Method of applying a protective layer to a wind turbine rotor blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11067058-B2
Application number	US-201716469459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2017
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a method of applying a protective layer to an outer surfaced of a wind turbine rotor blade, which method includes the steps of preparing a protective layer for application to the outer surface of the rotor blade; providing an air exit channel between the rotor blade and the protective layer; attaching the protective layer to the outer surface of the rotor blade; and extracting air through the air exit channel. Further provided is a wind turbine rotor blade including a protective layer applied to an outer surface of the rotor blade using such a method.

First claim

The claims are as follows:

1. A method of applying a protective layer to an outer surface of a wind turbine rotor blade, which method comprises the steps of
preparing a protective layer for application to the outer surface of the rotor blade;
providing an air exit channel between the rotor blade and the protective layer;
attaching the protective layer to the outer surface of the rotor blade; and
extracting air through the air exit channel.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the air exit channel extends from one edge of the protective layer to an opposite edge of the protective layer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the air exit channel is formed by a breather material arranged between the protective layer and the rotor blade surface.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the air exit channel is formed alongside a cord arranged between the protective layer and the rotor blade surface.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the air exit channel is formed by a groove along the inside surface of the protective layer.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the protective layer comprises a step of forming a plurality of grooves in the body of the protective layer.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the step of applying a thermolatent adhesive layer to the inside surface of the protective layer and/or to the outer surface of the rotor blade.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the air exit channel is formed by a fold in a thermolatent adhesive layer arranged between the protective layer and the rotor blade.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of extracting the air is accompanied by and/or followed by a step of heating the thermolatent adhesive layer.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein air is extracted through the air exit channel by a vacuum pump.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the protective layer comprises a step of pre-forming the protective layer according to the shape of the rotor blade.

12. A wind turbine rotor blade comprising a protective layer applied to an outer surface of the rotor blade using the method according to claim 1 .

13. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 12 , comprising an airfoil section with a leading edge and a trailing edge, and wherein the protective layer is applied over at least a portion of the leading edge.

14. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 12 , wherein the protective layer is applied over the leading edge from a root end section of the rotor blade to the outer end of the rotor blade.

15. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 12 , wherein the protective layer comprises a viscoelastic polymer.

16. A method of applying a protective layer to a wind turbine rotor blade, the method comprising:
preparing a protective layer for application to the rotor blade;
applying a thermolatent adhesive layer to at least one of the protective layer and the rotor blade;
providing an air exit channel between the rotor blade and the protective layer;
attaching the protective layer to the rotor blade; and
extracting air through the air exit channel.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising heating the thermolatent adhesive layer.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein heating the thermolatent adhesive layer is performed at least one of simultaneously with and after extracting the air.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein heating the thermolatent adhesive layer results in a melted thermolatent adhesive.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the melted thermolatent adhesive fills an interface between the protective layer and the rotor blade.

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Stege Jason
• Kratmann Kasper Koops

Classifications

• B32B3/30

  characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)} · CPC title

• B32B7/12

  using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties · CPC title

• B32B37/1207

  Heat-activated adhesive (B32B37/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D1/0675 Primary

  of the blades · CPC title

• B32B2603/00

  Vanes, blades, propellers, rotors with blades · CPC title