Barnhart wei space_frame_sandiabladeworkshop2016_v5_2016-08-24

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Space Frame Development Program:
Funded by DOE (Phase I and Phase II SBIR grants) and WEI
Motivation - development of enabling technologies for the
transportation of large wind turbine blades for land-based machines
Eliminate expensive and heavy shell core materials
Eliminate shell infusion-related quality issues
Reduce Large Machined Tooling & Major Part Size
Enable improved QC through elimination of blind bonds
Enable transportation of smaller blade sections with final in-field assembly
Improve reliability and MTBF

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Conceptual
Design &
Feasibility
Study
DOE Phase I
Engineering, Trade
Studies, &
Commercialization
Potential
Advanced
FEM
Development
10m
Subsection
Design &
Fabrication
34.5m Blade
Engineering
for 1.5MW
Platforms
83m Blade
Engineering
for 6MW
Platforms
Detailed
Engineering &
Prototype
Fabrication
DOE Phase II
Successful
Technology
Development
Despite
Limited
Commercial
Viability

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• Elimination of structural shell technically feasible
• Space Frame yields little cost savings
- Cost savings from modularization > Space Frame
- High mass penalty to recover edgewise stiffness
- Significantly increased part count
• Hybrid solution may offer more benefits
- Reduction in cost & weight associated with shell core still
possible
• Component modularization could encourage offshoring
- Inherent consequence of modularization, not just Space
Frame