RETROFIT SLEEVE FOR WIND TURBINE BLADE

• US 20100135814A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bakhuis, Jan W., Veldkamp, Bart J., Koegler, Klaus U.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/223.R
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0633 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/30 Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
• 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: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/103 Encasing or enveloping the configured lamina

Abstract

A wind turbine blade includes a body having a first surface characteristic; and a sleeve, arranged on the body, having a second surface characteristic which is different from the first surface characteristic.

Claims

1. A retrofit sleeve for a wind turbine blade.

2. A wind turbine blade, comprising:

a body having a first surface characteristic; and

a sleeve, arranged on the body, having a second surface characteristic which is different from the first surface characteristic.

3. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 2, wherein the first surface characteristic includes a first aerodynamic profile and the second surface characteristic includes a second aerodynamic profile which is different from the first aerodynamic profile.

4. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 2, wherein the sleeve has an inner surface that substantially mates with an outer surface of the body.

5. The wind turbine blade recited in claim 3, wherein the sleeve has an inner surface that substantially mates with an outer surface of the body.

6. The wind turbine recited in claim 2, wherein portions of the body extend from each end of the sleeve.

10. The wind turbine recited in claim 3, wherein portions of the body extend from each end of the sleeve.

11. The wind turbine recited in claim 4, wherein portions of the body extend from each end of the sleeve.

12. The wind turbine recited in claim 5, wherein portions of the body extend from each end of the sleeve.

13. The wind turbine recited in claim 2, wherein the body includes a tip and the sleeve substantially covers the tip.

14. The wind turbine recited in claim 3, wherein the body includes a tip and the sleeve substantially covers the tip.

15. The wind turbine recited in claim 4, wherein the body includes a tip and the sleeve substantially covers the tip.

16. The wind turbine recited in claim 5, wherein the body includes a tip and the sleeve substantially covers the tip.

17. A method of manufacturing a retrofit sleeve for a wind turbine blade, comprising:

positioning at least a portion of a blade-shaped form in a mold; and

applying a curable material to the space between the form and mold.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the applying step further comprises

coating the mold with a resin;

and

wrapping the at least a portion of the blade-shaped form with a structural material.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the applying step further comprises drawing the resin into the structural material.

20. The method recited in claim 19, wherein the blade-shaped form is the wind turbine blade.