Composite wind turbine tower
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsLawrence Donald WILLEY, Danian ZHENG, Agusti PORTA, Tom DEMINT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite wind turbine tower, method for fabricating a composite wind tower and an apparatus for forming a composite wind tower. The tower includes a first layer and a second layer, each having a matrix material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers disposed in the matrix material. The tower further includes a core layer disposed intermediate to the first layer and the second layer. The tower is capable of being partially or fully fabricated on-site.
Claims18
A composite wind turbine tower comprising:
- a first layer and a second layer comprising:
- a matrix material;
- a plurality of reinforcing fibers disposed in the matrix material;
- a core layer disposed intermediate to the first layer and the second layer;
- and
- wherein the tower is capable of being partially or fully fabricated on-site.
A method for forming a wind turbine tower comprising:
- providing a mandrel having a surface;
- forming a first layer by arranging a plurality of fibers on the surface and providing a matrix material to the fibers;
- applying a core material to the first layer to form a core layer;
- forming a second layer on the core layer by arranging a plurality of fibers on at least a portion of the core layer and providing a matrix material to the fibers;
- curing the matrix material to form at least a portion of a composite wind turbine tower.
A composite wind turbine tower forming apparatus comprising:
- a first mandrel portion and a second mandrel portion coaxially arranged, the first mandrel portion being arranged and disposed within the second mandrel portion and having a surface;
- a fiber providing assembly arranged and disposed to provide reinforcing fiber to the surface;
- a matrix material injection opening arranged and disposed to permit injection of matrix material between the first mandrel portion and the second mandrel portion;
- a curing assembly arranged within one or both of the first mandrel portion or the second mandrel portion;
- wherein each of the first mandrel portion and the second mandrel portion includes a variable diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.