Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bondline structure for bonding a shear web to a wind turbine blade shell. The bondline structure comprises an elongate inner core made from a deformable material, and one or more outer layers comprising reinforcing fibres at least partially surrounding the inner core. The inner core and/or the one or more outer layers comprise an adhesive.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade portion and a second blade portion coupled together by a connection joint. A first spar cap is associated with an upper shell half and a second spar cap is associated with the lower shell half of each of the first and second blade portions. A shear web extends between the first spar cap and the second spar cap of each of the first and second blade portions. The shear web is terminated away from a joint interface at which the first and second blade portions meet, and there is no shear web extending in a longitudinal direction across the joint interface. The shear web extending between the first spar cap and the second spar cap is branched in the longitudinal direction toward the first and second blade interfaces of the first and second blade portions respectively.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a shear web (20, 22) bonded between first and second half shells (16, 18) is described. The method involves providing a web locator (40) on an inner surface of a half shell. The web locator has a fixed portion (42) and a spring portion (44) extending from the fixed portion. The spring portion is moveable relative to the fixed portion between compressed and relaxed states.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade assembly comprising: a first wind turbine blade portion having a first attachment portion and a first metallic plate, a second wind turbine blade portion having a second attachment portion and a second metallic plate, and at least one tension member for coupling to the first and second attachment portions to join the first wind turbine blade portion to the second wind turbine blade portion, wherein the first and second metallic plates are configured to abut in compression due to tension in the tension member when the first wind turbine blade portion is joined to the second wind turbine blade portion with the at least one tension member. Also, a method of joining blade portions to construct a blade.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of balancing a set of first and second modular blade sections for a set of blades of a rotor of a wind turbine. The method comprises determining a mass moment of the first and second blade sections, the mass moment being determined about an axis equivalent to an axis of rotation of a hub of the turbine when the blade section is assembled onto the hub. A plurality of blade section groups 10 are defined, each comprising a first blade section of the set and at least one second blade section of the set, each blade section group having a blade section group mass moment about the axis. The first blade section and the at least one second blade section in each group are selected so as to satisfy a minimised total ballast condition, to minimise balancing ballast to be added to the set as a whole, or a minimised 15 ballasting difference condition, to minimise the difference in balancing ballast added to different blades, or both.

Abstract: A method of installing a rotor on a nacelle (44) on a wind turbine generally includes providing a rotor hub counterweight assembly (10, 10?) which are rotated and lifted from a downtower location to an uptower location at which wind turbine blades (50, 52, 54) are progressively attached and the counterweights (14, 16), (14?, 16?) are progressively removed. The rotor hub and counterweight assembly (10, 10?) for use when installing a rotor on a wind turbine (46) generally includes a rotor hub (12) having first, second and third flanges (18, 20, 22), a first counterweight (14, 14?), a second counterweight (16, 16?), and a lifting apparatus connecting member (26, 26?). A lifting apparatus connecting member (26) is configured with at least two connection points (60, 62) being configured for allowing at least two of three operations including installation, rotating and lifting the rotor hub (12), and removal of the lifting apparatus connecting member (26?).

Abstract: A method of handling a wind turbine component for assembly or maintenance, comprising moving one or more unmanned air vehicles to respective positions proximal to a wind turbine component so that the wind turbine component can be supported by the one or more unmanned air vehicles; and controlling the one or more unmanned air vehicles to lift the wind turbine component and manoeuvre said component with respect to a wind turbine. The invention extends to a system for handling a component of a wind turbine, comprising a plurality of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs); a UAV ground station computer system; and one or more lifting harnesses for carrying by the plurality of unmanned air vehicles.

Abstract: A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine blade to a rotor hub includes an insert configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade. The insert includes a main body having an outer surface configured to interface with the blade, a first tubular extension extending from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade, and a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making a wind turbine blade including the connecting joint is disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade portion and a second blade portion coupled together by a connection joint. A first spar cap is associated with an upper shell half and a second spar cap is associated with the lower shell half of each of the first and second blade portions. A shear web extends between the first spar cap and the second spar cap of each of the first and second blade portions. The shear web is terminated away from a joint interface at which the first and second blade portions meet, and there is no shear web extending in a longitudinal direction across the joint interface. The shear web extending between the first spar cap and the second spar cap is branched in the longitudinal direction toward the first and second blade interfaces of the first and second blade portions respectively.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a shear web (20, 22) bonded between first and second half shells (16, 18) is described. The method involves providing a web locator (40) on an inner surface of a half shell. The web locator has a fixed portion (42) and a spring portion (44) extending from the fixed portion. The spring portion is moveable relative to the fixed portion between compressed and relaxed states.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of balancing a set of first and second modular blade sections for a set of blades of a rotor of a wind turbine. The method comprises determining a mass moment of the first and second blade sections, the mass moment being deter-mined about an axis equivalent to an axis of rotation of a hub of the turbine when the blade section is assembled onto the hub. A plurality of blade section groups 10 are defined, each comprising a first blade section of the set and at least one second blade section of the set, each blade section group having a blade section group mass moment about the axis. The first blade section and the at least one second blade section in each group are selected so as to satisfy a minimised total ballast condition, to minimise balancing ballast to be added to the set as a whole, or a minimised 15 ballasting difference condition, to minimise the difference in balancing ballast added to different blades, or both.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade assembly comprising: a first wind turbine blade portion having a first attachment portion and a first metallic plate, a second wind turbine blade portion having a second attachment portion and a second metallic plate, and at least one tension member for coupling to the first and second attachment portions to join the first wind turbine blade portion to the second wind turbine blade portion, wherein the first and second metallic plates are configured to abut in compression due to tension in the tension member when the first wind turbine blade portion is joined to the second wind turbine blade portion with the at least one tension member. Also, a method of joining blade portions to construct a blade.

Abstract: A method of installing a rotor on a nacelle (44) on a wind turbine generally includes providing a rotor hub counterweight assembly (10, 10?) which are rotated and lifted from a downtower location to an uptower location at which wind turbine blades (50, 52, 54) are progressively attached and the counterweights (14, 16), (14?, 16?) are progressively removed. The rotor hub and counterweight assembly (10, 10?) for use when installing a rotor on a wind turbine (46) generally includes a rotor hub (12) having first, second and third flanges (18, 20, 22), a first counterweight (14, 14?), a second counterweight (16, 16?), and a lifting apparatus connecting member (26, 26?). A lifting apparatus connecting member (26) is configured with at least two connection points (60, 62) being configured for allowing at least two of three operations including installation, rotating and lifting the rotor hub (12), and removal of the lifting apparatus connecting member (26?).

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes an elongate body having a root end configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The rotor blade further includes a connection joint at the root end for connecting the rotor blade to the rotor hub. The connection joint includes a plurality of connecting elements integrated into the root end of the rotor blade and including an eye that defines a bore through the root end of the rotor blade. The connecting elements may be formed from folded fiber rovings wherein the fold forms the eye. A method of making a rotor blade having the connecting element integrated therein, and a method of making the connecting elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade section and a second blade section configured to be coupled together at a joint interface. The blade further includes a connection joint for coupling the first and second blade sections together. The connection joint includes a plurality of connecting elements integrated into the first and second blade sections at the first and second blade interfaces. The connection joint further includes cross pins and fasteners for making the connection. A method of making a wind turbine blade section and a wind turbine blade made from such sections are also disclosed.

Abstract: A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine rotor blade to a rotor hub includes a bolt having a blade end configured to be coupled to the rotor blade and a hub end configured to be coupled to the rotor hub. The bolt includes a neck region adjacent the blade end, wherein the neck region has a cross dimension less than a cross dimension of the blade end of the bolt. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making the connecting joint is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade is described. The blade comprises an outer shell having a laminate structure. The method comprises providing a blade mould (82) defining a shape of at least part of the outer shell of the blade. The mould extends in a spanwise direction between a root end (94) and a tip end (96), and extends in a chordwise direction between a leading edge (90) and a trailing edge (92). The method further includes providing a plurality of dry plies (66) comprising dry structural fibrous material and a plurality of prepreg (68) plies comprising structural fibrous material impregnated with resin. The plurality of dry plies and the plurality of prepreg plies are arranged in the mould to form a plurality of layers of the laminate structure of the outer shell of the blade.

Abstract: A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine rotor blade to a rotor hub includes a bolt having a blade end configured to be coupled to the rotor blade and a hub end configured to be coupled to the rotor hub. The bolt includes a neck region adjacent the blade end, wherein the neck region has a cross dimension less than a cross dimension of the blade end of the bolt. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making the connecting joint is disclosed.

Abstract: A connecting joint for attaching a wind turbine blade to a rotor hub includes an insert configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade. The insert includes a main body having an outer surface configured to interface with the blade, a first tubular extension extending from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade, and a second tubular extension extending away from the main body and having inner and outer surfaces configured to interface with the blade. A wind turbine blade having such a connecting joint is also disclosed. Additionally, a method of making a wind turbine blade including the connecting joint is disclosed.

Abstract: A shear web for a wind turbine blade is described. The shear web comprises a panel and a web head. A longitudinal edge of the panel is received within a slot defined in the web head. A plurality of discrete spring features are attached to the longitudinal edge of the panel. The spring features are mutually spaced apart at intervals along the length of the longitudinal edge. The spring features compress against a base of the slot when the longitudinal edge region of the panel is inserted into the slot.