EROSION SHIELD FOR A WIND TURBINE BLADE

摘要

An erosion shield for a wind turbine blade is described, the erosion shield having a plurality of layers of erosion resistant material. The layers of erosion resistant material have an adhesive bond strength between adjacent layers less than the cohesive tensile strength of the layers, such that the outer layers of erosion resistant material are arranged to peel away or delaminate from the erosion shield under the action of the wind once the particular layer is ruptured or eroded. This dynamic removal of the outer layers of the erosion shield provides for increased shield lifetime, and a reduction in the maintenance operations required for a wind turbine blade having such an erosion shield.

主权项

1. An erosion shield for a wind turbine blade, the erosion shield having an external surface exposed at a leading edge of the wind turbine blade and comprising:
a plurality of layers of erosion resistant material, said plurality of layers arranged in a stack from an outermost layer substantially forming said external surface to an innermost layer arranged to be attached to a leading edge of a wind turbine blade, said plurality of layers bonded to adjacent layers in the stack, wherein said plurality of layers of erosion resistant material have a cohesive strength or tensile strength greater than the adhesive strength or bond strength between adjacent or subsequent layers, such that at least a section of an outermost exposed layer will delaminate or peel from said erosion shield under the action of wind when at least a portion of said section of said outermost exposed layer has been eroded or ruptured, to present a relatively smooth external surface of said erosion shield.