Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Vestas Wind Svstems A/s

Steve Wardropper

Jonathan Smith

Stephen Sandercock

Anton Bech

Andrew Hedges

Stephen Randall

Arran Wood

Adrian Edwards

Jason Hawkins

Craig Field

Trevor Corsham

Ryan Bacon

A shear web flange () for a shear web () of a wind turbine blade () is described. The flange () extends longitudinally and comprises a bonding surface () for bonding to an inner surface of a wind turbine blade (). One or more protruding features () protrude from the bonding surface (). A method of making such a shear web flange () is also described as are a shear web () for a wind turbine blade (), a wind turbine blade () and a method of making a wind turbine blade ().

Manufacture of a wind turbine blade

A method of making an elongate reinforcing structure, such as a shear web, for a wind turbine blade is described. The reinforcing structure comprises a longitudinally-extending web and a longitudinally-extending flange. The flange extends along a longitudinal edge of the web and is arranged transversely to the web. The method involves providing a flange structure comprising a flange portion, and a projecting portion that extends along the length of the flange portion and projects transversely from a surface of the flange portion. The projecting portion is bonded between laminate layers of the web. The flange structure is preferably a pultruded component having a T-shaped cross-section. The method allows a simple, inexpensive and reconfigurable mould tool to be used. In preferred embodiments the mould tool has a flat surface without sidewalls.

Reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade

Method of bonding a shear web () to a wind turbine blade shell () and the obtained blade, wherein the shear web () comprises a web and a mounting flange () oriented transverse to the web (). The method involves: providing a seal () on the mounting flange () of the shear web () such that when the mounting flange () is positioned against the blade shell (), a cavity () is defined by the seal between the mounting flange () and the blade shell (). The air of the cavity () is then evacuated and adhesive is injected into the cavity (). The use of pieces () to keep the distance between the mounting flange () and the blade shell () is preferred.

Wind turbine blade manufacture

A web locating device for locating a shear web at a predefined location on an inner surface of a wind turbine blade shell is described. The base comprises a base and a first guide structure. The base is for securing to the inner surface of the blade shell at a predefined position on the inner surface and the first guide structure projects from the base. The first guide structure has a first guide surface arranged to guide a mounting portion of the shear web towards the predefined location on the inner surface of the wind turbine blade shell. The base of the device includes one or more alignment features for aligning with one or more reference features at the predefined position on the inner surface of the blade shell. Also described are a wind turbine blade, and a method of making a wind turbine blade.

Manufacture of wind turbine blades

A positioning jig () and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising moulding a first and a second blade shell portion in respective first and second mould tools; positioning a shear web () in a spanwise direction within a first shell portion () in a said first mould tool (); anchoring said shear web in position in said first shell portion; and closing said second shell portion () over said first shell portion to thereby generate a wind turbine blade shell defining a chordwise extent between a in trailing edge and a leading edge thereof, and a spanwise extent between a root region and a tip thereof and wherein said shear web, bordered by a first () and a second longitudinal edge, extends in a thickness direction of said blade; said method further comprising: providing a positioning jig; and securing said positioning jig to said shear web, prior to its introduction into said first shell portion and guiding said shear web into its predetermined standing position in said first shell portion, with its first longitudinal edge adjacent said first shell portion, by engaging a reference surface () of said positioning jig with a locating surface () at said first mould tool thereby to bring said positioning jig into its guide position with said shear web in its predetermined standing position; and removing said positioning jig from said first mould tool prior to closing said second shell portion over said first shell portion. A shear web, especially an upper edge thereof, may be additionally secured to the blade shell using ligaments () prior to removal of the positioning jig.

Wind turbine blade manufacturing method or apparatus

A shear web for a wind turbine blade is described. The shear web comprises a panel and a web head. A longitudinal edge of the panel is received within a slot defined in the web head. A plurality of discrete spring features are attached to the longitudinal edge of the panel. The spring features are mutually spaced apart at intervals along the length of the longitudinal edge. The spring features compress against a base of the slot when the longitudinal edge region of the panel is inserted into the slot.

Wind turbine blades

A composite component () such as a shear web for a wind turbine blade is described. The component comprises a molded laminate () formed from one or more fibrous layers () integrated by resin and defining a laminate edge (). An edging strip () is located adjacent to the laminate edge () and is integrated with the laminate. In a particular example, the edging () is made from closed-cell foam. Accordingly, resin does not permeate into the bulk of the edging () during the molding process. After the molding process, a portion () of the edging () is removed to reveal an exposed, substantially resin-free surface of the edging which defines a safety edge () of the component.

Composite component having safety edge

A method of making a wind turbine component comprises providing a mold (), placing a fibrous pre-form () in the mold (), admitting resin into the mold and curing the resin. The method further comprises heating () the fibrous pre-form before placing the pre-form in the mold.

Wind turbine components

The invention relates to a wind turbine blade oscillation preventer comprising an aperture and a sleeve and having a peripheral extent and a longitudinal extent, the preventer being configured for removable application over a wind turbine blade and configured to extend longitudinally thereover and peripherally thereabout; the preventer having a non-aerodynamic exterior surface which exhibits a rough surface capable of disrupting smooth or laminar airflow over a substantial portion of the longitudinal and peripheral extent of the sleeve when the preventer is in place on a wind turbine blade. The preventer further comprises a smooth interior surface extending along a substantial portion of the longitudinal extent of the sleeve. The invention also relates to a method of application of a blade oscillation preventer over wind turbine blades which comprise serrations at a trailing edge thereof.

Anti-oscillation apparatus and technique for securing wind turbine blades against oscillations

A method of aligning shear webs for the construction of a wind turbine blade is provided. The method comprises providing one or more jigs (), each configured to receive one or more spacer elements () and providing one or more spacer elements (). First and second shear web panels are placed on the one or more jigs () to align them. The first and second shear web panels are restrained relative to each other and are separated by the one or more spacer elements. The first and second shear web panels are then removed together with the one or more spacer elements from the jig. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.

Turbine blade shear web alignment

A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade using pre-fabricated stacks of reinforcing material is described. The stackscomprise a plurality of plies of fiber material, joined together along a side edge to form a spine. The opposite edges of the stack are left unjoined so that the plies can separate and slide across one another. In doing so, the stacks can be stored flat, but on installation into a curved moldprofile, the plies may slide to adopt the curved shape of the mold. The stacks extend from a point near the leading or trailing edge of the mold to an intermediate point on the mold surface. The stacks may be used to construct the thickened root section of a wind turbine blade.

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New Milton, United Kingdom

Steve Wardropper