Efficient wind turbine blades, wind turbine blade structures, and associated systems and methods of manufacture, assembly and use
First Claim
1. A wind turbine blade, comprising:
- an external aerodynamic surface having a longitudinally-extending spanwise axis, a chordwise axis extending transverse to the spanwise axis, and a thickness axis extending transverse to both the chordwise and spanwise axes; and
a plurality of longitudinally-extending spars providing internal support for the aerodynamic surface, wherein at least one of the spars includes a laminate of precured composite material, the laminate of precured composite material including;
a plurality of precured, pultruded composite layers, wherein each of the pultruded composite layers overlaps with the others in the at least one spar at at least one longitudinal location; and
a plurality of adhesive layers interposed between adjacent precured, pultruded composite layers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates.
143 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wind turbine blade, comprising:
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an external aerodynamic surface having a longitudinally-extending spanwise axis, a chordwise axis extending transverse to the spanwise axis, and a thickness axis extending transverse to both the chordwise and spanwise axes; and a plurality of longitudinally-extending spars providing internal support for the aerodynamic surface, wherein at least one of the spars includes a laminate of precured composite material, the laminate of precured composite material including; a plurality of precured, pultruded composite layers, wherein each of the pultruded composite layers overlaps with the others in the at least one spar at at least one longitudinal location; and a plurality of adhesive layers interposed between adjacent precured, pultruded composite layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wind turbine blade, comprising:
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an external aerodynamic surface having a longitudinally-extending spanwise axis, a chordwise axis extending transverse to the spanwise axis, and a thickness axis extending transverse to both the chordwise and spanwise axes; and a plurality of longitudinally-extending spars providing internal support for the aerodynamic surface, wherein at least one of the spars has inner and outer surfaces that are generally flat and wherein the local external aerodynamic surface is curved, further wherein the at least one spar includes a laminate of precured composite material, the laminate of precured composite material including; a plurality of precured, pultruded composite layers, wherein each of the pultruded composite layers overlaps with the others in the at least one spar at at least one longitudinal location, and wherein individual precured, pultruded composite layers have a chordwise extent and a thickness extent less than the chordwise extent; and a plurality of adhesive layers interposed between adjacent precured, pultruded composite layers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification