Modular rotor blade and method for mounting a wind turbine

Abstract

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes at least two segments, and at least one cable, wherein the at least two segments are adapted to be mounted together to form the rotor blade, and wherein the at least one cable is adapted to attach the at least two segments, and wherein the at least one cable is extending through at least part of the segments. Further, methods for assembling a modular rotor blade and for mounting a wind turbine are provided.

1 . A rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising:
 a) at least two segments; and,   b) at least one cable;   
       wherein the at least two segments are adapted to be mounted together to form the rotor blade, and wherein the at least one cable is adapted to attach the at least two segments, and wherein the at least one cable is extending through at least part of the segments. 
     
     
         2 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable protrudes along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         3 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor blade further comprises a tip portion and a root portion, and wherein the cable protrudes from the tip portion in a direction towards the root portion. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is fixed at least one end portion of at least one segment. 
     
     
         5 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is fixed to at least one of the at least two segments via clamping or lamination. 
     
     
         6 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cable comprises one or more elements from the list consisting of: steel, stainless steel, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the segments further comprises at least one tube, and wherein the cable protrudes through at least a part of its length through the at least one tube. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for tension measurement, adapted for detecting a strain in the cable. 
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine, comprising:
 a) a tower;   b) a nacelle;   c) at least one rotor blade, including:
 i) at least two segments; and, 
 ii) at least one cable; 
   
       wherein the at least two segments are adapted to be mounted together to form the rotor blade, and wherein the at least one cable is adapted to attach the at least two segments, and wherein the at least one cable is extending through at least part of the segments. 
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine of  claim 9 , further comprising a winch adapted for tensioning the at least one cable. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine of  claim 10 , wherein the winch is located in one of the hub or the nacelle. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine of  claim 9 , further comprising an auxiliary motor for turning the hub. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary motor is located in a high speed section of a gear train in the wind turbine nacelle. 
     
     
         14 . A method for assembling a rotor blade for a wind turbine, comprising:
 a) providing at least two segments;   b) providing at least one cable;   c) fixing at least one first end of the at least one cable to at least one segment;   d) tensioning an at least one second end of the cable in order to attach the at least two segments to each other; and,   e) fixating the at least one second end of the at least one cable.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein fixating the at least one second end comprises clamping. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein tensioning an at least one second end of the cable is carried out by a winch. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a) mounting a hub of a wind turbine to the nacelle at the wind turbine tower;   b) lifting a first segment of a first rotor blade to the hub;   c) fixating the segment to the hub;   d) lifting a further segment;   e) attaching the further segment to the previous segment;   f) repeating d) and e) until all segments of a rotor blade are lifted to their positions; and,   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 g) turning the hub and the mounted rotor blade; and,   h) repeating a) to f).   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein lifting a segment is carried out by a winch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the winch is mounted to the hub.