Hinged Wind Turbine Blade Sections for Transport and On-Site Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacture and transportation of large wind turbine blades pose challenges due to their size and fragility, requiring on-site assembly of sections which is delicate and costly, and existing mechanical assembly methods struggle with precise positioning and aerodynamic disturbances.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine blade design featuring at least two sections connected by a hinge that can fold for transport and unfold on-site, eliminating the need for alignment tools, with a double hinge system integrated into the blade's structure to maintain aerodynamics and reduce noise, and using complementary securing means for precise assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blades are made in one piece, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and transport difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple sections (root section, intermediate sections, tip section) that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows each section to be produced in smaller, more manageable pieces while maintaining the overall structural integrity through the hinge connection system.
2Length of moving object
If blades are assembled on-site from sections, then transport feasibility is improved, but assembly precision and operation difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is designed to automatically align and position blade sections during assembly. The hinge structure itself provides the alignment function, eliminating the need for external alignment tools and reducing the skill level required for assembly operations while maintaining high precision.
3Productivity
If mechanical assembly methods are used, then assembly speed is improved, but aerodynamic disturbance and noise worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is integrated within the blade's internal structure rather than being an external attachment. The hinge is housed within the blade's cross-section, merging the assembly mechanism with the aerodynamic surface, which eliminates protrusions that would cause aerodynamic disturbance and noise while maintaining assembly functionality.
4Quantity of substance
If blade sections are made smaller, then transport cost is improved, but number of sections and assembly complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge design is universal and can be applied to various blade configurations and sizes. The same basic hinge principle works for different section combinations, allowing optimization of section count based on transport requirements without increasing assembly complexity. The hinge serves multiple functions: connection, alignment, and aerodynamic sealing.
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~4B
Figure 5A~5E
AI summary
The invention relates to a windmill blade comprising at least two sections (1a, 1b, 1c) connected by at least one hinge (2, 3) which folds one section upon the other for transporting the blade and unfolds the sections into alignment. Said blade advantageously has complementary means (4, 5, 6, 7) for fixing unfolded sections in alignment.