Annular Insert for Wind Turbine Rotor Cone Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine rotor blade coning methods either reduce energy capture or cause stress and ovalization concerns, and fail to adequately address the need for pitching during operation, leading to potential rotor blade strikes with the tower.
Innovation Solution
An annular insert is used between the hub and bearing assembly to orient rotor blades at a cone angle, reducing stress and ovalization while facilitating proper bearing assembly performance and pitch adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotor blade curvature is modified to curve the rotor blades away from the tower, then the risk of rotor blades striking the tower is reduced, but the amount of energy that can be captured by the rotor blades is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coning function is segmented from the rotor blade and hub structure, and implemented by a separate annular insert component. This allows the coning angle to be adjusted independently of blade curvature modifications, maintaining energy capture while reducing strike risk.
Solution Approach 2:
An annular insert is introduced as an intermediary component between the hub and rotor blades to provide the coning angle. This mediator allows the rotor blades to be angled away from the tower without modifying the blades themselves or the hub flange, thus preserving energy capture characteristics.
2Reliability
If the hub flange or rotor blade root is angled at a cone angle, then the rotor blades are angled away from the tower, but stress and ovalization concerns occur in these components
Solution Approach 1:
The coning function is separated from the critical load-bearing components (hub flange and rotor blade root) and implemented by a dedicated annular insert. This segmentation prevents stress and ovalization in the original components while still achieving the desired cone angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular insert acts as an intermediary that absorbs the coning function, preventing direct stress application to the hub flange and rotor blade root. The insert is designed to handle the angular orientation without causing ovalization concerns in the connected components.
3Reliability
If spacers are attached between rotor blade and hub to provide cone angle, then the rotor blades are angled away from the tower, but component stress, ovalization, and rotor blade wobbling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The annular insert performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the cone angle, ensures proper rotor blade alignment, facilitates bearing assembly inclusion, and enables pitch adjustment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spacers and their associated stability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular insert serves as a comprehensive intermediary component that replaces multiple separate spacer elements. It provides a unified, stable structure that angles the rotor blades while maintaining proper alignment and preventing wobbling during operation.
4Reliability
If conventional coning methods are used, then rotor blades are angled away from the tower, but the need to pitch rotor blades during operation is not adequately addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The annular insert is designed to simultaneously provide cone angle and facilitate pitch adjustment functionality. It includes features such as bearing assembly inclusion and drive assembly integration, allowing the rotor blades to be both angled and pitched during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert design enables dynamic pitch adjustment of the rotor blades while maintaining the static cone angle orientation. The bearing assemblies and drive assemblies integrated into the insert allow the blades to rotate about the pitch axis during operation, providing adaptability to varying wind conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotor 18 for a wind turbine 10 is disclosed. The rotor 18 includes a hub 20, a rotor blade 22, and a bearing assembly 50 configured to rotate the rotor blade 22 with respect to the hub 20. The rotor 18 further includes an insert 100, the insert including a first end 102, a second end 104, and a body 106 extending therebetween. The first end 102 is coupled to the hub 20 and the second end 104 is coupled to the bearing assembly 50. The second end 104 defines a second plane 118 oriented at a cone angle 119 with respect to a first plane 116 defmed by the first end 102.