METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PANEL OF A WIND TURBINE NACELLE

• US 20200132050A1
• Filed: 10/17/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation & Technology SL (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation & Technology SL (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: BIENES ARCHEL, CARLOS
• Granted Patent: US 11,293,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0072 combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/42 characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/30 Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/541 Positioning reinforcements in a mould, e.g. using clamping means for the reinforcement positioning inserts in moulds B29C33/12; lay-up on a mould B29C70/30
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/006 Producing casings, e.g. accumulator cases
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7504 Turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/10 Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/00 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2280/6003 Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

Provided is a method of manufacturing a panel of a wind turbine nacelle, which method includes the steps of providing a mold for the panel; arranging at least one divider in the mold to spatially divide the mold into at least a first mold region and a second mold region; arranging composite material in the mold; curing the composite material; and separating the cured panel into at least a first panel portion and a second panel portion along a line defined by a divider. Also provided is a method of constructing a wind turbine nacelle, and a wind turbine including such a nacelle.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a panel of a wind turbine nacelle, which method comprises the steps of

providing a mold for the panel;

arranging at least one divider in the mold to spatially divide the mold into at least a first mold region and a second mold region;

arranging composite material in the mold;

curing the composite material; and

separating the cured panel into at least a first panel portion and a second panel portion along a line defined by a divider.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one divider is arranged in the mold so that the dimensions of the mold regions lie within size constraints of a 40-foot shipping container.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one divider is shaped to form a connection interface between a first panel portion and a second panel portion.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one divider comprises a T-shaped profile.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of arranging composite material in the mold includes covering the at least one divider.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one divider is shaped to follow a contour in the mold.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the mold comprises a step of forming inserts to receive fasteners for securing a divider to a surface of the mold.

8. A method of constructing a wind turbine nacelle, which method comprises the steps of

providing a set of nacelle panels at an installation site, whereby at least one panel is provided in the form of panel portions of a multi-part panel manufactured using the method according to claim 1;

connecting panel portions of a multi-part panel; and

assembling all panels of the nacelle panel set.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of providing the nacelle panel set comprises transporting the panel portions of a multi-part panel to the installation site by a 40-foot shipping container.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of connecting portions of a multi-part panel comprises arranging a spacer between opposing faces of the panel portions.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer comprises a sealant layer arranged to lie against a corresponding surface of a panel portion.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the thickness of the spacer does not exceed the thickness of the corresponding divider.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer comprises a plurality of spacer elements, wherein a spacer element is shaped to engage with an adjacent spacer element.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein a spacer comprises a number of bushings, and wherein a bushing is arranged to accommodate a fastener extending through opposing faces of the first and second panel portions.

15. A wind turbine comprising a nacelle constructed according to claim 8.