Leading edge protection for a wind turbine blade
AssigneeLm Wind Power A/S
InventorsMichael Drachmann Haag, Torben Krogsdal Jacobsen, Laurids Andersen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A leading-edge protector element for protecting a leading-edge of a wind turbine blade is provided. The leading-edge protector element includes a film layer and a rubber layer, and is provided on a coiled-up roll. The leading-edge protector element has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge. The thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge. The leading-edge protector element for protecting a leading-edge of a wind turbine blade may alternatively only include a rubber layer and also be provided on a coiled-up roll.
Claims16
A leading-edge protector element for protecting a leading-edge of a wind turbine blade, wherein the leading-edge protector element comprises a film layer and a rubber layer,
- wherein the leading-edge protector element comprising the film layer and the rubber layer is provided on a coiled-up roll,
- wherein the leading-edge protector element has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and
- wherein said thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge.
A kit comprising a plurality of leading-edge protection elements for a wind turbine blade, wherein the plurality of leading-edge protection elements are provided as a coiled-up roll, such that one of the leading-edge protection elements of a desired length can be cut from the coiled-up roll,
- wherein the leading-edge protector elements each comprise a film layer and a rubber layer,
- wherein each of the leading-edge protector elements has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and
- wherein said thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge.
A method for protecting a leading edge of a wind turbine blade already installed in the field, the method comprising:
- providing a leading-edge protector element on a coiled-up roll, wherein the leading-edge protector element comprises a film layer and a rubber layer, wherein the leading-edge protector element has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and wherein said thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge;
- and
- attaching the leading-edge protection element to the leading-edge of the wind turbine blade.
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade having a leading-edge protection element, the method comprising:
- providing a leading-edge protector element on a coiled-up roll, wherein the leading-edge protector element comprises a film layer and a rubber layer, wherein the leading-edge protector element has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, and wherein said thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge;
- providing a mold for molding a leading-edge portion of the wind turbine blade;
- laying up the leading-edge protection element covering a first part of the molding surface of the mold;
- providing and laying up a shell material in the mold covering the leading edge-protection element;
- and
- consolidating the shell material and the leading-edge protection element.
A leading-edge protector element for protecting a leading-edge of a wind turbine blade, wherein the leading-edge protector element comprises a film layer and a rubber layer,
- wherein the leading-edge protector element comprising the film layer and the rubber layer is provided on a coiled-up roll,
- wherein the leading-edge protector element has a thickness between a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge,
- wherein said thickness decreases along a transverse direction towards the third edge and towards the fourth edge, and
- wherein the rubber layer comprises one or more of nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), polyurethane (PUR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) or polybutadiene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.