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As the awareness about blade failures caused by combined loads increases, the need for changing blade design standards and certification has become a very discussed topic. As part of the EUDP RATZ project, Bladena did a full-scale test with combined loading at BLAEST on a 34m blade. Also, the structural impact of Bladena’s D-Stiffener™ was tested and the expected increase in buckling capacity of the trailing edge area was demonstrated.
Full-scale test with combined loading The test was loaded with a combined edge and flapwise loading. The load was selected with the angle that gives higher loads. The load was applied at four radial positions of the blade. The classical way of applying loads in a full-scale blade is by load clamps. Using clamps will restrict the blade to deform and thus prevent it to get the failure modes to evaluate if they occur during the test.
Conclusion
A full-scale test with combined static loads was performed at the certified blade test center BLAEST as part of the EUDP project called RATZ. Measurements in the trailing edge of a 34 meter blade were taken to capture bending/buckling of the trailing edge panels. The load applied was a combination of flap and edgewise loading, which is known to be a more critical load than the traditional pure flap and edge. The implementation of the tests was proven to not be very demanding making it possible to implement in a short period of time. Strain measurements showed a clear effect of the D-Stiffeners™. Based on these measurements it was concluded that the actual blade, which showed buckling at a load level at 48%, had no buckling with the D-Stiffeners™ installed when the test was stopped at approximate 60% loading. An international € 4 million research collaboration between 10 European partners is leading the development of seven offshore wind turbine blade technologies, which collectively could lower the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of offshore wind by as much as 4.7%. The Offshore Demonstration Blade (ODB) project is supporting the research, development and demonstration of wind turbine blade innovations, including aerodynamic and structural enhancements, blade monitoring systems and blade erosion protection solutions. These products will be developed and retrofitted to the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Scotland for demonstration purposes. The innovations will then be ready for deployment on existing or new offshore turbines. The two-year Demowind-funded project will be coordinated by the UK’s ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd (ODSL), and involve organisations in wind turbine innovation including CENER, Bladena, TNO, Aerox, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Total Wind, Dansk IngeniørService A/S (DIS), the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Cardenal Herrera University (CEU) in Spain Find the article here (In English) In Danish here  New international collaboration to improve the performance of offshore wind turbine blades11/8/2017
 Seven new technological blade enhancements aim to reduce cost of offshore wind energy by up to 4.7%. A major, international €4 million research collaboration between 10 European partners is leading the development of seven novel offshore wind turbine blade technologies, which collectively could lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of offshore wind by as much as 4.7%. The Offshore Demonstration Blade (ODB) project is supporting the research, development and demonstration of wind turbine blade innovations, including aerodynamic and structural enhancements, blade monitoring systems and blade erosion protection solutions. These products will be developed and retrofitted to the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine in Scotland for demonstration purposes. The innovations will then be ready for deployment on existing or new offshore turbines. The two-year Demowind-funded project will be coordinated by the UK’s ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd (ODSL), and involve leading organizations in wind turbine innovation including CENER, Bladena, TNO, Aerox, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Total Wind, Dansk IngeniørService A/S (DIS), the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Cardenal Herrera University (CEU) in Spain. Operations and maintenance costs represent almost a quarter of the total LCOE of an offshore wind turbine, with rotor operations and maintenance, specifically blade erosion and blade structural integrity, representing a large share of these costs. Therefore, improving the performance and operational lifetime of turbine blades will have a direct impact in lowering LCOE. - We have reason to be proud of being part of projects like this one. Denmark is in the lead when it comes to wind power research. The research benefits both the general renewable energy conversion as well as the Danish wind power industry, says Anders Søe-Jensen, CEO of Bladena and former CEO of Vestas Offshore and GE Offshore. The Danish part of the project is supported by the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP), which is administered by the Danish Energy Agency. For more information contact: Lea Sleimann, PR responsible at DIS, +45 87 38 74 50, les@d-i-s.dk, odb-project.com. /Photo – must be credited/ ORE Catapult Development Services Ltd For Danish version click Here
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