Wind Turbine Blade Shell Assembly With Grooved Gap Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine blades experience irregularities due to gaps between different elements of the blade shell, leading to reduced energy yield and premature wear, which are difficult to measure and rectify, and require costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving forming grooves in one element to generate a spring effect, allowing elements to fit together seamlessly, eliminating gaps and ensuring a smooth surface by using the grooves' flexibility to close any minor misalignments during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If elements of the blade shell are assembled with gaps, then assembly is easier and faster, but surface irregularities occur leading to reduced energy yield and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The second element is designed with grooves that enable it to deform elastically in the thickness direction, transitioning from a rigid component to a dynamic one that can adapt during assembly. This deformation capability allows the element to compensate for gaps and misalignments, ensuring flush contact with the first element while maintaining fast assembly procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves change the physical parameters of the second element by creating regions of reduced material thickness, which enables elastic deformation. This parameter modification allows the element to flex and conform to the first element's surface, eliminating gaps and height differences that would otherwise cause surface irregularities
2Ease of manufacture
If gaps between elements are not eliminated, then manufacturing is simpler, but quality checks become difficult and repairs are costly
Solution Approach 1:
The second element with grooves performs self-adjustment during assembly by deforming to eliminate gaps automatically. This self-service mechanism ensures proper alignment and flush contact without requiring complex measurement tools or quality check procedures, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic deformation capability of the grooved element allows it to self-correct positioning errors and eliminate gaps during assembly, making the manufacturing process simpler while ensuring high surface quality without difficult detection requirements
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
This approach results in a smooth blade surface, enhancing energy yield and extending the blade's lifespan by preventing cracks and wrinkles, reducing production costs and time-consuming repairs.
Implementation Method 1
forming one or more grooves into the second element, wherein the one or more grooves in the second element are able to generate a spring effect for the second element
Data Source
AI summary
A blade shell assembly for a wind turbine blade shell is described. The blade shell assembly includes a first element (200) having a first mating surface (201) and a second element (300) having a second mating surface (301). The first mating surface (201) and the second mating surface (301) are adapted for abutting on each other in an assembled state. The second element (300) includes one or more grooves (310) able to generate a spring effect to close a gap (450) between the first element (200) and the second element (300), the gap (450) extending substantially in a direction (402) substantially perpendicular to the second mating surface (301) or the first mating surface (201). Further, a method for building a blade shell of a wind turbine blade and a wind turbine blade are described.