Wind Turbine Blade Section Alignment for Accurate Twist Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacture and alignment of large wind turbine blades are challenging due to the difficulty in positioning and aligning lengthwise sections accurately, which affects the robustness, load transfer, and aerodynamic profile of the assembled blade.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the precise alignment of an inboard blade section relative to an outboard section by determining and compensating for positional deviations, using alignment markers and support structures to ensure accurate global alignment from the root to the tip, reducing complexity and increasing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If lengthwise blade sections are manufactured separately and joined together, then the manufacture and transport of large wind turbine blades becomes feasible, but the alignment accuracy of blade sections becomes increasingly difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple lengthwise sections (inboard and outboard sections) that can be manufactured and transported separately, then joined together to form the complete large-sized blade structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment methods with an optical measurement system that uses light to detect the positions of alignment markers on blade sections, enabling precise alignment without complex mechanical positioning devices
2Weight of moving object
If the outboard blade section is made compliant to reduce weight, then the blade efficiency improves, but the position accuracy of the outboard end portion becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the outboard blade section from rigid to compliant by using a sandwich structure with foam core, reducing weight while maintaining the ability to achieve accurate alignment through the optical marker system
3Length of stationary object
If traditional alignment methods are used for large blade sections, then the alignment process becomes increasingly complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment procedures with a simplified optical measurement system that uses light to detect alignment marker positions, dramatically reducing the complexity and time required for aligning large blade sections
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade, the method including the steps: a) positioning an outboard blade section at a predefined end position, the outboard blade section including an outboard end portion, b) positioning an inboard blade section adjacent to the outboard blade section, the inboard blade section including an inboard end portion, c) determining a deviation of a current position of the inboard end portion of the inboard blade section with respect to the outboard end portion of the outboard blade section from a nominal position of the inboard end portion with respect to the outboard end portion, and d) moving the inboard blade section relative to the outboard blade section to compensate for the determined deviation. The complexity of the alignment procedure when aligning lengthwise blade sections are reduced and the accuracy of the alignment increased.