Adaptable spoiler for wind turbine blades

Abstract

An adaptive spoiler (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for a wind turbine rotor blade (103) is described, comprising: a base element (105) adapted to be connected at or integrated with the rotor blade (103); an airfoil element (109) attachable to the base element (105) and having an airfoil shaped surface (111) to be exposed to an airflow (113).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an adaptive spoiler for a wind turbine blade, to a wind turbine rotor blade comprising the spoiler, and also to a wind turbine comprising the rotor blade. Background Art

[0002] A wind turbine rotor blade may be provided with a flow conditioning device mounted on its surface. An example of such a flow conditioning device is a vortex generator (VG). The rotor blade may also include a spoiler mounted at the surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler may cooperate with the vortex generator and may affect the effect of the vortex generator according to the state of the spoiler. The state of the spoiler may be related to the protrusion height and / or the inclination angle at which the spoiler extends or at which the spoiler is inclined relative to other surface portions of the rotor blade. The spoiler may be used to actively suppress the function of the flow conditioning device, or to completely bypass the flow conditioning device and cause a local aerodynamic stall of the airfoil. In general, the flow conditioning device may be considered to include a device that is, for example, capable of increasing the lift coefficient of the airfoil section, for example, by increasing the energy level of the boundary layer of the rotor blade.

[0003] EP 1 623 111 B1 discloses a wind turbine blade comprising: an adjustable lift regulating device arranged on or at the surface of the wind turbine blade and extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade; and an activation device by which the lift regulating device can be adjusted and the aerodynamic properties of the blade can thereby be changed. The lift regulating device comprises one or more flexible flaps.

[0004] US 8 851 840 B2 discloses a wind turbine blade comprising a blade body and a device for modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade, wherein a pneumatic actuator controls the position and / or movement of the device, wherein there is a pressure chamber located in the blade body. The pressure chamber can be pressurized to change the state of the device, thereby modifying the aerodynamic surface or shape of the blade.

[0005] US 5 106 265 A discloses a wind turbine blade comprising an aerodynamically actuated spoiler which is movable perpendicular to the airflow.

[0006] WO 2018 / 041420 discloses a rotor blade comprising an aerodynamic device for influencing an airflow flowing from a leading edge section of the rotor blade to a trailing edge section of the rotor blade, wherein the aerodynamic device is mounted at the surface of the rotor blade and comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, such as a hose or a cavity, the volume of which depends on the pressure of a fluid present inside the pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

[0007] Therefore, conventional spoilers are complex in construction and difficult to mount them at the rotor blades. In addition, it is difficult to adapt conventional spoilers to take different states regarding aerodynamic influences and satisfactory results cannot be achieved in all situations and under all conditions.

[0008] Hence, there may be a need for an adaptive spoiler for a wind turbine blade, there may be a need for a wind turbine blade and there may also be a need for a wind turbine, wherein the adaptive spoiler is easy to manufacture, has a simple construction and allows a precise and reliable adaptation.

[0009] This need may be met by the subject matter described according to the present disclosure. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also described by the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an adaptive spoiler for a wind turbine blade is provided, comprising: a base element, which is suitable for being connected at or integrated with a rotor blade surface; an airfoil element, which is attachable to the base element, for example reversibly or permanently, and has an airfoil shaped surface to be exposed to an airflow.

[0011] The adaptive spoiler may be adaptive in the sense that the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element may adopt different positions and / or orientations and / or inclinations and / or shapes for influencing the airflow in different ways. In order to adapt the state of the adaptive spoiler, one or more actuators may be provided, in particular expandable inflatable containers, as will be described in more detail below. The adaptive spoiler may for example be mounted (in particular via the base element) at (or close to) the leading edge at the suction side of the rotor blade. The adaptive spoiler may be configured as a segmented spoiler, wherein a plurality of segments may be mounted or mounted on the rotor blade in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade.

[0012] The airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element can be configured (alone or in combination with at least a portion of the base element) to deflect air to different degrees depending on the state of the adaptive spoiler. The base element and the airfoil element can be configured into a plurality of sections, which can be arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. The base element can carry the airfoil element in a certain way so that the airfoil element can be at least partially movable or rotatable relative to the base element so that the airfoil-shaped surface can be set in different states, such as a raised height / orientation / inclination or shape corresponding to different states of the adaptive spoiler. The base element and the airfoil element are separate objects that can be assembled with each other. For example, when the base element is connected to the rotor blade or integrated with the rotor blade, the airfoil element can be replaced, for example, after damage. The airfoil element can be easily installed at the operating side of the wind turbine.

[0013] In particular, no additional objects or elements may be required for (reversibly or permanently) attaching the airfoil element. For example, no bolts may be required for attaching the airfoil element to the base element. Furthermore, the airfoil element may be attached to the base element substantially without tools. In particular, an interlocking mechanism or a clipping mechanism may be provided for (reversibly or permanently) attaching the base element at the airfoil element. Thereby, the airfoil element may be attached at the base element, for example, after the entire wind turbine has been erected at the operating side.

[0014] The airfoil element may be attached (reversibly or permanently) to the base element such that at least a portion of the airfoil element may be deformed or moved or rotated relative to the base element in order to allow different structural configurations of the airfoil element, in particular the airfoil-shaped surface, corresponding to different states of the adaptive spoiler. For example, the airfoil element may bend in a specific bending region upon actuation of an actuator, the actuator being in contact with a portion of the airfoil element, to result in a desired structural configuration of the airfoil element, in particular the airfoil-shaped surface, corresponding to a desired state of the adaptive spoiler.

[0015] The airflow may be associated with an airflow near or at the surface of the rotor blade, which is intended to be influenced by the adaptive spoiler, in particular the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element. Primarily, the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element may influence the airflow. However, a (small) part of the base element (e.g., a part closer to the leading edge or the rotor blade) may also contribute to the interaction with the airflow. According to one embodiment of the invention, the base element does not influence the airflow at all, the base element may be substantially covered by the airfoil element and / or may be buried or sunken relative to the surrounding surface of the exposed rotor blade.

[0016] In addition to the base element and the airfoil element, the adaptive spoiler may include one or more additional elements. For example, one or more actuators may be partially arranged between the base element and the airfoil element. In order to achieve different states of the adaptive spoiler, the position and orientation of the base element relative to the rotor blade surface do not need to be changed. Therefore, the adaptability of the spoiler can be achieved only by changing the position and / or orientation and / or inclination and / or shape of the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element (for example, using an actuator of an inflatable / deflated expandable container or bladder).

[0017] The base element may comprise a plate-like structure which is mounted or connected to or integrated with the rotor blade surface. The base element may be mounted, for example, using an adhesive. The adhesive may have a certain degree of elasticity to allow for some deformation of the rotor blade surface during operation without affecting the mounting strength. The adhesive may comprise, for example, silicone, polymers, etc.

[0018] For example, the adhesive may include, for example, a pressure sensitive tape, an acrylic one-component and / or, for example, a moisture curing adhesive (eg, silicone-based) or a two-component adhesive.

[0019] The base element may also be laminated with the rotor blade surface. The base element may also be referred to as an interface plate hereinafter. The base element may be permanently attached to the rotor blade. The base element may be laminated into the structure of the rotor blade (surface), it may be glued or it may be mechanically fastened, for example using one or more bolts. The base element may be permanently installed, i.e. it is expected to remain on the blade throughout its service life, but it may be replaced or repaired when necessary.

[0020] On top of the base element, an attachable / detachable airfoil element (also called spoiler element) with an integrated or separate expansion element (e.g. an inflatable expandable container, such as a bag or a hose) may be mounted. The airfoil element may be independent or separate from the expander actuator. The airfoil element may be attached to the base element, for example, by means of a mechanical interlock. One advantage of a mechanical interlock may be a faster installation during both the manufacturing or maintenance phases, and the ability to install different types of airfoil elements on the same base element.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the invention, the base element may be attached or attached to the rotor blade via adhesive bonding during the manufacturing process, alternatively, the base element may be partially over-laminated in certain areas, for example with fiber reinforced composite materials. In another alternative, the base element may be mechanically attached to the rotor blade, for example using composite screws and / or pins and / or bolts. Thereby, a secure connection between the base element and the rotor blade may be achieved.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to attach the wing element to the base element (for example, reversibly or permanently), the wing element and the base element each include: at least one attachment portion, in particular a locking portion, wherein the attachment portion of the wing element and the attachment portion of the base element are configured to be fixed to each other, in particular to engage with each other, and further in particular to be interlocked with each other.

[0023] Using the attachment portions of the wing element and the base element, the wing element and the base element can be (e.g. reversibly or permanently) fixed to each other. The respective attachment portion can be configured as an integral part of the respective wing element and the base element. Both the base element and the wing element can be made of plastic material, e.g. thermosetting and / or thermoplastic material.

[0024] The respective attachment portions may have a shape which is at least partially complementary to one another, thereby allowing the attachment portion of the profile element to engage with the respective attachment portion of the base element. Thereby, for example, an interlocking or a capturing or a locking may be achieved, in particular without any additional elements, such as pins or bolts or screws. For engaging one another, for example, the profile elements may be temporarily slightly deformed in order to be locked in or clipped in place by the respective attachment portions.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment portion of the airfoil element and the attachment portion of the base element are arranged in an upstream region according to the airflow direction to allow the airfoil element to deform in a downstream region, in particular to flex upwards (e.g. away from the rotor blade), so as to adapt the spoiler to different activation states.

[0026] During normal operation of the wind turbine, the airflow may flow from the upstream region of the spoiler to the downstream region. In particular, the flow direction may be approximately or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis of the adaptive spoiler. The upstream region may, for example, cover between 10% and 50% of the extension of the base element along the direction of the airflow. The upstream region of the airfoil element may, for example, comprise 10% to 40% of the entire extension of the airfoil element along the direction of the flow. Thus, it is easily possible to change the shape of the airfoil element in the downstream region to adapt to different states of the adaptive spoiler.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the airfoil element is flexible and, when attached at the base element, is biased to press against the base element and / or the rotor blade surface in a downstream region.

[0028] The profile element may be pressed against the base element and / or the rotor blade surface with a portion of the downstream portion, in particular in the fully deflated condition of the inflatable container. For example, the rear edge of the profile element may be pressed against the rotor blade surface. Thus, a substantially inactive state of the spoiler may be assumed. The more the inflatable container is inflated, the more the rear edge of the profile element may be lifted from the rotor blade surface due to the lift exerted by the inflatable and expanded container, which lift may be greater than the biasing force exerted by the profile element. Thus, when the inflatable container is inflated, the shape of the profile element realized in the downstream region may be changed, also in particular including tilting upwards at least a portion of the profile-shaped surface of the profile element in the downstream region. When the profile element is flexible and presses against the rotor blade surface in the deflated state of the inflatable container (or alternatively, in the deactivated state of the actuator), it may not be necessary, for example, to apply a force on the profile element towards the rotor blade, for example by the inflatable container. Thus, the construction may be simplified.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, in order to fix the attachment portion of the profile element and the attachment portion of the base element to each other, at least a part of an attachment portion, in particular the attachment portion of the profile element, is elastic and temporarily deformed.

[0030] Thereby, for example, any locking or capturing mechanism may be employed.Thereby, the attachment of the profile element to the base element may be simplified, in particular without involving or requiring any additional element.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, the profile element is fiber-reinforced and / or the profile element comprises a core made of fiber-reinforced material, the profile element further comprising a surrounding material encapsulating the core.

[0032] The airfoil element may be exposed to airflow during normal operation of the wind turbine. Based on the loads during normal operation, it may be advantageous or necessary to strengthen the airfoil element to achieve the desired aerodynamic impact. The core may not be exposed to airflow, but may be fully embedded within the airfoil element. The core may be made of a relatively more rigid material than the material constituting the surrounding material.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the attachment portion of the wing element and the attachment portion of the base element can be attached to each other by shape fit, wherein the attachment portion of the wing element and / or the attachment portion of the base element in particular includes at least one of the following: a protrusion; a nose; a hook; an elastic tongue; a barb.

[0034] The form fit can provide a reliable and secure fixation. In particular, the complementary structures of the attachment portion of the wing element and the attachment portion of the base element can contact each other and can interact with each other to achieve fixation. In order to attach the wing element to the base element, the wing element can be placed on the base element and can be displaced substantially in a direction opposite to the direction of air flow during normal operation. While displacing the wing element, a pushing force can be applied towards the base element, for example, to arrange the nose or protrusion of the wing element or one or more noses or protrusions below one or more protrusions of the base element.

[0035] The pushing force may be applied against a spring force, for example by means of an elastic tongue. The elastic force applied by means of the elastic tongue may, for example, act when the wing element is attached to the base element to push a corresponding nose or projection of the wing element against a corresponding projection or nose of the base element. Furthermore, the end of the elastic tongue may, for example, snap beside a projection of the base element, thereby preventing the wing element from moving back from contact with the corresponding nose of the base element. Thus, an accidental release of the wing element from the base element may be prevented.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, the attachment portion of the profile element and / or the attachment portion of the base element, in particular the entire profile element and / or the entire base element, has a cross-sectional shape that does not change in the spanwise (longitudinal) direction of the rotor blade, thereby in particular being producible by an extrusion process. Thereby, production can be simplified and costs can be reduced.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, the spoiler further comprises at least one pin, wherein the attachment portion of the airfoil element, the attachment portion of the base element and the pin form a hinge, by which the airfoil element and the base element are rotatably connected to each other, the axis of rotation being oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade.

[0038] Thus, the hinge can allow in a simple manner to arrange the airfoil element at different inclination angles for achieving different states of the adaptive spoiler. The attachment portion of the airfoil element and the attachment portion of the base element can each include teeth and slots that can be staggered with each other. The hinge or the pin can be oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of air flow during normal operation. Thus, it can be achieved that the air is deflected away from the rotor blade surface to different degrees, which is by tilting the airfoil element at different angles relative to the base element by rotating around the hinge axis defined by the pin.

[0039] According to embodiments of the invention, at most an upstream portion of the base element will be exposed to the airflow and / or a downstream portion of the base element is substantially covered by the airfoil element and / or the base element is partially or completely sunken beneath the surrounding rotor blade airfoil surface.

[0040] The base element may, for example, be made of a relatively rough material or may comprise a rough, non-smooth surface, thereby simplifying manufacturing. However, the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element may have a smooth and flat or smooth surface for deliberately interacting with the airflow and deflecting the airflow in a desired manner. The base element may be slightly or completely sunken into the rotor blade surface and, for example, may be flush or almost flush with the surrounding rotor blade surface. Thereby, aerodynamic drag due to the base element may be reduced or even avoided.

[0041] In particular, at least in the downstream region, between the base element and the profile element, in particular in the fully retracted state of the adaptive spoiler, space may be provided for an actuator, such as an inflatable expandable container. In particular, a chamber may be formed between the base element and the profile element, thereby providing space for placing an expander element, which may serve as an actuator for the spoiler.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the spoiler also includes an inflatable expandable container (e.g., a bag, a hose), which is arranged in the downstream area, at least partially between the base element and the airfoil element, and is configured to expand to different levels to change the position and / or orientation and / or shape (when inflated, deflated) of at least a portion of the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element (e.g., by contacting the airfoil element at the rear surface).

[0043] The inflatable expandable container can in particular be used together with a hydraulic and / or pneumatic system as an actuator for placing the spoiler in different states with respect to aerodynamic influence characteristics. The container can be inflated, for example, with air or an inert gas, so that the container expands, which in turn leads to a change in orientation and / or position and / or inclination and / or shape of at least a portion of the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element. Thus, the adaptation of the spoiler to different states can be achieved in a simple manner. The inflatable expandable container can be made, for example, of a deformable, flexible material, such as rubber.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the base element comprises a joining portion in the downstream region, which joining portion can be joined with the joining portion of the expandable device so as to fix the container at the base element. Using the joining portion of the container and the joining portion of the base element, the inflatable expandable container can be fixed to a substrate or a base element. In particular, the expandable container can be attached to the base element by means of an interlocking system. The joining portion of the container can be formed in an integral manner. Thus, for example, the joining portion of the container can be formed of the same material as the container wall, which defines an inner lumen into which a fluid can be filled to inflate the container.

[0045] According to yet other embodiments, the expandable container may include another engaging portion that may engage with another engaging portion of the airfoil element (particularly at the rear surface of the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element). Thus, the airfoil element may be retracted by the pulling force applied by the inflatable container when the container is deflated. This embodiment may be particularly adopted when a hinge mechanism is used to connect the airfoil element to the base element.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the invention, the element of the spoiler, i.e. the base element and / or the airfoil element, is made into a single short piece, and its length is preferably between 20cm and 150cm, most preferably between 30cm and 70cm. Each spoiler element may include the features described above for the adaptable spoiler, i.e. for the base element and the airfoil element. According to an embodiment of the invention, the spoiler element is actuated to the base element by applying a given force to them, so that the attachment points are interlocked with each other.

[0047] The airfoil element may be slit on or towards the base element and may be held in place via one or more interlocking elements comprised in the respective attachment portion.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the invention, the profile element is configured such that when the container is inflated: the position and / or orientation and / or shape of a downstream portion of the profiled surface of the profile element changes, whereas the position and / or orientation and / or shape of an upstream portion of the profiled surface of the profile element remains substantially unchanged. Thereby, in particular between the upstream region and the downstream region of the profile element, the profile element may bend, in particular bend away from the rotor blade surface when the expandable container is inflated.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a wind turbine rotor blade comprising: a blade airfoil surface; and a spoiler according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the base element is laminated and / or glued and / or mechanically fastened to the blade airfoil surface.

[0050] Furthermore, a wind turbine is provided, comprising a rotor and at least one wind turbine rotor blade according to the previous embodiments.

[0051] The above-defined aspects of the present invention as well as further aspects will be apparent from the examples of embodiment described hereinafter and will be explained with reference to these examples of embodiment. The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to these examples of embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 schematically illustrates an adaptive spoiler in a disassembled state, in a partial view or in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figures 4 to 6 schematically illustrates an adaptive spoiler in a schematic sectional side view and in a partial view in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0054] Figures 7 to 9 schematically illustrates an adaptive spoiler according to an embodiment of the invention in an assembled state or in a partial view;

[0055] Figures 10 to 12 schematically illustrates an adaptive spoiler according to an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view and in a sectional side view in an assembled state;

[0056] Figures 13 to 15 In cross-sectional side view or Fig.14 and Fig.15 The perspective view of the portion in schematically illustrates an adaptive spoiler according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Fig.16 , Fig.17 and Fig.18 An attachment portion included in an adaptive spoiler according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated in a perspective view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Elements that are similar in structure and / or function are labeled in the figures with reference numerals that differ only in the first digit. The description of an element that is not particularly or in detail described with reference to one embodiment may be taken from the description of the corresponding element of another embodiment.

[0059] like Figure 1 The adaptive spoiler 100 schematically illustrated in a cross-sectional side view along the longitudinal axis 101 of the rotor blade 103 comprises a base element 105 adapted to be connected at or integrated with a rotor blade surface 107 of the rotor blade 103, which is partially illustrated in FIG. Figure 1 The adaptive spoiler 100 also includes an airfoil element 109 that is attachable (eg, reversibly or permanently) to a base structure 105 (eg, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 ), and has an airfoil shaped surface 111 which will be exposed to an airflow 113 during operation of the wind turbine. The airfoil element 109 comprises an encapsulating core 110 which provides reinforcement.

[0060] The rotor blade 103 has a longitudinal axis 101 which during operation of the wind turbine is substantially perpendicular to an air flow direction 113. The base element 105 comprises at least one attachment portion 115, and the airfoil element 109 also comprises at least one attachment portion 117. Thereby, the attachment portions 115 and 117 of the base element 105 and the airfoil element 109 can be engaged with each other, as for example Figure 3 as shown in .

[0061] As from Figure 1 It can be seen that the attachment portion 115 of the base element 105 is arranged in the upstream region 119 of the base element 105, in particular in a region between 5% and 50% of the entire extension lbe of the base element in the flow direction 113. Furthermore, the attachment region 117 of the profile element 109 is also arranged in the upstream region 121 of the profile element 109, in particular in a region between 0% and 50% of the entire extension lae of the profile element.

[0062] Figure 1 The disassembled state is shown, wherein the airfoil element 109 is not attached to the base element 105. Figure 1 It can be understood that the airfoil element 109 is pre-bent so that when the airfoil element 109 is attached to the base element 105 (eg, Figure 3 ), the trailing edge 123 of the airfoil element 109 presses against the surface 107 of the rotor blade 103. Thus, the airfoil element 109 presses against the rotor blade surface 107 in the downstream region 125, or against the base element 105 in other embodiments.

[0063] Reference is made below to the chordwise direction 113, which is the direction pointing from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the rotor blade. During normal operation, the chordwise direction 113 is in the airflow direction. In the following, the airflow direction is intended to be equivalent to the chordwise direction.

[0064] The attachment portion 115 of the base element 105 comprises in the illustrated embodiment two noses 127, 129 which are spaced apart in the chordwise direction or airflow direction 113 and which point downstream according to the flow direction 113. Furthermore, the attachment portion 117 of the airfoil element 109 also comprises two noses 131, 133 which are also spaced apart in the flow direction 113 but point upstream. When the airfoil element 109 is attached to the base element 105 (see Figure 3 ), the noses 131, 133 of the attachment area 117 of the profile element 109 engage under the noses 127, 129 of the base element 105. Furthermore, the elastic tongue 137 of the attachment area 117 of the profile element 109 is bent in the assembled state and contacts the protrusion 139 included in the attachment portion 115 of the base element.

[0065] Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The adaptive spoiler 100 shown in FIG. 1 further includes an inflatable expandable container 141, which is configured as a bag or a hose and is made of an elastically deformable material. Figure 1 is shown in the disassembled and collapsed state and in Figure 3 109 is shown in an assembled state. The expandable container 141 includes a lumen 143 that can be filled with a fluid such as air. Filling the lumen 143 of the container 141 to different degrees will cause the container 141 to expand to different degrees, thereby contacting and pushing the rear surface 145 of the airfoil element 109 to flex the airfoil-shaped surface 111 of the airfoil element upward, thereby achieving different states of the adaptive spoiler 100.

[0066] The container 141 can be fixed at or to the base element 105. Thus, the container 141 comprises an engagement portion 147 and the base element comprises a corresponding engagement portion 149, in particular in the downstream region 151 of the base element 105. The corresponding engagement portions 147 and 149 of the container 141 and the base element 105 can engage with each other. In particular, the engagement portion 147 of the container also comprises noses which lock or capture under the noses of the engagement portion 149 of the base element.

[0067] Figure 2 A portion of the profile element 109 showing the attachment area 117 is schematically illustrated in more detail.

[0068] When the inflatable container 141 is inflated to different degrees, Figure 3 In particular, the container is now marked with reference numeral 141' and the airfoil-shaped surface of the airfoil element 109 is marked with reference numeral 111'. Figure 3 It can be seen that the position and / or orientation and / or shape of the downstream portion 125 of the airfoil element 109 is changed, while the position and / or orientation and / or shape of the airfoil element 109 is substantially unchanged in the upstream region 121 .

[0069] As in Figure 1 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the rotor blade surface has a slight depression in the region of the attached base element 105 , as indicated with Δ. Thus, the base element 105 is slightly sunken into the rotor blade 103 .

[0070] Figures 4 to 6 An adaptive spoiler 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in a cross-sectional side view, wherein: Figure 5 and Figure 6 The illustration shows a partial view. Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the embodiment of the adaptive spoiler 100 shown in FIG. 2 , the base element 215 of the spoiler 200 also includes an attachment portion 215 in the upstream region 219. Thus, the attachment portion 215 includes hook-shaped protrusions 227, 229, which engage with the attachment portion 217 of the airfoil element 209 having the airfoil-shaped surface 211. Thus, the attachment portion 217 includes a front nose 231 pointing downstream and another nose 235 (or hook) pointing upstream. In contrast, the nose 227 of the base element 205 points upstream, thereby engaging with the nose 231 of the airfoil element 209 that is directed downstream. The nose or hook 229 of the base element 205 that is directed downstream engages with the nose 235 of the airfoil element 299 that is directed upstream.

[0071] The adaptive spoiler 200 also includes an inflatable expandable container 241, which is located between the downstream portion 225 of the base element 205 and the airfoil element 209 (see Figure 6 ). In addition, the container 241 is also attached to the base element 205 via the joining portion 247 and via the joining portion 249 in the downstream region 225. However, in addition to Figures 1 to 3 In addition to the embodiment of the spoiler 100 shown in FIG. 2 , the airfoil element 209 further includes an engagement portion 253, which engages with another engagement portion 255 of the container 241. In particular, the engagement portions 247, 255 of the base element 205 and the airfoil element 209 are respectively configured as recesses, into which the projections of the corresponding engagement portions of the container 241 are inserted, thereby being held by a locking or interlocking mechanism. In order to insert the projections 255, 247 of the container 241 into the recesses 249, 253, the projections 255, 247 with expanded heads can be slightly formed.

[0072] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The base element 205 shown in FIG. 2 is slightly sunken into the rotor blade 203 by an amount Δ.

[0073] Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 Another adaptive spoiler 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein: Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The illustration shows a partial view. Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The base elements 105, 205 shown in FIG. 1 are sunken over their entire length, but Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9The majority of the base element 305 of the adaptive spoiler 300 shown in FIG is arranged at a constant rotor blade surface without a depression in the entire extension of the base element 305. However, a depression of the rotor blade surface is present in the downstream region 357, wherein said depression amounts to a value Δ. Outside the downstream region 357 there is no depression of the rotor blade surface 307. This depression Δ allows the accompanying expandable container 341, which can be connected to the rotor blade surface 307. Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 200 is constructed similarly to the container 241 of the adaptive spoiler 200 shown in . Furthermore, the attachment portion 315 of the base element 305 comprises a nose 327 pointing upstream, which engages with a nose 331 pointing downstream of the profile element 309. Furthermore, the base element 305 comprises a nose 329 directed downstream, which engages with a nose 335 directed upstream of the profile element 305. In the recessed area 357 of the rotor blade, the base element 305 sinks into the rotor blade.

[0074] Fig.10 , Fig.11 and Fig.12 An adaptive spoiler 400 according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The airfoil element 409 can be attached to the base element 405 by a hinge mechanism 465 forming a corresponding attachment portion. Both the base element and the airfoil elements 405, 409 include through holes 459, 461 through which a pin 463 can be inserted to establish the hinge 465 (see Fig.11 and Fig.12 ). The pin 463 and the through holes 459, 461 are oriented substantially along the longitudinal axis 401 of the rotor blade at which the adaptive spoiler 400 is mounted. Fig.10 , Fig.11 , Fig.12 In the adaptive spoiler 400 shown in FIG. 4 , the attachment portions 417 and 415 of the airfoil element 409 and the base element 405 , respectively, are formed by portions having through holes 459 , 461 , respectively.

[0075] The downstream area of ​​the base element 405 and the airfoil element 409 is connected to, for example, Fig. 9 300 have similarities to those portions of the adaptive spoiler 300 illustrated in detail in FIG. Fig.11 The spoiler is shown when the container 441 is shrunk, but Fig.12 A condition is illustrated wherein the reservoir 441 is inflated such that the airfoil shaped surface 411 of the airfoil element 409 tilts upwardly away from the rotor blade surface 407 , thereby placing the adaptive spoiler 400 in a particular activated state.

[0076] Fig.13 , Fig.14and Fig.15 An adaptive spoiler 500 according to yet another embodiment is schematically illustrated. Fig.14 The base element 505 is illustrated in FIG. Fig.15 Only the profile element 509 is shown in the figure. The attachment portion 515 of the base element 505 comprises a hole 567 and a guide edge not shown in detail. The elastic support protrusions or locking noses 569 included in the profile element 509 represent the corresponding attachment portion 517 of the profile element 509. These elastically retained noses 569 will slide into the openings 567 for attaching the profile element 509 to the base element 505 (reversibly or permanently).

[0077] Fig.16 , Fig.17 , Fig.18 Further variants or embodiments of the base element 605 on the one hand and the attachment portion of the airfoil element 609 on the other hand that can be included in an adaptive spoiler according to an embodiment of the invention are illustrated. In the embodiment shown, the base element 605 has a nose directed downstream as the attachment portion 615, which engages with the noses 631, 635 directed upstream of the airfoil element 609. Although Fig.16 and Fig.17 A resilient tongue 637 is shown, the end of which interlocks with a protrusion 639 at or on the base element 605, but in Fig.18 , the front portion 671 of the airfoil element 609 is interlocked with the front portion 673 of the base element to avoid accidental release of the airfoil element by sliding the airfoil element in the downstream direction.

[0078] Embodiments of the present invention may provide several benefits:

[0079] Simple and fast installation,

[0080] · Simple and fast component repair / replacement / maintenance,

[0081] Simple manufacturing,

[0082] Increase resistance levels when desired,

[0083] Fast power control,

[0084] Additional degrees of freedom for controlling the aerodynamic forces on the blades.

[0085] The embodiment may be applicable to at least one of the following:

[0086] Selectively reduce loads at different locations along the span at different wind speeds,

[0087] Increase aerodynamic damping at high wind speeds or when otherwise required,

[0088] Reduce aerodynamic loads during overspeed conditions,

[0089] Reduced aerodynamic loads during idling,

[0090] Reduce aerodynamic loads during manual, emergency or normal shutdown events,

[0091] Reduce pitch activity by combining pitch with activation of flow conditioning devices,

[0092] · Spoiler activation combined with individual pitch control.

[0093] There are several possible activations:

[0094] · Activation according to the turbine's rotor speed,

[0095] Slow activation (e.g. based on wind speed only),

[0096] Rapid activation (e.g., 1P or 3P for use in combination with IPC),

[0097] On / off activation (e.g. for overspeed, shutdown events, events with extremely high turbulence),

[0098] · continuous activation (e.g. for idling),

[0099] Independent activation of different spoiler sections on the blade,

[0100] • Independent activation of different spoiler sections on the blades to maintain the rotor speed at nominal level.

[0101] Possible pressure supply system characteristics include the following:

[0102] Activation by means of a pressurized fluid, in particular pressurized air, pressurized dry air or any other gas such as an inert gas (eg nitrogen or helium),

[0103] Low required air volume (e.g. achieved by controlling the shape change of the pressurized chamber rather than the expansion of the chamber),

[0104] - Pressurized reservoirs close to the activation point (to react quickly and reduce the power demand of the supply system). This can be done, for example, by placing a larger diameter tube inside the blade close to the pressure supply point,

[0105] Connect to both pressure and vacuum chambers to increase reaction speed,

[0106] ·Continuous flow through the purge valve to avoid accumulation of moisture / dust / compressed oil etc.,

[0107] Use pre-heated air where icing may be a problem,

[0108] Independent activation of different radial segments,

[0109] Use of control valves at specific stations to prevent / allow pressurized air to flow from one radial position to another,

[0110] Use pneumatically activated pneumatic valves (to avoid electrical signals),

[0111] Use stagnation pressure as input to pneumatic control valves at certain radial stations,

[0112] using pitch position as input to the pneumatic control valve (e.g. a high pitch position opens the valve and thus activates the spoiler),

[0113] using rotor speed as input to a pneumatically controlled valve (e.g. high rotor speed may cause the valve to open and therefore activate the spoiler),

[0114] Use turbulence level as input to pneumatic control valves.

[0115] In the flow spoiler, no electrical or mechanical components may be required.

[0116] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the following features are provided, which can be applied to all the above embodiments individually or in combination:

[0117] The shape of the container may be optimized to reduce the friction distance with the airfoil element. Thus, the container may generally be asymmetric;

[0118] The feet of the container may also be asymmetrical so as to prohibit installation in the wrong orientation;

[0119] Low friction strips may be attached at specific locations on the profile element and / or container to reduce wear; the base element may be made as one element to ensure a consistent relative positioning between profile element and container, or conversely as two elements to enable different relative positioning and, therefore, different lift heights to be achieved for the same container and / or profile element;

[0120] The container may incorporate resilient elements, such as fiber reinforcements, to assist in deflation.

Claims

1. An adaptive spoiler (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for a wind turbine rotor blade (103), comprising: a base element (105) adapted to be connected at or integrated with the rotor blade (103) at or near a leading edge at the suction side; An airfoil element (109) which is attachable to the base element (105) and has an airfoil-shaped surface (111) to be exposed to an airflow (113), wherein, in order to attach the airfoil element (109) to the base element (105), the airfoil element and the base element each comprise: at least one attachment portion (115, 117); wherein the attachment portion (117) of the airfoil element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) are configured to be fixed to each other, and wherein the attachment portion (117) of the airfoil element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) are arranged in an upstream region (119, 121) according to a chord-wise direction to allow the airfoil element (109) to deform in a downstream region (125), including flexing upwards away from the blade, in order to adapt the spoiler to different activation states.

2. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 1, wherein: The attachment parts (115, 117) are locking parts.

3. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 1, wherein: The attachment portion (117) of the airfoil element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) are configured to engage with each other.

4. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 3, wherein: The attachment portion (117) of the airfoil element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) are configured to interlock with each other.

5. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The airfoil element (109) is flexible and, when attached at the base element (105), is biased to press against the base element and / or the rotor blade surface in a downstream region (125).

6. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: In order to fix the attachment portion (117) of the profile element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) to each other, at least a part of one attachment portion (115, 117) is elastic and temporarily deformed.

7. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 6, wherein: At least a portion of the attachment portion (117) of the profile element (109) is elastic and temporarily deformable.

8. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The airfoil element (109) is fiber reinforced and / or wherein the airfoil element comprises a core (110) made of a fiber reinforced material and wherein the airfoil element further comprises a surrounding material encapsulating the core.

9. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The attachment portion (117) of the profile element (109) and the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) can be attached to each other by form fit.

10. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 9, wherein: The attachment portion of the airfoil element and / or the attachment portion of the base element comprises at least one of: protrusion (139); nose (127, 129, 31, 133); hook; Elastic tongue; Barb.

11. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The attachment portion (117) of the airfoil element (109) and / or the attachment portion (115) of the base element (105) has a cross-sectional shape that does not change in the span direction (101) of the rotor blade (103), thereby being able to be manufactured by an extrusion process.

12. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 11, wherein: The entire airfoil element and / or the entire base element has a cross-sectional shape that does not change along the span direction (101) of the rotor blade (103).

13. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: at least one pin (463), wherein the attachment portion of the airfoil element, the attachment portion of the base element and the pin form a hinge (465), the airfoil element and the base element being rotatably connected to each other via the hinge (465), the axis of rotation being oriented in the longitudinal direction (401) of the rotor blade.

14. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in, At most an upstream region of the base element will be exposed to the airflow, and / or wherein the downstream region (125) of the base element is covered by the airfoil element (109), and / or Therein, the base element (105) is partially or completely sunken beneath the surrounding rotor blade airfoil surface.

15. The adaptive spoiler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: An inflatable expandable container (141) is arranged in the downstream region (125), at least partially between the base element (105) and the airfoil element (109), and is configured to expand to different levels to change the position and / or orientation and / or shape of at least a portion of the airfoil-shaped surface (111) of the airfoil element (109).

16. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 15, wherein: The expandable container (141) comprises an engaging portion (147), wherein the base element (105) comprises an engaging portion (149) in a downstream region (151), the engaging portion (149) of the base element (105) being engageable with the engaging portion of the expandable container so as to secure the expandable container to the base element.

17. The adaptive spoiler according to claim 15, wherein: The airfoil element (109) is configured such that when the expandable container is inflated: a change in position and / or orientation and / or shape of a downstream region (125) of the airfoil shaped surface (111) of the airfoil element (109), The position and / or orientation and / or shape of the upstream region (121) of the airfoil shaped surface (111) of the airfoil element remains unchanged.

18. A wind turbine rotor blade comprising: a blade airfoil surface (107); as well as An adaptive spoiler (100) according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein a base element (105) is laminated and / or glued and / or mechanically fastened to the blade airfoil surface.

19. A wind turbine comprising: Rotor; as well as At least one wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 18 is mounted at the rotor.

Images