[0001]
The present invention relates to a wind-turbine rotor
blade that constitutes a wind turbine for wind power
generation.
Background Art
[0002]
A known wind-turbine rotor blade is disclosed in Patent
Citation 1, for example.
Patent Citation 1:
PCT International Publication No. WO 2008/086805 Pamphlet
Disclosure of Invention
[0003]
Furthermore, in recent years, a wind-turbine rotor blade
100 having a spar cap structure that satisfies both
lightweight and strength requirements has been proposed, as
shown in Fig. 10. The wind-turbine rotor blade 100 is
provided with an outer skin member 11, leading-edge sandwich
members 12, spar cap members (main strengthening members) 13,
trailing-edge sandwich members 14, and shear webs 15, all of
which will be described later.
2
The leading-edge sandwich members 12 and the trailingedge
sandwich members 14 have a sandwich structure in which
the outer skin member 11 and inner skin members 17 are used as
skin members, and plastic foam, such as PVC foam, or wood,
such as balsa, is used as a core material.
Note that reference numeral 16 in Fig. 10 indicates an
adhesive for connecting (coupling) the spar cap members 13 and
the shear webs 15.
[0004]
The wind-turbine rotor blade can be reduced in weight
when the safety factor for the buckling strength and the
safety factor for the material strength (strength in tension
and compression) of each of the members (more specifically,
the outer skin member 11, the leading-edge sandwich members
12, the spar cap members 13, the trailing-edge sandwich
members 14, and the shear webs 15) constituting the windturbine
rotor blade 100 can be set at the same level (for
example, 2).
[0005]
However, in the wind-turbine rotor blade 100 shown in
Fig. 10, before 100% material strength is exerted, buckling
may occur at the spar cap members 13 with respect to the load
in a flap direction (dorsal-ventral direction: the vertical
direction in Fig. 10), and buckling may occur at the trailingedge
sandwich members 14 and/or the outer skin member 11 at
3
the dorsal side and/or at the ventral side located closer to
the trailing edge 18 than the trailing-edge end of the
corresponding trailing-edge sandwich member 14 is, with
respect to the load in an edge direction (leading-edge-totrailing-
edge direction: the direction perpendicular to the
flap direction).
[0006]
To increase the buckling strength of the spar cap members
13 with respect to the load in the flap direction, it is just
necessary to narrow the widths (the lengths in the chord
direction (in the horizontal direction in Fig. 10)) of the
spar cap members 13 and to increase the thicknesses of the
spar cap members 13 while maintaining the cross-sectional
areas of the spar cap members 13 at the same level, and also
to narrow the space between the shear webs 15 (the distance
between the shear web 15 located closer to the leading edge
and the shear web 15 located closer to the trailing edge).
On the other hand, however, there is a problem in that
the widths (the lengths in the chord direction (in the
horizontal direction in Fig. 10)) of the trailing-edge
sandwich members 14 are increased, and the buckling strength
of the trailing-edge sandwich members 14 with respect to the
load in the edge direction is reduced even more.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-
4
described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a
wind-turbine rotor blade capable of improving the buckling
strength with respect to the load in the edge direction, of
bringing the safety factor for the buckling strength closer to
the safety factor for the material strength, and of achieving
a further reduction in weight.
[0008]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the
present invention employs the following solutions.
The present invention provides a wind-turbine rotor blade
having an outer skin member formed of fiber-reinforced
plastic, shear webs, and trailing-edge sandwich members
disposed closer to a trailing edge than the shear webs are, in
which the outer skin member at a dorsal side located closer to
the trailing edge than a trailing-edge end of the trailingedge
sandwich member located at the dorsal side is or a
vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member located at the dorsal side is coupled, via a
reinforcing member, with the outer skin member at a ventral
side located closer to the.trailing edge than a trailing-edge
end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the
ventral side is or a vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member located at the ventral side.
[0009]
According to the wind-turbine rotor blade of the present
5
invention, the outer skin member at the dorsal side located
closer to the trailing edge than the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member located at the dorsal side is or
the vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member located at the dorsal side is coupled, via the
reinforcing member, with the outer skin member at the ventral
side located closer to the trailing edge than the trailingedge
end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the
ventral side is or the vicinity of the trailing-edge end of
the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the ventral side.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the flexural rigidity in
the edge direction at the trailing-edge portion, to improve
the buckling strength with respect to the load in the edge
direction at the trailing-edge portion, to bring the safety
factor for the buckling strength closer to the safety factor
for the material strength, and to achieve a further reduction
in weight.
[0010]
In the above-described wind-turbine rotor blade, it is
more preferable that the reinforcing member be provided with a
lightweight core material, a dorsal-side skin member disposed
at the dorsal side of the lightweight core material, and a
ventral-side skin member disposed at the ventral side of the
lightweight core material; the lightweight core material, the
dorsal-side skin member, and the ventral-side skin member be
6
integrally formed; and the dorsal-side skin member and/or the
ventral-side skin member be formed of fiber-reinforced plastic
in which reinforcement fibers are oriented in a blade
longitudinal direction.
[0011]
According to this wind-turbine rotor blade, the
reinforcement fibers used for the dorsal-side skin member
and/or the ventral-side skin member are oriented along the
blade longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is possible to
further improve the flexural rigidity in the edge direction at
the trailing-edge portion, to further improve the buckling
strength with respect to the load in the edge direction at the
trailing-edge portion, to further bring the safety factor for
the buckling strength closer to the safety factor for the
material strength, and to achieve a further reduction in
weight.
[0012]
In the above-described wind-turbine rotor blade, it is
more preferable that a second skin member that is disposed on
an outer side of the lightweight core material, the dorsalside
skin member, and the ventral-side skin member be further
provided; and the lightweight core material, the dorsal-side
skin member, the ventral-side skin member, and the second skin
member be integrally formed.
[0013]
7
According to this wind-turbine rotor blade, the relative
displacement in the blade longitudinal direction between the
outer skin member at the dorsal side and the outer skin member
at the ventral side is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible
to prevent a shear fracture of the lightweight core material,
which may be caused by the relative displacement in the blade
longitudinal direction between the outer skin member at the
dorsal side and the outer skin member at the ventral side.
[0014]
The present invention provides a wind turbine for wind
power generation including the wind-turbine rotor blade
capable of improving the flexural rigidity in the edge
direction at the trailing-edge portion, of improving the
buckling strength with respect to the load in the edge
direction at the trailing-edge portion, of bringing the safety
factor for the buckling strength closer to the safety factor
for the material strength, and of achieving a further
reduction in weight.
[0015]
According to the wind turbine for wind power generation
of the present invention, it is possible to achieve a
reduction in the weight of rotational bearings that couple a
rotor head and the root portions of the wind-turbine rotor
blades and a reduction in the weight of a connecting shaft
that is installed in the rotor head to impart rotational
8
movement to the wind turbine blades, and to reduce the load
imposed on a tower that supports the wind-turbine rotor blades
and the rotor head.
[0016]
According to the present invention, an advantage is
afforded in that it is possible to improve the buckling
strength with respect to the load in the edge direction, to
bring the safety factor for the buckling strength closer to
the safety factor for the material strength, and to achieve a
further reduction in weight.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0017]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a side view showing a wind turbine
for wind power generation, having a wind-turbine rotor blade
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the windturbine
rotor blade according to the first' embodiment of the
present invention.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion shown in Fig. 2.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to a
second embodiment of the present invention, which is similar
to Fig. 3.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
9
main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to a
third embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to
Fig. 3.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar
to Fig. 3.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to a
fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to
Fig. 3.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to a
sixth embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to
Fig. 6.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a windturbine
rotor blade according to another embodiment of the
present invention, which is similar to Fig. 2.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a
conventional wind-turbine rotor blade, which is similar to
Fig. 2.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of
a main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to
still another embodiment of the present invention, which is
similar to Fig. 3.
10
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of
a main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to
still another embodiment of the present invention, which is
similar to Fig. 3.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of
a main portion of a wind-turbine rotor blade according to
still another embodiment of the present invention, which is
similar to Fig. 3.
Explanation of Reference:
[0018]
1: wind turbine for wind power generation
2: column (tower)
3: nacelle
4: rotor head
5: wind-turbine rotor blade
6: nacelle cover
11: outer skin member
12 : leading-edge sandwich members
13: spar cap members (main strengthening members)
14: trailing-edge sandwich members
15: shear webs
16: adhesive
17: inner skin members
18: trailing edge
19: reinforcing member
11
20: lightweight core material
21: skin member (dorsal-side skin member)
22: skin member (ventral-side skin member)
23: adhesive
30: wind-turbine rotor blade
31: reinforcing member
32: trailing-edge strut member
40: wind-turbine rotor blade
41: reinforcing member
42: angular-U-shaped strut member
50: wind-turbine rotor blade
51: reinforcing member
52: trapezoidal-shaped strut member
60: wind-turbine rotor blade
61: reinforcing member
62: (second) skin member
70: wind-turbine rotor blade
71: reinforcing member
72: (second) skin members
90: wind-turbine rotor blade
91: shear web (strut member)
92: adhesive
B: foundation
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0019]
12
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a first
embodiment of the present invention will be described below
with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
Fig. 1 is a side view showing a wind turbine for wind
power generation, having the wind-turbine rotor blade
according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional
view of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a
main portion shown in Fig. 2.
[0020]
As shown in Fig. 1, a wind turbine 1 for wind power
generation has a column (also referred to as "tower") 2
provided upright on a foundation B, a nacelle 3 provided on
the top of the column 2, and a rotor head 4 provided on the
nacelle 3 so as to be capable of rotating about a
substantially horizontal axis.
A plurality of (for example, three) wind-turbine rotor
blades 5 are attached to the rotor head 4 radially from the
rotational axis of the rotor head 4. With this structure, the
force of wind striking the wind-turbine rotor blades 5 from
the direction of the rotational axis of the rotor head 4 is
converted to mechanical power for rotating the rotor head 4
about the rotational axis.
[0021]
The column 2 has a structure in which a plurality of (for
13
example, three) units (not shown) are vertically coupled.
Furthermore, the nacelle 3 is installed on the unit that
is provided at the uppermost position, among the units
constituting the column 2, and has a nacelle base plate (not
shown) attached to the top end of the column 2 and a cover 6
that covers the nacelle base plate from above.
[0022]
As shown in Fig. 2, each of the wind-turbine rotor blades
5 has a spar cap structure satisfying both lightweight and
strength requirements and is provided with an outer skin
member 11, leading-edge sandwich members 12, spar cap members
(main strengthening members) 13, trailing-edge sandwich
members 14, and shear webs (strut members) 15.
The leading-edge sandwich members 12 and the trailingedge
sandwich members 14 have a sandwich structure in which
the outer skin member 11 and inner skin members 17 are used as
skin members, and plastic foam, such as PVC foam, or wood,
such as balsa, is used as a core material.
[0023]
The outer skin member 11, the spar cap members 13, and
the inner skin members 17 are each formed (made) of fiberreinforced
plastic (FRP). The spar cap members 13 are formed
by laminating fiber-reinforced plastic in layers. One of the
spar cap members 13 is provided on a dorsal side (upper side
in Fig. 2) of the wind-turbine rotor blade 5, and the other is
14
provided on a ventral side (lower side in Fig. 2) thereof, so
as to be brought into contact with dorsal-side end faces of
the shear webs 15 and with ventral-side end faces thereof,
respectively. Furthermore, the spar cap members 13 and the
shear webs 15 are connected (coupled) with an adhesive 16 that
hardens at room temperature.
[0024]
In this spar cap structure, the flap-direction flexural
strength of the wind-turbine rotor blade 5 is maintained
mainly by the spar cap members 13, formed of fiber-reinforced
plastic, and the buckling strength of the wind-turbine rotor
blade 5 is maintained by making subsidiary use of the leadingedge
sandwich members 12 and the trailing-edge sandwich
members 14.
[0025]
In the wind-turbine rotor blade 5 according to this
embodiment, a reinforcing member 19 is provided (disposed)
between the outer skin member 11 at the dorsal side located
closer to a trailing edge 18 than a trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member 14 located at the dorsal side is
or the vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member located at the dorsal side and the outer skin
member 11 at the ventral side or the vicinity of the trailingedge
end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the
ventral side.
15
As shown in Fig. 2 or 3, the reinforcing member 19 has a
lightweight core material 20, a (dorsal-side) skin member 21
disposed at the dorsal side of the lightweight core material
20, and a (ventral-side) skin member 22 disposed at the
ventral side of the lightweight core material 20.
[0026]
The lightweight core material 20 is formed (made) of
plastic foam, such as PVC foam, or wood, such as balsa, and is
sandwiched between the skin member 21 and the skin member 22.
The skin member 21 has the same length as the length in a
chord direction (in the horizontal direction in Figs. 2 and 3)
of the corresponding (facing) end face of the lightweight core
material 20, and the skin member 22 has the same length as the
length in the chord direction of the corresponding (facing)
end face of the lightweight core material 20. Furthermore,
the skin members 21 and 22 are formed (made) of fiberreinforced
plastic in which reinforcement fibers (not shown)
are orientated in a blade longitudinal direction (the
direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawings in Figs.
2 and 3) of the wind-turbine rotor blade 5.
[0027]
The skin member 21 is brought into contact with a dorsalside
end face of the lightweight core material 20, and the
skin member 22 is brought into contact with a ventral-side end
face of the lightweight core material 20. The lightweight
16
core material 20 and the skin members 21 and 22 are integrally
formed (made). Furthermore, the outer skin member 11 and the
skin member 21 are connected (coupled) with an adhesive 23
that hardens at room temperature, and the outer skin member 11
and the skin member 22 are connected (coupled) with the
adhesive 23.
[0028]
According to the wind-turbine rotor blade 5 of this
embodiment, the outer skin member 11 at the dorsal side
located closer to the trailing edge 18 than the trailing-edge
end of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14 located at the
dorsal side is or the vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member located at the dorsal side is
coupled, via the reinforcing member 19, with the outer skin
member 11 at the ventral side located closer to the trailing
edge 18 than the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member 14 located at the ventral side is or the
vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member located at the ventral side. Therefore, it is
possible to improve the flexural rigidity in an edge direction
at a trailing-edge portion, to improve the buckling strength
with respect to the load in the edge direction at the
trailing-edge portion, to bring the safety factor for the
buckling strength closer to the safety factor for the material
strength, and to achieve a further reduction in weight.
17
As a result, even when the widths (the lengths in the
chord direction (the horizontal direction in Fig. 10)) of the
trailing-edge sandwich members 14 are increased, it is
possible to prevent a reduction in the buckling strength of
the trailing-edge sandwich members 14 with respect to the load
in the edge direction. Therefore, it is possible to narrow
the space in the chord direction between the shear webs 15,
that is, the distance between the shear web 15 located closer
to the leading edge and the shear web 15 located closer to the
trailing edge, to narrow the widths of the spar cap members 13
(at this time, the thicknesses of the spar cap members 13 are
increased while maintaining the cross-sectional areas of the
spar cap members 13 at the same level), and to improve the
buckling strength of the spar cap members 13 with respect to
the load in the flap direction.
[0029]
Furthermore, according to the wind-turbine rotor blade 5
of this embodiment, since the reinforcement fibers used for
the skin members 21 and 22 are orientated along the blade
longitudinal direction, it is possible to further improve the
flexural rigidity in the edge direction at the trailing-edge
portion, to further improve the buckling strength with respect
to the load in the edge direction at the trailing-edge
portion, to bring the safety factor for the buckling strength
further closer to the safety factor for the material strength,
18
and to achieve a further reduction in weight.
[0030]
Furthermore, according to the wind turbine 1 for wind
power generation, which has the wind-turbine rotor blade 5 of
this embodiment, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the
weight of rotational bearings (not shown) that couple the
rotor head 4 and the root portions of the wind-turbine rotor
blades and a reduction in the weight of a connecting shaft
(not shown) that is installed in the rotor head 4 to impart
rotational movement to the wind turbine blades, and to reduce
the load imposed on the tower 2, which supports the windturbine
rotor blades 5 and the rotor head 4.
[0031]
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a second
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main
portion of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment, which is similar to Fig. 3.
[0032]
A wind-turbine rotor blade 30 according to this
embodiment differs from that of the above-described first
embodiment in that a reinforcing member 31 is provided instead
of the reinforcing member 19. Since the other components are
the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, a
19
description thereof will be omitted here.
Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to
the same members as those of the above-described embodiment.
[0033]
As shown in Fig. 4, the reinforcing member 31 according
to this embodiment has a trailing-edge strut member 32, the
(dorsal-side) skin member 21 disposed at the dorsal side of
the trailing-edge strut member 32, and the (ventral-side) skin
member 22 disposed at the ventral side of the trailing-edge
strut member 32.
[0034]
The trailing-edge strut member 32 has an I-shape in cross
section, is formed only of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or
formed (made) of FRP together with plastic foam, such as PVC
foam, or wood, such as balsa, and is sandwiched between the
skin member 21 and the skin member 22.
The skin members 21 and 22 are formed (made) so as to be
longer than the lengths in the chord direction (in the
horizontal direction in Fig. 4) of the corresponding (facing)
end faces of the trailing-edge strut member 32 (than the
flange lengths in the I-shape in cross section).
The skin member 21 is brought into contact with a dorsalside
end face of the trailing-edge strut member 32, and the
skin member 22 is brought into contact with a ventral-side end
face of the trailing-edge strut member 32. The trailing-edge
20
strut member 32 and the skin members 21 and 22 are integrally
formed (made).
[0035]
The functional effects of the wind-turbine rotor blade 30
according to this embodiment are the same as those of the
above-described first embodiment, and, therefore, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0036]
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a third
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to Fig. 5.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main
portion of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment, which is similar to Fig. 3.
[0037]
A wind-turbine rotor blade 40 according to this
embodiment differs from that of the above-described first
embodiment in that a reinforcing member 41 is provided instead
of the reinforcing member 19. Since the other components are
the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to
the same members as those of the above-described embodiments.
[0038]
As shown in Fig. 5, the reinforcing member 41 according
21
to this embodiment has an angular-U-shaped strut member 42,
the (dorsal-side) skin member 21 disposed at the dorsal side
of the angular-U-shaped strut member 42, and the (ventralside)
skin member 22 disposed at the ventral side of the
angular-U-shaped strut member 42.
[0039]
The angular-U-shaped strut member 42 is formed only of
fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or is formed (made) of FRP
together with plastic foam, such as PVC foam, or wood, such as
balsa. The angular-U-shaped strut member 42 has an angular-Ushape
in cross section and is sandwiched between the skin
member 21 and the skin member 22.
The skin member 21 has the same length as the length in
the chord direction (the horizontal direction in Fig. 5) of
the corresponding (facing) end face of the angular-U-shaped
strut member 42, and the skin member 22 has the same length as
the length in the chord direction (the horizontal direction in
Fig. 5) of the corresponding (facing) end face of the angular-
U-shaped strut member 42.
The skin member 21 is brought into contact with a dorsalside
end face of the angular-U-shaped strut member 42, and the
skin member 22 is brought into contact with a ventral-side end
face of the angular-U-shaped strut member 42. The angular-Ushaped
strut member 42 and the skin members 21 and 22 are
integrally formed (made).
22
[0040]
The functional effects of the wind-turbine rotor blade 40
according to this embodiment are the same as those of the
above-described first embodiment, and, therefore, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0041]
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main
portion of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment, which is similar to Fig. 3.
[0042]
A wind-turbine rotor blade 50 according to this
embodiment differs from that of the above-described first
embodiment in that a reinforcing member 51 is provided instead
of the reinforcing member 19. Since the other components are
the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to
the same members as those of the above-described embodiments.
[0043]
As shown in Fig. 6, the reinforcing member 51 according
to this embodiment has a trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52,
the (dorsal-side) skin member 21 disposed at the dorsal side
23
of the trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52, and the (ventralside)
skin member 22 disposed at the ventral side of the
trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52.
[0044]
The trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52 is formed only of
fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) or formed (made) of FRP
together with plastic foam, such as PVC foam, or wood, such as
balsa, and is sandwiched between the skin member 21 and the
skin member 22.
The skin members 21 and 22 are formed (made) so as to be
longer than the lengths in the chord direction (the horizontal
direction in Fig. 6) of the corresponding (facing) end faces
of the trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52.
The skin member 21 is brought into contact with a dorsalside
end face of the trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52, and
the skin member 22 is brought into contact with a ventral-side
end face of the trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52. The
trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52 and the skin members 21 and
22 are integrally formed (made).
[0045]
The functional effects of the wind-turbine rotor blade 50
according to this embodiment are the same as those of the
above-described first embodiment, and, therefore, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0046]
24
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to Fig. 7.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main
portion of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment, which is similar to Fig. 3.
[0047]
A wind-turbine rotor blade 60 according to this
embodiment differs from that of the above-described first
embodiment in that a reinforcing member 61 is provided instead
of the reinforcing member 19. Since the other components are
the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to
the same members as those of the above-described embodiments.
[0048]
As shown in Fig. 7, the reinforcing member 61 according
to this embodiment is obtained by covering the periphery
(outer side) of the reinforcing member 19, described in the
first embodiment, with a (second) skin member 62.
Specifically, the reinforcing member 61 according to this
embodiment has the lightweight core material 20, the (first)
skin member 21 disposed at the dorsal side of the lightweight
core material 20, the (first) skin member 22 disposed at the
ventral side of the lightweight core material 20, and the skin
25
member 62 disposed so as to surround the outer side of the
lightweight core material 20 and the skin members 21 and 22.
[0049]
The skin member 62 is made, for example, of double-biased
fiber-reinforced plastic that is obtained by sequentially
laminating a +45° fiber-reinforced-plastic layer (not shown),
in which reinforcement fibers are oriented at an angle of +45°
with respect to the blade longitudinal direction (the
direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 7) of the windturbine
rotor blade 60, and a -45° fiber-reinforced-plastic
layer (not shown), in which reinforcement fibers are oriented
at an angle of -45° with respect to the blade longitudinal
direction of the wind-turbine rotor blade 60.
The skin member 62 is brought into contact with a dorsalside
end face of the skin member 21, a ventral-side end face
of the skin member 22, a leading-edge-side end face of the
lightweight core material 20, and a trailing-edge-side end
face of the sandwich member 20. The lightweight core material
20 and the skin members 21, 22, and 62 are integrally formed
(made). Furthermore, the outer skin member 11 and the skin
member 60 are connected (coupled) with the adhesive 23, which
hardens at room temperature.
[0050]
According to the wind-turbine rotor blade 60 of this
embodiment, the relative displacement in the blade
26
longitudinal direction between the outer skin member 11 at the
dorsal side and the outer skin member 11 at the ventral side
is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a shear
fracture of the lightweight core material 20, which may be
caused by the relative displacement in the blade longitudinal
direction between the outer skin member 11 at the dorsal side
and the outer skin member 11 at the ventral side.
The other functional effects are the same as those of the
above-described first embodiment, and, therefore, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0051]
A wind-turbine rotor blade according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to Fig. 8.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main
portion of the wind-turbine rotor blade according to this
embodiment, which is similar to Fig. 6.
[0052]
A wind-turbine rotor blade 70 according to this
embodiment differs from that of the above-described fourth
embodiment in that a reinforcing member 71 is provided instead
of the reinforcing member 51. Since the other components are
the same as those of the above-described fourth embodiment, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to
27
the same members as those of the above-described embodiments.
[0053]
As shown in Fig. 8, the reinforcing member 71 according
to this embodiment is obtained by covering the periphery
(outer side) of the reinforcing member 51, described in the
fourth embodiment, with (second) skin members 72.
Specifically, the reinforcing member 71 according to this
embodiment has the trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52, the
(first) skin member 21 disposed at the dorsal side of the
trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52, the (first) skin member 22
disposed at the ventral side of the trapezoidal-shaped strut
member 52, and the skin members 72 that each have a
(substantially) angular-U-shape in cross section and that are
disposed so as to surround the outer side of the trapezoidalshaped
strut member 52, having a trapezoidal-shape in cross
section, and the skin members 21 and 22.
[0054]
The skin members 72 are made, for example, of doublebiased
fiber-reinforced plastic that is obtained by
sequentially laminating a +45° fiber-reinforced-plastic layer
(not shown), in which reinforcement fibers are oriented at an
angle of +45° with respect to the blade longitudinal direction
(the direction perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 8) of the
wind-turbine rotor blade 70, and a -45° fiber-reinforcedplastic
layer (not shown), in which reinforcement fibers are
28
oriented at an angle of -45° with respect to the blade
longitudinal direction of the wind-turbine rotor blade 70.
The skin members 72 are each partially bonded to the
ventral-side end face of the skin member 21 and the dorsalside
end face of the skin member 22, one of the skin members
72 is bonded to the entire leading-edge-side end face of the
trapezoidal-shaped strut member 52, and the other is bonded to
the entire trailing-edge-side end face of the trapezoidalshaped
strut member 52. The trapezoidal-shaped strut member
52 and the skin members 21, 22, and 72 are integrally formed
(made). Furthermore, the outer skin member 11 and the skin
member 21 are connected (coupled) with the adhesive 23, which
hardens at room temperature, and the outer skin member 11 and
the skin member 22 are connected (coupled) with the adhesive
23.
[0055]
The functional effects of the wind-turbine rotor blade 70
according to this embodiment are the same as those of the
above-described fifth embodiment, and, therefore, a
description thereof will be omitted here.
[0056]
Note that the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51, 61, and
71 can be used not only for a wind-turbine rotor blade having
a structure shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 10, but also for, for
example, a wind-turbine rotor blade 90 having a structure
29
shown in Fig. 9, specifically, the wind-turbine rotor blade 90
having a box-type shear web 91. A dorsal-side end face of the
shear web 91 and an inner face of the outer skin member 11 are
connected (coupled) with an adhesive 92 that hardens at room
temperature, and a ventral-side end face of the shear web 91
and an inner face of the outer skin member 11 are connected
(coupled) with the adhesive 92.
[0057]
Furthermore, the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51, 61,
and 71 can be used not only for a wind-turbine rotor blade
having a structure shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 10, but also for,
for example, a wind-turbine rotor blade 110 having a structure
shown in Fig. 11. Specifically, the wind-turbine rotor blade
110 has a structure in which the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member 14 disposed at the dorsal side
extends closer to the trailing edge than the trailing-edge end
of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14 disposed at the
ventral side does or extends to the vicinity of the trailing
edge 18. In this case, each of the reinforcing members 19,
31, 41, 51, 61, and 71 is provided between the inner skin
member 17 located at a trailing-edge portion of the trailingedge
sandwich member 14 disposed at the dorsal side and the
outer skin member 11 at the ventral side or the vicinity of
the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14
disposed at the ventral side.
30
[0058]
Furthermore, the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51, 61,
and 71 can be used not only for a wind-turbine rotor blade
having a structure shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 10, but also for,
for example, a wind-turbine rotor blade 120 having a structure
shown in Fig. 12. Specifically, the wind-turbine rotor blade
120 has a structure in which the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member 14 disposed at the ventral side
extends closer to the trailing edge than the trailing-edge end
of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14 disposed at the dorsal
side does or extends to the vicinity of the trailing edge 18.
In this case, each of the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51,
61, and 71 is provided between the inner skin member 17
located at a trailing-edge portion of the trailing-edge
sandwich member 14 disposed at the ventral side and the outer
skin member 11 at the dorsal side or the vicinity of the
trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14
disposed at the dorsal side.
[0059]
Furthermore, the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51, 61,
and 71 can be used not only for a wind-turbine rotor blade
having a structure shown in Fig. 2 or Fig. 10, but also for,
for example, a wind-turbine rotor blade 130 having a structure
shown in Fig. 13. Specifically, the wind-turbine rotor blade
130 has a structure in which the trailing-edge ends of the
31
trailing-edge sandwich members 14 disposed at the ventral side
and the dorsal side extend closer to the trailing edge than
the trailing-edge ends of the trailing-edge sandwich members
14 described in the above-described first to sixth embodiments
do or extend to the vicinity of the trailing edge 18. In this
case, each of the reinforcing members 19, 31, 41, 51, 61, and
71 is provided between the inner skin member 17 located at the
trailing-edge portion of the trailing-edge sandwich member 14
disposed at the dorsal side and the inner skin member 17
located at the trailing-edge portion of the trailing-edge
sandwich member 14 disposed at the ventral side.
Note that, in Figs. 9, 11, 12, and 13, the reinforcing
member 19 described in the first embodiment is shown as a
concrete example of the reinforcing member; however, this is
not intended to exclude the other reinforcing members 31, 41,
51, 61, and 71.
32
I/WE CLAIM:
1. A wind-turbine rotor blade having an outer skin member
formed of fiber-reinforced plastic, shear webs, and trailingedge
sandwich members disposed closer to a trailing edge than
the shear webs are,
wherein the outer skin member at a dorsal side located
closer to the trailing edge than a trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member located at the dorsal side is or
a vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the trailing-edge
sandwich member located at the dorsal side is coupled, via a
reinforcing member, with the outer skin member at a ventral
side located closer to the trailing edge than a trailing-edge
end of the trailing-edge sandwich member located at the
ventral side is or a vicinity of the trailing-edge end of the
trailing-edge sandwich member located at the ventral side.
2. A wind-turbine rotor blade according to claim 1,
wherein the reinforcing member is provided with a
lightweight core material, a dorsal-side skin member disposed
at the dorsal side of the lightweight core material, and a
ventral-side skin member disposed at the ventral side of the
lightweight core material;
the lightweight core material, the dorsal-side skin
member, and the ventral-side skin member are integrally
formed; and
the dorsal-side skin member and/or the ventral-side skin
member is formed of fiber-reinforced plastic in which
reinforcement fibers are oriented in a blade longitudinal
direction.
3. A wind-turbine rotor blade according to claim 2,
wherein a second skin member that is disposed on an outer
side of the lightweight core material, the dorsal-side skin
member, and the ventral-side skin member is further provided;
and
the lightweight core material, the dorsal-side skin
member, the ventral-side skin member, and the second skin
member are integrally formed.
4. A wind turbine for wind power generation comprising a
wind-turbine rotor blade according to one of claims 1 to 3.