Sectional Wind Turbine Blade Assembly Board Joint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbine blades face challenges in achieving sufficient strength and stiffness at joints between sectional blade portions, particularly under flapwise and edgewise loads, while also requiring efficient transportation and assembly solutions to reduce costs and logistics demands.
Innovation Solution
A sectional wind turbine blade design featuring separate blade portions joined by an assembly board adhesively attached to their outer surfaces, with optional reinforcement inserts and winglets, allowing for on-site assembly and enhanced load distribution, and enabling adjustable blade tips for performance optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the blade is manufactured as a single piece with traditional shell parts, then the structural strength and stiffness are maintained, but the transportation and logistics costs increase due to the large size and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is divided into multiple shell parts that can be manufactured separately and transported independently. These shell parts are then assembled on-site to form the complete blade structure, reducing transportation costs while maintaining structural integrity through proper joint design and reinforcement elements
2Ease of manufacture
If the blade is divided into sectional blade portions for easier transport, then the transportation cost is reduced, but the joint strength and stiffness between sections become insufficient under operational loads
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement elements are pre-installed on the shell parts before assembly. These reinforcements are prepared in advance to ensure proper positioning and alignment during the assembly process, enabling the creation of strong joints that can withstand operational loads while maintaining the benefits of sectional construction
Solution Approach 2:
The blade structure combines multiple materials including shell parts, reinforcement elements, and adhesive materials to create a composite construction. This composite approach allows the joint regions to achieve sufficient strength and stiffness by integrating different material properties, while the overall blade can be sectioned for easier transportation
3Strength
If reinforcement elements are added to the blade portions, then the joint strength is improved, but the overall blade weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement elements are applied locally at the joint regions where strength is most critical, rather than uniformly across the entire blade. This localized reinforcement approach provides the necessary joint strength while minimizing the additional weight, as reinforcements are concentrated only where structurally required
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 design enhances joint strength, reduces the risk of failure under operational loads, facilitates cost-effective transportation and assembly, and allows for performance adjustments by enabling detachable winglets and adaptable blade configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an assembly board (11) which is adhesively joined to an outer surface of both blade portions (8, 9)
Data Source
AI summary
A sectional blade for a wind turbine, the blade extending lengthwise between a tip and a root where the blade is attachable to a hub of a wind turbine, crosswise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and thickness wise between a windward and a leeward outer surface. The sectional blade comprises a first blade portion and a second blade portion. The blade portions are formed as separate components and arranged to extend lengthwise in opposite directions from a junction where the blade portions join. The blade forms, in a cross section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and through the junction, a maximum thickness location between the leading and trailing edges, the maximum thickness location being where the distance between the windward and leeward outer surfaces is larger than at any other location in this cross section. The sectional blade comprises an assembly board which is adhesively joined to an outer surface of both blade portions between the trailing edge and the maximum thickness location.