Modular wind turbine blade

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a modular wind turbine blade comprising first and second blade modules connectable together to form at least part of the wind turbine blade, each blade module comprising an outer shell defining a pressure side and a suction side of the wind turbine blade. The first blade module comprises a first spar cap, and the second blade module comprising a second spar cap. The first spar cap has a tapered end portion in which the thickness of the first spar cap decreases towards the end of the first spar cap. The modular wind turbine blade further comprises an elongate connecting element for connecting the first and second blade modules together. The connecting element has a first tapered end portion in which the thickness of the connecting element decreases towards a first end of the connecting element. The first tapered end portion is configured for bonding to the tapered end portion of the first spar cap. The first spar cap has an inner surface and an outer surface, the thickness being defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The first spar cap comprises (i) an intermediate thickness band; (ii) an inner thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the inner surface; and (iii) an outer thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the outer surface. Each of the thickness bands have a tapered end within the tapered end portion of the first spar cap. The connecting element has an inner surface and an outer surface, the thickness of the connecting element being defined between the inner surface and the outer surface. The connecting element comprises (i) an intermediate thickness band; (ii) an inner thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the inner surface; and (iii) an outer thickness band between the intermediate thickness band and the outer surface. Each of the thickness bands has a tapered end within the first tapered end portion of the connecting element. The tapered end of the inner thickness band and/or the tapered end of the outer thickness band of the first spar cap has a lower rate of taper than the tapered end of the intermediate thickness band of the first spar cap. Additionally or alternatively, the tapered end of the inner thickness band and/or the tapered end of the outer thickness band of the connecting element has a lower rate of taper than the tapered end of the intermediate thickness band of the connecting element.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.