Air intake damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moisture separators for wind turbines require additional components like dampers and mist eliminators, increasing complexity, space, and weight, and lack control over airflow.
Innovation Solution
An air intake damper with partitions that can pivot between open and closed positions, deflecting airflow to remove moisture and control airflow without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a damper and mist eliminator are provided as separate components, then moisture removal and airflow control are achieved, but device complexity, space, and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the damper and mist eliminator functions into a single integrated component. The housing contains both the airflow control mechanism and the moisture separation elements, eliminating the need for separate dampers and mist eliminators. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining both moisture removal effectiveness and airflow control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated air intake damper serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls airflow through the damper mechanism, removes moisture through the mist eliminator, and provides structural housing for both functions. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components, reducing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If additional components like dampers are added for airflow control, then airflow control is achieved, but weight and physical size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The damper mechanism is integrated within the mist eliminator housing, creating a single combined component. The housing structure serves as both the container for moisture separation and the mounting structure for the damper mechanism. This integration reduces the overall weight compared to having separate damper and mist eliminator components.
3Reliability
If rib walls are provided for moisture separation, then moisture removal is achieved, but airflow control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rib wall moisture separation structure with a controllable damper mechanism in a single integrated component. The rib walls maintain their moisture separation function while the integrated damper provides airflow control capability that the standalone rib walls would lack.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated component incorporates a movable damper mechanism that can dynamically adjust airflow while the rib walls provide static moisture separation. This dynamic element adds airflow control capability to the otherwise static moisture separation structure, allowing operation in both open and closed positions.
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
Reduces the physical size and weight of moisture removal systems by integrating moisture elimination and airflow control into a single component, effectively preventing moisture damage to wind turbine components.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid communication channel, in a direction extending along the first longitudinal axis, has at least one bend so that an imaginary straight line extending from the upstream end to the downstream end will intersect at least the first surface and/or the second surface of at least one partition
Data Source
AI summary
There is an air intake damper. The damper has a first air intake conduit having a first longitudinal axis and having an upstream end and a downstream end. The first air intake conduit has a first intake area, in which the first intake area is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. Partitions extend across the first intake area, in which each partition has at least an upstream end and a downstream end and has an first surface and/or an second surface. In a first position, two adjacent partitions are positioned to define a first fluid communication channel having an upstream end and a downstream end extending along the first air intake conduit. The fluid communication channel in a direction extending along the first longitudinal axis has at least one bend so that an imaginary straight line extending from the upstream end to the downstream end will intersect at least the first surface and/or the second surface of at least one partition.