Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Neg Micon A/s

Tomas Vronsky

Mark Hancock

Andrew Hedges

Ole Gunneskov

Nicholas Dudley Barlow

Anton Bech

Paul Badger

Frank Hoelgaard Hahn

Rens Christiaan Verhoef

Benjamin Rowlinson

Frank Axel Hahn

There is provided a method of avoiding edgewise vibrations during a non-operational period of a wind turbine. The method comprises defining a non-operational period for a wind turbine arranged at a specific site, determining expected wind conditions at the specific site during the non-operational period and defining a plurality of potential yaw orientations for the wind turbine. The method further comprises determining the relative probability of edgewise vibrations occurring during the non-operational period for each potential yaw orientation based upon the expected wind conditions during the non-operational period, determining one or more preferred yaw orientations, which are the yaw orientations in which the probability of edgewise vibrations occurring is lowest, and arranging the wind turbine in one of the preferred yaw orientations during the non-operational period.

Method of avoiding edgewise vibrations during non-operational periods of a wind turbine

The invention relates to a structural mat for reinforcing a wind turbine blade structure. The structural mat comprises two or more groups of bonded fibers, the fibers being bonded by a matrix substantially preventing relative movement of said fibers and wherein said groups are connected to each other by connection means limiting the relative movement of said groups. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade.

Structural mat for reinforcing a wind turbine blade structure, a wind turbine blade and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade

The invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine. The rotor blade comprises a shell and a spar forming a longitudinally extending hollow structure within the shell and comprising: a leading web, a trailing web, and one or more additional webs. Each additional web defines an intermediate portion between a hub end and a tip end. The intermediate portion of each additional web is spaced apart from the leading and trailing webs and at least one of the tip and the hub ends is connected to or integral with the leading or the trailing web. The invention further relates to a wind turbine comprising the rotor blade, and a method for manufacturing the rotor blade.

Rotor blade for a wind turbine and a method for making the same

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine blade. The method includes providing at least two caps, each cap forming an intermediate portion between two end portions, where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion of the spar, providing at least two webs, each web being provided with web joint surface portions along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The caps are provided so that the end portions extend transversely to the intermediate portion and the caps are arranged relative to each other so that the end portions of one cap extend from the intermediate portion towards the end portions of another cap.

Method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine from elements having end portions extending transversely to an intermediate portion

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar () for a wind turbine blade. The method comprises steps of providing at least two caps (), each cap forming an intermediate portion () between two end portions (), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion () along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion () of the spar, providing at least two webs (), each web being provided with web joint surface portions () along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The intermediate portions and the end portions are provided so that they comprise different materials.

Method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine from elements comprising different materials

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar () for a wind turbine blade steps of providing at least two caps (), each cap forming an intermediate portion () between two end portions (), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion () along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion () of the spar, providing at least two webs (), each web being provided with web joint surface portions () along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The at least two caps are configured for attachment to a blade shell so that the intermediate portion of one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a windward surface of the blade and the other one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a leeward surface of the blade.

Method of manufacturing a spar for a wind turbine from elements having geometrically well-defined joint surface portions

A wind turbine rotor blade extension portion having a permanent framework with one or more chord-wise members and a substantially span-wise member. A membrane is located over the framework to thereby generate a streamlined surface. The extension portion is configured to transmit aerodynamic loads from the membrane, along the chord-wise members to a rotor blade to which the extension portion is connected, in use.

Rotor blade extension portion having a skin located over a framework

A wind turbine rotor blade extension portion having a plurality of segments, located adjacent one another in a span-wise sense. An interface between adjacent segments is configured to minimize disruption to fluid passing thereover and to inhibit transmission of longitudinal loads between segments. Each segment has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is spaced from the second surface at a proximal region of the extension portion and the first surface is connected to the second surface at a distal region of the extension portion to thereby generate a fair surface for a rotor blade to which the extension portion is connected, in use.

Segmented rotor blade extension portion

A wind turbine rotor blade is provided, the rotor blade comprising a root portion and a tip portion extending therefrom. The root portion comprises a plurality of inserts embedded therein, each insert being configured to receive respective connecting means for connecting the wind turbine rotor blade to a wind turbine hub. The inserts are of at least two different lengths such that they extend into the rotor blade by different distances.

Wind turbine rotor blade

A wind turbine rotor blade root load sensor includes an insert secured within a root portion of a wind turbine rotor blade and including an internal bore. The sensor also includes a carrier member fixedly connected to the internal bore of the insert so that loads can be transmitted therebetween. The sensor further includes a sensing element supported by the carrier member within the internal bore of the insert. The sensing element is positioned to detect loads applied to the wind turbine rotor blade and transferred through the insert and the carrier member.

Wind turbine blade load sensor

The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising a number of pre-fabricated strips arranged in a sequence along the outer periphery. The strips consist of a fibrous composite material, preferably carbon fibers, and consist of a wooden material, preferably plywood or wooden fibers held in a cured resin. The advantage is that it is possible to manufacture blades for wind turbines which are very stiff and generally have a high strength, but which nevertheless are easy to manufacture and also is much cheaper to manufacture compared to conventional manufacturing techniques. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing prefabricated strips and for manufacturing wind turbine blades.

Wind turbine blade

The invention relates to a wind turbine blade comprising a number of pre-fabricated strips arranged in a sequence along the outer periphery. The strips consist of a fibrous composite material, preferably carbon fibres, and consist of a wooden material, preferably plywood or wooden fibres held in a cured resin. The advantage is that it is possible to manufacture blades for wind turbines which are very stiff and generally have a high strength, but which nevertheless are easy to manufacture and also is much cheaper to manufacture compared to conventional manufacturing techniques. The invention also relates to methods for manufacturing prefabricated strips and for manufacturing wind turbine blades.

Growing community of inventors

Woolston, United Kingdom

Tomas Vronsky