Wind turbine spars with jointed shear webs
A spar for a wind turbine blade includes at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade; and a joint, arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web, for sizing the shear web. The joint may include a resilient and/or expandable spacer.
1. A spar for a wind turbine blade, comprising:
at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade;
a joint, arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web, for sizing the shear web; and
a resilient spacer, including an expandable bladder, arranged in the shear web.
2. The spar recited in claim 1 , wherein the joint includes an interference fit joint.
3. The spar recited in claim 1 , wherein the joint is at least partially filled with an adhesive bonding material.
4. The spar recited in claim 2 , wherein the joint is at least partially filled with an adhesive bonding material.
5. The spar recited in claim 4 , wherein the adhesive bonding material comprises fiber reinforcing material.
6. The spar recited in claim 1 wherein the resilient spacer is at least partially coated with fiber-reinforced adhesive.
7. The spar recited in claim 1 wherein the resilient spacer is at least partially wrapped with fiber-reinforcement.
8. A wind generator, comprising:
a tower supporting a rotor that is connected to a gearbox and a generator;
at least one hollow blade, extending radially from the rotor, with a at least one shear web extending between pressure and suction sides of the blade; and
the shear web having a gap that is at least partially filled with a resilient spacer, including an expandable bladder, for sizing the shear web.
9. The wind generator recited in claim 8 , wherein the resilient spacer is at least partially coated with fiber-reinforced adhesive.
10. The wind generator recited in claim 9 wherein the gap is arranged substantially midway between ends of the shear web.
11. A method of assembling a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of:
obtaining a first shell having a first shear web segment extending therefrom;
obtaining a second shell having a second shear web segment extending therefrom; and
joining the first shear web segment with the second shear web segment;
wherein said joining step comprises at least partially filling a gap with a resilient spacer including an expandable bladder.
12. The method recited in claim 11 , wherein the joining step further comprises at least partially filling the gap between the first and second web segments with fiber-reinforced adhesive bonding material.
13. The method recited in claim 11 , wherein said joining step further comprises expanding the spacer to at least partially fill the gap.
14. The method recited in claim 13 , wherein said joining step comprises joining the first shear web segment with the second shear web segment at a location substantially midway across a combined length of the first and second shear web segments.
15. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein said joining step comprises joining the first shear web segment with the second shear web segment at a location substantially midway across a combined length of the first and second shear web segments.
16. The method recited in claim 12 , wherein said joining step comprises joining the first shear web segment with the second shear web segment at a location substantially midway across a combined length of the first and second shear web segments.