Abstract: A method and mold assembly for manufacturing a rotor blade component of a wind turbine is disclosed. The mold assembly includes a mold body that is divided into a plurality of mold zones, with each mold zone having a sensor for sensing a temperature thereof. Further, a composite material schedule is provided for each of the mold zones. Thus, the method includes placing composite material onto the mold body according to the composite material schedule and supplying a resin material to each mold zone of the mold body. The method also includes implementing a cure cycle for the component that includes supplying heat to each of the mold zones, continuously receiving signals from the sensors from the mold zones, and dynamically controlling via machine learning the supplied heat to each mold zone based on the sensor signals and the composite material schedule.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a vortex generator configured for mounting to either of a suction side or a pressure side of a rotor blade. The vortex generator includes a base portion having a contour in an uninstalled state that substantially aligns with or conforms to a contour of a plurality of locations of either on the suction side or the pressure side of the rotor blade. Further, the vortex generator includes a protrusion member extending upwardly from the base portion. The protrusion member includes a plurality of tines separated by at least one slit. Moreover, the base portion and the protrusion member are constructed of a rigid material. In addition, the vortex generator includes a flexible coating material configured at least partially around the base portion and/or within or around the at least one slit.

Abstract: A method of assembling a rotor blade for a turbine is provided that includes forming a rotor blade trailing edge by coupling a suction side terminus to a pressure side terminus and positioning a trailing edge assembly between the suction side terminus and the pressure side terminus, the trailing edge assembly having a varying cross-section.

Abstract: A method of forming a wind turbine blade includes forming a root portion, a tip portion, and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the root portion to the tip portion. The method also includes forming a spar cap extending radially outward from the root portion through at least a portion of the airfoil portion. At least a portion of the spar cap is oriented substantially longitudinally and extends generally linearly from a first end of the spar cap to a second end of the spar cap. The method also includes forming at least one spar cap extension that extends from the spar cap, wherein at least a portion of the spar cap extension is oriented nonlinearly relative to the spar cap.

Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine blade includes forming a preform pressure surface member and a preform suction surface member. The method also includes forming at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge. One method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling a preform cap member to one of a portion of the preform pressure surface member and a portion of the preform suction surface member. At least a portion of one of the preform pressure surface member and the preform suction surface member overlap at least a portion of the preform bond cap member. Another method of forming the leading edge or the trailing edge includes coupling the preform pressure surface member to the preform suction surface member wherein at least a portion of the preform pressure surface member overlaps at least a portion of the preform suction surface member.

Abstract: A method of forming a wind turbine blade includes forming a fiber-reinforced resin body. The fiber-reinforced resin body includes a fiber-resin matrix formed with, at least partially, at least one of at least one resin/additive mixture produced by mixing at least one first opaque additive within a first quantity of resin and a first layer of fibers having a plurality of pigmented fibers. The pigmented fibers are formed by at least one of impregnating at least a portion of the first layer of fibers with at least one second opaque additive and forming at least one layer of opaque coating over at least a portion of the first layer of fibers. The opaque coating has a third opaque additive.

Abstract: A method of assembling a rotor blade for a turbine is provided that includes forming a rotor blade trailing edge by coupling a suction side terminus to a pressure side terminus and positioning a trailing edge assembly between the suction side terminus and the pressure side terminus, the trailing edge assembly having a varying cross-section.