Heating system and method for a jointed wind rotor turbine blade
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorHartmut Andreas Scholte-Wassink
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment. A chord-wise joint separates the first and second blade segments, wherein internal joint structure joins the first and second blade segments across the chord-wise joint. A first heating system is configured within the first blade segment, and a second heating system is configured within the second blade segment. A disconnectable coupling is configured between the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint to supply power or a fluid medium from the first blade segment across the chord-wise joint for use by the second heating system in the second blade segment.
Claims15
A jointed wind turbine rotor blade, comprising:
- a first blade segment;
- a second blade segment;
- each of the first and second blade segments comprising a pressure side shell member and a suction side shell member;
- a chord-wise joint separating the first and second blade segments;
- internal joint structure joining the first and second blade segments across the chord-wise joint;
- a first heating system mounted within the first blade segment;
- a second heating system mounted within the second blade segment;
- a disconnectable coupling configured between the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint, the coupling configured to supply a fluid medium from the first blade segment across the chord-wise joint for use by the second heating system in the second blade segment, the coupling comprising a member in the first blade segment that mates with a member in the second blade segment at the chord-wise joint in a connected state of the coupling, wherein in a disconnected state of the coupling, the members are separated and the fluid medium is separated at the interface at the chord-wise joint;
- and
- wherein the first heating system comprises a hot air heating system configured within the first blade segment, and the second heating system comprises a hot air heating system within the second blade segment, the coupling comprising disconnectable ducting that supplies hot air as the fluid medium across the chord-wise joint and into the second blade segment.
A method for supplying heat for deicing in a jointed wind turbine rotor blade, wherein the blade includes a first blade segment adjacent a root end of the wind turbine rotor blade, a second blade segment adjacent a tip end of the wind turbine rotor blade, and internal joint structure joining the first and second blade segments across a chord-wise joint that separates the first and second blade segments, the method comprising:
- mounting a first heating system within the first blade segment;
- mounting a second heating system within the second blade segment;
- configuring a disconnectable coupling between the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint, the coupling comprising a member in the first blade segment that mates with a member in the second blade segment at the chord-wise joint in a connected state of the coupling, wherein in a disconnected state of the coupling, the members are separated and a fluid medium is separated at the interface at the chord-wise joint;
- supplying the fluid medium from the first blade segment, through the coupling, and across the interface at the chord-wise joint for use by the second heating system in the second blade segment;
- and
- wherein the first heating system is configured as a hot air heating system, the second heating system is configured as a hot air heating system within the second blade segment, and the coupling is configured as disconnectable ducting that supplies hot air as the fluid medium across the chord-wise joint and into the second blade segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.