General Electric Company

Blade Dynamics Limited

Lm Wind Power A/s

Ge Infrastructure Technology, LLC

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Thomas Merzhaeuser

Andrew Mitchell Rodwell

Scott Jacob Huth

Amir Riahi

Andreas Herrig

James Robert Tobin

Aaron Alpheus Yarbrough

Todd Alan Anderson

Peggy Lynn Baehmann

Alan Majors Walker

Xu Chen

Rama Razeghi

Jens Zangenberg Hansen

Michael Koefoed

Mohammad Salah Attia

Jeppe Jørgensen

Rishikesh Kumar

Norman Arnold Turnquist

Roland J Menassa

Stefan Herr

Wendy Wen-Ling Lin

Daniel Alan Hynum

Stephen Bertram Johnson

Vidyashankar Ramasastry Buravalla

Stefaan Guido Van Nieuwenhove

Shridhar Champaknath Nath

Sultan Shair

Sriram Krishnamurthy

Bart Jan Veldkamp

Mathias Ernst Messmer

Murray Fisher

Mathilde Aubrion

Andreas Lutz

Scott Iverson Shillig

Martin Petersen

Andrew McCalip

Louis Rondeau

Don Conrad Johnson

Sara Simonne Louisa Delport

Rohit Agarwal

Mahdi Baviloliaie

Danilo Veljkovic

Matthew Brian Dudon

Julie Ann Shepherd

Dominic Alexander Von Terzi

Brian Scott Redmon

Swapnil Dhumal

Rune Vestergaard

Graham Andress Aldinger

Madhi Baviloliaie

Soeren Steffensen

Scott Jacob Hutch

Roland Joseph Menassa

Stafaan Guido Van Nieuwenhove

A method of joining first and second blade components of a rotor blade includes arranging the first blade component and the second blade component together at an interface. The first and second blade components are formed of different materials having different stiffnesses. The method further includes providing a gap at the interface of the blade components. Further, the method includes securing the blade components together by at least partially filling the gap with a filler material. Moreover, the method includes further securing the blade components together via an infusion process, wherein, during the infusion process, additional filler material further fills the gap or covers at least a portion of the filler material. In addition, the method includes allowing the filler material(s) to cure. Thus, upon curing, the filler material(s)—smoothly transitions a load between the different materials of the blade components, thereby limiting an associated stress at the interface.

Jointed wind turbine rotor blade having improved transitions between varying material combinations

The present disclosure relates to a spar cap () for a wind turbine blade () comprising: a plurality of spar cap layers () and a first interlayer () arranged between the first spar cap layer () and the second spar cap layer () and comprising: a number of first interlayer areas (), including a first primary interlayer area (), comprising a first number of interlayer sheets () comprising a first plurality of fibres (); and a number of second interlayer areas (), including a second primary interlayer area (), comprising a second number of interlayer sheets () comprising a second plurality of fibres (), wherein the first number of interlayer sheets () is of a different characteristic than the second number of interlayer sheets ().

Optimized spar cap structure for wind turbine blade

A rotor blade for a wind turbine including a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments include one or more shell members and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending between a receiving end and a second end. The internal support structure of the second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the receiving end of the beam structure of the first blade segment. The rotor blade further includes one or more connection locations where the first and second blade segments are secured together. Moreover, when the beam structure is received within the receiving section, a gap including a varying thickness is defined and maintained between the beam structure and the receiving section in a span-wise direction of the rotor blade.

Rotor blade segments secured together via internal support structures that define a variable size gap therebetween

An interlayer sheet for a spar cap is provided. The interlayer sheet includes a first fibre layer having a first plurality of fibres with a first upper fibre surface and a first lower fibre surface, and a second fibre layer having comprising a second plurality of fibres with a second upper fibre surface and a second lower fibre surface. The first fibre layer is arranged on top of the second fibre layer, such that the first lower fibre surface is in contact with the second upper fibre surface. The first fibre layer is of a different characteristic than the second fibre layer. A number of the interlayer sheets may be arranged between a plurality of pre-cured fibre-reinforced elements to make a spar cap for a wind turbine blade.

Optimized interlayer for a spar cap for a wind turbine blade

A rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The first blade segment includes a beam structure having a receiving end with at least one span-wise extending pin extending therefrom. The second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the beam structure. The receiving section includes a chord-wise member having a pin joint slot defined therethrough. The pin joint slot receives the span-wise extending pin at the receiving end of the beam structure so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. Moreover, the chord-wise member, the pin joint slot, and/or the span-wise extending pin includes at least one compliant structure formed of a compliant material that allows a deformation thereof to follow a shear deformation of the rotor blade.

Compliant structures for jointed rotor blades

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The blade segments each have at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure that structurally connects with the internal support structure of the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade further includes one or more pin joints positioned on at least one of internal support structures of the blade segments. Further, at least one of internal support structures is constructed, at least in part, of a resin material having a plurality of fibers cured therein. The fibers are arranged with varying fiber orientations along a span of the rotor blade at locations of the pin joint(s).

Jointed rotor blade having internal support structure with varying fiber orientation for pin reinforcement

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment at a receiving section. At least one of the internal support structures of the first and second blade segments includes at least one spar cap. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints positioned on the spar cap(s) for connecting the blade segments. The spar cap is constructed of varying forms of materials along a span of the rotor blade, including at least two of: one or more infused composite laminates, one or more pre-preg composite laminates, one or more pre-fabricated or pre-cured composite elements, one or more additively-manufactured structures, or one or more non-composite structural solids.

Jointed wind turbine rotor blade having spar cap constructed of varying forms of materials along its span

A jointed rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the internal support structure of the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade further includes one or more pin joints positioned on at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment. Thus, at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment includes varying material combinations along a span of the rotor blade at locations of the one or more pin joints so as to reinforce the one or more pin joints.

Jointed wind turbine rotor blade having varying material combinations along its span for pin reinforcement

A method for manufacturing an outer skin of a rotor blade includes forming an outer skin layer of the outer skin from a first combination of at least one of one or more resins or fiber materials. The method also includes forming an inner skin layer of the outer skin from a second combination of at least one of one or more resins or fiber materials. More specifically, the first and second combinations are different. Further, the method includes arranging the outer and inner skin layers together in a stacked configuration. In addition, the method includes joining the outer and inner skin layers together to form the outer skin.

Methods for manufacturing an outer skin of a rotor blade

A method for producing a hollow composite structure, such as a spar beam for a wind turbine blade, includes placing a membrane within a mold tool, the membrane being permeable to air and impermeable to resin. A mandrel is placed within the mold tool, the mandrel enclosed in an air tight layer that includes a vent. Fiber reinforcement material is placed around the mandrel within the mold tool and the membrane is sealed at least partly around the fiber reinforcement material and mandrel. The mold tool is closed with the vent line from the mandrel extending through the sealed membrane to outside of the mold tool. A vacuum is drawn in the mold tool while the mandrel is vented to outside of the mold tool, and while the vacuum is being drawn, resin is infused into the mold tool around the mandrel such that the resin is drawn towards the membrane.

Method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced polymer composite beam, particularly a spar beam for a wind turbine rotor blade

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise, whereas the internal support structure of the second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the beam structure of the first blade segment. Further, the rotor blade includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the beam structure and the receiving section at the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. The rotor blade includes at least one additional support member that receives a portion of the chord-wise extending pin so as to reduce a chord-wise bending deflection of the chord-wise extending pin at the chord-wise joint.

Jointed rotor blade having a chord-wise extending pin supported via one or more structural members

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment. Further, the beam structure forms a portion of the internal support structure of the first blade segment. Moreover, the beam structure is formed, at least in part, of a first portion constructed of a first composite material and a second portion constructed of a different, second composite material. Further, the first and second portions are connected together via a scarf joint. In addition, the scarf joint includes a different, third composite material arranged between the first and second composite materials.

Scarf connection for a wind turbine rotor blade

A wind turbine blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthways that structurally connects with the second blade segment at a receiving section, wherein the beam structure forms a portion of an internal support structure and includes a shear web connected with a suction side spar cap and a pressure side spar cap. The present technology also includes a joint rod located at a first end of the beam structure for connecting with the receiving section of the second blade segment to form a coupling joint about a joint axis. The coupling joint is coupled to an adjustable elastic support. The receiving section may further include a torque coupling positioned offset from the joint axis, such that a bending motion of the beam structure automatically induces a twist motion. A method of assembling the wind turbine blade is additionally disclosed.

Aero-elastically tailored wind blade tip joint

A wind turbine composite laminate component and method for producing it is disclosed as initially assembling a laminated structure having at least two reinforced layers and a plurality of interleaf layers positioned adjacent to one of the at least two reinforced layers. Then placing the laminated structure into a mold where resin is sequentially and independently transferred into each of the plurality of interleaf layers. Then curing the transferred resin in the laminated structure to form a composite laminate component having the at least two reinforced layers, the plurality of interleaf layers, and cured resin.

Enhanced through-thickness resin infusion for a wind turbine composite laminate

A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade that is pre-staged for subsequent retrofitting with a replacement blade tip segment includes providing the wind turbine blade with a continuous spar structure from a root end to a tip end of the wind turbine blade. At a pre-defined span-wise location, one of a span-wise extending beam structure or span-wise extending receiver section is configured with the spar structure.

Wind turbine rotor blade pre-staged for retrofitting with a replacement blade tip segment

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Munich, Germany

Thomas Merzhaeuser