Wind turbine blade
By installing RF position identification devices inside wind turbine blades, the problem of determining the position of components such as ballast tanks has been solved, enabling accurate and non-invasive position identification and material delivery, improving maintenance efficiency and reducing the risk of damage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS
- Filing Date
- 2021-09-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-24
AI Technical Summary
During on-site maintenance and repair of wind turbine blades, it is difficult to accurately and non-invasively determine the location of balancing components such as ballast tanks, leading to maintenance difficulties and potential shell damage.
RF position identification devices, such as RFID chips, are installed inside the internal volume of wind turbine blades. The positions of these components are identified from the outside by RF detection devices, ensuring accurate drilling and material delivery.
It enables accurate and non-invasive determination of the location of components such as ballast tanks along the blade length, improving maintenance efficiency and reducing the risk of shell damage.
Smart Images
Figure CN116075635B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates generally to wind turbines, and more specifically to wind turbine blades. Other aspects of the invention relate to methods relating to the assembly and / or maintenance of wind turbine blades. Background Technology
[0002] In a typical wind turbine, for example Figure 1 As shown and generally referred to as 10, a rotor is mounted on a tower 12, carrying multiple equidistant wind turbine blades 14, 16, and 18. The rotor is connected to a generator (not shown) such that as the wind drives the blades 14, 16, and 18, and thus the rotor, rotation, the kinetic energy in the blades caused by the wind is converted into electricity by the generator. Modern wind turbine blades typically include a shell defining the aerodynamic profile of the blade. The shell is typically formed by two half-shells that extend from the root tip of the blade in the spanwise direction to the tip tip, and extend chordally between the leading and trailing edges of the blade.
[0003] Balancing assemblies are typically provided for blades 14, 16, and 18 to establish proper balance among the three blades when they are assembled onto the rotor. The balancing assembly for each blade usually includes a ballast chamber located within the blade's internal volume. The ballast chamber is filled with ballast material by drilling through the blade's shell and introducing ballast material through the drilled opening. Ballast material is introduced into each blade 14, 16, and 18 in the correct proportions to balance the mass torque between the blades. Ballasting is performed on-site when the blades are manufactured and assembled, or occasionally after the blades are mounted on the tower. Modern wind turbine assemblies are very large, with tower heights around 100 meters and blade lengths exceeding 60 meters. Therefore, on-site blade maintenance and repair can be difficult due to the shear height and size of the assemblies.
[0004] Precision and accuracy in positioning the balancing components within the blade are essential whenever ballast is applied. Blades typically also support other internal components, including lightning conductor systems and anti-icing components, and reliable means of locating these components within the blade volume are required for servicing them. In known systems, a simple “bump test” is commonly used to locate blade features, but this test lacks complexity and can lead to inaccuracies in determining location.
[0005] In view of this background, the present invention has been designed. Summary of the Invention
[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, a wind turbine blade is provided having a root end and a tip end. The wind turbine blade includes a blade shell extending from the root end to the tip end in the spanwise direction. The blade shell defines an internal blade volume, and at least one blade feature is located within the internal blade volume. The blade is provided with an RF position identification device configured for detection by an RF detection device external to the blade to determine a reference position of the blade and / or the blade feature.
[0007] This invention offers particular advantages when applied to wind turbine blades equipped with balancing components (e.g., ballast tanks) to allow for blade balancing. The invention allows for the accurate and non-invasive determination of the ballast tank's reference position along the blade length (particularly the wingspan). Therefore, the blade casing can be drilled at appropriate locations to establish suitable delivery paths for introducing ballast material into the ballast tank.
[0008] In some embodiments, the RF position identification device may be carried by a blade feature.
[0009] In other embodiments, the RF position identification device is mounted on the surface of the blade feature.
[0010] The RF position identification device does not need to be carried by the blade feature itself, but can be carried by the blade (e.g., the inner surface of the blade) at a position corresponding to the reference position of the blade feature.
[0011] This may be advantageous if the blade feature is not suitable for attaching an RF position identification device to the blade feature.
[0012] The RF position identification device may include multiple RF position identification devices, each of which is carried at a different position on the blade feature to define multiple reference positions of the blade feature.
[0013] The blade features may take the form of a balancing assembly or include a balancing assembly, such as a ballast tank configured to receive ballast material.
[0014] Alternatively, the blade features may include a lightning receiver device.
[0015] The blade features may include at least one anti-icing component.
[0016] In some embodiments, the RF detection device can be configured to identify the position of the RF position identification device in the spanwise direction of the blade.
[0017] In some embodiments, the RF position identification device includes a plurality of RF identification devices, each of which is mounted at a different position on the inner surface of the blade housing to define a plurality of reference positions of the blade.
[0018] In a second aspect, a method is provided for detecting a reference position of a wind turbine blade having an internal blade volume defined by a blade shell, wherein a blade feature is located within the internal blade volume. The method includes applying an RF position identification device to the blade feature and / or the blade, and generating an RF position signal via the RF position identification device. The method further includes detecting the RF position signal at an RF detection device outside the blade; and determining a reference position based on the detection of the RF position signal.
[0019] In this method, the RF position identification device may include a plurality of RF position identification devices arranged at regularly spaced positions on the blade housing, and the method includes: generating an RF position signal for each of the RF position identification devices; detecting the RF position signal at an RF detection device; and determining a scale for a reference position based on the detection of the RF position signal.
[0020] According to a prior aspect of the invention, the invention also extends to a method of filling a ballast pod within an internal volume of a wind turbine blade, the method comprising: applying an RF position identification device to the ballast pod or to the blade at a position corresponding to the position of the ballast pod within the blade; identifying the position of the ballast pod within the internal blade volume by detecting the aforementioned or each RF position signal using the method of the prior aspect; drilling, forming, and / or machining an opening into the blade shell at a position depending on the identified position of the ballast pod; and introducing ballast material into the ballast pod through the opening.
[0021] The optional features described with respect to the first aspect of the invention also apply to any other aspect of the invention, and for the sake of brevity, these features are avoided from being repeated. Attached Figure Description
[0022] Already referenced Figure 1 , Figure 1 It is a perspective view of a wind turbine including three equally spaced wind turbine blades.
[0023] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine blade in the chord direction, showing the ballast hull located within the internal volume of the blade;
[0025] Figure 3 Is with Figure 2 A perspective view of a ballast tank used together with wind turbine blades;
[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 2A cross-sectional view of a wind turbine blade and an RF position identification device for the blade along the chord direction;
[0027] Figure 5 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine blade with a lightning conductor system in the spanwise direction. Figure 5 (b) is Figure 5 (a) shows a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine blade in the chord direction; and
[0028] Figure 6 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a wind turbine blade with an anti-icing system in the spanwise direction. Figure 6 (b) is Figure 6 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the blade in the chord direction. Detailed Implementation
[0029] refer to Figure 2 For use in wind turbine 10 (e.g.) Figure 1 The wind turbine blade 20 (shown in the diagram) includes a first half-shell 22 and a second half-shell 24, each extending from the root end to the tip end of the blade 20 in the spanwise direction. Figure 2 In this context, the abbreviations WW, LW, and LE refer to the windward, leeward, and leading edge, respectively. Blade 20 extends chordally between its leading edge 26 and trailing edge 28. A first blade half-shell 22 and a second blade half-shell 24 are joined together to form a closed blade shell that defines the aerodynamic profile of blade 20 and is configured to capture energy from the wind incident on blade 20 during operation to drive the rotor. Blade 20 is provided with opposing spars 30, 32 and a shear web 34, each spars 30 on a corresponding side of the leeward (LW) and windward (WW) sides of the blade. The shear web 34 connects to the spars 30, and together these spars 34 form a reinforcing structure along the span of blade 20.
[0030] A wind turbine using blade 20 comprises multiple blades, which are mounted at equidistant positions around the rotor. Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the configuration of a wind turbine. The rotor is connected to a generator in a conventional manner to convert the kinetic energy from the wind-driven blades into electricity.
[0031] The blade shells 22 and 24 define an internal blade volume 40, which has an inner surface defined by corresponding inner skins 42 and 44 of the first half-shell 22 and the second half-shell 24. See also... Figure 3The balancing assembly, generally referred to as 46, includes a ballast chamber 48 located within an internal blade volume 40. The ballast chamber 48 has an outer surface 49 and is sealed at each end by a body head or endplate 50, 52. Together, the ballast chamber 48 and the endplates 50, 52 define a ballast volume 54 configured to receive ballast material. Each blade of the wind turbine assembly 10 is typically provided with a similar ballast chamber, allowing any one or more blades to be filled with ballast material to the desired extent. By adjusting the volume of ballast material within the ballast chamber, the mass of the blade can be adjusted, and therefore, the mass moment of one blade relative to another can be adjusted to balance the blades.
[0032] Each end plate 50, 52 of the balancing assembly 46 may be provided with an opening 58. Figure 3 (Only one is shown in the image), and the opening 58 may be located in the central region of the corresponding plate 50. The ballast tank 48 itself may include an air passage 60 ( Figure 3 (Not shown in the image), air passage 60 extends through the central region of the ballast tank between end plates 50 and 52. The air passage is defined by the wall of the ballast tank 48, which has a circular cross-section, as shown in the image. Figure 2 As shown, and aligned with the opening 58 in the plates 50 and 52 at each end. The air passage 60 allows air to circulate within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20 to prevent air pressure buildup within the internal volume 40 during use.
[0033] Ballast chamber 48 needs to be filled with ballast material to provide the required balancing torque on the blades of wind turbine 10. Ballast material is introduced into ballast chamber 48 by drilling through the shells 22, 24 of blade 20 and into ballast chamber 48 to create an opening (not shown). Ballast material is then introduced into the internal volume 40 of the blade through the opening via a ballast material delivery device. Ballast material is then introduced into ballast chamber 48 via the ballast material delivery device to achieve the required mass to balance the mass torque across the blade. Ballast material may initially be injected into the chamber in liquid form (e.g., polyurethane resin) for easy filling, and may subsequently harden. After the ballast chamber is filled, the holes in the shell are filled.
[0034] After the blades are assembled, and especially after the two shell sections 22 and 24 have been bonded together, ballast material is introduced into the ballast tank 48. After the shells 22 and 24 have been assembled, the blades 20 are weighed so that the required mass of ballast material can be determined.
[0035] Therefore, before entering the ballast compartment 48, the span position of the ballast compartment 48 within the internal volume of the blade 20 must be accurately determined.
[0036] Typically, the blades are transported to the area where they are assembled onto the wind turbine tower. Figure 1Prior to item 12), the process of drilling into the shells 22 and 24 and ballast tank 48 of blade 20 is performed in the blade manufacturing plant. The blades are typically mass-fitted before being transported to the installation site. Then, before blade 20 is actually assembled onto the wind turbine tower (at which point it becomes clear which of the three blades will be installed on the same tower), the ballast process is usually repeated on-site. Sometimes, the ballast process also needs to be performed after the blades are installed on the tower.
[0037] When performing ballast processes on-site, especially under external conditions and at considerable heights on the wind turbine tower 12, establishing the precise spanwise position of the ballast pod 48 for drilling purposes is particularly challenging. In any case, identifying the position of the ballast pod 48 within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20 is critical to ensure that ballast material is delivered effectively and in the correct location. Clearly, misidentifying the spanwise position of the ballast pod 48 can cause unnecessary damage to the shells 22, 24 of the blade 20, with costly consequences.
[0038] In this invention, it has been recognized that using an RF position identification device on the blade 20 provides a solution to the problem of accurately locating the wingspan position of the ballast compartment 48 within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20.
[0039] Reference Figure 4 The ballast tank 48 is provided with an RF position identification device 64 (also referred to as an RFID chip or tag) at a predetermined location on its surface. The RFID chip 64 includes a transponder (not shown) and an antenna (also not shown) for receiving and transmitting RF signals. Signals transmitted from the RFID chip 64 are detected at an RF detection device 66. The RF detection device 66 includes an RF transmitter / receiver 68 and is used to identify the exact location of the RFID chip 64. In an initial step, the RF transmitter / receiver transmits an interrogation signal 69 to interrogate the RFID chip 64. In a subsequent step, the RF transmitter / receiver 68 receives an RF position signal 71 transmitted from the RFID chip 64 after interrogation, enabling the determination of a reference position for the RFID chip 64, and thus the location of the ballast tank 48.
[0040] RF position identification devices can be directly attached to the blade feature, or alternatively, attached to the inner surface of the blade housing at a location corresponding to the blade feature. If the material of the blade feature is unsuitable for the device to be mounted, it may be helpful to avoid attaching the RF position identification device to the blade feature. For example, ballast tanks are often formed of mesh materials that are not always suitable for mounting RF position identification devices; therefore, in such cases, mounting the device to the inner surface of the blade housing rather than at a location corresponding to the blade feature may be more useful.
[0041] More specifically, during the balancing of blade 20 during manufacturing (or when maintenance), when it is necessary to determine the position of ballast chamber 48 within the internal blade volume 40, an RF interrogation signal 69 is emitted from an RF detection device 66 to interrogate the RFID chip 64 within blade 20. The interrogation signal 69 prompts a repeater within the RFID chip 64 to generate an RF position signal 71. The RF position signal 71 is transmitted back to the RF transmitter / receiver 68 via an antenna, where it is detected to identify the reference position of chip 64. Once the position of RFID chip 64 is identified, the blade housing 22 and housing 24 can be reliably drilled to access the internal volume of ballast chamber 48 based on the reference position. Ballast chamber 48 can then be filled with the required amount of ballast material for balancing purposes.
[0042] This RFID location detection method is based on the active reader / passive chip principle, where the RFID chip 64 only responds to interrogation signals 69 from the RF transmitter / receiver 68. In other embodiments, an active RFID chip may be used, which provides a return location signal 71 for detection by the RF transmitter / receiver 68, even without an interrogation.
[0043] exist Figure 4 In this configuration, the RFID chip 64 is located on the ballast tank 48, but it can also be provided on one of the end plates 50 and 52. The RFID chip can be located anywhere on the balancing assembly 46.
[0044] In other embodiments, multiple RFID chips 64 may be disposed on the ballast tank 48 to provide additional accuracy in determining the location of the ballast tank. In one embodiment, to establish a more accurate location of the ballast tank 48 within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20, multiple RFID chips 64 may be located on the ballast tank 48 and / or endplates 50, 52. Using multiple RFID chips 64 allows for the determination of multiple reference locations for the ballast tank 48. In this way, a complete “occupancy area” of the ballast tank 48 profile within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20 can be established if needed. Based on this occupancy area, the location of the most appropriate borehole for conveying ballast material can be determined. However, in many cases, identification of only a single RFID chip 64 will be sufficient to determine the appropriate borehole location for entering the ballast tank 48. This is because drilling into the ballast tank 48 at any particular span position on the blade 20 is not necessary, but rather drilling into the ballast tank 48 only at a certain point to allow ballast material to be introduced into the tank 48.
[0045] Other features within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20 may also be equipped with RF position identification devices to accurately determine their positions, for example, for maintenance and repair purposes. (Reference) Figure 5 (a) and Figure 5 (b) The blade 20 is typically equipped with a lightning conductor system 70 comprising multiple internal lightning receiver blocks 72. Each lightning receiver block 72 is equipped with an RFID chip (unidentified) for interrogation by an RFID detection device 66. In the same manner as previously described for the ballast tank 48, the system is based on an active reader / passive chip principle, such that an interrogation signal 69 is provided to the lightning conductor system 70 by the transmitter of the RFID detection device 66. Upon receiving the interrogation signal 69, the RFID chip on the lightning receiver 72 transmits an RF position signal 71 back to the RF transmitter / receiver 68. Detection of the transmitted position signal from the RFID chip can be used to determine the position of the lightning receiver block 72 from which the signal originates, thus allowing for an accurate determination of the position of the lightning receiver block 72 within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20. After the position of the internal lightning receiver block 72 has been identified, holes can be drilled in the blade housing to allow an external lightning receiver (unidentified) to be connected to the lightning receiver block.
[0046] refer to Figure 6 (a) and Figure 6 (b) The wind turbine blade 20 may also be equipped with an anti-icing system comprising multiple anti-icing components 74 (two of which are identified). As previously described, an RFID location identification chip (unidentified) is installed on each anti-icing component 74, such that an interrogation of the RFID chip on each anti-icing component by the RF transmitter / receiver 68 can be used to determine the position of the anti-icing component 74 along the wingspan of the blade 20.
[0047] In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of RFID chips may be positioned on the inner skin 42, 44 of one of the blade half-shells 22, 24. The RFID chips are positioned at regularly spaced intervals to provide a reference scale for the position on the blade 20. This avoids the need to mark or identify position information along the wingspan of the blade 20. When the position of the ballast tank 48 is known, a user can use an RF detection device to interrogate the blade 20 and determine the position of the RFID chips to establish a series of reference positions along the blade length. When the ballast tank 48 is installed, if the position of the ballast tank 48 or other features within the internal volume 40 of the blade 20 are recorded on the components of the blade 20, the position reference scale can be used to locate the ballast tank 48 once the blade shells 22, 24 are closed.
[0048] It will be understood that applying RF position identification devices to blades (e.g., to define a reference scale) and / or blade features (such as ballast tanks) may be beneficial.
[0049] Many modifications can be made to the above examples without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It should be understood that the features described with respect to each of the above examples can be readily combined with features described with reference to other examples without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A wind turbine blade (20) comprising a blade shell (22, 24) extending in the spanwise direction from the root end of the blade to the tip end of the blade, the blade shell defining an internal blade volume (40), at least one blade feature (46, 72, 74) located within the internal blade volume, the blade feature comprising a balancing assembly (46), the balancing assembly (46) comprising a ballast chamber (48) configured to receive ballast material, the blade feature carrying an RF position identification device (64) configured to be detected by an RF detection device (66) outside the blade to determine a reference position of the blade feature, thereby enabling the drilling, forming and / or machining of an opening into the blade shell at a location dependent on the identified position of the ballast chamber, and through the opening to introduce ballast material into the ballast chamber.
2. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein, The RF position identification device (64) is mounted on the surface of the blade feature.
3. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The RF position identification device (64) includes a plurality of RF position identification devices, each of which is carried at a different position on the blade feature to define a plurality of reference positions of the blade feature.
4. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein, The RF position identification device (64) is carried by the blade at the reference position corresponding to the blade feature.
5. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The blade features include a lightning receiver device (72).
6. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The blade features include at least one anti-icing component (74).
7. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The RF detection device (66) is configured to identify the position of the RF position identification device (64) in the span direction of the blade.
8. The wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein, The RF position identification device (64) includes a plurality of RF identification devices, each of which is installed at a different position on the inner surface of the blade housing to define a plurality of reference positions of the blade.
9. A method of filling a ballast pod (48) within an internal volume (40) of a wind turbine blade (20), the wind turbine blade including blade shells (22, 24) extending in the spanwise direction from the root end of the blade to the tip end of the blade, the blade shells defining the internal blade volume (40), the ballast pod (48) being located within the internal blade volume, the method comprising: At a position corresponding to the position of the ballast tank within the blade, the RF position identification device (64) is applied to the ballast tank; The position of the ballast chamber within the internal blade volume is identified by detecting the RF position signal using the following steps: The RF position identification device (64) is applied to the ballast tank (48) within the internal blade volume. An RF position signal is generated via the RF position identification device; The RF position signal is detected at the RF detection device (66) outside the blade; as well as The position of the ballast tank (48) is determined based on the detection of the RF position signal; At a location determined by the identified position of the ballast tank, an opening is drilled, formed, and / or machined to enter the blade housing; as well as Ballast material is introduced into the ballast tank through the opening.