Wind Turbine Blade Lightning Repair With Bonded Glass Fiber Patch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for repairing wind turbine blades damaged by lightning strikes often require large-scale and time-consuming processes, even for minor damage, leading to increased costs and workloads.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of a pre-formed repairing member, made from glass fiber materials, which is bonded to the wind turbine blade within a predetermined damage determination range, allowing for efficient repair of small to moderate damage with reduced work and cost, using a simple and effective bonding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional large-scale repairing is performed on any damage portion caused by lightning strike, then sufficient strength can be ensured, but the work period and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The repairing method is segmented into two distinct approaches: simple repairing for small damage portions within the determination range, and large-scale repairing for damage exceeding this range. This segmentation allows selection of the appropriate repair scale based on actual damage severity, avoiding unnecessary extensive work for minor damages while ensuring sufficient strength restoration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by defining a specific damage determination range (e.g., 50mm diameter circle) that identifies regions where simple repairing is sufficient. Within this localized area, minor damages can be repaired with minimal intervention, while damages outside this range trigger comprehensive repair procedures, optimizing resource allocation based on spatial distribution of damage severity.
2Strength
If conventional large-scale repairing is performed on any damage portion caused by lightning strike, then sufficient strength can be ensured, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The repairing method is segmented into two distinct approaches: simple repairing for small damage portions within the determination range, and large-scale repairing for damage exceeding this range. This segmentation allows selection of the appropriate repair scale based on actual damage severity, avoiding unnecessary extensive work for minor damages while ensuring sufficient strength restoration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by defining a specific damage determination range (e.g., 50mm diameter circle) that identifies regions where simple repairing is sufficient. Within this localized area, minor damages can be repaired with minimal intervention, while damages outside this range trigger comprehensive repair procedures, optimizing resource allocation based on spatial distribution of damage severity.
3Productivity
If simple repairing method is used for small damage, then work period and cost are reduced, but sufficient strength may not be ensured for larger damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by defining a specific damage determination range (e.g., 50mm diameter circle) that identifies regions where simple repairing is sufficient. Within this localized area, minor damages can be repaired with minimal intervention, while damages outside this range trigger comprehensive repair procedures, optimizing resource allocation based on spatial distribution of damage severity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where inspection results determine the appropriate repair method. The damage portion is measured and compared against the predetermined determination range, and based on this feedback, the repair strategy is automatically selected: simple repairing for damages within the range, and large-scale repairing for damages exceeding it, ensuring strength requirements are met while optimizing efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables quick and cost-effective repair of wind turbine blade damage by determining the necessary scale of repair in advance, ensuring sufficient strength is maintained while minimizing work and cost, and reducing the risk of further damage from rain ingress or future lightning strikes.
Implementation Method 1
bonding the repairing member when a result of inspecting the wind turbine blade indicates that the damage portion is within the damage determination range
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of repairing damage on a wind turbine blade with a simple method. The method of repairing a wind turbine blade is a method of repairing a wind turbine blade for a damage portion caused by a lightning strike, including the steps of: generating in advance a repairing member molded in a predetermined flat plate shape and solidified; determining a damage determination range defined in advance for the damage portion; and bonding the repairing member when a result of inspecting the wind turbine blade indicates that the damage portion is within the damage determination range. The step of generating the repairing member may include stacking glass fiber materials to generate the repairing member.