Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise, whereas the internal support structure of the second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the beam structure of the first blade segment. Further, the rotor blade includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the beam structure and the receiving section at the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. The rotor blade includes at least one additional support member that receives a portion of the chord-wise extending pin so as to reduce a chord-wise bending deflection of the chord-wise extending pin at the chord-wise joint.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a segmented rotor blade of a wind turbine includes providing a mold of the structural component. The mold has an outer wall that defines an outer surface of the structural component. The method also includes securing at least one tooling pin to the outer wall for defining a pin joint slot in the structural component. Further, the method includes laying up one or more outer fiber layers in the mold so as to at least partially cover the outer wall. The outer fiber layer(s) has at least one hole that receives the tooling pin(s). As such, the outer fiber layer(s) form the outer surface of the structural component. Moreover, the method includes placing one or more structural features atop the outer fiber layer(s) in the mold. In addition, the method includes infusing the outer fiber layer(s) and the structural feature(s) together via a resin material so as to form the structural component.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment at a receiving section. At least one of the internal support structures of the first and second blade segments includes at least one spar cap. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints positioned on the spar cap(s) for connecting the blade segments. The spar cap is constructed of varying forms of materials along a span of the rotor blade, including at least two of: one or more infused composite laminates, one or more pre-preg composite laminates, one or more pre-fabricated or pre-cured composite elements, one or more additively-manufactured structures, or one or more non-composite structural solids.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blade component of rotor blade of a wind turbine includes providing a plurality of pultrusions constructed of one or more fibers or fiber bundles cured together via a resin material. The method also includes placing a protective cap over at least one end of one or more of the plurality of pultrusions. Further, the method includes heat treating a surface of the plurality of pultrusions while the protective cap remains over the at least one end. Moreover, the method includes removing the protective cap from the at least one end. The method further includes arranging the plurality of pultrusions in a mold of the blade component. In addition, the method includes infusing the plurality of pultrusions together so as to form the rotor blade component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a rotor blade includes providing a mold of the structural component having an outer wall that defines an outer surface of the structural component. The method also includes laying up one or more fiber layers in the mold so as to at least partially cover the outer wall. As such, the fiber layer(s) form the outer surface of the structural component. Further, the method includes providing one or more metal mesh layers having one or more ends. Moreover, the method includes providing a cover material to the end(s) of the metal mesh layer(s). In addition, the method includes placing the metal mesh layer(s) with the covered end(s) atop the fiber layer(s). Thus, the method includes infusing the fiber layer(s) and the metal mesh layer(s) together via a resin material so as to form the structural component.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes one or more pin joints for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes one or more pin joint tubes received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a load bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the load bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the load bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the load bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine including first and second blade segments extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The first and second blade segments include one or more shell members and internal support structures coupled to an inner surface of the one or more shell members of the first and second blade segments. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending between a first end at the chord-wise joint and a second end such that the beam structure is received by a receiving section of the internal support structure of the second blade segment. The rotor blade includes one or more spacer materials arranged within the first blade segment between an exterior surface of the beam structure and the inner surface of the one or more shell members to reduce a bond gap therebetween.

Abstract: A rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The first blade segment includes a beam structure having a receiving end with at least one span-wise extending pin extending therefrom. The second blade segment includes a receiving section that receives the beam structure. The receiving section includes a chord-wise member having a pin joint slot defined therethrough. The pin joint slot receives the span-wise extending pin at the receiving end of the beam structure so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. Moreover, the chord-wise member, the pin joint slot, and/or the span-wise extending pin includes at least one compliant structure formed of a compliant material that allows a deformation thereof to follow a shear deformation of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint line. Each of the first and second blade segments includes opposite spar caps. The first and second blade segments are connected at the chord-wise joint line by internal joint structure, wherein the joint structure is bonded to the opposite spar caps in at least the second blade segment. The spar caps in the second blade segment have a first section with a first chord-wise width that is unbonded to the joint structure and a second section with a second chord-wise width that is bonded to the joint structure. The second chord-wise width is greater than the first chord-wise width.

Abstract: A jointed rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the internal support structure of the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade further includes one or more pin joints positioned on at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment. Thus, at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment includes varying material combinations along a span of the rotor blade at locations of the one or more pin joints so as to reinforce the one or more pin joints.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade root assembly includes placing outer skin layer(s) onto a blade mold and arranging a root plate with a plurality of through holes adjacent to an end face of the blade mold. The method also includes placing a plurality of root inserts atop the outer skin layer(s) and abutting against the root plate, with each of the root inserts defining a fastener hole. The method also includes inserting a root fastener into each of the aligned through holes and longitudinal fastener holes. Moreover, the method includes placing inner skin layer(s) atop the root inserts. Further, the root plate may include at least one fluid hole configured therethrough to provide a non-gas tight root plate. Alternatively, at least one seal may be arranged between the root plate and the blade mold that forms a non-gas tight connection with either or both of the root plate or the blade mold during a vacuum infusion process.

Abstract: A rotor blade component for a wind turbine includes a first structural component, such as a spar cap, formed from a plurality of stacked pultruded members. A second structural component, such as a shear web, is fixed to the first structural component at a joint interface. One or more webs form the joint interface, wherein each of the webs has a first section bonded between at least two of the pultruded members in the first structural component and a second section extending across the joint interface and bonded onto or into the second structural component.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade shell component is made by providing a plurality of first pultrusion plates formed of a first fiber material, and a plurality of second pultrusion plates formed of a second fiber material. The first and second pultrusion plates are stacked in a hybrid pattern that includes a first section containing a plurality of the first and second pultrusion plates having a length shorter than an entire length of a spar cap for a wind turbine blade shell, and a core section having a continuous unbroken length of the second fiber material corresponding to an entire length of the spar cap. The stacked pattern is arranged on blade shell materials in a mold for the blade shell component and is bonded with the blade shell materials to form the blade shell component.

Abstract: A rotor blade component for a wind turbine includes a first structural component, such as a spar cap, formed from a plurality of stacked pultruded members. A second structural component, such as a shear web, is fixed to the first structural component at a joint interface. One or more webs form the joint interface, wherein each of the webs has a first section bonded between at least two of the pultruded members in the first structural component and a second section extending across the joint interface and bonded onto or into the second structural component.

Abstract: A joint assembly for joining rotor blade segments of a wind turbine rotor blade includes a female structural member secured within a first rotor blade segment. The female structural member includes first bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned in a chord-wise direction. Further, the joint assembly includes a male structural member extending longitudinally from an end face of a second rotor blade segment. As such, the male structural member is received within the female structural member of the first rotor blade segment such that the first and second rotor blade segments are aligned and connected. The male structural member includes second bore holes on opposing sides thereof. Further, the second bore holes are aligned with the first bore holes. Moreover, the joint assembly includes at least one chord-wise extending pin extending through the first and second bore holes so as to join the first and second rotor blade segments.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotor blade root assembly includes placing outer skin layer(s) onto a blade mold and arranging a root plate with a plurality of through holes adjacent to an end face of the blade mold. The method also includes placing a plurality of root inserts atop the outer skin layer(s) and abutting against the root plate, with each of the root inserts defining a fastener hole. The method also includes inserting a root fastener into each of the aligned through holes and longitudinal fastener holes. Moreover, the method includes placing inner skin layer(s) atop the root inserts. Further, the root plate may include at least one fluid hole configured therethrough to provide a non-gas tight root plate. Alternatively, at least one seal may be arranged between the root plate and the blade mold that forms a non-gas tight connection with either or both of the root plate or the blade mold during a vacuum infusion process.

Abstract: A joint assembly for joining rotor blade segments of a wind turbine rotor blade includes a female structural member secured within a first rotor blade segment. The female structural member includes first bore holes on opposing sides thereof that are aligned in a chord-wise direction. Further, the joint assembly includes a male structural member extending longitudinally from an end face of a second rotor blade segment. As such, the male structural member is received within the female structural member of the first rotor blade segment such that the first and second rotor blade segments are aligned and connected. The male structural member includes second bore holes on opposing sides thereof. Further, the second bore holes are aligned with the first bore holes. Moreover, the joint assembly includes at least one chord-wise extending pin extending through the first and second bore holes so as to join the first and second rotor blade segments.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade shell component is made by providing a plurality of first pultrusion plates formed of a first fiber material, and a plurality of second pultrusion plates formed of a second fiber material. The first and second pultrusion plates are stacked in a hybrid pattern that includes a first section containing a plurality of the first and second pultrusion plates having a length shorter than an entire length of a spar cap for a wind turbine blade shell, and a core section having a continuous unbroken length of the second fiber material corresponding to an entire length of the spar cap. The stacked pattern is arranged on blade shell materials in a mold for the blade shell component and is bonded with the blade shell materials to form the blade shell component.

Abstract: A spar cap assembly for a jointed rotor blade of a wind turbine includes a root spar cap assembly and a tip spar cap assembly. The root spar cap assembly includes a root tensile spar cap and a root compressive spar cap, and is formed from a first composite material. The tip spar cap assembly includes a tip tensile spar cap and a tip compressive spar cap, and is formed from a second composite material that is different from the first composite material. The thickness of a joining end of the root tensile spar cap is different from the thickness of a joining end of the tip tensile spar cap, and the thickness of a joining end of the root compressive spar cap is different from the thickness of a joining end of the tip compressive spar cap.

Abstract: A supercharging system for a gas turbine system is provided supercharging system having a fan mechanically coupled to the turbine shaft of the turbine system. A bypass subsystem is provided or optionally conveying a portion of the airstream output to other uses. The supercharging system may also be used in conjunction with a combined cycle power system and a bypass subsystem optionally conveys a portion of the airstream output to a heat recovery steam generator.