Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Trailing Edge Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine rotor blades face challenges in enhancing buckling strength against edge loads while maintaining material strength safety factors and reducing weight, as existing designs often compromise on buckling strength due to structural limitations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wind turbine rotor blade with a reinforcing material on the inner surface of the outer skin material closer to the trailing edge, made of fiber-reinforced plastic, which increases thickness and enhances bending rigidity and buckling strength, while minimizing weight and avoiding interference with the outer skin material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the width of the trailing edge sandwich material is increased to improve buckling strength against edge loads, then the buckling strength is improved, but the weight of the rotor blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local reinforcement by placing a reinforcing material at the specific location of the trailing edge sandwich material where buckling occurs under edge loads. This localized approach increases buckling strength only where needed rather than increasing the width of the entire trailing edge sandwich material, thereby avoiding unnecessary weight increase while achieving the required structural strength.
2Strength
If the thickness of the super cap material is increased to improve buckling strength against flap direction loads, then the buckling strength is improved, but the weight of the rotor blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements local reinforcement by positioning a reinforcing material specifically at the trailing edge sandwich material area where buckling occurs under edge loads. This targeted approach enhances buckling strength locally without requiring a uniform increase in super cap material thickness, thereby improving structural performance while minimizing weight increase.
3Strength
If the interval between sheer webs is reduced to improve buckling strength of super cap material, then the buckling strength is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs local reinforcement by placing a reinforcing material at the trailing edge sandwich material location where buckling occurs under edge loads. This approach provides the necessary structural support without requiring additional sheer webs, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving the required buckling strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine rotor blade including outer skin materials made of fiber-reinforced plastic, a crossbeam material, and a trailing edge sandwich material disposed closer to a trailing edge than a trailing edge end of the crossbeam material, wherein a reinforcing material is provided on an inner surface of the outer skin material on a front side located closer to the trailing edge than a trailing edge end of the trailing edge sandwich material.