Wind Turbine Blade Cross Webs for Buckling Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine blade designs face issues with spar cap buckling and torsional stability, which are often addressed by increasing weight with additional material layers, providing limited improvements.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a spar with a shear web and at least one cross web extending from the shear web in a chord plane, allowing for various configurations to enhance buckling resistance and torsional stability, including placement, spacing, and material combinations such as low-density cores with resin-impregnated fiber skins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional layers of material are added to thicken spar caps to prevent buckling, then buckling resistance is improved, but blade weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The blade structure is segmented by introducing cross webs that divide the spar cap into multiple sections. These cross webs create discrete buckling segments, allowing the spar cap to resist buckling without requiring uniform thickening across the entire span, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining buckling resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of addressing buckling resistance solely through increased thickness in one dimension, the invention introduces cross webs that add structural support in a perpendicular dimension. This dimensional approach provides buckling resistance through geometric configuration rather than material volume increase.
2Stability of the object's composition
If spar cap thickness is increased to improve torsional stability, then torsional stability is improved, but blade weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cross webs segment the spar cap structure, creating multiple rigid sections that collectively enhance torsional stability. The segmentation allows each section to maintain its shape under torsional loads while reducing the need for excessive material in any single location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite material construction for cross webs and spar caps, utilizing fiber-reinforced polymers that provide high strength-to-weight ratios. This allows torsional stability to be achieved with minimal weight penalty compared to conventional homogeneous materials.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional blade designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but buckling resistance and torsional stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cross web structure divides the blade into manageable segments that can be manufactured and assembled using conventional techniques. Each cross web can be independently formed and positioned, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving superior structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Cross webs are strategically positioned at locations where buckling and torsional stresses are highest, providing localized reinforcement without requiring complex manufacturing throughout the entire blade. This targeted approach maintains overall manufacturing simplicity while addressing critical weak points.
Data Source
AI summary
A blade for a wind turbine includes a spar having a shear web, and at least one cross web extending from the spar.