Profiled protective tape for rotor blades of wind turbine generators

Abstract

A multilayer protective tape for rotor blades of wind energy turbines is provided herein. The protective tape comprising a protective top layer comprising a polymer film, and an adhesive bottom layer. The top layer having a continuous surface (S) that is outwardly curved or outwardly trapezoidal such that the tape has a cross-sectional profile having an inner section between first and second edge lateral sections. The inner section comprises up to 30% of the width of the tape and has a thickness (Ti), while the first and second edge lateral sections have a thickness of T1 and T2, respectively, wherein Ti greater than each of T1 or T2, and the thickness (T1 or T2) of at least one edged lateral section is at most 600 μm and the thickness of the inner section (Ti) is at least 330 μm.Also provided is a method for applying the tape to rotor blades and a rotor blade protected by said protective tape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotor blade of a wind turbine protected from erosion, the rotor blade comprising:
 a leading edge that predominantly faces the wind;   a trailing edge opposite the leading edge; and   a protective tape attached to the rotor blade, wherein the tape has a surface (S) with a cross-sectional profile that is outwardly curved or outwardly trapezoidal across its width, wherein the tape has an inner part, having a thickness, Ti, between two lateral parts having thicknesses T 1  and T 2 , wherein the thickness (Ti) of the inner part is greater than the thickness (T 1  or T 2 ) of at least one of the lateral parts of the tape and wherein the thickness (T 1  or T 2 ) of at least one edged lateral section is at most 600 μm and the thickness of the inner section (Ti) is at least 330 μm, and   wherein the inner part covers the leading edge and the lateral parts of the tape are directed towards the trailing edge of the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tape is attached to the rotor blade by an adhesive 
     
     
         3 . The rotor blade of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive is a liquid adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the inner part is a maximum thickness of the tape 
     
     
         5 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the tape is at least 150 mm 
     
     
         6 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tape further comprises a length, wherein the length of the tape is greater than the width of the tape 
     
     
         7 . The rotor blade of  claim 6 , wherein the length of the tape is at least 50 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tape is symmetric 
     
     
         9 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein, wherein the maximum thickness is at a middle of the tape across the width of the tape. 
     
     
         10 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tape is non-symmetric having a maximum thickness offset from a middle of the tape across the width of the tape 
     
     
         11 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tape is non-symmetric wherein the thickness T 1  is not equal to the thickness T 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein the tape comprises a top protective layer and an adhesive bottom layer. 
     
     
         13 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the top layer of the tape comprises a polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the top layer of the tape is outwardly convex. 
     
     
         15 . The rotor blade of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises adhesive layer comprises one of an acrylic adhesive, a polyurethane adhesive or a polyurethane acrylate adhesive.