Wind Turbine Blade Root Support Plane for Transport Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The storage and transport of large wind turbine blades are challenging due to their increasing size and weight, requiring expensive, blade-specific support cradles that need extensive retooling for different blade types, and precise angular orientation is difficult to achieve, especially with circular-bow-shaped cradles.
Innovation Solution
A root portion for a wind turbine blade featuring a coupling flange with fixedly attached support elements that define a support plane, allowing the blade to be positioned and stored in a defined orientation without specialized cradles, using a flat surface for support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If blade-specific support cradles are used, then the blade can be supported in a pre-defined orientation, but the equipment requires extensive retooling for different blade types and is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling flange with integrated support elements serves multiple functions: it provides structural coupling between the blade root and hub, defines precise angular orientation through the support plane, and enables transport and storage capabilities. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate blade-specific cradles, as the coupling flange itself becomes the positioning reference for universal transport equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If circular-bow-shaped support cradles are used, then the blade can be received under substantially any angular orientation, but precise angular orientation of the tip portion becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling flange features an asymmetric design with a specifically oriented support plane that is not radially symmetric. This asymmetric support plane provides a unique angular reference that defines the precise orientation of the blade, including the tip portion. The asymmetric geometry ensures that only one angular position is stable, eliminating the orientation ambiguity inherent in circular-bow-shaped cradles.
3Ease of manufacture
If the root portion has a substantially circular shape, then it is easy to manufacture, but it is difficult to place the root portion exactly under a pre-defined angular orientation
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall root portion maintains a substantially circular shape for ease of manufacturing, the coupling flange incorporates a localized asymmetric feature in the form of the support plane. This local quality change provides the necessary angular reference without requiring the entire root portion to be non-circular, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise orientation capability.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective transport and storage of wind turbine blades by ensuring proper orientation and support, reducing the need for specialized equipment and simplifying handling processes.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one support element defines a support plane for contacting a transport and/or storing surface
Implementation Method 2
the at least one support element is welded to the coupling flange
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a root portion for a wind turbine blade. The root portion comprises a coupling flange, configured for coupling the root portion to a hub of a wind turbine. The root portion further comprises at least one support element fixedly attached to the coupling flange. At least one support element defines a support plane for contacting a transport and/or storing surface. The present disclosure also relates to a wind turbine blades comprising such a root portion and to methods for positioning the wind turbine blade.