Blade system design studies volume II : preliminary blade designs and recommended test matrix.

Abstract

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Partnerships for Advanced Component Technologies (WindPACT) program, Global Energy Concepts, LLC is performing a Blade System Design Study (BSDS) concerning innovations in materials, processes and structural configurations for application to wind turbine blades in the multi-megawatt range. The BSDS Volume I project report addresses issues and constraints identified to scaling conventional blade designs to the megawatt size range, and evaluated candidate materials, manufacturing and design innovations for overcoming and improving large blade economics. The current report (Volume II), presents additional discussion of materials and manufacturing issues for large blades, including a summary of current trends in commercial blade manufacturing. Specifications are then developed to guide the preliminary design of MW-scale blades. Using preliminary design calculations for a 3.0 MW blade, parametric analyses are performed to quantify the potential benefits in stiffness and decreased gravity loading by replacement of a baseline fiberglass spar with carbon-fiberglass hybrid material. Complete preliminary designs are then presented for 3.0 MW and 5.0 MW blades that incorporate fiberglass-to-carbon transitions at mid-span. Based on analysis of these designs, technical issues are identified and discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for composites testing under Part I1 of the BSDS, and the initial planned test matrix for that program is presented.3

Passive Load Control for Large Wind Turbines

“…In 2002 SNL initiated a research program [14,15] to demonstrate the use of carbon fiber in subscale blades and investigate innovative concepts through the WindPACT Blade System Design Studies (BSDS) via design studies and prototype fabrications [16,17,18]. Three 9-m designs were created with assistance from Global Energy Systems Consulting (GEC), Dynamic Design Engineering, and MDZ Consulting; and seven blades from each design were manufactured by TPI Composites.…”

Design of 9-meter carbon-fiberglass prototype blades : CX-100 and TX-100 : final project report.

“…In a European research effort, carbon fiber composites were investigated for potential improvements in blade weight and cost [1][2][3][4]. Under the Global Energy Concepts, LLC (GEC)/Sandia Blade System Design Study, carbon fiber material was identified as cost effective for use in the load bearing spar structure [5,6]. Both of these studies show moderate promise for economic use of carbon in turbine blades, with the additional benefits of decreased weight and increased blade stiffness.…”

Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine for power generation II: Challenges in HAWT and the opportunity of multi-megawatt Darrieus VAWT development

“…At present, all-carbon fiber is prohibitively expensive for multimegawatt scale HAWT blades [27]. Carbon fiber is more expensive than glass fiber, so that it is only used in certain locations, e.g.…”