Segmented rotor blade extension portion

• US 8,317,479 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Vronsky, Tomas, Hancock, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Wagner, Jenny L
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORNOW, MARK W
• Application Number:
  US12/231,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20100028161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 416/196.R, 416/196.A, 416/23
• US Class Current: 416/196.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0641 of the section profile of the blades, i.e. aerofoil profile
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/60 Assembly methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/301 Cross-section characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/301 Retaining bolts or nuts
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:

a structurally coherent blade portion, the blade portion comprising;

a leading portion configured to receive fluid incident on the rotor blade; and

a trailing portion located downstream of the leading portion and configured to smoothly convey fluid passing thereover from the leading portion,

wherein a root region of the blade portion is configured to be connectable to a hub of a wind turbine and the blade portion is configured to smoothly transfer loads experienced thereby to the root region of the blade portion for transfer to the hub; and

an extension portion appended to an outer surface of the trailing portion, the extension portion comprising a plurality of segments located adjacent one another in a span-wise sense, an interface between adjacent segments being configured to inhibit transmission of loads between the segments, wherein each segment comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being spaced from the second surface at a proximal region of the extension portion and the first surface being connected to the second surface at a distal region of the extension portion.

2. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein each segment comprises one of the group of a fibre reinforced plastic material, a thermoplastic material, wood and a laminate material.

3. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces of each segment are formed from a single, folded piece of material.

4. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces of each segment are bonded to one another such that a fixed relative position between the two surfaces is achieved.

5. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces of each segment are joined to one another using a hinged joint, such that relative rotation between the two surfaces is enabled.

6. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein lateral edges of adjacent segments, extending in a substantially chord-wise direction, comprise cooperating, protruding sections configured to slideably interconnect with one another to permit longitudinal relative movement between the adjacent segments.

7. The rotor blade according to claim 6, comprising sealing means located between adjacent segments to inhibit leakage of fluid therethrough.

8. The rotor blade according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means comprises one of the group of a brush seal and a lip seal, wherein said seal is located between the cooperating, protruding sections of adjacent segments.

9. The rotor blade according to claim 7, wherein a sealing member of the sealing means comprises an elastomeric material.

10. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein lateral edges of adjacent segments, extending in a substantially chord-wise direction, comprise a planar, or substantially planar, profile and the segments are spaced from one another.

11. The rotor blade according to claim 10, comprising sealing means located between adjacent segments, to inhibit leakage of fluid therethrough.

12. The rotor blade according to claim 11, wherein the sealing member is one of the group of an elastomeric seal, an inflatable seal and a labyrinth seal.

13. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the extension portion is appended to a root region of the trailing portion.

14. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein an interface between the extension portion and the trailing portion comprises a longitudinally extending protrusion, formed on one of the extension portion and the trailing portion and a cooperating, longitudinally extending retaining recess, formed on the other of the extension portion and the trailing portion.

15. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein an interface between the extension portion and the trailing portion comprises a longitudinally extending pad, connected to each of the extension portion and the trailing portion, wherein the pad comprises a material having a greater compliance than respective materials of the extension portion and the trailing portion.

16. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein an interface between the extension portion and the trailing portion comprises a bolt, or similar fixing mechanism, configured to pass through a guide hole formed in one portion and be retained relative to the other portion, wherein the guide hole is elongated in the span-wise direction.

17. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade portion comprises a truncated profile, whereby the root region of the trailing portion is configured to receive the extension portion.

18. The rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the blade portion is a wind turbine rotor blade.

20. A wind turbine installation comprising a rotor hub supported by a tower, comprising a rotor blade according to claim 1, wherein the, or each rotor blade is appended to the rotor hub.

19. A wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:

a structurally coherent blade portion, the blade portion comprising;

a root portion configured to be connectable to a hub of a wind turbine;

a tip portion located remotely from the root portion; and

a longitudinal structural member extending between the root portion and the tip portion, wherein the blade portion is configured to provide a continuous load bearing path along a rearmost surface thereof, from tip to root, along which longitudinal loads are transmitted, in use; and

an extension portion appended to the outer, rearmost surface of the root portion, wherein the extension portion is configured to provide a streamlined extension surface to the blade portion whilst inhibiting span-wise transmission of loads therewithin and from the blade portion.

21. A wind turbine installation comprising a rotor hub supported by a tower, comprising a rotor blade according to claim 19, wherein the, or each rotor blade is appended to the rotor hub.

22. A wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:

a structurally coherent blade portion, the blade portion comprising;

a leading portion configured to receive fluid incident on the rotor blade; and

a trailing portion located downstream of the leading portion and configured to smoothly convey fluid passing thereover from the leading portion,

wherein a root region of the blade portion is configured to be connectable to a hub of a wind turbine and the blade portion is configured to smoothly transfer loads experienced thereby to the root region of the blade portion for transfer to the hub; and

an extension portion comprising a plurality of segments located adjacent one another in a span-wise sense, an interface between adjacent segments being configured to inhibit transmission of loads between the segments, wherein each segment comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being spaced from the second surface at a proximal region of the extension portion and the first surface being connected to the second surface at a distal region of the extension portion, and wherein the first and second surfaces engage an outer surface of the trailing portion at the proximal region of the extension portion.

23. A wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:

a structurally coherent blade portion, the blade portion comprising;

a leading portion configured to receive fluid incident on the rotor blade; and

a trailing portion located downstream of the leading portion and configured to smoothly convey fluid passing thereover from the leading portion,

wherein a root region of the blade portion is configured to be connectable to a hub of a wind turbine and the blade portion is configured to smoothly transfer loads experienced thereby to the root region of the blade portion for transfer to the hub; and

an extension portion comprising a plurality of segments located adjacent one another in a span-wise sense, an interface between adjacent segments being configured to inhibit transmission of loads between the segments, wherein each segment comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being spaced from the second surface at a proximal region of the extension portion and the first surface being connected to the second surface at a distal region of the extension portion, and wherein an outer surface of the trailing portion underlies the extension portion for a full span-wise length of the extension portion.