TPI Composites, Inc.
Gantry-less wind turbine web installation with heating

Abstract:

A method of forming a wind turbine blade is provided which includes upper and lower blade mold halves, and a shear web having at least one aperture formed therein. A plurality of bulkheads are attached to the shear web and the shear web can be lifted and rotated, without need for a complex gantry/galactica apparatus, to be placed inside the lower blade mold. The upper mold half can then be closed with the shear web and bulkhead(s) disposed within the blade interior. A heating fluid can be pumped into the interior to pass through the bulkheads, circulating around the shear web and exiting the blade root with the assistance of a sump to pull the cold air outside the blade.