Method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a rotor blade of a wind turbine

• Main Authors: Rodwell, Andrew Mitchell, Shepherd, Julie Ann, Shillig, Scott Iverson, Chen, Xu
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.12.2023
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BLASTING; HEATING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WIND MOTORS; WIND, SPRING WEIGHT AND MISCELLANEOUS MOTORS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a rotor blade includes providing a mold of the structural component having an outer wall that defines an outer surface of the structural component. The method also includes laying up one or more fiber layers in the mold so as to at least partially cover the outer wall. As such, the fiber layer(s) form the outer surface of the structural component. Further, the method includes providing one or more metal mesh layers having one or more ends. Moreover, the method includes providing a cover material to the end(s) of the metal mesh layer(s). In addition, the method includes placing the metal mesh layer(s) with the covered end(s) atop the fiber layer(s). Thus, the method includes infusing the fiber layer(s) and the metal mesh layer(s) together via a resin material so as to form the structural component.