FTIR data quality optimization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11732694-B2
Application number	US-202117225747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2021
Priority date	Apr 8, 2020
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A method for fabrication of a composite component, e.g. wind turbine blade, comprises forming a composite structure within a mold, the composite structure including a resin dispersed throughout the fibers in the composite structure and applying a surface treatment, e.g. sanding, to at least one region of the composite structure. A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer is employed to irradiate the treated surface area with infrared light; and determining the amount of infrared light absorbed in the treated area of the composite structure to measure the chemical bond (distribution efficacy, chemical composition, and cure state) of the composite product. Calibration models for a variety of materials are made using a partial least squares 2-variable regression. These calibration files incorporate spectrum from samples of varying resin-hardener mix ratio, and at varying degree of cure. After library comparison confirms the material, the device automatically selects the correct calibration file, ensuring accurate results.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for fabrication of a wind turbine blade comprising:
forming a composite wind turbine blade structure within a mold, wherein forming includes
dispensing a resin throughout at least a first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure;

applying a surface treatment to at least the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure, the surface treatment includes abrasion resulting in particles of various sizes and increasing the surface area of the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade;
providing a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer;
irradiating at least the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure with infrared light, wherein the irradiation is applied to the particles of various sizes and the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade; and
determining an amount of the infrared light absorbed in at least the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure to measure the chemical bond of the composite wind turbine blade structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment includes sanding.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abrasion provides a plurality of particles of varying size on the first portion of the composite structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface treatment includes applying a lubricant to the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the lubricant includes a mineral oil.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the FTIR spectrometer measures diffuse reflection of the infrared light.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the FTIR spectrometer measures attenuated total reflectance of the infrared light.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the FTIR spectrometer measures external reflection of the infrared light.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiating of the at least the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is performed by a plurality of FTIR spectrometers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of FTIR spectrometers are configured for relative movement with respect to the composite wind turbine blade structure.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of FTIR spectrometers are configured for relative movement with respect to each other.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a plurality of incident infrared beams are projected simultaneously towards a plurality portions of the composite wind turbine blade structure.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a plurality of incident infrared beams are projected towards the composite wind turbine blade structure in a serial fashion.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one incident infrared beam is projected at a wavelength from approximately 650 cm −1 to approximately 5200 cm −1 .

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is a leading edge of the wind turbine blade.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is a tip of the wind turbine blade.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is a root portion of the wind turbine blade.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the composite wind turbine blade structure is an external surface of the wind turbine blade.

Assignees

• Tpi Composites Inc

Inventors

• Mignacca Richard

Classifications

• G01N2021/8472

  Investigation of composite materials · CPC title

• F03D13/10 Primary

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title

• B29D99/0025

  Producing blades or the like, e.g. blades for turbines, propellers, or wings · CPC title

• F03D13/30

  Commissioning, e.g. inspection, testing or final adjustment before releasing for production · CPC title

• G01J3/108

  for measurement in the infrared range · CPC title