Segmented Wind Blade Tip Joint Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size of wind turbine rotor blades poses challenges in manufacturing, transportation, and assembly, including difficulties in handling and securing them during maintenance, due to their large size.
Innovation Solution
A wind blade design featuring segmented blade segments connected by a chord-wise joint with internal support structures and bolt joints, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and incorporating sensor elements for monitoring loads and stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If wind turbine rotor blades are increased in size to improve power generation efficiency, then power generation capacity increases, but handling and transportation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple blade segments (first blade segment, second blade segment, third blade segment) connected by joint assemblies. This segmentation allows the blade to be transported in smaller pieces and assembled on-site, resolving the transportation and handling difficulties while maintaining the large overall size needed for high power generation capacity
2Power
If wind turbine rotor blades are increased in size to increase power generation, then energy output increases, but manufacturing and conveyance difficulties occur
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is manufactured in separate segments that can be produced independently using standardized processes, then transported and assembled. This segmentation makes manufacturing and conveyance easier while still achieving the required large size for high power generation
Solution Approach 2:
The joint assembly includes nested components where the first joint assembly connects the first and second blade segments, and the second joint assembly connects the second and third blade segments. These joint assemblies contain nested structural elements that facilitate assembly while maintaining structural integrity for large-scale power generation
3Loss of time
If blade segments are connected with joint assemblies for easy assembly, then assembly time reduces, but connection reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assemblies are pre-configured with alignment features and connection mechanisms that enable quick assembly of blade segments. The joints include pre-positioned fastening elements and guide structures that ensure proper alignment and secure connection, reducing assembly time while maintaining reliability through predetermined connection protocols
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A wind turbine blade 28 includes a first blade segment 30 and a second blade segment 32 extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint 34. The first blade segment 30 includes a beam structure 40 extending lengthways that structurally connects with the second blade segment 32 at a receiving section, wherein the beam structure 40 forms a portion of an internal support structure and includes a shear web 44 connected with a suction side spar cap and a pressure side spar cap. The present technology also includes multiple first bolt joints 56, 58 located at a first end of the beam structure 40 for connecting with the receiving end of the second blade segment 32 and multiple second bolt joints located at the chord-wise joint, wherein the multiple first bolt joints 56, 58 located at the first end of beam structure 40 are separated span-wise with the multiple second bolt joints located at the chord-wise joint 34.