Abstract:
A reinforcing structure 9 for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack 27 of layers 31 of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel 28. The length of each layer 31 is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack 27 has five layers 31, and each end has a single layer 31. The ends of each layer 31 are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip 33 extending the full length of the stack 27. The reinforcing structure 9 extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. During configuration of the blade components within a mould 37, the reinforcing structure 9 is introduced into the mould 37 by sliding the channel 28 along the surface of an elongate wedge 29 within the mould 37 along the curved path. The wedge 29 is oriented along its length at an angle depending on the curvature of the path at that position so as to guide the reinforcing structure 9 into the desired position. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure 9 are filled with structural foam 17, and the reinforcing structure 9 and the foam 17 are both sandwiched between an inner skin 18 and an outer skin 19.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade body, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mould (40) having a mould surface (43) for forming a first blade body having a first length, the mould having a mould root end and a mould tip end (42); placing a removable insert (50) on the mould surface towards the mould tip end to form a modified mould surface for forming a second blade body having a second length which is less than the first length; and forming the second blade body on the modified mould surface.
Abstract:
A reinforcing structure 9 for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack 27 of layers 31 of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel 28. The length of each layer 31 is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack 27 has five layers 31, and each end has a single layer 31. The ends of each layer 31 are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip 33 extending the full length of the stack 27. The reinforcing structure 9 extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. During configuration of the blade components within a mould 37, the reinforcing structure 9 is introduced into the mould 37 by sliding the channel 28 along the surface of an elongate wedge 29 within the mould 37 along the curved path. The wedge 29 is oriented along its length at an angle depending on the curvature of the path at that position so as to guide the reinforcing structure 9 into the desired position. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure 9 are filled with structural foam 17, and the reinforcing structure 9 and the foam 17 are both sandwiched between an inner skin 18 and an outer skin 19.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade body, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mould (40) having a mould surface (43) for forming a first blade body having a first length, the mould having a mould root end and a mould tip end (42); placing a removable insert (50) on the mould surface towards the mould tip end to form a modified mould surface for forming a second blade body having a second length which is less than the first length; and forming the second blade body on the modified mould surface.
Abstract:
A reinforcing structure 9 for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack 27 of layers 31 of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel 28. The length of each layer 31 is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack 27 has five layers 31, and each end has a single layer 31. The ends of each layer 31 are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip 33 extending the full length of the stack 27. The reinforcing structure 9 extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. During configuration of the blade components within a mould 37, the reinforcing structure 9 is introduced into the mould 37 by sliding the channel 28 along the surface of an elongate wedge 29 within the mould 37 along the curved path. The wedge 29 is oriented along its length at an angle depending on the curvature of the path at that position so as to guide the reinforcing structure 9 into the desired position. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure 9 are filled with structural foam 17, and the reinforcing structure 9 and the foam 17 are both sandwiched between an inner skin 18 and an outer skin 19.
Abstract:
A reinforcing structure 9 for a wind turbine blade is in the form of an elongate stack 27 of layers 31 of pultruded fibrous composite strips supported within a U-shaped channel 28. The length of each layer 31 is slightly different to create a taper at the ends of the stack; the centre of the stack 27 has five layers 31, and each end has a single layer 31. The ends of each layer 31 are chamfered, and the stack is coated with a thin flexible pultruded fibrous composite strip 33 extending the full length of the stack 27. The reinforcing structure 9 extends along a curved path within the outer shell of the blade. During configuration of the blade components within a mould 37, the reinforcing structure 9 is introduced into the mould 37 by sliding the channel 28 along the surface of an elongate wedge 29 within the mould 37 along the curved path. The wedge 29 is oriented along its length at an angle depending on the curvature of the path at that position so as to guide the reinforcing structure 9 into the desired position. The regions of the outer shell of the blade on either side of the reinforcing structure 9 are filled with structural foam 17, and the reinforcing structure 9 and the foam 17 are both sandwiched between an inner skin 18 and an outer skin 19.