Method of joining blade sections using thermoplastics

A method for joining closed rotor blade segments of a rotor blade, the method comprising:

• placing at least one inflatable internal bladder at least partially within at least one of a first blade segment or a second blade segment;
• arranging a first joint end of the first blade segment with a second joint end of the second blade segment at a joint;
• inflating the at least one internal bladder so as to provide an internal pressure at the joint from within the first and second blade segments;
• supplying external pressure to the joint via an external pressure source;
• joining the first and second joint ends while the joint is under internal and external pressure so as to join the first and second rotor blade segments;
• and,
• deflating the at least one internal bladder within the first and second blade segments, the internal bladder remaining in place after the first and second joint ends are joined.

A segmented rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:

• a first rotor blade segment comprising a first joint end;
• a second rotor blade segment comprising a second joint end, the first and second joint ends arranged together in an end-to-end orientation so as to form at least one scarf joint;
• at least one thermoplastic material arranged at each of the first and second joint ends, the first and second joint ends of the first and second rotor blade segments bonded together via thermoplastic welding;
• and,
• an internal pressure source for providing pressure to the scarf joint during the thermoplastic welding, the internal pressure source remaining within the rotor blade after thermoplastic welding is complete.