초록 ▼

A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond material. Portions of the bond material are externally exposed. The bond material has surface characteristics of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of grea

A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond material. Portions of the bond material are externally exposed. The bond material has surface characteristics of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. A protective coating is applied over the upper and lower shell members and exposed portions of the bond material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wind turbine blade, said blade comprising: an upper shell member and a lower shell member;said upper shell member and said lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of said blade with a bond material, wherein span-wise extending portions of said bond material are externally expose

1. A wind turbine blade, said blade comprising: an upper shell member and a lower shell member;said upper shell member and said lower shell member joined at leading and trailing edges of said blade with a bond material, wherein span-wise extending portions of said bond material are externally exposed along at least one of said leading or trailing edges between spaced apart and span-wise extending portions of said upper and lower shell members;said bond material having a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa; and,at least one protective coating applied over said upper and lower shell members, including over said externally exposed portions of said bond material. 2. The wind turbine blade as in claim 1, wherein said bond material comprises any combination of adhesives or filler materials. 3. The wind turbine blade as in claim 2, wherein said bond material comprises any combination of a filled thermoset resin or resin laminate. 4. The wind turbine blade as in claim 1, wherein said protective coating comprises a gelcoat, and further comprising a paint coating over said gelcoat. 5. The wind turbine blade as in claim 1, wherein said leading edge bond further comprises a bond cap, said exposed bond material defining a blended region between said bond cap and said upper and lower shell members. 6. The wind turbine blade as in claim 5, wherein said bond cap is formed of a material having a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. 7. The wind turbine blade as in claim 1, further comprising exposed regions of said bond material used as a filler on either of said upper and lower shell members that underlie said protective coating. 8. A wind turbine blade, said blade comprising: an external substrate surface defined by an upper shell member, a lower shell member, and exposed regions of a bond material between a spaced apart and span-wise extending portion of said upper and lower shell members;at least one protective coating applied over said external substrate surface and said exposed region of bond material; and,said external substrate surface underlying said protective coating having an overall surface characteristic of at least one of a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. 9. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said bond material has a Shore D hardness and Young's modulus stiffness value at least as great as said upper and lower shell members. 10. The wind turbine blade as in claim 9, wherein said bond material comprises any combination of a filled thermoset resin or a resin laminate. 11. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said protective coating comprises a gelcoat, and further comprising a paint coating over said gelcoat. 12. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said bond material is applied along a leading edge bond and a trailing edge bond between said upper and lower shell members. 13. The wind turbine blade as in claim 12, wherein said leading edge bond further comprises a bond cap, said bond material defining a blended region between said bond cap and said upper and lower shell members. 14. The wind turbine blade as in claim 13, wherein said bond cap is formed of a material having a Shore D hardness value of greater than about 80 durometer or a Young's modulus stiffness value of greater than about 5 GPa. 15. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said regions of exposed bond material are also used as a filler or blending material on either of said upper and lower shell members underlying said protective coating. 16. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said protective coating comprises a gelcoat and a polymeric or metal tape applied over said gelcoat. 17. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said protective coating comprises a paint coat and a polymeric or metal tape applied over said paint coat. 18. The wind turbine blade as in claim 8, wherein said protective coating comprises a polymeric or metal tape and either one of a paint coat or gelcoat applied over said tape.