FLATBACK INSERT FOR TURBINE BLADES

• US 20100143146A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: SULTAN, Mohamad, LIVINGSTON, Jamie, GANN, Matthew, WALKER, Alan, BELL, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/233
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/06 Rotors
• 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: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49336 Blade making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49337 Composite blade

Abstract

A blade for the use in the generation of power has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first shell portion of the blade extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A second shell portion of the blade also extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A root portion of the blade is positioned proximate the wind turbine and a tip portion which extends from the root portion away from the wind turbine. A trailing edge insert is positioned between the first shell portion and the second shell portion proximate the root portion. The trailing edge insert has a surface which extends between and separates the first shell portion from the second shell portion at the trailing edge, such that the insert provides a high lift profile for increased blade efficiency.

Claims

1. A blade for use with a wind turbine, the blade comprising:

a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a first shell portion which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge and a second shell portion which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge;

a root portion which is positioned proximate the wind turbine and a tip portion which extends from the root portion away from the wind turbine;

a trailing edge insert positioned between the first shell portion and the second shell portion proximate the root portion, the insert having a surface which extends between and separates the first shell portion from the second shell portion at the trailing edge;

whereby the insert provides a high lift profile for increased blade efficiency.

2. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein the trailing edge insert includes intermediate layers of fiber fabric attached to a stiffening core.

3. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein the shape of the trailing edge insert is similar to the shape of the trailing edge of the blade.

4. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein the trailing edge insert is mounted to the second shell portion by an adhesive joint, a wet bond shear clip and an outside corner mounting member.

5. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein the trailing edge insert is mounted to the first shell portion by an adhesive joint, a shear clip and an outside corner mounting member.

6. The blade as recited in claim 4, wherein the shear clip is separate preformed clip which is mounted on the trailing edge insert.

7. The blade as recited in claim 4, wherein the wet bond shear clips and the outside corner mounting members are made from reinforcing fabric.

8. The blade as recited in claim 6, wherein the preformed shear clips are made from reinforcing fabric which has been infused and formed to the desired shape.

9. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein ribs are provided on an inside surface of the trailing edge insert to provide additional reinforcement and control buckling.

10. The blade as recited in claim 1, wherein securing members have inserts which are laminated to the first shell portion and receptacles which are laminated to an inside surface of the insert, a connector connects the insert with the receptacle, the securing members provide stability for loads which are out of the plane of the insert.

11. A blade for use in the generation of power, the blade comprising:

a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a first shell portion which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge;

a second shell portion which extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge;

an insert having layers of fiber fabric attached to a stiffening core, the insert is positioned between the first shell portion and the second shell portion proximate the trailing edge of the blade, an outside surface of the insert extends between and separates the first shell portion from the second shell portion at the trailing edge;

whereby the insert provides structural stability to the trailing edge and a high lift profile for increased blade efficiency.

12. The blade as recited in claim 11, wherein the insert is mounted to the second shell portion by an adhesive joint, a wet bond shear clip and an outside corner mounting member.

13. The blade as recited in claim 11, wherein the insert is mounted to the first shell portion by an adhesive joint, a shear clip and an outside corner mounting member.

14. The blade as recited in claim 13, wherein the shear clip is a separate preformed clip made from reinforcing fabric which has been infused and formed to the desired shape and which is mounted on the trailing edge insert.

15. The blade as recited in claim 12, wherein the wet bond shear clips and the outside corner mounting members are made from reinforcing fabric.

16. The blade as recited in claim 11, wherein ribs are provided on an inside surface of the insert to provide additional reinforcement and control buckling.

17. The blade as recited in claim 11, wherein securing members have inserts which are laminated to the first shell portion and receptacles which are laminated to an inside surface of the insert, a connector connects the insert with the receptacle, the securing members provide stability for loads which are out of the plane of the insert.

18. A method of manufacturing a blade for use in the generation of power, the blade having a first shell portion and a second shell portion, the method comprising:

fixing an insert having a stiffening core disposed between layers of fiber fabric to a trailing edge of the second shell portion;

applying a first clip to an inside surface of the insert proximate the second shell portion and to the second shell portion;

applying a second clip to the inside surface of the inside surface of the insert;

fixing a trailing edge of the insert and to the second clip;

whereby the insert and the first and second clips provide structural stability to the trailing edge of the first shell portion and the second shell portion.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein corner mounting members are fixed over the first shell portion and the insert where the first shell portion abuts an outside surface of the insert and over the second shell portion and the insert where the second shall portion abuts the outside surface of the insert.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein ribs are provided on the inside surface of the insert to provide additional reinforcement and control buckling.