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: 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 has a spar cap including conductive material, and a lightning conductor extending over the spar cap. There is a non-conductive layer between the lightning conductor and the spar cap. An equipotential bonding element electrically bonds the lightning conductor to the spar cap. The non-conductive layer is discontinuous to define a gap, and the equipotential bonding element extends through the gap.

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 rotor blade has a spar cap including conductive material, and a lightning conductor extending over the spar cap. There is a non-conductive layer between the lightning conductor and the spar cap. An equipotential bonding element electrically bonds the lightning conductor to the spar cap. The non-conductive layer is discontinuous to define a gap, and the equipotential bonding element extends through the gap.

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 assembly is described. The wind turbine blade assembly comprises: first and second blade sections connected together, each blade section having a shell defining an aerodynamic profile and each section comprising lightning protection components; a substantially enclosed interior region defined in part by the shell of the first blade section and in part by the shell of the second blade section; a first connector located in the interior region, the first connector being attached to the first blade section and electrically connected to the lightning protection components of the first blade section, the first connector defining a contact surface; a second connector located in the interior region, the second connector being attached to the second blade section and electrically connected to the lightning protection components of the second blade section, the second connector defining a contact surface opposed to and in contact with the contact surface of the first connector.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade assembly is described. The wind turbine blade assembly comprises: first and second blade sections connected together, each blade section having a shell defining an aerodynamic profile and each section comprising lightning protection components; a substantially enclosed interior region defined in part by the shell of the first blade section and in part by the shell of the second blade section; a first connector located in the interior region, the first connector being attached to the first blade section and electrically connected to the lightning protection components of the first blade section, the first connector defining a contact surface; a second connector located in the interior region, the second connector being attached to the second blade section and electrically connected to the lightning protection components of the second blade section, the second connector defining a contact surface opposed to and in contact with the contact surface of the first connector.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade incorporating a lightning protection system includes providing a blade mold; arranging a protruding element in the mold; arranging an electrically conductive layer over the protruding element; arranging one or more structural layers and/or structural components over the conductive layer; consolidating the layers under vacuum to form a blade shell having the conductive layer proximate an outer surface of the shell; separating the protruding element from the blade shell to define a recess with the conductive layer extending into the recess; providing an electrical component adjacent an inner surface of the shell; and electrically connecting the conductive layer to the component. An end portion of the connecting member is housed in the recess such that a surface of the connecting member abuts the conductive layer inside the recess.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a metallic lightning receptor (110) is described. The method comprises configuring a wind turbine blade (10) mold assembly (100) such that a clearance region (120) is defined between a mold surface (116) of at least one mold half (112, 114) and a majority of a metallic lightning receptor component (110) when the mold assembly (100) is closed, such that contact between that mold half (112, 114) and the metallic lightning receptor component (110) is substantially avoided. In certain embodiments of the invention, one or both mold halves (112, 114) are truncated such that the metallic lightning receptor component (110) projects from the mold (100) when the mold (100) is closed.

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade incorporating a lightning protection system, the method comprising: providing a wind turbine blade mould; arranging a protruding element in the mould; arranging an electrically conductive layer over the protruding element in the mould; arranging one or more structural layers and/or structural components over the electrically conductive layer; consolidating the layers under vacuum to form a blade shell having an integrated electrically conductive layer proximate an outer surface of the shell; separating the protruding element from the blade shell to define a recess in the outer surface of the shell, with the electrically conductive layer extending into the recess; providing an electrical component of the lightning protection system adjacent an inner surface of the shell; and electrically connecting the electrically conductive layer to the electrical component via a connecting member; wherein an end portion of the connecting member is housed in the recess such that a surf

Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a metallic lightning receptor (110) is described. The method comprises configuring a wind turbine blade (10) mould assembly (100) such that a clearance region (120) is defined between a mould surface (116) of at least one mould half (112, 114) and a majority of a metallic lightning receptor component (110) when the mould assembly (100) is closed, such that contact between that mould half (112, 114) and the metallic lightning receptor component (110) is substantially avoided. In certain embodiments of the invention, one or both mould halves (112, 114) are truncated such that the metallic lightning receptor component (110) projects from the mould (100) when the mould (100) is closed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade spar for a wind turbine blade includes positioning a first spar segment having a first adhering portion; positioning a second spar segment having a second adhering portion at the first spar segment such that the first adhering portion and the second adhering portion are at least partially overlapping, wherein an adhesive is at least partially provided between the overlapping adhering portions; providing at least one fiber layer impregnated with an uncured resin on the outer surfaces of the first and second spar segments at least in the joint region of the first and second spar segments; and simultaneously curing the adhesive and the resin, thereby fixating the first and the second spar segments to each other.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a blade spar for a wind turbine blade includes positioning a first spar segment having a first adhering portion; positioning a second spar segment having a second adhering portion at the first spar segment such that the first adhering portion and the second adhering portion are at least partially overlapping, wherein an adhesive is at least partially provided between the overlapping adhering portions; providing at least one fiber layer impregnated with an uncured resin on the outer surfaces of the first and second spar segments at least in the joint region of the first and second spar segments; and simultaneously curing the adhesive and the resin, thereby fixating the first and the second spar segments to each other.