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US 8,075,278 B2Granted
Shell structure of wind turbine blade having regions of low shear modulus
OwnerMichael D. Zuteckinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The torsional rigidity of a wind turbine blade affects the twist response of the blade induced by bending moments within the blade. By including regions having a lower modulus of rigidity than the remainder of the blade shell, the torsional rigidity of the blade shell can be decreased, and the twist response thereby increased. In blades having a single shear web, this twist response may be more pronounced. The regions of low modulus may comprise additional shell panels, or thick regions of low modulus joining material.
Claims20
A wind turbine blade, comprising:
- a blade shell comprising at least a first shell section, a second shell section, and an intermediate shell section extending between the first shell section and the second shell section;
- a stiffening structure disposed between said first shell section and said second shell section;
- wherein the intermediate shell section comprises a material having a lower modulus of rigidity than the first shell section and the second shell section.
A wind turbine blade, comprising:
- a blade shell, comprising:
- a first shell panel;
- and
- a second shell panel, wherein at least a portion of an edge of said first shell panel is configured to slidably interact with at least a portion of an edge of said second shell panel to reduce the torsional stiffness of the blade shell;
- and
- a stiffening structure disposed between said first shell panel and said second shell panel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.