Segmented Blade

The SEGMENTED BLADE project aims at the development of a “segmented blade” for wind turbines rotors. It consists of a modular blade made of two or more segments which can be assembled directly on the installation site. This specific process can be carried out through the use of joints to be specially designed.

The main goal consists in reducing the cost of blade transportation and, therefore, the final cost of energy from wind power sources. As a matter of fact, the segments can be sized to fit into a standard truck, avoiding the need for more expensive vehicles for further transport means. In addition, the modularity of wind turbine blades can facilitate the transport of large-sized turbines, limiting the construction of new road infrastructures or inventions on existing ones, and allowing the exploitation of sites that are potentially productive but not easily accessible.

The reduction of single blade segments can additionally help in solving some of the production process issues which are connected to the construction of large blades. More specifically, some of the main difficulties regarding the management of parameters such as temperature and material properties in the lamination processes for large volumes can be solved.

In regard to this project, SeaPower is involved in:

• Analyzing the variation of aerodynamic and inertial loads acting on the segmented blade compared to a standard blade (without joints) with the same geometry
• Verifying the effect of the junction on turbine aerodynamics through CFD analysis and wind tunnel testing
• Designing and conducing experimental tests on a full-scale segmented blade prototype of commercial interest (20 meters length)