Segmented Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Rear Box for Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large rotor blades with rear boxes for wind turbines pose transportation challenges due to their size, requiring separate transportation and on-site assembly, which increases logistical and time-related expenses.
Innovation Solution
The rear box is divided into a foot segment and one or more head segments that can be coupled, allowing pre-assembly of the foot segment, enabling either factory or site assembly of the head segments, with features like hinge-like connections and rail systems for efficient alignment and attachment, reducing transportation width and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the rear box is made as a single large component to maintain structural integrity, then the structural strength is improved, but the transportation becomes difficult and requires separate transportation and on-site assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The rear box is divided into multiple segments (first rear box segment, second rear box segment, third rear box segment) that can be transported separately and assembled on-site. Each segment maintains sufficient structural integrity independently while the segmented design allows them to fit within transportation width constraints, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and transportation feasibility.
2Length of moving object
If the rear box is divided into multiple segments to reduce transportation width, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple connection elements are integrated directly into the segments themselves rather than being separate components. The connection elements are merged with the segment structures, allowing for simplified assembly where segments are directly coupled together without requiring additional separate fastening operations, thus reducing assembly complexity despite the segmented design.
3Length of moving object
If the rear box segments are assembled on-site to reduce transportation requirements, then the ease of transportation is improved, but the assembly time and logistical effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segments are designed with pre-integrated connection elements and pre-configured geometries that enable quick coupling. The connection elements are prepared in advance during manufacturing with precise positioning features, allowing for rapid on-site assembly without requiring complex alignment procedures or additional fastening steps, thereby minimizing assembly time and logistical effort.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a rear casing (112) for a rotor blade (108), particularly of a wind turbine, comprising a pressure-side surface (3), a suction-side surface (1), a rear edge (5) which separates these pressure and suction-side surfaces, and a connection side which lies opposite said rear edge (5) and is adapted to be mounted on a corresponding connection surface of said rotor blade (108). In particular, the invention relates to a rear casing that is divided into a lower segment (11) that comprises the connection side, and one or more upper segments (13, 15, 35) which comprise said rear edge (5) and may be coupled to the lower segment (11). The invention also relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, as well as to a wind turbine.