Wind Turbine Blade Preform Mold with Dual-Sided Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing preform elements of wind turbine blades require manual arrangement of fiber mats and core elements, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A mold arrangement comprising a mold carrier with a plate-like mold element and dual heating means, one from below and one from above, to quickly and uniformly heat preform building material, allowing for easy placement of fiber mats and core elements, and a vacuum system to secure them in position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual arrangement of fiber mats and core elements is used, then flexibility in material placement is maintained, but production time and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mold element is pre-heated before the fiber mats and core elements are placed, so that when materials are arranged they immediately bond to the heated surface, preventing displacement and eliminating the need for complex manual positioning adjustments during the process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical arrangement and securing of materials with a thermal field-based system where pre-heating the mold surface creates immediate bonding, substituting mechanical positioning complexity with thermal fixation simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If heating is applied from one side only, then device complexity is reduced, but heating uniformity and material bonding quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system applies heat locally from both the top and bottom surfaces of the mold element simultaneously, creating uniform temperature distribution through the thickness of the mold and ensuring consistent material bonding across the entire preform area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asymmetric heating configuration with heating means on opposite sides of the mold element, heating from both top and bottom simultaneously to achieve uniform thermal distribution that would not be possible with single-sided heating
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
Facilitates rapid and efficient production of preform elements by ensuring uniform heating and fixation of materials, reducing manual labor and time, while maintaining the integrity of the preform structure for subsequent resin infusion.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating means or first heating device arranged below the mold element for heating the preform building material from below the mold element
Implementation Method 2
a second heating means or second heating device for heating the preform building material from above
Implementation Method 3
The binding agent is arranged only locally and is used for fixating the fiber mats to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A mold arrangement for producing a preform element of a wind turbine blade includes a mold carrier and a plate- or tray-like mold element arranged at the mold carrier with a form defining mold surface adapted to receive preform building material, a first heating device arranged below the mold element for heating the preform building material from below the mold element, and a second heating device for heating the preform building material from above.