Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Root Insert with Integrated Flange Member

Abstract

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A generally cylindrical blade root section has a flush root end configured to attach the rotor blade assembly to a hub. A plurality of span-wise extending root inserts are disposed around and molded into the cylindrical blade root section, with each root insert having an end face and defining an internally threaded bore configured for receipt of a bolt member for attaching the rotor blade assembly to the hub. A metallic flange is disposed at an end of one of the root inserts. The metallic flange is flush with the end faces of adjacent root inserts such that the metallic flange and end faces of the root inserts lie in a common flush plane of the root end.

Claims

1. A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, comprising: a pressure side and a suction side, the pressure side and suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; a generally cylindrical blade root section, the blade root section having a flush root end that is configured to attach the rotor blade assembly to a hub; a plurality of span-wise extending root inserts disposed around and molded into the cylindrical blade root section, each root insert comprising an end face and defining an internally threaded bore configured for receipt of a bolt member for attaching the rotor blade assembly to the hub; a metallic flange disposed at an end of at least a first one of the root inserts; and the metallic flange flush with the end faces of adjacent root inserts such that the metallic flange and end faces of the root inserts lie in a common flush plane of the root end.

2. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the metallic flange is configured for receipt of a lightning protection system component.

3. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the metallic flange comprises a striker plate used in a pitch control system for the wind turbine, the striker plate spanning one or more of the root inserts.

4. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein each root insert comprises a block-shaped member molded into the blade root section, the threaded bore provided in the block-shaped member.

5. The rotor blade assembly of claim 4, wherein each root insert comprises an internally threaded metallic cylinder molded into the block-shaped member, the metallic cylinder defining the threaded bore and having an end face that lies in the common flush plane of the root end.

6. The rotor blade assembly of claim 5, wherein the block-shaped member of the root inserts also comprises an end face that lies in the common flush plane of the root end except for the first one of the root inserts.

7. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the end face of the root section is connectable to a pitch bearing operably configured between the rotor blade assembly and the hub.

8. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the first one of the root inserts has a shorter span-wise length than the remaining root inserts.

9. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein all of the root inserts have the same length, the first one of the root inserts molded deeper into the blade root section to accommodate a thickness of the metallic flange.

10. A wind turbine, comprising: a tower; a nacelle configured atop the tower; and a rotor coupled to the nacelle, the rotor comprising a rotatable hub a rotor blade assembly, the rotor blade assembly, comprising: a pressure side and a suction side, the pressure side and suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; a generally cylindrical blade root section, the blade root section having a flush root end that is configured to attach the rotor blade assembly to the hub; a plurality of span-wise extending root inserts disposed around and molded into the cylindrical blade root section, each root insert comprising an end face and defining an internally threaded bore configured for receipt of a bolt member for attaching the rotor blade assembly to the hub; a metallic flange disposed at an end of at least a first one of the root; and the metallic flange flush with the end faces of adjacent root inserts such that the metallic flange and end faces of the root inserts lies in a common flush plane of the root end.

11. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein each root insert comprises a block-shaped fastening member molded into the blade root section and an internally threaded metallic cylinder molded into the block-shaped member, the metallic cylinder defining the threaded bore and having an end face that lies in the common flush plane of the root end.

12. The wind turbine of claim 11, wherein the block-shaped member of the root inserts also comprises an end face that lies in the common flush plane of the root end except for the first one of the root inserts.

13. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the metallic flange is configured for receipt of a lightning protection system component.

14. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the metallic flange comprises a striker plate used in a pitch control system for the wind turbine, the striker plate spanning at least two of the root inserts.

15. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein the first one of the root inserts has a shorter span-wise length than the remaining root inserts.

16. A method for forming a generally cylindrical blade root section of a wind turbine rotor blade assembly, the blade root section having a flush root end configured to attach the rotor blade assembly to a hub, the method comprising: molding a plurality of span-wise extending root inserts into the cylindrical blade root section, each root insert comprising an end face and an internally threaded bore configured for receipt of a bolt member for attaching the rotor blade assembly to the hub; attaching a metallic flange onto an end of a first one of the root inserts; and fitting the metallic flange onto the end face so that the metallic flange and end faces of adjacent root inserts lie in a common flush plane of the root end.

17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising forming each root insert as a block-shaped member with an internally threaded metallic cylinder molded into the block-shaped member and defining the threaded bore.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the metallic flange has a bore defined therethrough, the method comprising engaging an exposed end of the metallic cylinder in the bore and press fitting the metallic flange onto the end face of the first one of the root inserts.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the metallic flange has an internally threaded bore defined therethrough, the method comprising engaging an exposed threaded end of the metallic cylinder with the threaded bore and threading the metallic flange onto the metallic cylinder.

20. The method as in claim 19, further comprising initially providing a threaded cap onto the threaded end of the metallic cylinder, forming the root insert around the metallic cylinder, subsequently removing root insert material from around the cap, and then removing the cap to expose the threaded end of the metallic cylinder before threading the metallic flange onto the metallic cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a wind turbine according to the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a rotor blade assembly of a wind turbine according to the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of a root end portion of the rotor blade assembly of FIG. 2 according to the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial perspective view of a root insert and associated metallic LPS flange of one embodiment of the rotor blade assembly according to the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of adjacent root inserts in accordance with aspects of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment for attaching one or more of the metallic flanges onto an end of one of the root inserts;

[0028] FIG. 7 depicts an alternate embodiment for attaching the metallic flange;

[0029] FIG. 8 depicts still another embodiment for attaching the metallic flange; and

[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cut-away view of a portion of a rotor blade assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0032] The present invention discloses a wind turbine and a rotor blade assembly for the wind turbine having a lightning protection system (LPS) flange incorporated with a root insert in the blade root section.

[0033] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a wind turbine 10. As shown, the wind turbine 10 includes a tower 12 extending from a support surface 14, a nacelle 16 mounted on the tower 12, and a rotor 18 coupled to the nacelle 16. The rotor 18 includes a rotatable hub 20 and at least one rotor blade assembly 22 coupled to and extending outwardly from the hub 20. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotor 18 includes three rotor blade assemblies 22. However, in an alternative embodiment, the rotor 18 may include more or less than three rotor blade assemblies 22. Each rotor blade assembly 22 may be spaced about the hub 20 to facilitate rotating the rotor 18 to enable kinetic energy to be transferred from the wind into usable mechanical energy, and subsequently, electrical energy. For instance, the hub 20 may be rotatably coupled to the nacelle 16, which encloses an electric generator (not shown) to permit electrical energy to be produced.

[0034] As mentioned, wind turbines 10, particularly the blades 22, are susceptible to lightning strikes due to their structure and generally remote locations. For this reason, the wind turbines 10 are generally equipped with various lightning protection systems. Such systems typically include one or more lightning receptors mounted on each blade 10, with a conduit or cable system internal to the blade structure for conducting strikes from the receptors, through the blade 22, to the hub 20, and through the nacelle 16 and tower 12 to a ground location. A connection mechanism is thus required at the root end of the blade 22 to connect the blade conduit to a hub conduit.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated one embodiment of a rotor blade assembly 22 with a plurality of root inserts 102 (indicated schematically) in a blade root section 100 in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, the rotor blade assembly 22 includes a shell 108 defining a pressure side 110 and a suction side 112 between a leading edge 114 and a trailing edge 116. The shell 108 may generally be configured to extend between the blade root section 100 and a blade tip 106 disposed opposite the blade root section 100 and may serve as the outer casing/covering of inner load bearing structure of the blade. Further, the rotor blade assembly 22 may have a span 118 defining the total length between the blade root section 100 and the blade tip 106. The blade root section 100 may have a generally cylindrical shape and may extend span-wise from the pressure side 110 and suction side 112 to an end face 140 of the root section 104. Further, the blade root section 100 may be configured to attach the rotor blade assembly 22 to the hub 18 of the wind turbine 10 (FIG. 1). The root inserts 102 are disposed within the blade root section 100, and will be discussed in greater detail below.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9 in general, the generally cylindrical blade root section 100 has a flush root end 140 that is configured to attach the rotor blade assembly 22 to the hub 20. The root end 140 is flush in that the entirety of the circumferential surface thereof lies in a common plane 160 (FIGS. 5 and 6), thus making it easier to mound the root end 140 to a pitch bearing 156 (FIG. 9) or intermediate member, such as a stiffening ring, between the root end 140 and pitch bearing 156.

[0037] A plurality of span-wise extending root inserts 102 are disposed around and molded into the cylindrical blade root section 100. Each root insert 102 has an end face 104 and defines an internally threaded bore 126 exposed at the end face 104 and configured for receipt of a bolt member 128 for attaching the rotor blade assembly 22 to the hub 20. FIG. 3 depicts a bolt member 128 threaded into each of the root inserts 102.

[0038] A metallic flange 136 is fitted onto an end of at least one of the root inserts 102. The term flange is used herein to encompass essentially any type of plate-like member. In one embodiment, the flange 136 is configured for receipt of a lightning protection system component 158, such as a cable or other conductor as depicted in FIG. 5 that runs within the blade assembly 22. It should be appreciated that the component 158 may be an insert, a plate, or any other type of component used in conventional lightning protection systems in wind turbines. In another embodiment, the metallic flange may be configured as a striker plate 137 (as depicted in FIG. 6) that spans across one or more of the root inserts 102 and is used in a pitch control system for the wind turbine, as is known by those skilled in the art. The metallic flange 136 is flush with the end faces 104 of adjacent root inserts 102 such that the metallic flange 136 and end faces 104 of the root inserts lie in the common flush plane 160 of the root end face 140. In this manner, the flange 136 does not protrude span-wise beyond the flush plane 160 and the root insert 102 with the flange 136 is essentially indistinguishable from the other root insert 102 for purposes of mounting the root section end face 140 to the pitch bearing 156.

[0039] As depicted in FIG. 6, the flange 136 may be attached to a single root insert 102 or, depending on the required size of the flange, may span across multiple root inserts 102 (for example if the flange is configured as a striker plate 137). The striker plate may be T-shaped where it is attached to a single insert 102, yet spans over multiple inserts 102.

[0040] In a particular embodiment, each root insert 102 comprises a prefabricated elongated block-shaped member 148 (FIG. 4) that is molded into the blade root section 100. With this embodiment, the internally threaded bore 126 may be defined by metallic cylinder 152 molded into the block-shaped member 148. The block member 148 may be a preformed hardened resinous material, laminate material, or other suitable structurally rigid material. The block member 148 may have an elongated tapered shape, such as the tapered trapezoidal shape depicted in FIG. 4. The metallic cylinder 152 may have an end face 154 that lies in the common flush plane 160 of the root end face 140. Likewise, the block-shaped member 148 has an end face 150 that lies in the common flush plane 160 of the root end face 140 except for the root insert 102 that includes the metallic flange 136. As depicted in the particular embodiment of FIG. 5, for the root insert 102 that includes the metallic flange 136, a portion of the material of the block member 148 at the end face 150 thereof corresponding to the thickness 151 of the metallic flange 136 is removed by machining or other process so that the metallic flange 136 lies flush with the end faces 150 of adjacent block members 148. As depicted in FIG. 5, the cylinder 152 may extend into the hole 146 in the flange 136 such that the cylinder end face 154 is flush with the outer face of the flange 136. In an alternate embodiment, the block member 148 and metallic cylinder 152 for the particular root insert that incorporates the metallic flange 136 may be manufactured with an initial span-wise length that is shorter than the adjacent block members 148 to accommodate the thickness of the metallic flange 136, as depicted in FIG. 6, wherein the flange 136 lies essentially flush against the cylinder end face 154.

[0041] In still another embodiment depicted by the dashed line section of the root insert 102 that will receive the metallic flange 136, all of the inserts 102 may have the same length. The particular insert 102 intended for the metallic flange 136 may simply be molded deeper into the root end of the blade to accommodate the thickness of the flange 136.

[0042] Referring particularly to FIG. 9, in certain embodiments, the blade root section 100 comprises a span-wise end portion 132 defined by an inner circumferential component 124 and an outer circumferential component 122. The term circumferential component is used herein to encompass any material configuration that defines the separate three-dimensional structures of the components 122, 124, such as separate laminates. It should also be understood that the term circumferential is not limited to cylindrical, but includes the presence of any type of structure that may affect the cross-sectional shape of the root circumferential components, such as surface corrugations or other surface characteristics. The inner 124 and outer 122 circumferential components are separated by the radial gap in which the root inserts 102 are molded and bonded to the inner 124 and outer 122 circumferential components by any suitable bonding agent or material 144. The bonding agent 144 may be applied to both the inner 124 and outer 122 circumferential components and at an apex 130 of the radial gap, or any combination thereof. Placing the bonding agent 144 at the end face 104 of the insert 102 ensures transfer of the load from the blade root to the pitch bearing 156. At the apex 130, a transition material may be placed to attenuate the stiffness discontinuity between the inserts 102 to the material making up the blade shell 108.

[0043] The metallic flange 136 may be incorporated at the end face 104 of the respective root insert 102 by various means. FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment wherein the particular root insert 102 that is intended to incorporate the flange 136 is manufactured shorter than the other inserts 102 by the thickness of the flange 136. The insert 102 could be initially molded/formed at this shorter length, or could be initially made at the same length as the other inserts and then an end thereof is cut or machined by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the metallic flange 136. As mentioned, all of the inserts 102 could have the same length, wherein the particular insert 102 intended for the metallic flange 136 may simply be molded deeper into the root end of the blade to accommodate the thickness of the flange 136. The flange 136 can then be held against the end face 104 of the insert 102 by temporary fixing means (e.g., screws, adhesive, and so forth) so that a mounting hole 146 in the flange 136 aligns with the cylinder 152. The flange 136 is thus sandwiched between the end face 104 of the shortened insert 102 and the pitch bearing ring (or a stiffener ring if used) during subsequent manufacturing of the root end. The permanent fixation of the flange 136 is achieved when the root end of the blade is clamped to the bearing ring or stiffening ring.

[0044] FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment wherein the threaded cylinder 152 is initially provided with an internally threaded cap 153 threaded onto an end thereof. The root insert 102 is then formed around the cylinder 152 and cap 153 such that the block material 148 essentially surrounds the cap 153. The insert 102 is then machined to remove the block material 148 from around the cap 153. The cap 153 is then easily removed from the cylinder 152 to expose the threaded end thereof. Referring to the right-had view in FIG. 7, the metallic flange 136 includes an internally threaded bore 146 and is readily threaded onto the exposed threads of the cylinder 152. Desirably, the number of exposed threads on the cylinder results in the flange 136 having the desired orientation at its final tightened position against the end face 104 of the insert 102. Tightening trials can be conducted to determine the number of threads and an initial angular orientation of the flange 136 on the threads. An orientation mark can be made on the threads and flange 136 to ensure the correct starting position of the flange 136 prior to tightening.

[0045] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment wherein the threaded cylinder 152 has a non-threaded outer surface. Again, the insert 102 is machined to expose an end of the cylinder. In this embodiment, the mounting hole 146 defined in the metallic flange 136 has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the metal cylinder 152. The flange 136 can be heated and press-fitted onto the exposed end of the cylinder 152 such that the cylinder 152 engages in the hole 146.

[0046] The metallic flange 136 may include any suitable structure for connecting the conduit or cable 158 thereto. For example, the flange 136 may include mounting holes 147 that allow for a bolted connection of the cable 158 via a bracket or other fastener.

[0047] As mentioned, the invention also encompasses a wind turbine 10 having at least one rotor blade assembly 22 as described herein.

[0048] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.