METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ROOT SEGMENT SECTIONS FOR A ROOT SEGMENT OF A TURBINE BLADE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE ROOT SEGMENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE TURBINE BLADE

Abstract

Provided is a method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections for a root segment of a turbine blade, in particular a wind turbine blade, wherein the method includes the steps of: (a) winding multiple layers of a fabric around a winding core in a way such that a multilayered structure from the fabric having a shape tapered transverse to a direction of the winding is obtained, (b) applying adhesive to the fabric, (c) curing the adhesive applied to the fabric of the multilayered structure wound around the winding core, so that a cured multilayered structure is obtained, (d) separating the cured multilayered structure from the winding core, and (e) cutting the cured multilayered structure into the tapered root segment sections. A method for manufacturing the root segment of the turbine blade and a method for manufacturing the turbine blade is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections for a root segment of a turbine blade, for use with a wind turbine blade, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) winding multiple layers of a fabric around a winding core in a way such that a multilayered structure from the fabric having a shape tapered transverse to a direction of the winding is obtained, (b) applying adhesive to the fabric, (c) curing the adhesive applied to the fabric of the multilayered structure wound around the winding core, so that a cured multilayered structure is obtained, (d) separating the cured multilayered structure from the winding core, and (e) cutting the cured multilayered structure into the tapered root segment sections.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the cured multilayered structure is cut into the tapered root segment sections in a direction transverse to a circumference of the cured multilayered structure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the cured multilayered structure is cut into at least four root segment sections.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the winding of the multiple layers of the fabric on the winding core is performed in a way such that two adjacent multilayered structure portions of the multilayered structure from the fabric are obtained, each of the two adjacent multilayered structure portions having a shape tapered in an opposing direction.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, the cured multilayered structure is cut along a circumference between the two adjacent multilayered structure portions having the shapes tapered in the opposing directions.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the winding core has the shape of a truncated cone.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the winding core has the shape of a double truncated cone.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, the shape of the double truncated cone of the winding core is a shape in which deck areas of two truncated cones of the double truncated cone are congruent with each other.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, the winding core is cut along a circumference between the two winding core portions, each of which has the shape of the truncated cone.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied to the fabric by (a) immersing the multiple layers of fabric into a bath prior to winding them around the winding core, and/or (b) by vacuum infusing the adhesive into the multilayered structure wound around the winding core.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the winding core has a smooth outer winding surface.

12. The method according claim 1, wherein, a release agent is applied on an outer winding surface of the winding core prior to winding the multiple layers of the fabric around the winding core.

13. The method for manufacturing a root segment of a turbine blade, for use in a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of: (a) manufacturing multiple tapered root segment sections for the root segment of the turbine blade using the method according to claim 1, (b) arranging the multiple tapered root segment sections in a round shape, and (c) casting the arranged multiple tapered root segment sections to obtain the root segment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the multiple tapered root segment sections are arranged at a distance from one another or with a gap in between each other in the round shape.

15. A method for manufacturing a turbine blade, in particular a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of: (a) manufacturing a root segment of the turbine blade using the method according to claim 13, (b) arranging multiple layers of fabric on an outer side and an inner side of the root segment and connecting them to a portion of the turbine blade, and (c) casting the multiple layers of fabric with the root segment and the portion of the turbine blade to obtain the turbine blade.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0037] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view on a method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view on the method of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a schematic side perspective view on a cured multilayered structure separated from a winding core and manufactured by means of the method according to FIG. 3;

[0045] FIG. 8 shows a schematic side perspective view on a tapered root segment section; and

[0046] FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional view through a wind turbine blade manufactured according an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a turbine blade according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view on a method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections 19 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0048] A panel 15 of a fabric 11 is being unwound from a roll 14 of the fabric 11 and transferred via pulleys 22.1, 22.2 through a bath 20 containing adhesive 21. The adhesive 21 attaches to the panel 15 of the fabric 11 and is transferred via pulley 22.3 to a winding core 30. The panel 15 is wound onto the winding core 30 as multiple layers 16 of fabric 11.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view on the method of FIG. 1. From FIG. 2 it can be taken, that the winding core 30 is hollow and has the shape of a truncated cone C. The panel 15 of fabric 11 is wound from the roll 14 onto the winding core 30 in a way such that it is moved along the arrows placed next to the panel 15, indicating that the layers 16 of fabric 11 are consecutively built up on the winding core 30 such that a multilayered structure 17 made from the fabric 11 is provided on the outer winding surface G of the winding core 30. During the wounding, the winding core 30 is rotated around its winding core axis Z as indicated by the arrow placed next and circling the winding core axis Z.

[0050] The multilayered structure 17 may be cured together with the winding core 30 by applying heat to it, for example, or using a self-curing adhesive.

[0051] The multilayered structure 17 has a tapered shape, wherein the tapering runs perpendicular to a direction of the winding. The multilayered structure 17 has an outer side A and an inner side B arranged on the outer winding surface G, wherein the inner side B arranged on the winding core 30 is tapered towards the outer side A.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections 19 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0053] In contrast to the first embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2, in FIG. 3 the winding core 30 has the shape of a double truncated cone D. In particular, the shape of the double truncated cone D is such that deck areas E.1, E.2 of the two truncated cones C.1, C.2 of the double truncated cone D are congruent with each other. Each of the deck areas E.1, E.2 is opposite to the base area F.1, F.2 of its respective truncated cone C.1, C.2.

[0054] The winding process itself is not shown in the FIG. 3 or any of the further figures anymore. However, due to the shape of a double truncated cone D, there is a V-shaped recess provided in the winding core 30, such that the multilayered structure 17 is built up having a triangular shape. There is a first cutting line H, along which the multilayered structure 17 may be cut such as to provide two multilayered structure portions 18.1, 18.2, in particular halves. The first cutting line H runs along the circumference of the multilayered structure 17. Further, the winding core 30 may be cut along first cutting line H so as to split the winding core 30 into two winding core portions 31 enabling easy separation of the multilayered structure portions 18.1, 18.2 from the winding core 30. The first cutting line H also runs along the circumference of the winding core 30.

[0055] Because the outer winding surface Gin the second embodiment of the invention is larger than in the first embodiment of the invention, a panel 15 of larger width may be used for winding the layers 16 of fabric 11 onto the winding core 30, whereby the winding process is accelerated.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections 19 according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0057] In contrast to the second embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 3, in FIG. 4 the V-shaped recess is smaller. Hence, the multilayered structure 17 is built onto the winding core 30 in a diamond like shape.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections 19 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0059] In contrast to the embodiments of the invention according to FIGS. 2 to 4, in FIG. 5 the winding core 30 has the shape of a cylinder. The multilayered structure 30 is built up in a triangular shape but on top of the straight outer winding surface G of the winding core 30, so that the winding process is more challenging to provide a tapered shape of desired preciseness compared to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 but an easier to manufacture shape of the winding core 30 may be used.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a schematic front view on the method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections 19 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

[0061] In contrast the embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 3, in FIG. 6 the winding core 30 the shape of the double truncated cone D such that base areas F.1, F.2 of the two truncated cones C.1, C.2 of the double truncated cone D are congruent with each other.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a schematic side perspective view on a cured multilayered structure 17 separated from a winding core 30 and manufactured by means of the method according to FIG. 3.

[0063] The cured multilayered structure 17 is cut along first cutting line H into the two multilayered structure portions 18.1, 18.2, being halves of the cured multilayered structure 17. Further, the cured multilayered structure 17 is cut along the shown second cutting lines K.1, K.2, K.3 running perpendicular to the first cutting line H. Thereby, multiple tapered root segment sections 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8 are provided.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a schematic side perspective view on a tapered root segment section 19.

[0065] The tapered root segment section 19, as cut from the cured multilayered structure 17 of FIG. 7, is tapered along its length and has a rounded shape. In particular, the tapered root segment section 19 has a partially circular or elliptical shape transverse, in particular perpendicular, to its length. Thereby, multiple of the tapered root segment sections 19 may be arranged at a distance from one another, when they are cut through from one another, or with a gap in between each other, when they are cut into, and casted such that they form a cylindrical root segment having a circular or elliptical cross section.

[0066] FIG. 9 shows a schematic sectional view through a wind turbine blade 40 manufactured according an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a turbine blade 40 according to embodiments of the invention.

[0067] The root segment 10 has the tapered root segment sections 19 casted together with multiple layers of fabric 11 arranged on them with further portions 41.1, 41.2 of the turbine blade 40.

[0068] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0069] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.