Wind turbine blade with a lightning receptor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025257717-A1
Application number	US-202218874125-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2022
Priority date	Jun 14, 2022
Publication date	Aug 14, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a wind turbine blade shell part for a wind turbine blade, the blade shell part comprising: a structural element providing structural strength to the blade shell part and comprising carbon fibres embedded in a polymer matrix; a lightning receptor exposed at an outer surface of the blade shell part and extending towards the structural element; and an electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to the structural element. A method for manufacturing such a blade shell part is also provided.(FIG. 8C)

First claim

1 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A blade shell part for a wind turbine blade, the blade shell part comprising:
a structural element providing structural strength to the blade shell part and comprising one or more pultrusions comprising carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix; a lightning receptor exposed at an outer surface of the blade shell part and extending towards the structural element; and an electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to the carbon fibers in the one or more pultrusions of the structural element.

29 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , further comprising one or more fiber layers comprising carbon fibers, the one or more fiber layers being positioned between the outer surface of the blade shell part and one or more of the pultrusions and being adhesively attached to and in electrical contact with at least one of the one or more pultrusions, the electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to the carbon fibers in one or more of the fiber layers.

30 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the structural element further comprises a metallic element positioned between the outer surface of the blade shell part and the one or more pultrusions and being in electrical contact with at least one of the one or more pultrusions, the electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to a part of the metallic element.

31 . The blade shell part of claim 30 , wherein the one or more fiber layers or the metallic element provides potential equalization between at least two of the one or more pultrusions.

32 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the lightning receptor abuts a lightning diverter forming part of the outer surface of the blade shell part, and wherein the lightning receptor is located a first distance from the lightning diverter forming part of the outer surface of the blade shell part.

33 . The blade shell part of claim 32 , wherein the lightning diverter is a segmented lightning diverter.

34 . The blade shell part of claim 32 , wherein the first distance is in the range of 2 millimeters (mm) to 20 mm.

35 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the electrically conductive adhesive material has an electrical resistivity in the range 1.0 10 −6 Ohm-meter to 1.0 10 −5 Ohm-meter measured at 25° C.

36 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein a perimeter of the lightning receptor is surrounded by a sealant at the outer surface.

37 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the structural element is a spar cap.

38 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the blade shell part comprises at least one of a pressure side shell or a suction side shell. 39 The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the lightning receptor and the electrically conductive adhesive, when attached to the structural element, can withstand a lightning current of at least 10 kA.

40 . The blade shell part of claim 28 , wherein the lightning receptor and the electrically conductive adhesive, when attached to the structural element, can withstand a lightning charge during a lightning strike of at least 50 Coulomb.

41 . A method for attaching a lightning receptor to a wind turbine blade shell part of a wind turbine blade to provide electrical contact between an outer surface of the blade shell part and a structural element in the blade shell part, the method comprising:
providing a blade shell part comprising a structural element, the structural element comprising one or more pultrusions comprising carbon fibers embedded in a polymer matrix; providing a first recess extending from an outer surface of the blade shell part towards the structural element, the recess exposing a part of one or more of the pultrusions without extending into any of the pultrusions; applying an electrically conductive adhesive into the recess; inserting a lightning receptor into the recess such that the electrically conductive adhesive attaches the lightning receptor to the carbon fibers in the one or more pultrusions of the structural element; and curing the electrically conductive adhesive.

42 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising one or more fiber layers comprising carbon fibers, the one or more fiber layers being positioned between the outer surface of the blade shell part and one or more of the pultrusions and being adhesively attached to and in electrical contact with at least one of the one or more pultrusions, the electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to the carbon fibers in one or more of the fiber layers.

43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the structural element further comprises a metallic element positioned between the outer surface of the blade shell part and the one or more pultrusions and being in electrical contact with at least one of the one or more pultrusions, the electrically conductive adhesive attaching the lightning receptor to a part of the metallic element.

44 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the lightning receptor, after insertion, abuts a lightning diverter forming part of the outer surface of the blade shell part.

45 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the lightning receptor, after insertion, is located a first distance from a lightning diverter.

46 . The method of claim 41 , wherein a second recess is present around the lightning receptor at the outer surface after insertion of the lightning receptor into the first recess, and wherein the method further comprises filling the second recess around the lightning receptor with a sealant.

47 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the electrically conductive adhesive material has an electrical resistivity which is less than 1.0 10 −5 Ohm-meter measured at 25° C.

Assignees

• Lm Wind Power As

Inventors

• Hansen Lars Bo

Classifications

• F05B2280/6003

  Composites; e.g. fibre-reinforced · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title

• F03D80/301 Primary

  Lightning receptor and down conductor systems in or on blades · CPC title

• F03D1/0682 Primary

  incorporated into the shell structure · CPC title