Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Laminate Connection Without Through-Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbine rotor blades are so long that they cannot be transported in one piece, necessitating a multi-part design for assembly on-site, and existing connection methods require through-holes in the laminate, which complicates maintenance and increases laminate thickness.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine rotor blade with a connection unit featuring cables with fiber reinforcement integrated into the laminate, projections on each part, and a clamping element that allows for secure attachment without through-holes, enabling maintenance from inside the blade and reducing laminate thickness at the separation point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If through-holes are used in the laminate for connection, then the connection between rotor blade parts is achieved, but the laminate thickness increases and maintenance becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is inserted into a cavity within the laminate structure and anchored internally, rather than passing through the laminate. This nesting approach allows the connection elements to be housed within the existing laminate volume, avoiding additional thickness while maintaining connection integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating through-holes that penetrate the laminate thickness (one-dimensional solution), the invention utilizes the internal volume and depth of the laminate (three-dimensional approach) by creating cavities and internal anchoring structures, thereby avoiding increased overall thickness.
2Length of moving object
If rotor blade is designed in multiple sections for transport, then transportability is improved, but the connection complexity between sections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple sections that can be transported separately and assembled on-site. The connection unit provides a standardized interface between these segments, simplifying the overall assembly process despite the increased number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit is designed as a universal interface that can be used at multiple locations along the rotor blade (e.g., both inner and outer surfaces), allowing the same basic design to serve multiple connection points and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If cables are attached to projections on both inner and outer surfaces, then connection reliability is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system combines multiple functions into integrated components. The cable serves both as a structural element and a connection medium, while the projections act as both attachment points and alignment features, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The projections are firmly connected to the laminate structure, providing self-aligning and self-supporting attachment points that eliminate the need for additional mounting hardware or complex fixation mechanisms.
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 solution provides a robust and maintainable connection between rotor blade parts without the need for through-holes, reducing laminate thickness while ensuring stability and allowing for easy maintenance, thus improving the assembly and operational efficiency of wind turbines.
Implementation Method 1
cable fibers that are embedded in or attached to the laminate of the rotor blade
Implementation Method 2
cable fibers that are embedded in or attached to the laminate
Implementation Method 3
Each connecting unit has a tensioning element that pre-tensions the projections at a rotor blade connection point
Implementation Method 4
the rotor blade has at least one centering pin which projects into both the first and the second rotor blade part in the area of the parting planes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Provided is a wind turbine rotor blade (200) having a blade outer side (207), a wall (205) with a laminate, a blade inner side (206) and at least one first and second rotor blade part (210, 220). The at least one first and second rotor blade part (210, 220) are secured to one another by means of at least one connecting unit (300) in a parting plane (200a). The connecting unit (300) has at least one rope (310) with a first end (311) with rope fibers that are secured in or on the laminate of the wall (205). The connecting unit (300) has at least one projection (320), respectively on the first and the second rotor blade part (210, 220). The projections (320) are in each case securely connected to the wall (205) of the rotor blade (200). The at least one rope (310) is connected to at least one projection (320). The connecting unit (300) has at least one tying element (360) by means of which the projections (320) on the first and second rotor blade part (210, 220) can be braced against one another.