Systems and methods of assembling a rotor blade for use in a wind turbine
A method of assembling a rotor blade for use with a wind turbine. The method includes coupling a first sparcap to at least one first panel wall to form a first blade section, wherein the first sparcap has a first chordwise width. A second sparcap is coupled to at least one second panel wall to form a second blade section. The second sparcap has a second chordwise width that is larger than the first chordwise width. The first blade section is coupled to the second blade section to form the rotor blade.
1. A method of assembling a rotor blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge for a wind turbine, the method comprising:
coupling a first sparcap to at least one suction panel wall to form a first blade section, the first sparcap having a first chordwise width;
coupling a second sparcap to at least one pressure panel wall to form a second blade section, the second sparcap having a second chordwise width that is larger than the first chordwise width;
coupling a shearweb to said first sparcap and said second sparcap and centrally positioned relating to said first chordwise width and said second chordwise width; and,
coupling the first blade section to the second blade section at the leading edge and the trailing edge to form the rotor blade.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein coupling the second sparcap having the second chordwise width larger than the first chordwise width facilitates reducing a length of the pressure panel wall.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising coupling a third sparcap to one of the suction panel wall and the pressure panel wall, wherein the third sparcap is positioned adjacent a leading edge of the rotor blade.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising coupling a third sparcap to one of the suction panel wall and the pressure panel wall, wherein the third sparcap is positioned adjacent a trailing edge of the rotor blade.
5. A rotor blade having a neutral axis extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge for use with a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a first blade section comprising at least one suction panel wall;
a second blade section comprising at least one pressure panel wall, said second blade section coupled to said first blade section to form said rotor blade;
a first sparcap coupled to said first blade section and positioned at a first distance from the neutral axis, said first sparcap having a first chordwise width; and,
a second sparcap coupled to said second blade section and positioned at a second distance from the neutral axis that is greater than said first distance, said second sparcap having a second chordwise width that is greater than the first chordwise width.
6. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said second sparcap has the second chordwise width that is greater than the first chordwise width for reducing a length of the pressure panel wall.
7. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said first sparcap has a first chordwise cross-section area, said second sparcap has a second chordwise cross-section area that is equal to the first chordwise cross-section area.
8. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said rotor blade includes a leading edge and a trailing edge, said rotor blade further comprises a third sparcap coupled to one of said first blade section and said second blade section adjacent at least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge.
9. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said first sparcap has a first thickness and said second sparcap has a second thickness that is less than said first thickness.
10. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising:
at least one first core fillet coupled to said first blade section, said first core fillet having a third chordwise width; and,
at least one second core fillet coupled to said second blade section, said second core fillet having a fourth chordwise width that is less than said third chordwise width.
11. A rotor blade in accordance with claim 5 , further comprising a root portion and a tip portion, said first sparcap and said second sparcap extending from said root portion towards said tip portion, wherein the first chordwise width and the second chordwise width each are shorter at said tip portion than at said root portion.
12. A wind turbine, comprising:
a tower;
a nacelle coupled to said tower;
a hub rotatably coupled to said nacelle; and,
at least one rotor blade coupled to said hub, said rotor blade having a neutral axis extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge and comprising:
a first blade section comprising at least one suction panel wall;
a second blade section comprising at least one pressure panel wall, said second blade section coupled to said first blade section to form said rotor blade;
a first sparcap coupled to said first blade section and positioned at a first distance from the neutral axis, said first sparcap having a first chordwise width; and,
a second sparcap coupled to said second blade section and positioned at a second distance from the neutral axis that is greater than said first distance, said second sparcap having a second chordwise width that is greater than the first chordwise width.
13. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said second sparcap has the second chordwise width that is greater than the first chordwise width for reducing a length of the pressure panel wall.
14. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said first sparcap has a first chordwise cross-section area, said second sparcap has a second chordwise cross-section area that is equal to said first chordwise cross-section area.
15. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said rotor blade includes a leading edge and a trailing edge, said rotor blade further comprises a third sparcap coupled to one of said first blade section and said second blade section adjacent the leading edge.
16. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said rotor blade includes a leading edge and a trailing edge, said rotor blade further comprises a third sparcap coupled to one of said first blade section and said second blade section adjacent the trailing edge.
17. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said rotor blade further comprises:
at least one first core fillet coupled to said first blade section, said first core fillet having a third chordwise width; and,
at least one second core fillet coupled to said second blade section, said second core fillet having a fourth chordwise width that is less than said third chordwise width.
18. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said at least one rotor blade further comprises a root portion and a tip portion, said first sparcap and said second sparcap extending from said root portion towards said tip portion, wherein the first chordwise width and the second chordwise width each are shorter at said tip portion than at said root portion.