Wind Turbine Blade Flow Deflector Radial Tangential Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine blades are limited in efficiency due to the conversion of air flow into radial components, which reduces torque and power production, as the radial flow does not contribute to the rotor's torque or power, and longer blades increase material and transportation costs while shorter blades may not produce enough torque in low winds.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flow deflectors on the pressure or suction surface of the blades to redirect the radial flow into a tangential force, increasing torque and power extraction by converting radial flow into additional tangential force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If longer blades are used to increase energy production in low winds, then power production is improved, but material costs, manufacture costs, and transportation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow direction parameter by introducing deflectors that redirect radial flow into tangential flow, thereby improving power extraction efficiency without changing blade length, thus avoiding increased manufacturing and transportation costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies flow deflectors at specific locations on the blade surfaces (pressure and suction sides) to locally redirect flow, creating beneficial tangential force components without requiring overall blade length increases
2Ease of manufacture
If shorter blades are used to reduce material and transportation costs, then manufacture and transportation costs are reduced, but torque production in low winds decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow direction parameter using deflectors to convert radial flow into tangential flow, increasing torque production efficiency per unit blade area, thereby compensating for reduced blade length
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful radial flow component (which does not contribute to torque) into a beneficial tangential force component that directly contributes to torque and power production
3Device complexity
If conventional blade design is used, then blade simplicity is maintained, but efficiency is reduced due to radial flow components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blade surface into distinct regions with flow deflectors positioned on both the pressure and suction sides, allowing independent optimization of flow control while maintaining overall blade structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flow deflectors as intermediary elements between the incoming radial flow and the blade surface, which mediate the flow direction to produce beneficial tangential forces without complex control systems
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 flow deflectors enhance the overall efficiency of wind turbines by converting radial flow into tangential force, thereby increasing torque and power production without requiring additional control systems, and can be retrofitted or integrated into various blade designs.
Implementation Method 1
The flow deflectors are positioned on the pressure surface or the suction surface of the blade and redirect the radial flow WR into a tangential force, thereby increasing the torque and power extracted by the turbine
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An airfoil blade assembly including a blade which includes a lift generating section with a first profiled body defined between a pressure surface and a suction surface. The first profiled body extends from a first leading edge to a first trailing edge with a first chord extending form the first leading edge to the first trailing edge and being perpendicular to the radial direction. At least one flow deflector extends along either the pressure surface or the suction surface within the lift generating section of the blade. The at least one flow deflector defines a second profiled body extending between a second leading edge and a second trailing edge with a second chord extending between the second leading edge and the second trailing edge. The second profiled body defines an outer surface facing away from respective pressure surface or suction surface along which the flow deflector extends.