Inflatable wind turbine blade and attachment mechanism
Among other things, the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine rotor blade that can be assembled at the site of its wind turbine. The blade includes an internal structure which may be pre-fabricated with connections to the shell skin prior to being transported to the site of its wind turbine. A filler material may be injected into the layers of fabric making up the shell skin at the wind turbine site and allowed to harden at approximately atmospheric conditions.
1. A method of making a blade for a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising:
manufacturing a pre-fabricated structure comprising a primary structure, an inner fabric layer, and an outer fabric layer;
transporting the pre-fabricated structure to a wind turbine site; and
injecting a filler material between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer; wherein:
the inner fabric layer comprises a first edge and a first length,
the outer fabric layer comprises a second edge and a second length,
the manufacturing comprises applying a resin to the primary structure, the first edge, and the second edge, and
the manufacturing comprises protecting the first length and the second length from the resin.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the manufacturing comprises using a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) or resin transfer molding (RTM) process.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the protecting comprises using a vacuum-sealed bag positioned to cover the first length.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the protecting comprises using a vacuum-sealed bag positioned to cover the second length.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the resin comprises at least one of a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, or a polyester gelcoat.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
allowing the filler material to solidify; wherein:
during the injecting and during the allowing a mold is used to support the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer, and
the mold is removed from the blade when the allowing is completed.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the mold comprises an inflatable mandrel.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting the first length to a third length; wherein:
the inner fabric layer is a first inner fabric layer, and
a second inner fabric layer comprises the third length.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the connecting comprises sewing, gluing, or taping.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting the second length to a fourth length; wherein:
the outer fabric layer is a first outer fabric layer, and
a second outer fabric layer comprises the fourth length.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the connecting comprises sewing, gluing, or taping.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the filler material comprises polyurethane foam.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer fabric layer has a coating, and the coating comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene-based composition.