Adaptable Wind Turbine Spoiler Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adaptable spoilers for wind turbine blades are complex, require numerous components, and have cumbersome manufacturing processes, necessitating a simpler, more reliable design with fewer components that can be easily manufactured.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, deformable spoiler with an integral cavity that can be inflated with fluid to change its shape, featuring a combination of flexible and stiff elements, and a connection structure for secure mounting without metal pieces, allowing for continuous or segmented installation along the blade length, and integration with a vortex generator for enhanced aerodynamic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional adaptable spoilers are used with multiple components, then aerodynamic control function is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple traditional spoiler components into a single integrated flexible body that can be manufactured as one piece. The flexible body inherently includes the spoiler surface, mounting structure, and actuation interface, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining aerodynamic control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the aerodynamic surface, provides structural support, includes mounting features for attachment to the blade, and interfaces with the actuation system. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while achieving the required aerodynamic control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional adaptable spoilers with multiple components are used, then aerodynamic control is achieved, but manufacturing process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into a single flexible body, the manufacturing process is simplified from multi-step assembly to single-piece production. The integrated design allows for direct manufacturing techniques such as extrusion or molding, eliminating complex assembly operations and reducing manufacturing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible body can be designed with segmented or modular features that allow for simplified manufacturing processes. The body may include longitudinal segments that can be manufactured separately and joined, or designed as a continuous extrusion, depending on the specific manufacturing capabilities and requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional adaptable spoilers are used, then aerodynamic control is achieved, but reliability decreases due to more components
Solution Approach 1:
Reducing the number of components by merging them into a single flexible body inherently improves reliability by eliminating potential failure points at component interfaces. The integrated design reduces the likelihood of assembly errors, loose connections, and wear between parts, while maintaining the aerodynamic control function.
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
The solution simplifies the construction and manufacturing of adaptable spoilers, enhances aerodynamic control by altering the spoiler's shape and position in response to fluid inflation, and extends the operational regime of downstream flow-regulating devices like vortex generators, improving lift coefficient and energy distribution in wind turbine operation.
Implementation Method 1
an internal surface limiting (in particular enclosing) a cavity to be inflated with fluid to different levels
Implementation Method 2
The flexible body may be made from a homogeneous material which can be deformed, thereby adapting different outer shapes
Data Source
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AI summary
It is described an adaptable spoiler (150) for a wind turbine blade (100), comprising: a flexible body (113) comprising: an outer surface (115) to be exposed to air flow (127); an internal surface (117) limiting a cavity (119) to be inflated with fluid to different level, wherein a shape and/or position and/or orientation of the surface (115) to be exposed to air flow (127) changes upon inflating the cavity to different level.