Wind Turbine Blade Discontinuous Trailing Edge Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wind turbine blades face instability and weight issues due to increased gravitational and centrifugal loads, particularly in the trailing edge region, where traditional stabilization methods like foam filling increase weight and web reinforcement is difficult to implement effectively.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine blade with an improved trailing edge structure featuring composite materials distributed in a strip-like manner along the length direction, interspersed with fiber fabric, and a discontinuous filling pattern to stabilize the edge while reducing weight, supported by a trailing edge web and auxiliary spars.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If foam is filled to support the trailing edge region, then stability of the trailing edge is improved, but weight of the blade increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of trailing edgeVSAvoidweight of blade

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge bonding region is divided into multiple segments along the spanwise direction, with composite materials arranged at intervals rather than continuous filling. This segmentation provides stability while reducing material usage and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Composite materials are selectively placed in specific regions of the trailing edge bonding area, with varying distribution patterns in different spanwise zones. The first composite material is tightly attached to the trailing edge while subsequent materials are spaced apart, providing localized support where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If a trailing edge web is increased to stabilize the trailing edge, then stability of the trailing edge is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases due to narrow bonding region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of trailing edgeVSAvoidease of providing trailing edge web

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge bonding region is segmented into multiple zones along the spanwise direction, with each zone containing composite materials at different intervals. This segmentation allows the trailing edge web to be provided more easily by distributing the reinforcement requirements across multiple smaller regions rather than requiring a continuous wide bonding zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a two-dimensional continuous web reinforcement approach to a three-dimensional distributed composite material placement strategy. Composite materials are arranged at intervals in both the chordwise and spanwise directions, utilizing the third dimension (depth/thickness) to provide reinforcement without requiring a narrow surface bonding region.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Weight of moving object

If composite materials are arranged at intervals in the airfoil chordwise direction, then weight of the blade is reduced, but stability of the trailing edge bonding region may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight of bladeVSAvoidstability of trailing edge bonding region

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge bonding region is divided into multiple segments along the spanwise direction, with composite materials positioned at strategic intervals within each segment. This segmentation maintains stability by distributing reinforcement across multiple zones while reducing overall material usage compared to continuous filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the trailing edge bonding zone have different composite material distributions. The first composite material is tightly attached to the trailing edge for maximum local support, while subsequent materials are spaced apart at optimized intervals to provide distributed reinforcement with minimal weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12421934B2Wind turbine blade with improved trailing edge structure and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 ZHUZHOU TIMES NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a wind turbine blade with an improved trailing edge structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The wind turbine blade includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and a trailing edge, where a trailing edge bonding region enclosed by the upper shell, the lower shell and the trailing edge is filled with composite materials, and the composite materials are discontinuous in an airfoil chordwise direction. The manufacturing method includes the following steps: S1: manufacturing reinforcements with a same cross-sectional shape as the trailing edge filling region for composite materials; and S2: integrally molding the reinforcements, a fiber fabric and the upper shell, providing the lower shell, combining the upper shell and the lower shell, and performing heating for curing and molding. The discontinuous filling structure reduces usages of the adhesive and the reinforcements of the composite materials. The small web can improve a strength of the trailing edge region, and reduce a bonding width of the trailing edge. Therefore, the present disclosure realizes a light weight of the wind turbine blade.