Wind Turbine Blade Root Reinforcement via Adhesive Injection Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbine blades experience defects such as gaps and delamination at the root end, which can lead to critical failure during operation, posing a risk to personnel and structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the formation of injection channels and pressure release channels within the root end of the wind turbine blade to facilitate the injection of adhesive, ensuring fluid communication and distribution to reinforce the structure, particularly around bushings and other vulnerable areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive material is injected into the root end to fill gaps, then the structural integrity and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for injection channels and pressure release channels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidchannel formation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining material is divided into multiple segments by forming injection channels and pressure release channels through it. This segmentation allows the adhesive material to be injected in controlled paths while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the root end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The injection channels and pressure release channels act as intermediaries between the adhesive material source and the gap regions. These channels mediate the flow and distribution of adhesive material, enabling effective filling without direct complex injection systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the blade is attached to the wind turbine hub for operation, then the functionality and power generation are improved, but the risk to personnel increases due to high-risk operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower generationVSAvoidpersonnel safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement process is performed as a preliminary action before the blade is attached to the hub. By injecting adhesive material and filling gaps while the blade is still detached and accessible, the structural integrity is improved before the high-risk operation of hub attachment occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing reinforcement after the blade is attached to the hub (which would be high-risk), the process is inverted to perform reinforcement before attachment. This inversion eliminates the need for personnel to work in the high-risk environment of an attached blade during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If gaps are left in the retaining material during manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential blade failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidblade security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection channels and pressure release channels are formed in the retaining material during the manufacturing process as a preliminary action. This allows the gaps to be filled with adhesive material before the final assembly, ensuring reliability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining material is designed with porous or channelled structures that allow adhesive material to be injected into gap regions. This porous approach enables effective gap filling while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard manufacturing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

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

The method effectively reinforces the root end of the wind turbine blade, eliminating gaps and preventing further movement of components, thereby enhancing structural integrity and safety by ensuring a strong and secure attachment to the hub.

Implementation Method 1

injecting adhesive material into the first injection channel at least until adhesive material enters the formed first pressure release channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through pressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12624677B2Reinforcement of a wind turbine blade

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 LM WINDPOWER

AI summary

The present invention provides a to method for reinforcing a wind turbine blade, such as a root end. The root end comprises a first and a second bushing for attaching the wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub, the bushings being located between an inner sidewall of the root end and an outer sidewall of the root end, the bushings being separated by retaining material, the method comprising forming a first injection channel in the retaining material; forming a first pressure release channel in the first retaining material, wherein the first pressure release channel is formed to be in fluid communication with the first injection channel in a region between the inner sidewall and the outer sidewall; and injecting adhesive material into the first injection channel at least until adhesive material enters the formed first pressure release channel. The invention also provides a wind turbine blade having a root end that has been reinforced using such a method. Further aspects are provided.