Abstract:
A wind turbine rotor blade extension portion configured to be connectable to a rotor blade, the extension portion comprising a plurality of segments, located adjacent one another in a span-wise sense, an interface between adjacent segments being configured to inhibit transmission of loads between the segments, wherein each segment comprises: a first surface forming a suction side; a second surface forming a pressure side; and a third surface forming a trailing surface; the first surface being spaced from the second surface at a proximal region of the extension portion and the third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface at a distal region of the extension portion, to thereby generate an extended trailing portion of a rotor blade to which the extension portion is connected, in use.
Abstract:
A hub (1) for a wind turbine is disclosed, the hub (1) comprising a continuous shell forming an internal space within a hollow body, and the hub (1) further comprising a main shaft flange (2) adapted to connect the hub (1) to a main shaft and one or more blade flanges (3), each blade flange (3) being adapted to connect the hub (1) to a wind turbine blade. The hub (1) comprises one or more reinforcement elements connected to the shell and extending from an inner surface of the shell and inwardly into the internal space within the hollow body. This allows the regions between the blade flanges (3) to be small or narrow, thereby reducing the size and weight of the hub (1), while maintaining a sufficient strength and stiffness of these regions.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade or a part of a wind turbine blade. The method comprises arranging at least one of layer of uncured resin pre-impregnated fibres, called prepregs, and at least one layer of cured fibre reinforced resin in an at least partly overlaying relationship, and curing the resin of the at least one layer comprising uncured resin. The at least one layer of cured fibre reinforced resin is assembled with at least one layer of uncured resin-preimpregnated fibres prior to being placed on a moulding surface. The method may e.g. be used to manufacture a wind turbine blade shell member or a wind turbine blade spar member. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade shell member or a wind turbine blade spar member manufactured by such a method. The invention further relates to a pre-form for use in a wind turbine blade, the pre-form comprising at least one of layer of uncured resin pre-impregnated fibres and at least one layer of cured fibre reinforced resin in an at least partly overlaying relationship.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine (1) comprising a nacelle (3) and a rotor (4). The rotor (4) being rotatably mounted on the nacelle (3) by means of at least one main bearing unit (14). The main bearing unit (14) comprises at least one outer ring (7), at least one centre ring (8) and at least one inner ring (9) and wherein the centre ring (8) is capable of rotation in relation to the outer ring (7) and the inner ring (9) or the outer ring (7) and the inner ring (9) are capable of rotation in relation to the centre ring (8). The invention further relates to a method for servicing a main bearing unit (14) of a wind turbine (1) and a use hereof.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine (1) comprising at least two blade units (31). Each blade unit (31) comprises a pitch controlled wind turbine blade (5) and at least one pitch bearing (9) including at least one outer ring (24), at least one center ring (25) and at least one inner ring (26). The wind turbine (1) further include a hub (7) comprising a mount area (6) for each of the blade units (31). This wind turbine (1) is characterized in that the mount area (6) comprise at least two concentric load tranferring surfaces (10, 11) for attaching the blade unit (31), via the at least one pitch bearing (9). The invention further relates a hub and a use hereof.
Abstract:
A method for preparing a wind turbine blade shell member (2) comprising a plurality of elements (8) of cured fibre-reinforced sheet material is provided.. A plurality of elements of cured fibre-reinforced sheet material is provided in a mould, a resin is introduced between the elements of cured fibre-reinforced sheet material and the elements are bonded to adjacent elements by curing the resin. The method is particularly suitable for preparing wind turbine blade shell members due to the complex three-dimensional shape of the airfoils, which may be resembled by the relatively flexible cured fibre-reinforced sheet material.
Abstract:
An insert (26) for connecting a wind turbine blade (20) to a rotor hub (18) of a wind turbine (10). The insert (26) includes a bushing (44) having a main body (46) with a first end (50), a second end (52), a central bore (54) extending toward the second end, an inner surface (66), and an outer surface (76). A plurality of elongate ribs (48) extends from at least one of the inner and outer surfaces (66, 76) of the main body (46) and further extends along at least a portion of a length of the main body (46). The plurality of ribs (48) on the main body (46) defines a plurality of channels (108), wherein each channel (108) is formed by a section of the at least one of the inner and outer surfaces (66, 76) and an adjacent pair of the ribs (48). The insert (26) further includes a plurality of composite inlays (110), each composite inlay (110) positioned within and filling a respective one of the plurality of channels (108) of the bushing (44).
Abstract:
A method of installing a rotor on a nacelle (44) on a wind turbine generally includes providing a rotor hub counterweight assembly (10, 10') which are rotated and lifted from a downtower location to an uptower location at which wind turbine blades (50, 52, 54) are progressively attached and the counterweights (14, 16), (14', 16') are progressively removed. The rotor hub and counterweight assembly (10, 10') for use when installing a rotor on a wind turbine (46) generally includes a rotor hub (12) having first, second and third flanges (18, 20, 22), a first counterweight (14, 14'), a second counterweight (16, 16'), and a lifting apparatus connecting member (26, 26'). A lifting apparatus connecting member (26') is configured with at least two connection points (60, 62) being configured for allowing at least two of three operations including installation, rotating and lifting the rotor hub (12), and removal of the lifting apparatus connecting member (26').
Abstract:
5 There is disclosed a method of balancing a set of first and second modular blade sections for a set of blades of a rotor of a wind turbine. The method comprises determining a mass moment of the first and second blade sections, the mass moment being determined about an axis equivalent to an axis of rotation of a hub of the turbine when the blade section is assembled onto the hub. A plurality of blade section groups 10 are defined, each comprising a first blade section of the set and at least one second blade section of the set, each blade section group having a blade section group mass moment about the axis. The first blade section and the at least one second blade section in each group are selected so as to satisfy a minimised total ballast condition, to minimise balancing ballast to be added to the set as a whole, or a minimised 15 ballasting difference condition, to minimise the difference in balancing ballast added to different blades, or both.
Abstract:
A wind turbine rotor blade includes an elongate body having a root end configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The rotor blade further includes a connection joint at the root end for connecting the rotor blade to the rotor hub. The connection joint includes a plurality of connecting elements integrated into the root end of the rotor blade and including an eye that defines a bore through the root end of the rotor blade. The connecting elements may be formed from folded fiber rovings wherein the fold forms the eye. A method of making a rotor blade having the connecting element integrated therein, and a method of making the connecting elements are also disclosed.