Design, development and manufacture of advanced wind turbine blades using unique seamless modular assembly technology is the absolute focus of Blade Dynamics. The company has patented many innovative technologies for wind turbine rotors utilizing this technology and has developed and GL certified the lightest 49m blade in the world. The technology is currently being further developed with the design, prototype and testing of what are expected to be the largest offshore turbine blades in the world.
The technology Blade Dynamics has created is the most advanced blade technology platform available. Its high performance, reliability and cost-effectiveness enables the next generation of turbines for low wind areas, large transportable blades onshore, and ultra-large offshore turbines. Traditionally, cost-effectiveness, reliability and performance were mutually exclusive and this technology has brought all three together.
Reducing blade weight
Blades are significantly lighter than alternatives on a like for like basis, because of the advanced structural engineering and modular manufacturing process.
Turbine loads reduced
Inherently lighter blades can generate lower turbine loads for any given power output. This enables rotors to be oversized to improve turbine performance. This is a well-proven concept and the Blade Dynamics rotor technology platform enables this to be taken further than with conventional technology. The result is that larger rotors and a lower cost of energy can be achieved with any wind turbine.
Larger Rotors
Conventional blade manufacturing methods can develop significant technical difficulties as blades increase in size. The core technology of Blade Dynamics is to assemble blades from smaller, standardized components. There are no technical barriers to scale up of blade size and the technical problems of making very large, thick composite laminates are avoided. This enables rapid design and construction of blades for larger, more efficient turbines. The limits of blade size are unconstrained allowing high performance, cost-effective blades to be made for machines of 10MW and beyond.
Transportability
Longer and longer blades are increasingly difficult and expensive to transport, which is limiting the potential of wind energy onshore. Blade Dynamics blades can be transported in segments, enabling larger rotors to be used onshore, especially in remote locations. This avoids the need for expensive cranes, helicopters and specialist trucks. The seamless local fusion system ensures total assurance of the sparŐs long-term performance.
Quality and reliability by design
Maintenance of conventional blades is a significant ongoing cost for wind farms. In many cases, after only a few years of operation, blades need replacement, and this has been accepted in the past. The leading edge coating technology and mechanical reliability of Blade Dynamics rotors enable greatly reduced maintenance, which reduces costs significantly.
Increased longevity
Enhanced quality and the very high environmental resistance of the surface protection will allow rotors to operate for far longer without replacement.
Reducing variation
Seamless modular manufacturing technology reduces variation in fabrication processes, which improves quality and reliability in the finished component. This is an inherent benefit of the modular concept and becomes more important as blades increase in size. With conventional technology, making larger and larger components results in an exponential rise in the probability of imperfections and manufacturing defects.
Quality Management
The modular manufacturing technology enables pre-assurance of components before final assembly. This assurance process eliminates the manufacturing defects common in conventional blade technology. At Blade Dynamics, quality standards and management systems more common in the automotive industry are used. Such quality management processes are far more effective for large structures when subcomponents are manufactured and checked before final assembly, using the most modern techniques.
High performance coating technology
Blade Dynamics blades are intended for continuous service and are maintainable 100% in situ. BladeShield high performance leading edge protection technology is unique. The technology has been formulated for maintenance-free blade protection for 20 years.
More information: info@bladedynamics.com
Root technology
An ideal root connection will be able to take a very high end load whilst being very space efficient. In addition, the connection needs to be structurally well tailored to ensure that there are no stress concentrations in the design that would lead to higher structural mass and increased blade cost. Finally, the connection needs to be reliable in a typical manufacturing scenario.
The patented Blade Dynamics root solution is designed to find the right balance of the above factors through an emphasis on manufacturability and reliability. Developed over many years, this is the most space efficient and highest end-load carrying technology available, enabling longer blades to be built on smaller root diameters, with improved mechanical fatigue performance and reduced manufacturing costs.
