WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH ASYMMETRICAL SPAR CAPS
A wind turbine blade ( 10 ) with asymmetric spar caps ( 36,38 ). The blade includes a pressure side spar cap ( 36 ) having pressure side fibers ( 56 ) having a pressure side fiber diameter ( 54 ), the pressure side fibers configured to resist a first flap deflection ( 20 ) in a first direction via tensile strength; and a suction side spar cap ( 38 ) having suction side fibers ( 50 ) having a suction side fiber diameter ( 52 ), the suction side fibers configured to resist the first flap deflection via a compressive strength. At a radial cross section, the suction side spar cap exhibits a greater compressive strength and the pressure side spar cap, for example, by the suction side fibers having a different compressive strength than the pressure side fibers.
1 . A wind turbine blade comprising:
a pressure side spar cap comprising pressure side fibers comprising a pressure side fiber diameter, the pressure side fibers configured to resist a first flap deflection of the blade in a first direction via tensile strength; and
a suction side spar cap comprising suction side fibers comprising a suction side fiber diameter, the suction side fibers configured to resist the first flap deflection via a compressive strength;
wherein at a radial cross section the suction side fibers comprise a different compressive strength than the pressure side fibers.
2 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the suction side fibers exhibit a greater compressive strength than the pressure side fibers.
3 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the pressure side fibers comprise fibers of a first diameter, the suction side fibers comprise fibers of a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.
4 . The wind turbine blade of claim 3 , wherein the second diameter is greater than 20 micrometers.
5 . The wind turbine blade of claim 3 , wherein the second diameter falls within a range from 25 micrometers to 34 micrometers, inclusive.
6 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the pressure side fibers comprise a first mixture of fiber types, each type comprising a distinct diameter, and wherein the suction side fibers comprise a second mixture of fiber types different than the first mixture of fiber types.
7 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the pressure side fibers comprise fibers of a first composition and the suction side fibers comprise fibers of a second composition different than the first composition.
8 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the first fiber composition comprises glass fiber, and wherein the second fiber composition comprises carbon fiber.
9 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the pressure side fibers comprise a first mixture of fiber types, each type having a distinct composition, and wherein the suction side fibers comprise a second mixture of fiber types different than the first mixture of fiber types.
10 . The wind turbine blade of claim 1 , wherein the suction side fibers and the pressure side fibers comprise plural fiber types, wherein each of the plural fiber types comprises a distinct combination of diameter and composition, wherein the pressure side fibers comprise a first mixture of fiber types, and wherein the suction side fibers comprise a second mixture of fiber types different than the first mixture of fiber types.
11 . A wind turbine blade, comprising:
a spar, comprising:
a pressure side spar cap comprising pressure side fibers configured to resist a first flap deflection in a first direction;
a suction side spar cap comprising suction side fibers configured to resist the first flap deflection;
a spar web configured to hold the pressure side spar cap and the suction side spar cap in a spaced-apart relationship;
a pressure side shell comprising the pressure side spar cap; and
a suction side shell comprising the suction side spar cap,
wherein the pressure side fibers and the suction side fibers comprise at least one of a plurality of different diameters and a plurality of different compositions, and
wherein at a given radial cross section the suction side fibers comprise a greater compressive strength than the pressure side fibers.
12 . The wind turbine blade of claim 11 , wherein a diameter of the pressure side fibers is less than or equal to 20 micrometers, and a diameter of the suction side fibers are greater than 20 micrometers.
13 . The wind turbine blade of claim 11 , wherein the pressure side spar cap comprises glass fibers and the suction side spar cap comprises carbon fibers.
14 . The wind turbine blade of claim 11 , wherein the pressure side spar cap comprises a first mixture of carbon fibers and glass fibers and the suction side spar cap comprises a comprises a second, different mixture of carbon fibers and glass fibers.
15 . A wind turbine blade, comprising:
a pressure side spar cap comprising pressure side fibers; and
a suction side spar cap comprising suction side fibers;
wherein for a given radial location along the blade, cross sections of the pressure side spar cap and the suction side spar cap are asymmetric; and
wherein the suction side cross section comprises a greater compressive strength than the pressure side cross section.
16 . The wind turbine blade of claim 15 , wherein the suction side cross section comprises a larger area than the pressure side cross section.
17 . The wind turbine blade of claim 15 , wherein the suction side fibers comprise a larger diameter than the pressure side fibers.
18 . The wind turbine blade of claim 15 , wherein a composition of the suction side fibers comprises a greater compressive strength than a composition of the pressure side fibers.
19 . The wind turbine blade of claim 15 , wherein matrix material in the suction side cross section comprises a greater compressive strength than matrix material in the pressure side cross section.