US 11,913,433 B2
Lightning protection for a rotor blade add-on
Florian Girschig, Aalborg (DK); and Sri Markandeya Rajesh Ponnada, Aalborg (DK)
Assigned to SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S, Brande (DK)
Filed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S, Brande (DK)
Filed on Sep. 24, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/580,513.
Claims priority of application No. 18196894 (EP), filed on Sep. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0095983 A1, Mar. 26, 2020
Int. Cl. F03D 80/30 (2016.01); F01D 5/14 (2006.01); F03D 1/06 (2006.01); F03D 80/50 (2016.01)
CPC F03D 80/30 (2016.05) [F01D 5/147 (2013.01); F03D 1/0675 (2013.01); F03D 1/0687 (2023.08); F03D 80/301 (2023.08); F03D 80/507 (2023.08); F05B 2230/80 (2013.01); F05D 2230/80 (2013.01); F05D 2300/612 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An arrangement for discharging current due to a lightning stroke at a tip add-on of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the arrangement comprising:
a plurality of receptors spaced apart from each other, arranged at defined positions axially along the tip add-on and which protrude from an airfoil wall of the tip add-on, the plurality of receptors configured to receive the lightning stroke;
a conductor configured to conduct the current received from one or more of the plurality of receptors due to the lightning stroke, wherein the conductor is disposed within the tip add-on and comprises an interface portion configured to be electrically connected to a blade internal down conductor system for discharging lightning stroke currents;
an insulation arranged around the conductor, wherein the insulation with the conductor is arrangeable within the tip add-on; and
an interface receiving container configured to receive the interface portion including a margin and to protect the interface portion from being contaminated during manufacturing the tip add-on, wherein the interface receiving container is configured to protect the interface portion from being contaminated during foaming an inside of the tip add-on;
wherein an inner space surrounding the airfoil wall of the tip add-on is completely filled with foam between the interface receiving container and the plurality of receptors.
 
13. A method of manufacturing an arrangement for discharging a current due to lightning stroke at a tip add-on of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of receptors spaced apart from each other, arranged at defined positions axially along the tip add-on and which protrude from an airfoil wall of the tip add-on, the plurality of receptors configured to receive the lightning stroke, a conductor configured to conduct the current received from one or more of the plurality of receptors due to the lightning stroke, wherein the conductor is disposed within the tip add-on and comprises an interface portion configured to be electrically connected to a blade internal down conductor system for discharging lightning stroke currents, an interface receiving container configured to receive the interface portion including a margin and to protect the interface portion from being contaminated during manufacturing the tip add-on, wherein the interface receiving container is configured to protect the interface portion from being contaminated during foaming an inside of the tip add-on;
arranging around the conductor an insulation, wherein the insulation with the conductor is arrangeable within the tip add-on; and
foaming an inner space surrounding the airfoil wall of the tip add-on such that the inner space is completely filled with foam between the interface receiving container and the plurality of receptors.