CROSS-REFRENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS f 0001 J This application claims priority to, the benefit of and is a continuation-in- part application of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/642,891 , filed on 21 December 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(0002| The present disclosure generally relates to fluid turbines, and, more particularly, to a flange section for connecting a rotor blade to a hub of a fluid turbine.

[0003] Fluid turbines have received increased attention as an environmentally safe and relatively inexpensive alternative energy source. With this growing interest, considerable efforts have been made to develop fluid turbines that are reliable and efficient. Some examples of fluid turbines can include, but are not limited to, wind turbines, tidal turbines, marine current propeller type turbines, marine hydrokinetic energy type turbines, tidal stream generators and axial turbines. The term "fluid" as is used herein generally refers to liquids and gases, suc as water and air. A tidal turbine is similar in concept to a wind turbine except that the tidal turbine is driven by flowing water rather than air. Certain types of turbines, such as a tidal or marine turbine, can be installed in bodies of water, such as the sea, where there is high tidal current or continuous ocean current, in order to extract energy from the volumes of flowing water. The turbines designed to operate in bodies of water will generally be referred to herein as "underwater" turbines. f0004| Generally, a fluid turbine includes a rotor comprised of a hub and a plurality of blades mounted on the hub. The rotor is usually coupled to a generator through a gearbox. The generator is generally mounted within a housing or nacelle. In the case of a wind turbine, the generator can be positioned on top of a tubular tower. Utility grade fluid turbines (i.e., fluid turbines designed to provide electrical power to a utility grid) can have large rotors (e.g., thirty or more meters in diameter). Blades of such a rotor transform fluid energy, such as moving air or moving water, into a rotational torque or force that drives the generator. The rotor can be supported by a tower or other suitable structure, through a bearing that includes a fixed portion coupled to a rotatable portion.

[0005] Apart from the aerodynamic and hydro-dynamic design of a fluid turbine rotor blade, the quality and weight of the rotor blade are essentially determined by the design of the blade root section. This blade root section connects to the rotor hub at what is referred to as the blade root joint. The blade root joint is a critical aspect of fluid turbine rotor blades, as it transfers all of the aerodynamic or hydro-kinetic force, from the rotor blade to the remaining part of the wind turbine unit.

[0006] One difficult aspect of the design of the blade connection to the rotor hub is the load transfer from the fiber composite structure of the rotor blade to the metal structure of the rotor hub. Such a load transfer is difficult in principle due to the substantially different properties of the materials involved. Furthermore, the rotor loads are concentrated at the blade root portion, and the rotor hub and the loads exhibit a highly dynamic load spectrum. [0007] The root section of the rotor blade is generally thicker, when compared to other blade sections, to accommodate high loads. In conventional fluid turbines, the root section of the rotor blades is made of glass fiber reinforced polymers

("GFRP") with T-bolt joints. The length of the root section of the rotor blade made of glass fiber reinforced polymers will typically be in the range of approximately 1.2 to 1.4 meters. The glass fiber reinforced polymer is generally oriented at 0 and +/- 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade in order to carry bending and shear loads. The blade root joint is typically evaluated by the fatigue life of the joint bolts.

[0008] It is expected that the demand for electricity generation from clean resources such as wind and water may require larger capacity fluid turbines. One way to increase capacity of a fluid turbine is to increase the size of the rotor blade. As the size of the rotor blade is increased, the design of the root section becomes more and more important with respect to the strength and weight of the materials used.

[0009J Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a root section for a rotor blade that addresses at least some of the problems identified above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00010] As described herein, the exemplary embodiments overcome one or more of the above or other disadvantages known in the art.

[00011] One aspect of the exemplary embodiments relates to a rotor blade for a fluid turbine. A rotor, blade for a fluid turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade includes a flange section configured to connect the rotor blade to a rotor hub; and an airfoil section extending outward from the flange section. The flange section is comprised of a carbon reinforced polymer.

[00012] Another aspect of the disclosed embodiments relates to a blade root for a rotor blade for a fluid turbine. The blade root includes a first end for connecting to a rotor hub; a second end from which an airfoil section of the rotor blade extends outward; and a tapered portion between the first end and the second end. The blade root comprises a carbon reinforced polymer.

[00013J These and other aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein, in addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00014] In the drawings:

[00015] Fig. 1 shows a side elevational view of a fluid turbine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[00016| Fig. 2 shows a top perspective view of a fluid turbine blade according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [00017) Fig. 3 is. a view of a flange section of the fluid turbine blade of Fig. 2;

[00018] Fig. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional view of a T-bolt connection in the flange section along line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

[00019J Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a T-bolt connection between the blade root and a flange section of a rotor hub;

[00020] Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sidewall of the flange section of a rotor blade shown in Fig. 3;

[00021] Fig. 7 shows a GFRP blade root and the blade root incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments in different views; and

[00022] Fig. 8 is an exemplary marine hydrokinetic energy system incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

[00023] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wind turbine 100 incorporating aspects of the disclosed embodiments. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are generally directed to providing a flange section or blade root for a rotor blade, which blade root incorporates a carbon reinforced polymer, thereby allowing for reductions in a size of the blade root diameter and the number of joint bolts compared to conventional blade roots. Although the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are generally described herein with respect to the wind turbine 100, the aspects of the disclosed embodiments are not so limited. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments can generally be applied to fluid turbines, with marine hydrokinetic energy turbine blades being one such example.

[00024] As shown in Fig. 1 , the wind turbine 100 includes a nacelle 102 and a rotor 106. Nacelle 102 is a housing that is mounted atop a tower 104. The nacelle 102 includes a generator (not shown) disposed therewithin. The height of the tower 104 is selected based upon factors and conditions known in the art, and may extend to heights up to 60 meters or more. The wind turbine 100 may be installed on any terrain providing access to areas having desirable wind conditions. The terrain may vary greatly and may include, but is not limited to, mountainous terrain, off-shore locations, or in underwater applications, bodies of water. The rotor 106 includes one or more turbine blades 108 attached to a rotatable hub 1 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the wind turbine 100 includes three turbine blades 108.

[00025j Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary turbine blade 108 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The turbine blade 108 includes an airfoil section 205 and a blade root or root portion 209. The airfoil section 205 connects to (in a known manner) and extends outward from the blade root 209. The airfoil section 205 includes a leading edge 201 , a trailing edge 203, a tip 207, and a root edge 21 1. The turbine blade 208 has a length L between the inner edge 210 of the blade root 209 and the tip 207. The blade root 209, also referred to as a flange section, is connectable to the hub 1 10 of the wind turbine 100 shown in Fig. 1 .

[000261 Fig- 3 illustrates the flange section 209 of the rotor blade 108 when seen from a proximal end (i.e., in the direction from the inner edge 210 of the blade root end 210 to the tip 207 of the rotor blade 108). The flange section 209 has an essentially circular cross-section, where an outer sidewall surface 304 is spaced from a longitudinal axis 302 of the rotor blade 108 by a radius Rl . The flange section 209 also has an inner sidewall surface 306 spaced from the longitudinal axis 302 of the rotor blade 108 by a radius R2. The wall thickness 310 of the flange section 209 is equivalent to the difference between Rl and R2.

(00027) The flange section 209 also includes a number of longitudinal bores 402. The longitudinal bores 402 typically each have a diameter Wl and are spaced apart by an arcuate distance Dl along a circumferential direction of the flange section 209. When the rotor blade 108 is mounted to the hub 1 10, bolts are inserted into the longitudinal bores 402 to form a T-bolt connection.

[00028] Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the T-bolt connection in the flange section 209 taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. Longitudinal bores 402 are located preferably in the middle region between outer sidewall surface 304 and inner sidewall surface 306 of rotor blade 108. A radial bore 404 is provided between the sidewall surfaces 304 and 306 for each longitudinal bore 402. When rotor blade 108 is mounted to the rotor hub 1 10, cross-bolts are inserted into radial bores 404 to form the T-bolt connection with bolts inserted into longitudinal bores 402. The flange section 209 according to the disclosed embodiments incorporates, or is formed of, a carbon fiber reinforced polymer.

[00029] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cross-bolt connection formed between the flange section 209 of the rotor blade 108 and a flange 502 of the rotor hub 1 10. A cross-bolt 506 is shown inserted into radial bore 404. Cross-bolt 506 has a female thread section 512 which is aligned with longitudinal bore 402. The flange 502 of rotor hub 1 10 abuts against the inner edge 210 of flange section 209. Flange 502 has a through-hole 508 fitting with longitudinal bore 402 of flange section 209. The through-hole 508 and longitudinal bore 402 are aligned with each other so that a bolt 504 can be inserted into the through-hole 508 and longitudinal bore 402. Bolt §04 includes a male thread 510 fitting with the female thread of cross-bolt 506. Bolt 504 is fixed to cross-bolt 506 via screwed fastening so that a cross-bolt connection is established. Rotor blade 108 is thus fixed to rotor hub 1 10.

[00030J In the above described bolt-connection arrangement, flange 502 of rotor hub 1 10, cross-bolt 506 and longitudinal bolt 504 are usually fabricated from steel. However, flange section 209 is usually fabricated from a carbon reinforced polymer.

[00031] Fig. 6 illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sidewall of one embodiment of a flange section 209. The flange section 209 includes the longitudinal bore 402 and the radial bore 404. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the wall of the flange section 209 has three sections— a root-end section 602 with a substantially constant wall thickness, a middle section 604 with a diminishing wall thickness, and a blade-side section 606 with a substantially constant wall thickness. The inner radius R2 of Fig. 3 is smaller at the root-end section 602 compared to R3 at the blade-side section 606. The middle section 604 connects the root-end section 602 and the blade- side section 606. Within the middle section 604, the inner radius R2 at the root-end section 602 increases to inner radius R3 at the blade-side section 606 to form a generally smooth transition between the two sections. Typically, the inner radius from R2 to R3 increases linearly along the longitudinal length of the middle section 604 so that the wall thickness 310 of the flange section 209 varies linearly within the middle section 604, from a larger, substantially constant thickness at the root-end section 602 to a smaller, substantially constant thickness at blade-side section 606. in the embodiment shown, the outer radius Rl remains substantially constant over the longitudinal length of the flange section 209. In alternate embodiments, the outer radius Rl can vary.

[00032] The carbon fiber reinforced polymer provides a high stiffness to weight ratio in comparison to a glass fiber reinforced polymer. By substituting a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in place of glass fiber reinforced polymer in the blade root 209, the number of joint bolts can be decreased for the same root diameter.

Additionally, by using a carbon fiber reinforced polymer blade root, the diameter of the blade root 209 can be reduced, which correspondingly permits a reduction in a size of the pitch bearing and hub 1 10.

[00033] As shown in Fig. 7, blade root 702 has a relatively constant outer diameter of 2.3 meters from blade end 701 to bolt circle diameter end 703. In the study, the glass fiber reinforced polymer of a conventional blade root with a 2:3 bolt circle diameter (BCD) is replaced with a carbon reinforced polymer to form the blade root of the same size and configuration. The rotor blade is loaded with flap loads along a length of the blade. For the flap loads, it is found that the root blade strains on the carbon fiber reinforced polymer blade root are within allowable strain limits. The fatigue reserve factor for the joint bolts in the carbon reinforced polymer blade root has been found to be approximately twice that of the joint bolts in the conventional glass fiber reinforced polymer blade root described above. The design option with the increase in reserve margin for the carbon fiber reinforced polymer blade root therefore allows for a reduction in the size of the blade root and/or reducing the number of bolt joints.

[00034] As shown in Fig. 7, in one embodiment, the 2.3 meter bolt circle diameter glass fiber reinforced polymer blade root 702 is replaced with carbon reinforced polymer blade root 704 that has a 2.3 meter blade end or air foil end 706 and 1.8 meter diameter bolt circle diameter 708. Although for purposes of the description herein, the dimensions of the diameters of the blade end 706 and bolt circle end 708 will be stated as 2.3 meters and 1.8 meters, respectively, in alternate embodiments the diameter of the blade end 706 can vary between approximately 1.8 and 2.3 meters, while the diameter of the bolt circle end 708 can vary between approximately 1.5 to 1.85 meters. A ratio of the diameters of bolt circle end 708 to blade end 706 is in the range of approximately 0.75 to 1.0.

[00035] As shown in Fig. 7, the carbon reinforced polymer blade root 704 includes a tapered portion 712 between the bolt circle end 708 and the air foil end 706. In one embodiment, the blade root 704 has a length of 1718 mm. In one embodiment, an additional 100 kilograms (about 3-5 % by weight) of glass material is added in a transition portion 710 between the bolt circle end 708 and the tapered portion 712 to provide better bending and shear transfer. About 3-5% by weight of unidirectional fiber is added to the tapered portion 712. As shown in Fig. 7, a distance between the bolt circle end 708 and the distal end of the transition portion 710 is 300 mm. In this example, the joint bolts in the carbon reinforced polymer blade root 704 have a fatigue reserve factor that is greater than the required reserve factor. The fatigue reserve factor is preferably in the range from 1.00 to 1.60. Thus, by using a carbon reinforced fiber polymer blade root in a 2.5 megawatt turbine, the diameter of the bolt circle end 708 can be reduced from 2.3 meters to a diameter varying between 1.5 and 1.85 meters. This results in a smaller diameter pitch bearing and reduced hub size, which generates realized cost savings. One estimate places the cost of a 2.5 megawatt turbine with a 1.8 meter bolt circle diameter carbon reinforced fiber blade root to be between the cost of a 1.5 megawatt and 2.5 megawatt turbine with a 2.3 meter bolt circle diameter blade root. The smaller sizes and weights that are realized with the carbon reinforced polymer blade root 704 should also reduce the logistical costs related to the turbine.

[00036] Referring to Fig. 3, the wall thickness 310 of the blade root 209 is substantially constant along the circumference of the blade root 209. In one embodiment, the wall thickness 310 of the blade root 209 is 100 mm which is substantially constant along the length of the blade root 209. In other embodiments, such as the one shown in Fig. 7 where the carbon reinforced polymer blade root 704 tapers from the 1.8 meter bolt circle diameter at end 708 to a 2.3 meter diameter at end 706, the wall thickness 310 can vary. For example, referring to Figs. 2 and 7, in one embodiment, where the blade 108 is a 48.7 meter blade, the length 1=50,000 mm refers to the length from a hub center to the blade tip 207, including a hub length of 1 .282 meters. In this example, length 1=0 at the hub center and 1=1282 mm at the blade root end 210. For the 2.3 meter GFRP blade root 702 shown in Fig. 7, the wall thickness variation along the length of the blade root 702 is approximately as follows:

100037] 1 (mm) Thickness (mm) 1282 100

1582 100

2682 56

3000 56

[00038J The wall thickness between 1=1282 mm and 1582 mm is approximately 100 mm (i.e., this portion has a substantially constant wall thickness). The wall thickness variation is generally linear between 1=1582 mm and 1=2682 mm, decreasing from approximately 100 mm to approximately 56 mm. The wall thickness between 1=2682 mm and 1=3000 mm is approximately 56 mm (i.e., this portion has a substantially constant wall thickness).

[00039] In the 1.8 meter CFRP blade root 704 shown in Fig. 7, the wall thickness between 1=1282 mm and 1582 mm is also approximately 100 mm (i.e., the transition portion 710 has a substantially constant wall thickness). At 1=2682, the wall thickness is approximately 58 mm, following a linear variation between 1=1582 mm and 1=2682 mm as the wall thickness decreases from approximately 100 mm to approximately 58 mm. The wall thickness between 1=2682 mm and 1=3000 mm is approximately 56 mm (i.e., this portion has a substantially constant wall thickness).

[00040] It will generally be understood, that while certain dimensions are described above with respect to wind turbines, the dimensions used herein are merely exemplary, and any suitably side parts can be used in the desired application to obtain the desired power output. In marine or underwater applications, similar dimensions can be used. For example, in some situations, the rotor diameter of an underwater turbine can be less than that of a wind turbine for a similar power or generator output. As an example, a rotor diameter for a 1 mega-watt underwater turbine can be in the range of approximately 18-20 meters.

[00041 ] Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary underwater turbine system 800, as that term is generally defined herein. As is shown in Fig. 8, a underwater turbine 802 is located in a body of water 804, which can include for example, a river, the ocean, or a lake. The turbine 802 is generally mounted or secured to the ocean bed 806. In the example of Fig. 8, the turbine 802 includes a nacelle 102 and a rotor 106. The nacelle 102 is a housing that is mounted atop a tower 104. Although the example in Fig. 8 shows the nacelle 102 mounted atop the tower 104, in alternate embodiments, the nacelle 102 can be mounted on or in any suitable underwater support structure. The nacelle 102 includes a generator (not shown) disposed therewithin. The height of the tower 104 is selected based upon factors and conditions known in the art, and may extend to heights up to 60 meters or more. The rotor 106 includes one or more turbine blades 108 attached to a rotatable hub 1 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the fluid turbine 100 includes three turbine blades 108.

[00042] Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out,

fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps, which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results, are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.