Lightning protection system for a wind turbine rotor blade

A method of assembling a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising:

• providing a first blade segment and a second blade segment, each of the first and second blade segments having at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure, the internal support structure of the first blade segment comprising a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the internal support structure of the second blade segment via a receiving section;
• integrating a first conductive cage with the beam structure;
• integrating a second conductive cage with the receiving section;
• electrically connecting the first conductive cage to the second conductive cage via an electrical connection;
• electrically connecting the first and second conductive cages to ground;
• arranging the first blade segment with the second blade segment in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint;
• and
• securing the first and second blade segments together.

A rotor blade assembly, comprising:

• at least one blade segment comprising at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure, the internal support structure comprising a spar structure extending lengthwise, the spar structure comprising an upper conductive beam and a lower conductive beam integrated therein, the upper and lower conductive beams each defining a perimeter;
• and
• a lightning protection system, comprising:
• a conductive cage integrated with the spar structure, the conductive cage surrounding only a portion of the perimeters of each of the upper and lower conductive beams;
• and
• at least one conductor cable arranged in the at least one blade segment and being grounded, the conductive cage being electrically connected to the at least one conductor cable.