Blades

All blades used for the SWT-1.3-62, SWT-2.3-82, SWT-2.3-82 VS, SWT-2.3-93 and SWT-3.6-107 turbines are fitted with Siemens blades manufactured with our patented IntegralBlade® technology. The blades are made of fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin and their external design represents state-of-the-art wind turbine aerodynamics.

Invented by Siemens Wind Power, the IntegralBlade® technology manufactures wind turbine blades in one piece using a closed process. The glass fiber reinforcement is laid out to dry using a special molding arrangement with a closed outer mold and an expanding inner mold. After completion of the lamination of the glass fiber, the epoxy resin is injected under a vacuum. Following this injection, the blade is hardened at a high temperature while still enclosed in the mold. Once the blade is hardened, it is removed from the outer mold, and the inner mold is collapsed with a vacuum and pulled from the blade. The result is a complete, seamless blade finished in one process. A truly integrated success.

Compared with the traditional processes used by other blade manufacturers, the IntegralBlade® process has several advantages. The process is efficient in manpower and space, requiring only one mold set for the manufacturing cycle. Additionally, there are no issues relating to tolerances between shells and spars. The resulting blade is an integrated structure with no glued joints that act as weak points potentially exposing the structure to cracking, water ingress and lightning.

Since the IntegralBlade® manufacturing process is closed-in, the blade factory offers a clean and attractive work environment. The resins applied to the blade do not release VOCs and the risk of exposure to allergenic compounds is minimal.