Hollow Composite Blade Receptor for Lightweight Lightning Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lightning protection systems for wind power generation devices increase weight and component count, leading to potential damage and high repair costs due to lightning strikes on blades, particularly due to increased contact resistance and erosion.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight receptor for wind turbine blades made of composite alloy with a hollow structure and fastening mechanism, using bolts that can be easily replaced, combined with a conductive bolt made of composite or titanium alloy to reduce weight and erosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed pitch type blade is used, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability to different wind speeds is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The blade transitions from a fixed pitch design to a dynamic variable pitch design, allowing the blade angle to change automatically in response to varying wind speeds. This enables the wind turbine to optimize its performance across different operating conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through automated control mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a variable pitch type blade is used, then the adaptability to different wind speeds is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable pitch blade incorporates self-adjusting mechanisms that automatically respond to wind speed changes without requiring complex external control systems. The blade structure includes features that enable it to self-regulate its pitch angle based on aerodynamic forces and operational conditions, thereby achieving adaptability while minimizing added complexity.
3Reliability
If the blade root is reinforced to prevent fatigue failure, then the reliability is improved, but the concentration of stress at the blade root increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade root design employs gradual geometric transitions and optimized cross-sectional parameters that reduce abrupt changes in shape. This approach distributes stress more evenly across the blade root area, preventing stress concentration while maintaining sufficient structural strength to resist fatigue failure from cyclic loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade construction utilizes composite material structures with varying fiber orientations and material properties through the blade thickness and length. This allows the blade root to have enhanced strength and fatigue resistance while maintaining smooth stress distribution, as the composite layers can be tailored to handle specific stress components without creating stress concentrations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to reduce weight of a receptor used for measures against lightning strike on a blade of a wind power generation device. The receptor 10 is fixed to a tip of each of the blades that form a rotor 4 of the wind power generation device 1. The receptor 10 has a receptor body 20 made of composite alloy described in Patent Document 3 as receptor material and a hollow portion 21 inside the receptor body 20. A bottom portion 22 of the receptor body 20 is fixed to a receptor anchor 12 with bolts 25. A side portion 20a is provided with a cutout portion 29 to screw and unscrew the bolt 25 from an inside of the hollow portion 21.