Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade part comprising stacking a plurality of plies (70, 71, 72) to form a stack of plies (80) such that the stack of plies has at least one stepwise tapering edge (84, 85). A plurality of plastic fasteners (90) is used to interconnect the plies (70, 71, 72) by passing the plurality of plastic fasteners (90) through the stack of plies to form a stack of interconnected plies (82). The stacks of interconnected plies (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) are arranged within the blade mold, followed by resin infusion into the one or more stacks of interconnected plies within the blade mold, and curing and/or hardening the resin in order to form the blade part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a root end assembly (100) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members (74) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part during a moulding operation. The root end assembly (100) comprises a mounting plate (70) with a plurality of apertures (72) and a plurality of sheath members (83), each sheath member being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures (72). Connection members (78) are received in the sheath members (83), and a plurality of said fastening members (74) are releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members (78) such that the fastening members (74) extend substantially normal to a first surface (77) of the mounting plate (70). The apertures (72) are dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members (83) in the respective apertures (72).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fibre reinforcement fabric for a wind turbine component, the fabric comprising a first plurality of fibre bundles arranged in parallel in a warp direction and stitched together, the fabric having a first outermost fibre bundle defining a first fabric edge parallel to the warp direction and a second outermost fibre bundle defining a second fabric edge opposite the first fabric edge, the fabric having a first tapered portion including the first outermost fibre bundle, wherein a thickness of the fabric in the first tapered portion is tapering from a first fabric thickness to a second fabric thickness in a direction towards the first fabric edge. The disclosure also relates to a spar cap and a wind turbine blade shell part comprising such fabric or fabrics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade part comprising stacking a plurality of plies (70, 71, 72) to form a stack of plies (80) such that the stack of plies has at least one stepwise tapering edge (84, 85). A plurality of plastic fasteners (90) is used to interconnect the plies (70, 71, 72) by passing the plurality of plastic fasteners (90) through the stack of plies to form a stack of interconnected plies (82). The stacks of interconnected plies (82a, 82b, 82c, 82d) are arranged within the blade mold, followed by resin infusion into the one or more stacks of interconnected plies within the blade mold, and curing and/or hardening the resin in order to form the blade part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a root end assembly (100) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members (74) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part during a moulding operation. The root end assembly (100) comprises a mounting plate (70) with a plurality of apertures (72) and a plurality of sheath members (83), each sheath member being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures (72). Connection members (78) are received in the sheath members (83), and a plurality of said fastening members (74) are releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members (78) such that the fastening members (74) extend substantially normal to a first surface (77) of the mounting plate (70). The apertures (72) are dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members (83) in the respective apertures (72).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mould assembly (100) for manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part, and to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade shell part using the mould assembly (100). The mould assembly (100) comprises a lowering device (85), which is adapted to carry and lower a root end insert onto the moulding surface of the mould, the lowering device (85) being attached to the mould and comprising a frame (86) for carrying the root end insert. Two synchronized hydraulic cylinders (91, 92) are used as driving means for lowering the frame, each hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston chamber and a rod chamber, wherein the piston chamber and the rod chamber of each cylinder are connected to each other via a respective valve assembly (110) comprising a fluid line (96) and a valve (97).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a fibre reinforcement fabric for a wind turbine component, the fabric comprising a first plurality of fibre bundles arranged in parallel in a warp direction and stitched together, the fabric having a first outermost fibre bundle defining a first fabric edge parallel to the warp direction and a second outermost fibre bundle defining a second fabric edge opposite the first fabric edge, the fabric having a first tapered portion including the first outermost fibre bundle, wherein a thickness of the fabric in the first tapered portion is tapering from a first fabric thickness to a second fabric thickness in a direction towards the first fabric edge. The disclosure also relates to a spar cap and a wind turbine blade shell part comprising such fabric or fabrics.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade part, such as a spar cap, by means of resin transfer moulding, preferably vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding, where fibre reinforcement material is impregnated with liquid resin in a mould cavity, wherein the mould cavity includes a rigid mould part having a mould surface defining a surface of the wind turbine blade part is described. The method includes the steps of: a) stacking a plurality of fibre reinforcement layers on the rigid mould part forming a fibre reinforcement stack, b) providing at least one flow-enhancing mat in the fibre reinforcement stack, c) sealing a second mould part, against the rigid mould part to form the mould cavity, d) optionally evacuating the mould cavity, e) supplying a resin to the mould cavity, and f) curing or hardening the resin in order to form the wind turbine blade part.

Abstract: This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a first plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members and a second pultruded element is further arranged at the blade joint ends adjacent to an outermost fastening member. Each first pultruded element has opposite facing second sides each facing a first side of an adjacent fastening member. The second pultruded element has one second side facing the outermost fastening member and another second side facing the blade joint interface. The second pultruded element comprises a transition portion forming a smooth transition for the inner layers extending further along the mould edge surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members. Each pultruded element has a second side surface facing a first side surface of an adjacent fastening member. Gaps are formed between the first and second side surfaces in at least the thickness direction, wherein the gaps enable an adaptive positioning of the pultruded elements relative to the outer layers during the vacuum assisted resin infusion process.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a wind turbine blade component using a layup head for automatic or semi-automatic layup of fibre material as ply sections from respective rolls of a plurality of rolls in a blade component mould are described. The methods generally include: defining a list of ply sections for the blade component including the layup sequence and length of each ply section; generating a selection of layup plans using the list, a subset of the plurality of rolls and the initial lengths of fiber material on the rolls; selecting one layup plan in constraint of at least one criterion, such as optimisation of the remaining amount of fibre material waste on the plurality of rolls in a length direction, and controlling the layup head and plurality of rolls to perform the selected layup plan in manufacturing of the blade component in the blade component mould.

Abstract: This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a first plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members and a second pultruded element is further arranged at the blade joint ends adjacent to an outermost fastening member. Each first pultruded element has opposite facing second sides each facing a first side of an adjacent fastening member. The second pultruded element has one second side facing the outermost fastening member and another second side facing the blade joint interface. The second pultruded element comprises a transition portion forming a smooth transition for the inner layers extending further along the mould edge surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a root end structure, a wind turbine blade comprising such a root end structure and a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade. The root end structure comprises a plurality of fastening members distributed along a root end of a blade part, wherein a plurality of pultruded elements are arranged in between the fastening members. Each pultruded element has a second side surface facing a first side surface of an adjacent fastening member. Gaps are formed between the first and second side surfaces in at least the thickness direction, wherein the gaps enable an adaptive positioning of the pultruded elements relative to the outer layers during the vacuum assisted resin infusion process.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a wind turbine blade component using a layup head for automatic or semi-automatic layup of fibre material as ply sections from respective rolls of a plurality of rolls in a blade component mould are described. The methods generally include: defining a list of ply sections for the blade component including the layup sequence and length of each ply section; generating a selection of layup plans using the list, a subset of the plurality of rolls and the initial lengths of fiber material on the rolls; selecting one layup plan in constraint of at least one criterion, such as optimisation of the remaining amount of fibre material waste on the plurality of rolls in a length direction, and controlling the layup head and plurality of rolls to perform the selected layup plan in manufacturing of the blade component in the blade component mould.