Wind turbine blade with lightning receptor
A wind turbine blade having two shell portions bonded together to form a wind turbine blade having an interior space having an axial length. A web disposed between the shell portions in the interior space and extending substantially the axial length thereof. Lightning receptors are disposed on the shell portions and a conductor is disposed in the interior space. The conductor is configured to contact the lightning receptors. One shell portion of the two shell portions has a removable section, e.g. a plug, receptor or panel, to provide access to the opposite conductor. A cable mounted on the web is configured to extend substantially the axial length of the wind turbine blade and is in electrical contact with the conductor.
1. A wind turbine blade, comprising:
a blade comprising two sides, an interior space having a center and an axial length;
a web disposed in the interior space of the blade, the web extending substantially the axial length of the blade;
lightning receptors disposed on the two sides of the blade; and
a conductor disposed in the interior space, the conductor configured to contact the lightning receptors;
a cable disposed in the interior space connected to the conductor
wherein one side of the two sides have a removable section to provide access to at least one lightning receptor of the lightning receptors.
2. The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the blade further comprises two shell portions bonded together.
3. The wind turbine blade of claim 2 , wherein the two shell portions comprise a suction shell and a pressure shell.
4. The wind turbine blade of claim 3 , wherein the pressure shell has the removable section to provide access to the at least one lightning receptor.
5. The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the cable is disposed in the center of the interior space.
6. The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the cable extends along the web for substantially the axial length of the blade.
7. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the removal of the removable section creates an access port providing access to the conductor.
8. A wind turbine blade, comprising:
two shell portions bonded together to form a blade having and interior space having a center and an axial length;
a web disposed between the two shell portions in the interior space, the web extending substantially the axial length of the interior space;
lightning receptors disposed on the two shell portions; and
a conductor disposed in the interior space, the conductor configured to contact the lightning receptors;
a cable disposed in the interior space and connected to the conductor;
wherein one shell portion of the two shell portions has a removable section to provide access to at least one lightning receptor of the lightning receptors.
9. The wind turbine blade of claim 8 , wherein the two shell portions comprise a suction shell and a pressure shell.
10. The wind turbine blade of claim 9 , wherein the pressure shell has the removable section to provide access to the at least one lightning receptor.
11. The wind turbine blade of claim 8 , wherein the cable is disposed in the center of the interior space.
12. The wind turbine blade of claim 8 , wherein the cable extends along the web for substantially the axial length of the interior space.
13. The wind turbine of claim 8 , wherein the removal of the removable section creates an access port providing access to the conductor.
14. A method for providing a lightning receptor in a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of:
providing a top shell portion having a lightning receptor and a bottom shell portion having a lightning receptor;
securing a web to the top shell portion;
securing a conductor to the web;
securing the conductor to the lightning receptor of the top shell portion;
bonding the top shell portion to the bottom shell portion to form a wind turbine blade having an interior space having a center and an axial length;
removing a removable section from either the top shell portion or the bottom shell portion to create an access port;
securing the conductor to the lightning receptor of the bottom shell portion by access through the access port; and
replacing the removable section to either the top shell portion or bottom shell portion from which the removable section was removed.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the top shell portion is a pressure shell.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bottom shell portion is a suction shell.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of removing the removable section further comprises removing the removable section from the pressure shell.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the conductor is connected to a cable disposed at the center of the interior space and which extends substantially the axial length.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of securing the conductor to the bottom shell portion further comprises inserting a user's hand through the access port.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of securing the conductor to the bottom shell portion further comprises inserting a tool through the access port.