Improved electrical conductivity of wind turbine blade parts
AssigneeLm Wind Power A/S
InventorsKlavs JESPERSEN, Lars NIELSEN
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a wind turbine blade part for a wind turbine blade, the wind turbine blade part comprising a metal mesh layer comprising a plurality of apertures, at least a first fibre-reinforced layer comprising a plurality of first electrically conductive fibres, and a plurality of second electrically conductive fibres. At least a number of the plurality of second electrically conductive fibres extend transversely through the plurality of apertures of the metal mesh layer so as to electrically connect the at least first fibre-reinforced layer with the metal mesh layer.
Claims15
A wind turbine blade part for a wind turbine blade, the wind turbine blade part comprising:
- a metal mesh layer comprising a plurality of apertures,
- at least a first fibre-reinforced layer comprising a plurality of first electrically conductive fibres, and
- a plurality of second electrically conductive fibres,
- wherein at least a number of the plurality of second electrically conductive fibres extend transversely through the plurality of apertures of the metal mesh layer so as to electrically connect the at least first fibre-reinforced layer with the metal mesh layer.
A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade part for a wind turbine blade, wherein the method comprises:
- providing at least a first fibre-reinforced layer comprising a plurality of first electrically conductive fibres,
- providing a metal mesh layer comprising a plurality of apertures,
- providing a plurality of second electrically conductive fibres, such that at least a number of the second electrically conductive fibres extend transversely through the plurality of apertures of the metal mesh layer so as to electrically connect the at least first fibre-reinforced layer with the metal mesh layer,
- providing resin to infuse the at least first fibre-reinforced layer, the metal mesh layer, and the plurality of second electrically conductive fibres, and
- curing the resin to form the wind turbine blade part.
A wind turbine blade comprising:
- an aerodynamic blade shell,
- a lightning protection system comprising a lightning receptor and a down-conductor connected to the lightning receptor,
- a spar cap integrated in or connected to the aerodynamic blade shell, wherein the spar cap comprises:
- a metal mesh layer comprising a plurality of apertures, the metal mesh layer being electrically connected to the lightning protection system,
- at least a first fibre-reinforced layer comprising a plurality of first electrically conductive fibres, and
- a plurality of second electrically conductive fibres,
- wherein at least a number of the plurality of second electrically conductive fibres extend transversely through the plurality of apertures of the metal mesh layer so as to electrically connect the at least first fibre-reinforced layer with the metal mesh layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.