Wind turbine blades and potential equalization systems
US10584684B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2016 |
| Grant date | Mar 10, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A wind turbine blade, extending longitudinally root end to tip end, having a load carrying structure, a shell body and a lightning protection system is described. The load carrying structure is fiber-reinforced polymer in a plurality of stacked layers comprising electrically conductive fibers. The lightning protection system comprises a lightning receptor arranged freely accessible in or on the shell body and a lightning down-conductor electrically connected to the lightning receptor and is configured to be electrically connected to a ground connection. The blade further comprises a potential equalisation system providing a potential equalising connection between a number of the electrically conductive fibers of the load carrying structure and the lightning protection system. The system comprises a dissipating element made of an electrically conductive material which in turn comprises at least one transverse connector arranged to extend transverse through a thickness of the stacked fiber layers and configured to dissipate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.