Tip extensions for wind turbine rotor blades and methods of installing same
First Claim
1. A method for installing a tip extension onto a tip end of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine having a lightning protection system installed thereon, the lightning protection system having, at least, a removable conductive blade tip and a down conductor associated with the rotor blade, the tip extension having a first end, a second end, a closed leading edge, and an at least partially separated trailing edge, the down conductor comprising a down-conductive member, the method comprising:
- removing the conductive blade tip of the lightning protection system so as to expose the down conductor;
securing the down-conductor member to a first end of a conductive extension within a groove thereof;
sliding the first end of the tip extension over the conductive extension so as to overlap the rotor blade at the tip end;
securing the conductive blade tip to the conductive extension at the second end of the tip extension; and
,securing the tip extension to the tip end of the rotor blade.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to tip extensions for wind turbine rotor blades and methods of installing same. The method includes removing a removable blade tip of a lightning protection system from the rotor blade so as to expose a down conductor of the lightning protection system. The method also includes securing a conductive extension to the down conductor. Moreover, the method includes sliding the first end of the tip extension over the conductive extension so as to overlap the rotor blade at the tip end. In addition, the method includes securing the removable blade tip to the conductive extension at the second end of the tip extension. Further, the method includes securing the tip extension to the rotor blade.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for installing a tip extension onto a tip end of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine having a lightning protection system installed thereon, the lightning protection system having, at least, a removable conductive blade tip and a down conductor associated with the rotor blade, the tip extension having a first end, a second end, a closed leading edge, and an at least partially separated trailing edge, the down conductor comprising a down-conductive member, the method comprising:
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removing the conductive blade tip of the lightning protection system so as to expose the down conductor; securing the down-conductor member to a first end of a conductive extension within a groove thereof; sliding the first end of the tip extension over the conductive extension so as to overlap the rotor blade at the tip end; securing the conductive blade tip to the conductive extension at the second end of the tip extension; and
,securing the tip extension to the tip end of the rotor blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for installing a tip extension onto a tip end of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine having a lightning protection system installed thereon, the lightning protection system having, at least, a down conductor and a conductive blade tip secured to the down conductor associated with the rotor blade, the tip extension having a closed leading edge and an at least partially separated trailing edge, the method comprising:
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securing a conductive extension to the conductive blade tip; sliding a first portion of the tip extension over the conductive blade tip so as to overlap the rotor blade at the tip end; sliding a second portion of the tip extension over the conductive extension; securing the first portion of the tip extension to the rotor blade; and
,securing the second portion of the tip extension to the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A rotor blade assembly, comprising:
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a rotor blade comprising a root end, a tip end, a pressure side surface and a suction side surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; a lightning protection system installed onto the rotor blade, the lightning protection system comprising a down conductor, a conductive blade tip, and at least one lightning receptor located on either of the pressure or suction side surfaces, the down conductor comprising a down-conductor member, the down-conductor member being secured within a recess of the conductive blade tip; and
,a tip extension comprising a first end and a second end, a closed leading edge, a trailing edge defined by at least partially separated pressure and suction side edges that are bonded together and extend chord-wise beyond a trailing edge of the rotor blade, and a conductive extension having a first end and a second end configured between the first and second ends of the tip extension, the first end of the tip extension overlapping the tip end of the rotor blade, the first end of the conductive extension being secured the conductive blade tip, the conductive extension electrically coupling the down conductor to at least one of the conductive blade tip or the at least one lightning receptor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification