Wind blade having a lightning protection system
AssigneeLm Wind Power R&D (Holland) B.V.
InventorLaszlo Bartha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightning protection subsystem for a wind blade is presented. The lightning protection subsystem includes one or more conductive segments, where each of the one or more conductive segments include a conductor and a coupling portion, where the coupling portion is configured to secure the one or more conductive segments to an edge of the wind blade. Further, the one or more conductive segments form an elongated lightning conducting path along at least a portion of the length of the edge, at an outer surface of the wind blade.
Claims22
A lightning protection subsystem for a wind blade, wherein the lightning protection subsystem comprises:
- one or more conductive segments, wherein each of the one or more conductive segments comprises:
- a conductor;
- and
- a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to secure the one or more conductive segments to an edge of the wind blade,
- wherein the one or more conductive segments form an elongated lightning conducting path along at least a portion of a length of the edge, at an outer surface of the wind blade, and
- wherein the one or more conductive segments comprise a plurality of conductive segments, wherein an airgap is located between at least two of the plurality of conductive segments to form a complete separation therebetween, and wherein the airgap aids in conduction of electrical current.
A method of manufacturing a wind blade having a lightning protection subsystem, comprising:
- moulding at least a portion of a wind blade;
- and
- disposing one or more conductive segments along at least a portion of length of an edge of the wind blade, wherein the one or more conductive segments comprise a conductor and a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to secure the one or more conductive segments to the edge of the wind blade, and wherein the one or more conductive segments form an elongated lightning conducting path along at least a portion of a length of the edge, at an outer surface of the wind blade, and wherein the one or more conductive segments comprise a plurality of conductive segments, wherein an airgap is located between at least two of the plurality of conductive segments to form a complete separation therebetween, and wherein the airgap aids in conduction of electrical current.
A lightning protection subsystem for a wind blade, wherein the lightning protection subsystem comprises:
- one or more conductive segments, wherein each of the one or more conductive segments comprises:
- a conductor;
- and
- a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to secure the one or more conductive segments to an edge of the wind blade,
- wherein the one or more conductive segments form an elongated lightning conducting path along at least a portion of a length of the edge, the lightning conducting path being disposed on an outer surface of the wind blade, and
- wherein the outer surface of the wind blade comprises the conductor of the one or more conductive segments or an outer insulating wrapping at least partially covering the conductor;
- wherein the one or more conductive segments form a portion of an aerofoil surface of the wind blade, and
- wherein the one or more conductive segments each have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape that defines a cross-sectional shape of a trailing edge of the wind blade.
A lightning protection subsystem for a wind blade, wherein the lightning protection subsystem comprises:
- one or more conductive segments, wherein each of the one or more conductive segments comprises:
- a conductor;
- and
- a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to secure the one or more conductive segments to an edge of the wind blade,
- wherein the one or more conductive segments form an elongated lightning conducting path along at least a portion of a length of the edge, at an outer surface of the wind blade,
- wherein the wind blade comprises one or more receiving units positioned along the edge of the wind blade,
- wherein the coupling portion of each of the one or more conductive segments is received within a corresponding receiving unit of the one or more receiving units,
- wherein the coupling portion of the one or more conductive segments comprises a plurality of discrete first attachment subunits, and
- wherein second dimensions of the one or more receiving units complement first dimensions of the one or more conductive segments;
- wherein the one or more conductive segments form a portion of an aerofoil surface of the wind blade, and
- wherein the one or more conductive segments each have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape that defines a cross-sectional shape of a trailing edge of the wind blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.