Apparatus, system and method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold (150) is provided. And the mold is arranged under a vacuum condition. The apparatus comprises a filling machine (110) for providing resin, the filling machine comprising a main hose (120); and a manifold (130) fluidly connected with the main hose (120) to receive the resin from the infusion machine. The manifold (130) includes a sub-hose (132) having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is in fluid connection with the manifold (130); a valve (140) in fluid connection with the second end of the sub-hose (132); a measuring device (146) for measuring a process parameter value; and an inlet (144) fluidly connected with the valve for providing resin from the manifold to the mold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosure herein relates to apparatus, systems and methods for manufacturing wind turbine blades, and more particularly to apparatus, systems and methods for providing resin to wind turbine blades. Background Art

[0002] Modern wind turbine blades typically include an outer aerodynamic shell supported by structural components inside the shell. The structural components may be constructed from composite laminates, which are typically made of glass and / or carbon. To interconnect the laminates of the structural components, resins are used. The resins ensure the stability of the laminates to support the stability of the blade.

[0003] To supply the resin to the laminate, Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion (VARI) is used. Thus, the resin is supplied to the laminate under vacuum conditions and then cured. The resin can be supplied by an infusion machine, whereby the resin is supplied to a central distributor placed away from the blade, for example on the floor next to the infusion machine, and the resin is supplied to the blade structure through a long tube. To stop the resin supply, a binary guillotine type mechanism is used, i.e. the tube is flattened so that the tube does not allow the resin to flow from the central distributor to the blade.

[0004] As blade sizes have increased over the years, the process has become increasingly challenging in terms of reliably supplying resin to large-area laminates. In addition, the process involves high material costs, large amounts of waste, and extensive cleaning. In addition, it is not possible to fine-tune the supply of resin.

[0005] In view of the foregoing, it would be beneficial to provide improved apparatus, systems, and methods for manufacturing wind turbine blades. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold. The mold is arranged under vacuum conditions. The apparatus comprises an infusion machine for providing resin, the infusion machine comprising a main hose; and a manifold, the manifold being fluidly connected to the main hose to receive the resin from the infusion machine. The manifold comprises a sub-hose having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fluidly connected to the manifold; a valve fluidly connected to the second end of the sub-hose (132); a measuring device for measuring a process parameter value; and an inlet fluidly connected to the valve to provide resin from the manifold to the mold.

[0007] According to another aspect, a system for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold is provided. The system comprises an apparatus according to embodiments described herein, and a vacuum holding structure for providing a vacuum at the mold.

[0008] According to another aspect, a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold is provided. The method comprises: pumping resin from a potting machine comprising a pump to a manifold via a main hose; distributing the resin from the manifold to the mold via a sub-hose fluidically connected to a valve; and measuring a process parameter value near the valve.

[0009] Embodiments are also directed to devices for performing the disclosed methods, and include device portions for performing each described method aspect. These method aspects can be performed by hardware components, by computers programmed with appropriate software, by any combination of the two, or in any other manner. In addition, embodiments according to the present disclosure are also directed to methods for operating the described devices. They include method aspects for performing each function of the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Therefore, the above features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail by referring to the embodiments, and a more specific description of the present disclosure can be obtained. The accompanying drawings relate to the embodiments of the present disclosure and are described below: Figure 1 shows a device according to embodiments described herein; Figure 2 shows a device according to embodiments described herein; Figure 3 A system according to embodiments described herein is shown; and Figure 4 A flow chart of a method according to embodiments described herein is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present disclosure, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same components. In general, only the differences with respect to the various embodiments are described. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the present disclosure and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. In addition, features shown or described as part of one embodiment may be used on other embodiments or used in combination with other embodiments to produce yet another embodiment. This specification is intended to include such modifications and variations.

[0012] In the following description of the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar components. Generally, only the differences with respect to the various embodiments are described. Unless otherwise specified, the description of a part or aspect in one embodiment also applies to the corresponding part or aspect in another embodiment.

[0013] The manufacture of wind turbine blades can be challenging due to several factors. In general, a mold comprising stacked laminate layers may be used. The stacked laminate layers may be interconnected to provide stability to the manufactured blade. Such interconnection may be provided by a connecting material, such as a colloid or resin-based material. Furthermore, wind turbine blades may comprise large sizes, i.e., lengths of tens of meters may be achieved. Furthermore, the amount of material used, and therefore the material cost, may also be very high. Furthermore, a large amount of waste material may also be generated, and cleaning and maintenance of the equipment may also be challenging.

[0014] In view of the above, and according to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a wind turbine blade including a mold. The mold is set under vacuum conditions. The apparatus includes a filling machine for providing resin. The filling machine includes a main hose and a manifold, and the manifold is fluidly connected to the main hose to receive the resin from the filling machine. The manifold can provide resin to the mold. The resin can enter the mold at the inlet.

[0015] As used in various places of this disclosure, "mold" may be understood as a prefabricated casting made of a specific material suitable for a wind turbine blade. For example, the mold or shell mold may be a composite structure. The mold or shell mold (i.e., the composite structure) may include or be made of fiberglass, a balsa wood core and / or a foam core and a polyester resin and / or an epoxy resin and / or a combination thereof. In addition, the mold may be a sheet metal mold, for example, in the case where a component with a simple geometry can be formed. The mold may include an outer shell and a plurality of stacked laminate layers thereon. The laminate may be made of carbon. The mold may have a length of several tens of meters, in particular 10m or more, more in particular 50m or more, even more in particular 100m or more, for example 107m. The mold may include a surface. The mold and / or the surface may be pre-bent. The mold may have a maximum cross-sectional length or maximum width between 4m and 5m, in particular 4.5m. Therefore, the root diameter may be 4.5m. The width may taper at one end and along the length of the mold. In addition, two molds may be connected to provide a blade.

[0016] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, a vacuum can be provided at the mold, that is, the mold can be set under vacuum conditions. The term "vacuum" can be understood as a negative process pressure, that is, a pressure between -0.1 bar and -1.0 bar. In particular, a pressure between -0.3 bar and -0.95 bar can be used throughout the manufacturing process, for example during different stages of the manufacturing process. Therefore, at any stage of the process, a pressure between -0.3 bar and -0.95 bar can be applied. During manufacturing, different vacuum levels (i.e., different pressure values) can be used to control the process quality. In particular, a vacuum can be provided at the mold. A vacuum holding structure can be arranged at the mold so that a specific pressure can be provided to the mold at any point in time throughout the manufacturing process. The vacuum state at a specific area of ​​the mold and / or the mold can be used as a measure of process quality and / or process progress.

[0017] As used throughout this disclosure, "resin" may be understood as a material used to connect multiple laminate layers. The resin may be a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy resin and / or a combination thereof. In addition, "resin" may be understood as a mixture of a resin and a hardener, the hardener being selected from the group consisting of, for example, peroxides, epoxies and / or a combination thereof. The resin may include a mixing ratio of resin to hardener in the range of 100:25, in particular in the range of 100:35. Additionally or alternatively, the mixture may include between 1% and 35% of hardener.

[0018] As used throughout this disclosure, the term "hose" may be used synonymously with the term "tube," and vice versa.

[0019] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the apparatus includes a potting machine. The potting machine may be configured to provide resin to the mold to connect multiple stacked laminate layers. The potting machine may include one or more pumps for providing the resin to the mold. Specifically, the potting machine may include one or more pumps for providing the resin and one or more pumps for providing the hardener. The potting machine may further include a mixer for mixing the resin and the hardener.

[0020] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the filling machine further includes a main hose and a manifold. The main hose or main pipe may include a mixer for mixing resin and hardener. The mixer may be a mixing pipe. The mixer may be arranged near the first end of the main hose or main pipe that can be connected to the filling machine. The filling machine may be fluidly connected to the manifold. The filling machine may be connected to the manifold via the main hose or main pipe. The main hose or main pipe may include a second end connected to the manifold. Therefore, the filling machine can be connected to the main hose or main pipe, and therefore can be connected to the manifold, so that the filling machine can provide resin to the manifold via the main hose.

[0021] According to an embodiment, which may be combined with any other embodiment described herein, a certain ratio of resin and hardener may be used. One or more pumps may be configured to provide the resin and / or hardener to the mixer in a preset amount to achieve the preset ratio. The resin and hardener may be mixed in the mixer in the corresponding ratio and provided to the manifold.

[0022] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold includes a sub-hose or sub-tube having a first end and a second end. The first end of the sub-hose is in fluid communication with the manifold. Therefore, resin can be provided to the manifold from the infusion machine via the main hose and provided to the sub-hose or sub-tube from the manifold. The manifold may be disposable. The manifold may include a size that matches the size of the mold. For example, the manifold may be disposed near the mold. Specifically, the apparatus may include a support structure for arranging the manifold near the surface of the mold. The manifold may be configured to distribute resin. Specifically, the manifold may be configured to distribute resin along the length dimension of the manifold.

[0023] Advantageously, by arranging the manifold in the mould and / or near the surface of the mould, the resin can be provided directly at the mould. Therefore, the length of the sub-hose or sub-tube can be significantly shorter than the hose or tube conventionally used in the art. Therefore, since the main and / or sub-tubes and the manifold are disposed of after use, there is less material waste disposal in terms of the pipe material and the resin material that may remain in the pipe material after manufacturing. Therefore, less environmentally unfriendly materials can be disposed of. Therefore, the cost of waste disposal can be reduced.

[0024] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the main hose may have a diameter between 1.905 cm (0.75 inches) and 5.08 cm (2 inches), in particular a diameter between 2 cm (0.79 inches) and 2.5 cm (0.98 inches), and / or a length between 2 m and 10 m, in particular a length between 5 m and 7 m, and the sub-hose may have a diameter between 0.635 cm (0.25 inches) and 3.81 cm (1.5 inches), in particular a diameter between 1 cm (0.39 inches) and 1.5 cm (0.59 inches), and / or a length between 0.1 m and 2 m, in particular a length between 1 m and 2 m.

[0025] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold can have a length dimension, including a plurality of openings along the length dimension, for connecting to the first ends of a plurality of sub-flexible hoses. Specifically, the manifold can be a hollow tube body having a length dimension. The manifold can include a plurality of sub-flexible hoses or sub-tubes. A plurality of sub-flexible hoses can be distributed over the length dimension of the manifold, for example corresponding to the plurality of openings. The length dimension of the manifold can be adapted to the cross-sectional length or width of the mold, specifically, the length of the manifold can be less than the cross-sectional length or width of the mold. The manifold can be made of a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, plastics, metals and / or combinations thereof.

[0026] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold includes a valve. The valve is in fluid communication with the second end of the sub-hose or sub-tube. Therefore, resin can be provided to the valve from the manifold via the sub-hose. The valve can be configured to allow resin to flow to the mold and / or can be configured to prevent resin from flowing to the mold. In particular, the valve can be configured to regulate the resin flow toward the mold, that is, the resin flow to the mold can be adjusted by the valve. The manifold further includes an inlet connected to the valve fluid for providing resin from the manifold to the mold. The inlet can be arranged at the mold, i.e., at the surface of the mold. The valve can be inserted between the first end of the sub-hose and the inlet.

[0027] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the valve may include an actuator. The valve can be adjusted to open and / or close by the actuator. The actuator can be, for example, a servo motor. The valve can be adjusted according to the process parameter value. The valve can provide a fluid connection between the second end of the sub-hose and the inlet at the mold. In other words, the inlet is connected to the valve fluid for providing resin from the manifold to the mold. In other words, the resin can enter the mold at the inlet. The resin can enter multiple stacked laminate layers of the mold. Therefore, the valve can adjust the resin flow from the infusion machine to the inlet at the mold, and in particular adjust the resin flow from the manifold to the inlet at the mold or into the mold. Therefore, the local adjustment of the resin supply can be adjusted and / or adjusted at the inlet at the mold, that is, the amount, pressure and / or flow rate of the resin can be adjusted and / or adjusted locally at the inlet at the mold. "Inlet" as used herein may include a pipeline from the valve toward the mold and an opening and / or device for maintaining the inlet at the mold to provide resin to the mold (i.e., to multiple stacked laminate layers).

[0028] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold can include a plurality of sub-hoses and a plurality of valves connected thereto. In addition, the plurality of valves can be connected to a plurality of inlets. The plurality of valves and / or the plurality of inlets can be arranged at the mold, i.e. at the surface of the mold, and can be spaced apart from each other at substantially similar distances on the surface of the mold. The plurality of valves can be distributed and / or spaced apart from each other at substantially similar distances along the cross-sectional length of the mold or the surface of the mold.

[0029] According to an embodiment, which can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold may comprise two inlets, in particular six inlets, more in particular ten inlets, even more in particular sixteen inlets. Thus, the manifold may comprise two sub-hoses and two valves, in particular six sub-hoses and six valves, more in particular ten sub-hoses and ten valves, even more in particular sixteen sub-hoses and sixteen valves, to connect the corresponding number of inlets to the manifold.

[0030] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the manifold further includes a measuring device for measuring a process parameter value. The measuring device may be arranged at the inlet. The measuring device may be configured to determine the process parameter value. The process parameter value may be selected from a group consisting of a pressure value, a flow velocity or flow rate, a volume and / or a combination thereof. Specifically, the process parameter value may be a value that provides information about the vacuum state at the inlet. The process parameter value may be a measure of the resin margin provided to the mold at the inlet. A measuring device may be arranged at each inlet. Additionally or alternatively, a measuring device may be connected to multiple inlets and configured to measure the process parameter value at each of the multiple inlets. The measuring device may be a flow meter, a pressure gauge, a volume meter and / or a combination thereof.

[0031] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the measured process parameter value can be compared with a predetermined process parameter threshold. The valve can be adjusted based on the comparison result of the measured value and the threshold. For example, the valve can be in an open state. When the measured process parameter value is equal to or higher than the threshold, the valve can remain open. When the measured process parameter value is lower than the threshold, the valve can be (partially) closed to adjust the resin flow from the manifold to the inlet at the mold. The adjustment of the valve can also be opposite, that is, when the measured process parameter value is equal to or higher than the threshold, the valve can be (partially) closed, and when the measured process parameter value is lower than the threshold, the valve can remain open. Therefore, the supply of resin, that is, the flow of resin to the mold can be adjusted based on the comparison of the process parameter value with the predetermined process parameter threshold.

[0032] Advantageously, the valve at the inlet is adjusted to provide a local, independent supply of resin to the mould according to the process parameter measured at the inlet. Thus, the measured process parameter value can be used as an indicator of the extent to which the resin supply process has been carried out. Thus, the quality of the laminate can be improved. Furthermore, an excess of resin at the stacked laminate layers provided with the corresponding inlet can be prevented and / or avoided. Thus, a more uniform distribution of the resin throughout the mould can be achieved.

[0033] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the pumping speed of one or more pumps can be adjusted according to the measured process parameter value. Therefore, the amount of material provided to the manifold and from the manifold to the sub-hose can be adjusted. In addition, the pressure at the manifold can be adjusted, that is, by reducing the pumping speed, the pressure can be reduced, and by increasing the pumping speed, the pressure can be increased. Therefore, the pressure at the sub-hose can be adjusted.

[0034] For example, the valve may be opened so that resin is provided from the manifold to the inlet. The measuring device may measure a pressure value at the inlet. This pressure value may be lower than the atmospheric pressure, i.e. this pressure value may indicate a vacuum condition at the inlet. The measured pressure value may be compared with a predetermined pressure threshold. When the measured pressure value is lower than the threshold, i.e. when vacuum conditions are provided, the valve may remain open to further provide resin to the inlet and to the mold. When the measured pressure value is higher than the predetermined pressure threshold, i.e. when vacuum conditions are impaired, the valve may be closed or partially closed to restrict the flow of resin to the inlet and, therefore, to the mold. Therefore, the vacuum condition at the inlet may serve as an indicator of the amount of resin at the mold.

[0035] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the device may further include a controller. The controller may be configured to adjust the valve, in particular according to a process parameter value measured by a measuring device and provided to the controller. The controller may be connected to the valve and / or the measuring device, i.e. the controller may communicate with the measuring device and the valve for receiving the process parameter value from the measuring device and for adjusting the valve. In particular, the controller may be connected to an actuator of the valve. The controller may be connected to the valve and / or the measuring device via a wired connection and / or a wireless connection.

[0036] Advantageously, the valve can be controlled according to the process parameter value provided from the measuring device, so that at any point in time, a specific or specified amount of resin can be provided at the inlet. More specifically, fine-tuning of the resin flow can be achieved. Therefore, the adjustment of the equipment can be made more convenient and more accurate.

[0037] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the controller may be configured to perform a comparison of the provided process parameter value with a predetermined process parameter threshold value. The controller may be configured to adjust the flow state of the valve according to the comparison of the provided process parameter value with the predetermined process parameter threshold value. The flow state of the valve can be understood as the valve can be partially opened and / or closed, that is, the valve can be opened and / or closed to such an extent that a specific resin flow can be provided. The controller may be further configured to adjust one or more pumps of the infusion machine. Specifically, the controller may be configured to adjust the pumping speed of the pump according to the provided process parameter value.

[0038] According to an embodiment, which can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the predetermined process parameter threshold may be selected from the group consisting of a pressure value, a flow velocity or flow rate, a volume and / or a combination thereof. In particular, the predetermined process parameter threshold may be a predetermined pressure threshold.

[0039] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, a system comprising the apparatus according to any embodiment described herein can be provided. The system comprises a vacuum holding structure for providing a vacuum at the mold. The vacuum holding structure can be a foil, a vacuum bag, etc. The mold can be packaged or wrapped with the vacuum holding structure.

[0040] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the system may include multiple devices as described according to any embodiment described herein. Therefore, the system may include multiple infusion machines and multiple manifolds. The multiple manifolds can be distributed along the length of the mold, specifically, each of the multiple manifolds can be spaced apart from each other by a similar distance. Therefore, uniform distribution of the resin over the entire mold can be ensured. Since each of the multiple manifolds can include multiple sub-hoses to provide resin to the surface of the mold, a large area can receive the resin simultaneously. The controller can be connected to the multiple devices to adjust the multiple devices.

[0041] Advantageously, the resin can be provided uniformly not only at one manifold but also over the entire length and / or width of the mould, since the supply of the resin can also be adjusted locally at the respective sub-hoses and / or inlets.

[0042] According to the embodiments which may be combined with any other embodiments described herein, and as Figure 1 As shown in the example, the device 100 includes a filling machine 110, which includes a main hose 120; and a manifold 130. The main hose 120 is connected to the filling machine 110 and to the manifold 130 to provide resin from the filling machine to the manifold. The manifold can distribute the resin to the mold 150. The filling machine may further include one or more pumps 112. One or more pumps can provide resin (and hardener) from the filling machine via the main hose 120 manifold 130. The main hose may include a mixer to mix the resin with the hardener, especially in a specific ratio. The manifold includes a sub-hose 132, especially a plurality of sub-hoses, which have a first end and a second end to receive the resin from the manifold and provide the resin toward the mold, that is, the first end can be connected to the manifold, and the second end can be connected to the valve 140. The valve can be connected to an inlet. The inlet can be set at the surface of the mold to provide the resin to the mold. The filling machine can be connected to a controller 160. Specifically, the controller 160 may be connected to the one or more pumps 112 to regulate the one or more pumps.

[0043] According to the embodiments which may be combined with any other embodiments described herein, and as Figure 2 As shown in the example, the valve 140 connected to the sub-hose 132 can be connected to the inlet 144 fluid. The valve may include an actuator 142. The inlet can provide resin to the mold. In other words, the resin can enter the mold 150 at the inlet 144. The resin can enter a plurality of stacked laminate layers 152. In addition, a vacuum holding structure 170 can be provided at the mold 150 to provide a vacuum at the mold. The inlet 144 can be further connected to a measuring device 146 so that a process parameter value can be measured at the inlet. For example, a pressure value can be measured. The measuring device 146 and the actuator 142 can be connected to a controller 160 so that the controller can adjust the measuring device and / or the valve or the actuator. For example, the measuring device can forward the measured process parameter value to the controller.

[0044] According to the embodiments which may be combined with any other embodiments described herein, and as Figure 3 As exemplarily shown in , a system for manufacturing a wind turbine blade is provided. The system includes an apparatus according to any embodiment or combination of embodiments described herein and a vacuum holding structure 170 for providing a vacuum at a mold 150. The system may include a plurality of apparatuses as described according to any embodiment herein. Specifically, the system may include a plurality of infusion machines 110 and a plurality of manifolds 130. The plurality of manifolds may be distributed along the length of the mold 150 so that resin may be provided over the entire length of the mold. Each of the plurality of manifolds may be connected to one of the plurality of infusion machines.

[0045] According to the embodiments which may be combined with any other embodiments described herein, and as Figure 4 As shown in the example of FIG. 4 , a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade is provided. The method 400 includes pumping resin from a filling machine including a pump through a main hose (by Figure 4 480 in the figure) to the manifold, distributing the resin from the manifold via the sub-hose connected to the valve fluid (by Figure 4 482 in the figure) to the mold, measuring (by Figure 4 484 in the block 484) near the valve; and may include providing the process parameter value (by Figure 4 486 in the box) to the controller.

[0046] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the resin (particularly the resin with the hardener / resin and the hardener) can be pumped from the infusion machine to the manifold. The resin can be mixed at a mixer provided at the main hose, and the resin can be provided to the manifold through the main hose. The resin can be provided from the manifold to the mold via the sub-hoses, particularly via a plurality of sub-hoses. In particular, the resin can be provided to the inlet of the manifold and then to the mold, i.e., the surface of the mold.

[0047] According to an embodiment that can be combined with any other embodiment described herein, the method can include adjusting the valve using the controller based on a process parameter value provided to the controller. Specifically, adjusting the valve using the controller can include: the controller performing a comparison of the provided process parameter value with a predetermined process parameter threshold, evaluating whether the process parameter value is above or below the predetermined process parameter threshold, determining a decision based on the evaluation, and adjusting the flow state of the valve based on the determined decision. The process parameter value and / or the process parameter threshold can be selected according to embodiments described herein.

[0048] According to embodiments that can be combined with any other embodiments described herein, the method can further comprise adjusting the pumping speed of the pump according to the process parameter value provided to the controller. Thus, the resin provided to the mold can be adjusted by adjusting the valve at the inlet and / or by adjusting the pump used to provide the resin to the manifold and to the mold. According to embodiments that can be combined with any other embodiments described herein, the method can be performed by an apparatus according to any embodiment as described herein.

[0049] In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide apparatus, systems and methods for improving and facilitating the manufacture of wind turbine blades. Specifically, providing resin to a wind turbine blade mold may be more cost-effective, more accurate and more environmentally friendly. Furthermore, less waste material is generated. Additionally, the quality of the laminate provided for the wind turbine blade is improved and fine-tuning of previously uncontrollable process variables is ensured.

[0050] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope of the disclosure is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold (150), the mold being arranged under vacuum conditions, the apparatus comprising: A filling machine (110) for providing resin, the filling machine comprising a main hose (120); as well as A manifold (130) fluidly connected to the main hose (120) to receive resin from the infusion machine, the manifold (130) comprising: a sub-hose (132) comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fluidly connected to the manifold (130); a valve (140) fluidly connected to the second end of the sub-hose (132); a measuring device (146) for measuring a process parameter value; and An inlet (144) is fluidly connected to the valve for providing the resin from the manifold to the mold.

2. The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller (160) configured to adjust the valve according to a process parameter value measured by the measuring device and provided to the controller.

3. The apparatus (100) according to claim 2, wherein the controller (160) communicates with the measuring device (146) and the valve (140) for receiving the process parameter value from the measuring device and for adjusting the valve.

4. An apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the controller (160) is configured to perform a comparison of the provided process parameter value with a predetermined process parameter threshold, and is configured to adjust the flow state of the valve (140) based on the comparison of the provided process parameter value with the predetermined process parameter threshold.

5. The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the valve (140) comprises an actuator (142) for opening and / or closing of the valve (140).

6. The apparatus (100) of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the actuator (142).

7. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the infusion machine (110) comprises a pump (112) for providing the resin to the manifold, and wherein the controller is configured to adjust the pumping speed of the pump (112) according to the provided process parameter value.

8. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the measuring device (146) is arranged at the inlet (144), and wherein the process parameter value is a pressure value measured at the inlet.

9. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a support structure for arranging the manifold (130) near a surface of the mold (150), in particular wherein the manifold (130) is disposable.

10. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the main hose (120) has a diameter between 1.905 cm (0.75 inches) and 5.08 cm (2 inches), and / or a length between 2 m and 10 m, and wherein the sub-hose (132) has a diameter between 0.635 cm (0.25 inches) and 3.81 cm (1.5 inches), and / or a length between 0.1 m and 2 m.

11. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the manifold (130) comprises a plurality of sub-hoses and a plurality of valves connected thereto, the plurality of valves being spaced apart from each other at substantially similar distances on the surface of the mold.

12. A system (300) for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold (150), the system include: The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11; and A vacuum retaining structure (170) is provided for providing a vacuum at the mold.

13. A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising a mold (150), the method comprising: pumping resin from a filling machine including a pump to the manifold via a main hose; distributing the resin from the manifold to the mold via sub-hoses fluidly connected to valves; and A value of a process parameter near the valve is measured.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises providing the process parameter value to a controller, and adjusting the valve using the controller according to the process parameter value provided to the controller, in particular wherein adjusting the valve using the controller comprises executing, by the controller: comparing the provided process parameter value with a predetermined process parameter threshold; evaluating whether the process parameter value is above or below the predetermined process parameter threshold; Determine decisions based on the assessment; as well as The flow state of the valve is adjusted based on the determined decision.

15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the method further comprises adjusting the pumping speed of the pump in dependence on a process parameter value provided to the controller.

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the method is performed by an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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