning receptor module. Further, the elongate receptor band comprises a crease in a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the elongate receptor band.A method of installing a lightning protection system on a wind turbine blade is further provided.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of operating a wind turbine (1) to guard against oscillations of the wind turbine blades (5) when they are at a standstill or idling at low speeds, and to a wind turbine blade anti-oscillation apparatus (10). The apparatus comprises a releasably attachable blade cover (10) that provides a non-aerodynamic surface for a region of the blade. This has been found to prevent air flow adhering to the blade and periodically detaching in a phenomenon known as vortex shedding, and therefore prevents oscillations of the blade becoming problematic. The blade cover can comprise a sleeve (10) of a net-like material, that can be positioned on the blade either before installation or in the field by service engineers using guide lines 16 and 17.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a tubular element (2) for a wind turbine blade of a reinforced polymeric material. The method provides a female mould (1) with a shape defining inner surface (3), and a core (7) being adapted to be arranged in the tubular cavity (5) of the female mould (4). Layers of fabric (6) of a fibre material is arranged along the lower inner surface of the lower mould portion, followed by arranging the core in the tubular cavity, and overlapping of end portions of the layers of fabric t form a closed tubular structure of the tubular element. Subsequently, the female mould is closed, and the layers of fabric and a resin are processed to provide the tubular element of a reinforced polymeric material.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a gearbox for a wind turbine. The gearbox comprises at least one first epicyclical gear stage, at least one second gear stage, and a torque transferring shaft comprising a shaft part and a connection part, wherein the torque transferring shaft is adapted for connecting a first gear of the first epicyclical gear stage with a second gear of the second gear stage and wherein the torque transferring shaft is connected to the second gear stage via said connection part to form a torque- transferring connection area between the connection part and the second gear stage and wherein the outer diameter of the shaft part of the torque transferring shaft is smaller than an inner diameter of the connection area between said torque transferring shaft and said second gear stage. The invention further relates to a method of converting wind energy into electrical energy in a wind turbine use of a gearbox for a wind turbine.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a drive train. The drive train includes at least a rotor for transforming wind into rotation of a rotor hub, to provide a drive torque, a generator for transforming at least a part of the drive torque into electrical power, and at least one coupling for connecting a first drive train component to a second drive train component for transferring said drive torque between the components. The coupling comprises a first coupling part with a first coupling area, the first coupling area being connected with a second coupling area of a second coupling part, whereby the drive torque is transferred from one of the areas to the other of the areas during operation of said coupling, wherein the first coupling area is provided with a first positive engaging structure engaging a corresponding second positive engaging structure of the second coupling area, and wherein both the first and second positive engaging structures are extending inwardly from positions near or at an outer periphery of the first and second coupling parts, respectively. The invention further relates to a method for coupling a first drive train component of the drive train of a wind turbine to a second drive train component of the drive train and use of a wind turbine.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine (1) comprising at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades (5). Each blade (5) comprise pitch bearings (9) including two or more bearing rings (24, 25, 26), and pitch controlling means for pitching the blades (5) by means of the bearings (9). The blades (5) are mounted on a hub (7) via the pitch bearings (9) and the pitch bearings (9) comprise separate flexibility enhancing means (10, 11, 12, 14, 19, 20, 28) for controlling loads in the bearings (9). The invention further relates to a use hereof.