Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a lightning protection system, which is at least partly disposed in an inboard portion of the blade. The lightning protection system comprises a down conductor cable having root and tip portions having insulation with different electrical breakdown voltages. The lightning protection system may comprise a down conductor cable portion and a supporting component to hold the cable portion in free space in a position near or on a camber line of the blade aerofoil section, so that the cable portion is spaced apart from at least one electrically conductive structural component; and/or a plurality of inboard down conductor cables and a diverging electrical junction.

Abstract: A split wind turbine blade includes a connection joint for coupling a first and a second blade portion together. At least one of the blade portions includes electrically conductive material, and a hole formed in an end surface of the blade portion. A portion of the electrically conductive material is revealed on a surface of the hole. The connection joint includes a metal insert embedded in the hole such that the metal insert 10 forms an electrical path with the electrically conductive material revealed on the surface of the hole.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade having a blade shell with a generally chordwise layup of fibre plies and a generally spanwise spar cap. A lightning conductor extends over the spar cap, and the spar cap includes conductive material. An equipotential bonding element electrically bonds the lightning conductor to the spar cap. The equipotential bonding element extends between an outboard edge of one stack of the fibre plies and an inboard edge of an adjacent stack of the fibre plies, which overlap to define an overlapping edge region.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a lightning protection system, which is at least partly disposed in an inboard portion of the blade. The lightning protection system comprises a plurality of inboard down conductor cables and a diverging electrical junction. The lightning protection system may comprise a down conductor cable having root and tip portions having insulation with different electrical breakdown voltages and/or a down conductor cable portion and a supporting component to hold the cable portion in free space in a position near or on a camber line of the blade aerofoil section, so that the cable portion is spaced apart from at least one electrically conductive structural component.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a lightning protection system, which is at least partly disposed in an inboard portion of the blade. The lightning protection system comprises a down conductor cable having root and tip portions having insulation with different electrical breakdown voltages. The lightning protection system may comprise a down conductor cable portion and a supporting component to hold the cable portion in free space in a position near or on a camber line of the blade aerofoil section, so that the cable portion is spaced apart from at least one electrically conductive structural component; and/or a plurality of inboard down conductor cables and a diverging electrical junction.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a lightning protection system, which is at least partly disposed in an inboard portion of the blade. The lightning protection system comprises a down conductor cable portion and a supporting component to hold the cable portion in free space in a position near or on a camber line of the blade aerofoil section, so that the cable portion is spaced apart from at least one electrically conductive structural component. The lightning protection system may comprise a plurality of inboard down conductor cables and a diverging electrical junction; and/or a down conductor cable having root and tip portions having insulation with different electrical breakdown voltages.

Abstract: Improvements relating to wind turbine blades A wind turbine blade is described that comprises a main blade and one or more separate edge modules attached to the main blade module. The main blade module defines a main body of the blade, and the separate edge module(s) defines at least part of a leading edge or a trailing edge of the blade. A down conductor for a blade lightning protection system is embedded within the edge module.

Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade having a blade shell with a generally chordwise layup of fibre plies and a generally spanwise spar cap. A lightning conductor extends over the spar cap, and the spar cap includes conductive material. An equipotential bonding element electrically bonds the lightning conductor to the spar cap. The equipotential bonding element extends between an outboard edge of one stack of the fibre plies and an inboard edge of an adjacent stack of the fibre plies, which overlap to define an overlapping edge region.

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 wind turbine blade comprising a main blade portion having a root end and a tip end, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge extend between the root end and the tip end, and a conductive blade tip module that abuts the tip end of the main blade portion; wherein the conductive blade tip module comprises an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis transverse to a spanwise axis of the blade, and wherein the conductive blade tip module has a length in a direction along said longitudinal axis that is greater than a chord length of the blade tip interface.

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: Improvements relating to wind turbine blades A wind turbine blade is described that comprises a main blade and one or more separate edge modules attached to the main blade module. The main blade module defines a main body of the blade, and the separate edge module(s) defines at least part of a leading edge or a trailing edge of the blade. A down conductor for a blade lightning protection system is embedded within the edge module.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a main blade portion having a longitudinal axis that extends between a root end and a tip end, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge extend between the root end and the tip end, and a conductive blade tip module mounted to the tip end of the main blade portion; wherein the tip end is truncated and has a blade tip interface that defines an outer edge, and wherein the blade tip module is configured to fit against the blade tip interface such that a lip of the blade tip module overlaps the outer edge of the blade tip interface. Since the blade tip module is configured to overlap the tip edge of the blade, this protects the junction between the two components from erosion due to weathering.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a main blade portion having a longitudinal axis that extends between a root end and a tip end, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge extend between the root end and the tip end, and a conductive blade tip module mounted to the tip end of the main blade portion; wherein the tip end is truncated and has a blade tip interface that defines an outer edge, and wherein the blade tip module is configured to fit against the blade tip interface such that a lip of the blade tip module overlaps the outer edge of the blade tip interface. Since the blade tip module is configured to overlap the tip edge of the blade, this protects the junction between the two components from erosion due to weathering.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a main blade portion having a root end and a tip end, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge extend between the root end and the tip end, and a conductive blade tip module that abuts the tip end of the main blade portion; wherein the conductive blade tip module comprises an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis transverse to a spanwise axis of the blade, and wherein the conductive blade tip module has a length in a direction along said longitudinal axis that is greater than a chord length of the blade tip interface.