Senvion Gmbh

Neptco, Inc.

Kameshwaran Narasimhan

Joel David Gruhn

Ethan Franklin

Joel D Gruhn

A method of forming a structural element for a wind turbine blade includes fixing a plurality of parallel strength rods to a carrier layer to form a preform layer of material, storing the preform layer in a coiled length, then dispensing the preform layer from the coiled length, partially grinding and then cutting across a width of the preform to form a plurality of cut perform layers, and then stacking them and then fixing them together using a liquid bonding resin material.

Wind turbine rotor blade components and methods of making same

A composite beam for a wind turbine blade includes a preform layer, the preform layer including multiple elongate strength rods arranged longitudinally relative to one another in a single layer, each strength rod being disposed adjacent to and spaced from at least one adjacent strength rod. Each strength rod has a rectangular cross section and includes multiple, substantially straight collimated structural fibers fixed in a solidified matrix resin. The preform layer includes at least one carrier layer to which the multiple strength rods are joined by an adhesive. The carrier layer spaces adjacent strength rods a fixed distance apart to facilitate the flow of liquid bonding resin between adjacent strength rods of the preform layer to its joined carrier layer, the carrier layer being of a permeable material suitable to facilitate the flow of liquid bonding resin through the carrier layer.

Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation. The relative straightness of the fibers and fiber collimation provide strength elements or rods and the preform layers with high rigidity and significant compression strength.

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Hickory, NC, United States of America

Kameshwaran Narasimhan