Wind Turbine Blade Root Repair Using Shim Plates Around Bolt Bores

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wear and tear on the root of a wind turbine rotor blade, caused by leaking grease or lubricant, lead to increased stress on blade bolts and potential breakage, necessitating an effective repair method.

Innovation Solution

A method for repairing the root of a wind turbine rotor blade involves removing worn material around bolt bores using a removing tool and attaching shim plates to the processed surface to restore the attachment area and prevent further leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the blade root material is removed locally around the bore using a removing tool, then the worn material is eliminated and a new surface is created, but additional processing steps and time are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade root integrityVSAvoidrepair time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The method performs preliminary assessment and marking of the worn area before actual material removal, allowing for precise localization of the defect and preparation of the repair area in advance, which streamlines the subsequent repair process and reduces overall repair time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If shim plates are attached to the processed front surface surrounding the bore, then the attachment area is restored and tension is secured, but additional components and assembly steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidrepair structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shim plate serves as an intermediary component between the processed blade root surface and the bolt attachment area, providing a new load-bearing surface that restores attachment reliability while isolating the worn root material from the fastening system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shim plate is designed as a relatively simple, replaceable component that can be easily installed and removed, serving as a cost-effective solution to restore attachment functionality without requiring complex repair procedures or replacement of the entire blade root

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of substance

If only the worn area around specific bores is processed, then material removal is minimized and intact areas are preserved, but the repair process requires precise localization and multiple separate operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade material removedVSAvoidrepair operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The repair method applies material removal and shim plate attachment only to the specific localized areas around affected bores, preserving the integrity and original properties of intact blade root material while concentrating repair efforts where wear has occurred

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12209572B2Method for repairing a root of a rotor blade of a wind turbine

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY AS

AI summary

Provided is a method for repairing a root of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the root including several bores for receiving a bolt and extending form the root front surface into the blade, wherein at least a part of the front surface blade material surrounding the bore is removed using a removing tool and that at least one shim plate is attached to the processed front surface surrounding the bore.