US 11,939,956 B2
Wind turbine blade and method for detecting emerging defects
Isaac Alejandro Martinez Tovar, Kolding (DK)
Assigned to LM WIND POWER A/S, Kolding (DK)
Appl. No. 17/616,717
Filed by LM WIND POWER A/S, Kolding (DK)
PCT Filed Jul. 21, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/070568
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 6, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/018671, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1910709 (GB), filed on Jul. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0299013 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. F03D 17/00 (2016.01); F03D 1/06 (2006.01); G01N 29/12 (2006.01); G01N 29/44 (2006.01)
CPC F03D 17/00 (2016.05) [F03D 1/0675 (2013.01); G01N 29/12 (2013.01); G01N 29/4436 (2013.01); F05B 2260/80 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting concealed emerging defects in a structure of a wind turbine blade, the method comprising:
fastening a first acoustical transducer to a first area of a surface of the structure;
attaching the wind turbine blade to a hub of a wind turbine:
operating the wind turbine and while operating the wind turbine:
emitting by the first acoustical transducer a first primary acoustic signal through the surface of the structure and into the structure; and
receiving by the first acoustical transducer a first secondary acoustic signal indicative of an echo of the first primary acoustic signal;
analysing the first secondary acoustic signal to obtain one or more first signal parameters; and
evaluating presence of a first defect in the structure based on the one or more signal parameters.