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Siemens Gamesa B82 rotor blade
The B82 blade an evolution of the B75 unit, of which more than 1,260 are in operation, mainly on SWT-6.0-154 turbines. The design has been continuously optimised. The main development drivers were curbing mass, reducing risk and manufacturing ease.
The 81.4-metre blades do not contain carbon (characteristically used to enhance stiffness and limit mass). The focus was instead on structural fine-tuning, core materials choice and optimised layout. The blade-root design did not change significantly despite the increased diameter. Advanced solutions include aero-elastic blade tailoring, a passive control and load-reducing feature. Load sensors in the blade root section form an integral part of the turbine's load-based pitch control system.
The in-house "one-shot" IntegralBlade concept provides a relatively low blade mass and eliminates structural weakening from bonding lines. The 8.0-167 turbines run in 8MW mode at 10.3rpm, which corresponds to a tip speed to 90m/s.
This increases to 10.8rpm and 94.4m/s with Power Boost engaged. For additional erosion protection a compressible inset layer is incorporated in the leading-edge laminate section. It "takes energy out" when a wave-swept droplet or other particle hits this rounded surface during operation. The overall solution, according to SGRE, exceeds the 25-year operating life of the turbine.
