REINFORCED BLADE FOR WIND TURBINE

• US 20100092300A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bladena Aps
• Original Assignee: Bladena Aps
• Inventors: Nielsen, Per Horlyk, Jensen, Find Molholt
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/233
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/301 Cross-section characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49337 Composite blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49341 with cooling passage

Abstract

The invention introduces a reinforcement of a box girder of a wind turbine blade. The reinforcement prevents the transverse shear distortion of the blade structure, when the blade is loaded during operation. The reinforcement connects the corners diagonally opposite inside the girder, and fixes them in relation to each other. The reinforcement increases the blade'"'"'s resistance to overall collapse. The reinforcement comprises one or more individual element, such as rods or plates.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade comprising:

a shell;

a first girder; and

a reinforcing member for inhibiting transverse shear distortion of the blade, wherein the reinforcing member is connected to the first girder at a connection between the first girder and the shell at one of the upper part and lower part of the shell, and wherein the reinforcing member is one of

a) a reinforcing angle bar with a first leg abutting the first girder, and a second leg abutting the one of the upper part and lower part of the shell, and

b) a straight reinforcing member connected to the other one of the upper part and lower part of the shell at a distance from the girder.

2. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, further comprising a second girder, wherein the reinforcing member is a first straight reinforcing member interconnecting the first and second girders between a connection between the first girder and the shell at one of the upper part and lower part of the shell and a connection between the second girder and the shell at the other one of the upper part and lower part of the shell.

3. A wind turbine blade according to claim 2, further comprising a second straight reinforcing member interconnecting the first and second girders between a connection between the first girder and the shell at the one of the upper part and lower part of the shell that is opposite the connection of the first straight reinforcing member to the first girder and a connection between the second girder and the shell at the other one of the upper part and lower part of the shell whereby the first and second straight reinforcing members form a cross.

4. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein the straight reinforcing member includes at least one of a plate, a wire, a rope, a tube, a textile and a fabric.

5. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of straight reinforcing members positioned in spaced relationship along the longitudinal extension of the blade with a mutual distance that is less than 2×

D, wherein D is the distance of opposing connections of one of the plurality of straight reinforcing members to the upper part and lower part of the shell, respectively.

6. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein at least one reinforcing member comprises a laminated plate.

7. A wind turbine blade according to claim 6, wherein the laminated plate is a sandwich construction.

8. A wind turbine blade according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is a reinforcing angle bar further comprising a plate connected to the first and second legs and protruding therefrom.

9. A wind turbine blade according to claim 8, wherein the plate extends centrally with relation to the first and the second leg.

10. A wind turbine blade according to claim 8, wherein the plate extends at a side edge of the first and the second leg.

11. A wind turbine blade according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing angle bar further comprises a body plate interconnecting its first and second legs.

12. A wind turbine blade according to claim 8, further comprising a third leg and abutting the one of the upper part and lower part of the shell opposite the second leg.

13. A wind turbine blade according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is a reinforcing angle bar positioned between the first and the second girder.

14. A wind turbine blade according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is a reinforcing angle bar positioned outside the volume defined between the first and the second girder.

15. A method of inhibiting transverse shear distortion in a wind turbine blade with a shell and a first girder wherein the first girder is connected to an upper part of the shell and a lower part of the shell, the method comprising:

providing a straight reinforcing member with a first end and a second opposite end;

connecting the first end to the first girder at the connection between the first girder and the shell at the upper part or the lower part of the shell; and

connecting the second end to the opposite part of the shell at a distance from the girder.

16. A method of inhibiting transverse shear distortion in a wind turbine blade with a shell and a first girder wherein the first girder is connected to an upper part of the shell and a lower part of the shell, the method comprising:

providing a reinforcing angle bar having a first leg and a second leg; and

connecting the first leg to the first girder, and connecting the second leg to the upper part or the lower part of the shell.