Wind turbine rotor blades with support flanges

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016177918-A1
Application number	US-201414574536-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Rotor blades for wind turbines include a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member, and a support flange connecting the airfoil structure to the structural support member. The support flange includes a first wall connected to the structural support member, a second wall connected to the airfoil structure, and a connection wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length; an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member; and, a support flange connecting the airfoil structure to the structural support member, the support flange comprising:
a first wall connected to the structural support member;
a second wall connected to the airfoil structure; and,
a connection wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall.

2 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein the structural support member comprises at least one shear web connected to at least one spar cap.

3 . The rotor blade of claim 2 , wherein the at least one shear web is connected at an end of the at least one spar cap.

4 . The rotor blade of claim 3 , wherein the first wall for the support flange connects to the at least one spar cap and the at least one shear web.

5 . The rotor blade of claim 3 , wherein the first wall for the support flange connects to the at least one shear web without connecting to the at least one spar cap.

6 . The rotor blade of claim 2 , wherein the at least one spar cap comprises a recess disposed on an outer surface opposite the at least one shear web, and wherein the support flange extends at least partially into the recess.

7 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein the second wall is integral with the airfoil structure.

8 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein an adhesive material is disposed between the first wall and the structural support member.

9 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support flange comprises a corrugated material.

10 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein the airfoil structure comprises a plurality of modular shell components, and wherein the support flange connects at least one of the plurality of modular shell components to the structural support member.

11 . The rotor blade of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of support flanges, each connecting the airfoil structure to the structural support member.

12 . A rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a structural support member disposed internal the rotor blade that extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length; an airfoil structure supported by the structural support member, the airfoil structure comprising a shell portion and one or more load-transferring exterior panels, wherein the shell portion and the one or more load-transferring exterior panels combine to form an aerodynamic profile comprising a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a pressure side opposite a suction side, and wherein the shell portion and each of the one or more load-transferring exterior panels are independently connected to the structural support member; and, a support flange connecting the airfoil structure to the structural support member, the support flange comprising:
a first wall connected to the structural support member;
a second wall connected to the airfoil structure; and,
a connection wall that extends between the first wall and the second wall.

13 . The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the support flange is connected to at least one of the one or more load-transferring exterior panels.

14 . The rotor blade of claim 13 , wherein the second wall is integral with the at least one of the one or more load-transferring exterior panels.

15 . The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the structural support member comprises at least one shear web connected to at least one spar cap.

16 . The rotor blade of claim 15 , wherein the at least one shear web is connected at an end of the at least one spar cap.

17 . The rotor blade of claim 16 , wherein the first wall for the support flange connects to the at least one spar cap and the at least one shear web.

18 . The rotor blade of claim 16 , wherein the first wall for the support flange connects to the at least one shear web without connecting to the at least one spar cap.

19 . The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein an adhesive material is disposed between the first wall and the structural support member.

20 . The rotor blade of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of support flanges, each connecting at least one of the one or more load-transferring support panels to the structural support member.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Caruso Christopher Daniel
• Yarbrough Aaron Alpheus

Classifications

• F03D1/0675 Primary

  of the blades · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F05D2250/61

  corrugated · CPC title

• F05D2240/30

  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 title