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Rotor blade for wind turbine with movable control surface

a technology of rotor blades and control surfaces, applied in the direction of propellers, propulsive elements, water-acting propulsive elements, etc., can solve the problems of high cost of repairs and system damage, and achieve the effect of reducing the number of moving parts, and increasing control flexibility

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-08-29
VESTAS WIND SYST AS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Modern wind turbines are controlled and regulated continuously to ensure optimal performance in all operating conditions. They can also be regulated to account for fast local variations in wind velocity or to balance wind loads on each blade. The wind turbine blades are equipped with actuator controllers and fluidic muscles, which provide a more robust actuator for a control surface and minimize the number of moving parts. The technical effects of this include improved load balancing, reduced yaw and tilt loads on the rotor, and increased efficiency of wind turbine operation.

Problems solved by technology

Such systems are therefore particularly susceptible to operational damage from lightning that strikes the blade and to failure over prolonged periods of time due to wear and tear, and costly repairs are sometimes necessary.

Method used

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  • Rotor blade for wind turbine with movable control surface
  • Rotor blade for wind turbine with movable control surface
  • Rotor blade for wind turbine with movable control surface

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0046]Examples of the invention relate to an actuator for controlling one or more control surfaces on a wind turbine blade. The term control surface refers to a movable surface of the wind turbine blade for modifying the aerodynamic profile of the wind turbine blade, such as ailerons, leading or trailing edge flaps, leading edge slats, Krueger flaps, movable Gurney flaps, and stall inducing flaps.

[0047]The operation of the actuator will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, which shows part of a wind turbine blade 5. The blade 5 comprises an outer shell 10, a main spar 12, a pneumatic or fluidic muscle 14, a flap 16, having a first pressure side 15 and a second suction side 17, and a rear spar or terminating portion 18. The fluidic muscle 14 is provided within a compartment 20 in the blade body 5 between the main spar 12 and the flap 16. The compartment 20 is defined by the outer shell 10, the main spar 12 and rear spar 18. Rear spar 18 both closes the cavity at ...

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Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine blade with at least one control surface and an actuator inside the main body of the wind turbine blade for moving the control surface, wherein the actuator comprises a fluidic muscle, a controller and a pump, and wherein the fluidic muscle is adapted to change in length and width when the pressure of the fluid within the fluidic muscle is varied.

Description

[0001]This invention relates to improved wind turbine control surface actuators and more specifically to a pneumatic or fluidic muscle actuator for controlling the lift profile of a wind turbine blade.[0002]FIG. 1 illustrates a wind energy power plant such as a wind turbine 1. The wind turbine 1 comprises a wind turbine tower 2 on which a wind turbine nacelle 3 is mounted. A wind turbine rotor 4 comprising at least one wind turbine blade 5 is mounted on a hub 6. The hub 6 is connected to the nacelle 3 through a low speed shaft (not shown) extending from the nacelle front. The wind turbine illustrated in FIG. 1 may be a small model intended for domestic or light utility usage, or may be a large model, such as those that are suitable for use in large scale electricity generation on a wind farm for example. In the latter case, the diameter of the rotor could be as large as 150 metres or more.[0003]Most modern wind turbines are controlled and regulated continuously during operation with...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F01D5/12
CPCF03D1/0633F03D1/065F03D7/0232F01D5/12Y02E10/721Y02E10/723F05B2240/31Y02E10/72F05B2240/3052
Inventor CHANG, YUN CHONG GABRIELLOH, WUH KEN
Owner VESTAS WIND SYST AS