Vestas Wind Systems has been granted a patent for a wind turbine blade design. The blade features an outer shell with a hollow interior and a shear web inside, extending longitudinally. The shear web includes an elongate web panel and a mounting flange, with the inboard end portion bonded to the inner surface of the shell using a first adhesive and the outboard portion bonded with a second adhesive. The first adhesive has a lower elastic modulus than the second adhesive, and the inboard end portion of the mounting flange has a larger chordwise width compared to the adjacent outboard portion. GlobalData’s report on Vestas Wind Systems gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Vestas Wind Systems, Aerial inspection drones was a key innovation area identified from patents. Vestas Wind Systems's grant share as of September 2023 was 51%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Wind turbine blade with improved shear web bonding and width
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11773822B2) describes a new design for wind turbine blades. The blades are elongated structures that extend from a root end to a tip end and have a hollow interior. The design includes an outer shell and a shear web inside the shell. The shear web consists of an elongate web panel and a mounting flange along one edge.
One key aspect of the design is the use of different adhesives to bond the mounting flange to the inner surface of the outer shell. The inboard end portion of the mounting flange is bonded with a first adhesive that has a lower elastic modulus than the second adhesive used for the outboard portion. This difference in adhesive properties allows for better distribution of forces and stresses along the blade.
Another important feature is the variation in chordwise width of the mounting flange. The inboard end portion has an enlarged width compared to the adjacent outboard portion. Additionally, the width of the inboard end portion may increase towards the root end of the mounting flange. These variations in width help optimize the structural integrity and performance of the blade.
The patent also mentions other design elements, such as a kink in the mounting flange, a scalloped edge at the root end of the web panel, and the use of laminated and pultruded parts in different sections of the mounting flange.
Overall, this patented design aims to improve the strength, durability, and performance of wind turbine blades. By using different adhesives and optimizing the width and shape of the mounting flange, the design seeks to enhance the structural integrity and efficiency of the blades, ultimately leading to more reliable and efficient wind turbines.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
