A wind turbine blade with microwave directional de-icing function, and its manufacturing and de-icing methods

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wind turbine blade with a microwave directional de-icing function, and its manufacturing and de-icing methods. The leading edge part and the tip part of the blade are made of a metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material with high microwave absorption performance; a plurality of high-power magnetrons are installed at the root position of the wind turbine blade, and are configured to be evenly distributed at a certain mechanical angle. A micro servo is installed at the antenna of the magnetron to control the direction of the microwave; a metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is covered at the I-beam near the leading edge in the blade cavity. When icing occurs on the blade, the high-power magnetrons and servo motors installed at the root position of the blade are started to emit directional microwaves. The microwaves are reflected to the icing area on the blade through the metal foil, and the composite material absorbs and converts the microwave energy into heat energy, thereby achieving de-icing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical fields of wind turbine blade design and wind farm operation and maintenance, and particularly relates to a wind turbine blade with a microwave directional de-icing function, and a manufacturing and de-icing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Wind turbines operate in an outdoor environment, and adverse weather conditions have an important impact on their safe and economic operation. In a cold, humid environment, when certain conditions are met, ice will form on the key component blades of wind turbines. Light icing of the blades will reduce the power generation efficiency and shorten the service life of the wind turbines; severe icing may induce blade fracture and endanger personnel safety.

[0003] There are mainly three existing de-icing methods: one is thermal de-icing, which means directly or indirectly heating the blades through electric heating elements to achieve the purpose of blade de-icing, but this method has high power consumption and low efficiency; the second is mechanical de-icing, which means using mechanical equipment to break the ice covering on the blade surface after the wind turbine stops operating to achieve the purpose of de-icing, but this method is time-consuming and laborious and there are safety hazards due to the falling of the ice covering; the third is coating anti-icing, which means applying a special material with superhydrophobicity to the blade surface to reduce the adhesion between the ice layer and the blade, but the effective protection time of this method is short.

[0004] In summary, the existing de-icing methods in the prior art have problems in terms of efficiency, safety, durability, etc., and cannot remove the ice covering on the blades well.

[0005] Object of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine blade with a microwave directional de-icing function, and a manufacturing and de-icing method thereof, aiming at the deficiencies of the existing blade de-icing methods. During the blade design and manufacturing process, carbon fiber and metal particles are admixed at the blade leading edge and tip where icing is most likely to occur to manufacture a metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite blade capable of efficiently absorbing microwaves; during the blade installation process, multiple magnetrons are installed at the blade root position to emit microwaves, and the microwave emission direction is accurately controlled by a servo motor; tin foil paper capable of reflecting microwaves is pasted on the I-beam near the blade leading edge to reflect the microwaves emitted by the magnetrons to the blade leading edge and tip; through the thermal effect generated by microwaves on the surface of the composite blade with high microwave absorption performance, the ice layer on the blade surface is quickly melted. The present invention avoids the complex wiring design of the embedded heating elements, has the advantages of directional heating, high efficiency, convenient installation, no safety hazards, etc., and can better solve the problem of blade icing. Content of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wind turbine blade with microwave directional de-icing function. The blade includes a blade root, a main beam, a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, and a blade tip portion. The leading edge portion and the blade tip portion of the blade are made of a metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material with high microwave absorption performance. The metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material refers to a composite material formed by incorporating carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient into epoxy resin, or a composite epoxy resin material formed by incorporating metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient into epoxy resin. In the wind turbine blade, the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface.

[0008] A plurality of high-power magnetrons are installed at the blade root position of the wind turbine blade and are configured to be evenly distributed at a certain mechanical angle. A micro servo is installed at the antenna of the high-power magnetron to control the direction of the microwave emitted by the high-power magnetron. Equivalent weight accessories are installed at the symmetric positions of the high-power magnetrons to maintain balance.

[0009] A metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is covered on the I-beam near the leading edge in the cavity of the wind turbine blade to reflect microwaves.

[0010] Preferably, the wind turbine blade is used for a 2MW wind turbine.

[0011] Preferably, the metal nanoparticles include one or more combinations of Fe, Ni, Co, and Mn.

[0012] Preferably, five adjustable high-power magnetrons with a rated power of 10kw are installed at the blade root position of the wind turbine blade and are evenly distributed at a 45° mechanical angle.

[0013] Preferably, the metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is made of one of Au, Cu, Mo, Ag, Al or their combinations.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of the above blade, including the following steps:

[0015] Step 1: Prepare the blade with composite epoxy resin. When constructing the leading edge portion and the blade tip portion of the blade, carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient are incorporated into the epoxy resin, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface, or metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient are incorporated into the leading edge of the blade, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface, thereby obtaining the main body of the wind turbine blade made of metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material.

[0016] Step 2: Install multiple high-power magnetrons at the blade root position of the blade, and evenly distribute them on the inner surface of the annular blade root at a certain mechanical angle; install a micro servo at the antenna of each of the multiple high-power magnetrons to control the direction of the microwave, and configure waveguide components; install equal-weight accessories at the symmetrical parts of the magnetrons to maintain the overall load balance;

[0017] Step 3: Cover the I-beam near the leading edge of the blade in the blade cavity with a metal foil having high microwave reflection ability to reflect the microwave.

[0018] Preferably, the metal nanoparticles include one or more combinations of Fe, Ni, Co, and Mn.

[0019] Preferably, install 5 adjustable high-power magnetrons with a rated power of 10 kw at the blade root position of the wind turbine blade and evenly distribute them at a 45° mechanical angle.

[0020] Preferably, the metal foil having high microwave reflection ability is made of one of Au, Cu, Mo, Ag, Al or their compositions.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for applying the above-mentioned blade directional de-icing, including: during the operation of the wind turbine unit, when icing occurs on the blade, start the high-power magnetrons and servos installed at the blade root position of the blade, emit directional microwaves, and reflect the emitted microwaves to the icing area on the blade through the metal foil having high microwave reflection ability, and convert the microwave energy absorbed by the metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material into heat energy, thereby achieving de-icing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, the drawings required for the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic flow chart of the blade microwave de-icing method.

[0024] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the wind turbine blade with microwave de-icing function of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the blade microwave generating device.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the metal foil covering position in the blade cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] Those skilled in the art should understand that the step numbers used in the text are only for convenient description and do not limit the execution order of the steps. The terms used in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in the specification of the present invention and the appended claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms. The terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, wholes, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their combinations. The term "and / or" refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes these combinations.

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic flow chart of the method for removing ice from blades by microwave. As Figure 1 shown, first, a metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material with high microwave absorption performance is constructed to form the main body of the blade of the wind turbine unit; then, a directional microwave is generated by a magnetron and a servo motor; then, the microwave is reflected by a metal foil to the ice-covered position of the blade; finally, the composite material absorbs the microwave and dissipates it in the form of heat to achieve the ice removal effect.

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a wind turbine blade with the function of removing ice by microwave. As can be seen from the figure, the blade includes a blade root, a main beam, a leading edge part, a trailing edge part, and a blade tip part, and the ice-covered position is located at the leading edge and the blade tip part. The leading edge surface and the blade tip of the blade are made of a high microwave-absorbing composite material, which can absorb electromagnetic waves.

[0031] The following will be described in detail through embodiments.

[0032] Embodiment

[0033] For a 2MW wind turbine unit, the manufacturing and ice removal process of the wind turbine blade with the function of microwave directional ice removal will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The manufacturing and ice removal process of the wind turbine blade with the function of microwave directional ice removal is as follows:

[0034] (1) Fabricate metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite blades with high microwave absorption performance. Adding carbon fiber to the epoxy resin material can enhance the material's ability to convert electromagnetic waves into heat energy, while incorporating metal nanoparticles can enhance the material's microwave absorption ability near low frequencies. For the two different types of material blades, the specific steps are as follows:

[0035] 1) For the 2MW wind turbine blades made of epoxy resin composite materials, incorporate carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient at the leading edge of the blade, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the blade;

[0036] 2) For the 2MW wind turbine blades made of carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite materials, only incorporate metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient at the leading edge of the blade, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the blade;

[0037] In this embodiment, the metal nanoparticles are selected from one or a combination of Fe, Ni, Co, and Mn, all of which have good microwave absorption characteristics.

[0038] (2) Directional microwave generation and control device. Generate microwaves through a high-power magnetron. Considering mechanical properties and ease of maintenance, etc., install 5 adjustable magnetrons with a rated power of 10kw at the root of the blade and distribute them evenly at a mechanical angle of 45°, and install a micro servo at the magnetron antenna to control the direction of the microwaves, as Figure 3 shown. Considering the possible problem of load imbalance, install equal-weight accessories at the symmetric parts of the magnetrons.

[0039] (3) Microwave reflection device. The generation and reception of microwaves do not propagate in a straight line and need to be transmitted through a reflector as an intermediate medium. Cover the I-beam near the leading edge in the blade cavity with a metal foil having high microwave reflection ability to reflect microwaves, as Figure 4 shown.

[0040] (4) Receive microwaves. The reflected microwaves reach the metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite blade, and the microwave energy is absorbed and converted into heat energy, thereby achieving de-icing.

[0041] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0042] The present invention improves the ability of the blade to absorb microwaves by blending microwave absorption materials such as carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles in the blade, solves the problem of low thermal conductivity of traditional blades, enables the blade to generate heat from the inside itself, and can achieve the same de-icing effect with less energy.

Claims

1. A wind turbine blade with microwave directional de-icing function, comprising a blade root, a main beam, a leading edge part, a trailing edge part, and a blade tip part, characterized in that, The leading edge part and the tip part of the blade are made of a metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material with high microwave absorption performance. The metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material refers to a composite material formed by incorporating carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient into epoxy resin, or a composite epoxy resin material formed by incorporating metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient into epoxy resin. In the wind turbine blade, the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface; A plurality of high-power magnetrons are installed at the root position of the wind turbine blade and are configured to be evenly distributed at a certain mechanical angle. A micro servo is installed at the antenna of the high-power magnetron to control the direction of the microwave emitted by the high-power magnetron; Equal-weight accessories are installed at the symmetrical parts of the high-power magnetron to maintain balance; A metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is covered on the I-beam near the leading edge in the cavity of the wind turbine blade to reflect microwaves.

2. The blade of a wind turbine with a microwave directional de-icing function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wind turbine blade is used for a 2MW wind turbine.

3. The blade of a wind turbine with a microwave directional de-icing function according to claim 1, characterized in that The metal nanoparticles include one or a combination of more of Fe, Ni, Co, and Mn.

4. The blade of a wind turbine with a microwave directional de-icing function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Five adjustable high-power magnetrons with a rated power of 10kw each are installed at the root position of the wind turbine blade and are evenly distributed at a 45° mechanical angle.

5. A wind turbine blade with a microwave directional de-icing function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is made of one of Au, Cu, Mo, Ag, Al or a combination thereof.

6. A manufacturing method of a wind turbine blade with microwave directional de-icing function according to claim 1, characterized in that, Including the following steps: Step 1: Prepare the blade with composite epoxy resin. When constructing the leading edge part and the tip part of the blade, carbon fiber and metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient are incorporated into the epoxy resin, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface, or metal nanoparticles with an equal concentration gradient are incorporated into the leading edge of the blade, where the concentration of metal nanoparticles decreases continuously from the inner cavity of the blade to the outer surface, thereby obtaining the main body of the wind turbine blade made of the metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material; Step 2: Install a plurality of high-power magnetrons at the root position of the blade and evenly distribute them on the inner surface of the annular root at a certain mechanical angle; Micro servos are respectively installed at the antennas of the plurality of high-power magnetrons to control the direction of the microwave, and waveguide elements are configured; Equal-weight accessories are installed at the symmetrical parts of the magnetron to maintain the overall load balance; Step 3: Cover a metal foil with high microwave reflection ability on the I-beam near the leading edge in the blade cavity to reflect microwaves.

7. The manufacturing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The metal nanoparticles include one or a combination of more of Fe, Ni, Co, and Mn.

8. The manufacturing method according to claim 6, wherein Five adjustable high-power magnetrons with a rated power of 10kw each are installed at the root position of the wind turbine blade and are evenly distributed at a 45° mechanical angle.

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The metal foil with high microwave reflection ability is made of one of Au, Cu, Mo, Ag, Al or a combination thereof.

10. A method for directional de-icing of a wind turbine blade with microwave directional de-icing function according to any one of claims 1-5, comprising: During the operation of the fan unit, when ice forms on the blades, a high-power magnetron and a servo installed at the blade root are started to emit directional microwaves. The microwaves emitted are reflected to the icing area on the blades by the metal foil with high microwave reflection ability, and the microwave energy is absorbed and converted into heat energy by the metal nanoparticle / carbon fiber / epoxy resin composite material, thereby achieving de-icing.

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