Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method of making a wind turbine blade incorporating a lightning protection system, the method comprising: providing a wind turbine blade mould; arranging a protruding element in the mould; arranging an electrically conductive layer over the protruding element in the mould; arranging one or more structural layers and/or structural components over the electrically conductive layer; consolidating the layers under vacuum to form a blade shell having an integrated electrically conductive layer proximate an outer surface of the shell; separating the protruding element from the blade shell to define a recess in the outer surface of the shell, with the electrically conductive layer extending into the recess; providing an electrical component of the lightning protection system adjacent an inner surface of the shell; and electrically connecting the electrically conductive layer to the electrical component via a connecting member; wherein an end portion of the connecting member is housed in the recess such that a surface of the connecting member abuts the electrically conductive layer across an interface region inside the recess, and such that the end portion does not substantially protrude from the outer surface of the shell.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim