Active Flow Control on Wind Turbine Rotor Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face challenges in optimizing energy production due to constraints on rotor size and dynamic loading from varying wind conditions, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves pitching rotor blades to a full operational angle and using an active flow control device in conjunction with generator speed and rotor blade pitch settings to maintain a predetermined generator rated power level, adjusting the flow control device based on rotor blade pitch and speed, and pitching blades towards a feathered position to prevent damage during high winds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rotor size is increased to improve energy production, then energy production is improved, but structural loads and material requirements increase leading to higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the rotor blades by implementing active pitch control and rotational speed regulation. This allows the turbine to optimize blade angle and rotational velocity to maximize energy capture without requiring larger structural components, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy production and structural loads.
2Productivity
If rotor blades are pitched to full operational angle to maximize power production, then power production is improved, but dynamic loading from varying wind conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pitch control that continuously adjusts rotor blade angles in response to varying wind conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain optimal power production while adapting to changing wind speeds and directions, thereby reducing harmful dynamic loading on the blades and structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from wind speed sensors and power production measurements to continuously adjust blade pitch and rotational speed. This closed-loop control optimizes power extraction while preventing excessive dynamic loading by reducing pitch angles when wind conditions become too variable or intense.
3Productivity
If active flow control device is activated to maintain rated power level, then energy production optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active flow control device modifies airflow parameters around the rotor blades using actuators that adjust local flow conditions. This allows the system to maintain rated power levels across varying wind conditions without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the blade structure itself, balancing performance improvement with manageable device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances energy production by optimizing rotor blade positioning and flow control, reducing dynamic loading, and preventing damage from extreme winds, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
delay flow separation over the rotor blade
Implementation Method 2
reducing dynamic loading on the rotor blade
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind turbine (100) is provided. The wind turbine includes a plurality of rotor blades (112), an active flow control device operatively coupled to a respective rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades, and a control system (200) communicatively coupled to the active flow control device and configured to optimize energy production in the wind turbine based on a generator speed, a rotor blade pitch setting and an active flow control device setting. The control system includes a processor (202) that is programmed to pitch the plurality of rotor blades towards a full operational position (262), and utilize an active flow control device in accordance with a generator speed and a rotor blade pitch setting to facilitate maintaining a predetermined generator rated power level (536).