Wind Turbine Blade Shell Stabilization Without a Trailing-Edge Beam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The trailing-edge beam in wind turbine blades is inefficient in terms of added mass versus structural performance, as it is often placed in zones with reduced profile thickness and does not effectively provide flapwise or edgewise bending stiffness.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing wind turbine blades that integrates a stability component, comprising a multi-part structure with sub-bodies arranged within the blade shell, which stabilizes the shell without the need for a trailing-edge beam, using components like balsa wood, fiber layers, and resin to form a lightweight and stable structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a trailing-edge beam is added to stabilize the blade shell, then the stability is improved, but the mass increases and structural efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the trailing-edge beam element from the blade structure entirely. Instead of adding a beam at the trailing edge, the patent uses a different configuration where spar caps extend beyond the trailing edge position and a single continuous shear web provides the necessary stability, eliminating the need for the trailing-edge beam and its associated mass and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The stability function is redistributed to different structural elements: the spar caps provide longitudinal stability by extending beyond the trailing edge, while the continuous shear web provides shear stability and connects the spar caps. This segmentation of functions eliminates the need for a separate trailing-edge beam element.
2Ease of manufacture
If a trailing-edge beam is placed in zones with reduced profile thickness, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the structural performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spar caps extend in the longitudinal dimension beyond the trailing edge position, providing stability in a different spatial configuration. This dimensional extension allows the structure to gain bending stiffness without being constrained to the traditional trailing-edge location, thereby improving structural performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If a trailing-edge beam is placed closer to the main beam, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the edgewise bending stiffness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous shear web serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides shear stability, connects the spar caps, and contributes to edgewise bending stiffness. This multi-functional element eliminates the need for a separate trailing-edge beam while maintaining or improving structural performance across multiple load cases.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a stability component configured to be arranged in an inner space (I) of a wind turbine blade (100), a use of a stability component for stabilizing a blade shell (110) of a wind turbine blade (100) of a wind turbine, a wind turbine blade and methods of manufacturing a wind turbine blade.