Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090162206 | MULTI-SEGMENT WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A multi segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first blade segment comprises an outer skin, a bulkhead, and first alignment brackets removably coupled to the outer skin of the first blade segment. A first portion of a flange of the bulkhead is bonded to the first blade segment and a second portion of the flange of the bulkhead projects out from the first blade segment. A second blade segment comprises an outer skin and second alignment brackets removably coupled to the outer skin of the first blade segment. The first and second alignment brackets are alignable upon the outer side of the second blade segment being inserted over the second portion of the flange of the bulkhead. | 06-25-2009 |
20090162208 | MULTI-SEGMENT WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets. | 06-25-2009 |
20090266004 | COMPOSITE WIND TURBINE TOWER AND A METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME - A method for fabricating a tower or component thereof for use with a wind turbine is disclosed. The method comprises weaving a fibrous tow in a shape corresponding to the shape of the tower or component to form a flexible textile preform; and laminating the flexible textile preform to form a composite shell. Also disclosed is a wind turbine assembly comprising a composite wind turbine tower and a wind turbine coupled to the tower. | 10-29-2009 |
20100061847 | STEAM TURBINE PART INCLUDING CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE (CMC) - A steam turbine part includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The part may be made wholly or partially of CMC. The CMC eliminates the possibility of oxidation and thus increases steam turbine availability and reliability | 03-11-2010 |
20100122442 | TURBINE BLADE FABRICATION - A method includes joining an integral bulkhead and a blade shell to form a blade and separating the blade into two blade segments at a location including the integral bulkhead such that each blade segment comprises a portion of the integral bulkhead and a portion of the blade shell. | 05-20-2010 |
20100132884 | METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING JOINTED WIND TURBINE BLADE - A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprises providing a first blade segment comprising at least two first spar cap segments; providing a second blade segment comprising at least two second spar cap segments; inserting the second blade segment into the first blade segment wherein a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments; injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134098 | COMPOSITE SYSTEMS, ARTICLES INCORPORATING THE SYSTEM, METHODS FOR IN-SITU, NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF THESE AND ARRAY PROBES USEFUL FOR THE METHODS - The invention provides composite systems, articles comprising the composite system, methods for the in-situ, non-destructive testing of the articles and/or composite systems, as well as array probes useful in the methods. The composite systems comprise a curable resin and at least one plurality of detectable particles. | 06-03-2010 |
20100140940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE ACTUATION - A wind turbine includes a plurality of wind turbine blades attached to a rotor positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation. At least one blade pitch sensor is configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more of the wind turbine blades. A rotor/generator speed sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, a corresponding wind turbine generator, or both. A wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor is configured to measure the nacelle yaw, while at least two tower-base bending sensors are configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents to provide large-area measurement of tower deflection. A controller is configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more of the wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection. | 06-10-2010 |
20100143148 | TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together. | 06-10-2010 |
20100159304 | THERMOMECHANICAL SEALING OF INTERCONNECT MANIFOLDS IN FUEL CELL STACKS - A planar fuel cell stack is provided. The planar fuel cell stack comprises an anode interconnect structure comprising a corrugated first internal manifold connected to a first anode flowfield; a cathode interconnect structure comprising a corrugated second internal manifold connected to a first cathode flowfield; and a thermally active, surface insulated metallic seal disposed between the corrugated parts of the anode and cathode interconnects, such that the thermally active metallic seal responds upon the application of heat to provide sealing between the anode interconnect structure and the cathode interconnect structure. | 06-24-2010 |
20100239940 | System and Method for Manufacturing Fuel Cell Stacks - A method of manufacturing a fuel cell stack is provided. The method provides forming an inspectable preassembly of multiple fuel cell assemblies that may be termed a pseudostack. Each fuel cell in the pseudostack has permanent electrical interconnections and sealing connections on only one of the two electrodes, namely an anode layer or a cathode layer. For example, an anode interconnect may be firmly attached to the anode layer by means of a bonding agent and a sealing agent used to seal passages on the anode layer of the fuel cell. Alternatively, seals and permanent electrical connections may be made on the cathode layer of the fuel cell, and not on the anode layer. | 09-23-2010 |
20110135872 | IN-LINE INSPECTION METHODS AND CLOSED LOOP PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PREPREGS AND/OR LAMINATES COMPRISING THE SAME - In-line inspection methods are provided. The methods comprise measuring at least two parameters/properties of a prepreg and/or laminate during the manufacture thereof. In some embodiments, the data collected using the inline inspection methods may be processed and/or provided to a manual or automated controller, in order to provide a closed loop method for the manufacture of the prepregs and/or laminates. Apparatus for carrying out the methods are also provided, as are articles comprising a prepreg and/or laminate made using the apparatus. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142667 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY HAVING AN ACCESS WINDOW AND RELATED METHODS - A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly. | 06-16-2011 |
20110155849 | RESIN INFUSION APPARATUS AND SYSTEM, LAYUP SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF USING THESE - A resin infusion apparatus and system, layup system comprising the same, and methods of using these are provided. The resin infusion apparatus comprises a hollow cylinder having a plurality of pores perforating an arcuate surface thereof. The interior of the cylinder is provided with one or more flow restrictors that assist in controlling the flow out of the pores of the cylinder. Laminates made of prepregs prepared using the apparatus and/or system may thus be essentially free of voids. | 06-30-2011 |
20120178015 | METHOD OF PROCESSING A CERAMIC ELECTROLYTE, AND RELATED ARTICLES - A method of processing a ceramic electrolyte suitable for use in a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises situating a ceramic electrolyte layer over an anode layer; and subjecting the ceramic electrolyte layer to a stress prior to operation of the fuel cell, by: exposing the top surface of the electrolyte layer to an oxidizing atmosphere and the bottom surface of the electrolyte layer to a reducing atmosphere; and heating the electrolyte layer. The stress causes a substantial increase in the number of microcracks, or in the average size of the microcracks, or in both the number of the microcracks and their average size. A solid oxide fuel cell comprising a ceramic electrolyte layer processed by the disclosed method is also provided. | 07-12-2012 |