Wind Turbine Blade Flow Deflectors for Torque

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbine blades are limited in efficiency due to the conversion of radial air flow into radial force, which does not contribute to torque or power production, and longer blades increase material and transportation costs while shorter blades may not generate enough torque in low winds.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating flow deflectors along the pressure and suction surfaces of the blades to redirect the radial component of airflow, converting it into a tangential force and increasing torque and power production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If longer blades are used to increase energy production in low winds, then power output is improved, but material costs, manufacture costs, and transportation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidmanufacture and transportation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the flow direction parameter by introducing deflectors that redirect radial airflow into tangential flow, thereby improving power output without changing blade length or other physical parameters that would increase manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If longer blades are used to increase swept area, then energy production is improved, but rotor design complexity and structural support requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswept areaVSAvoid rotor design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the airflow parameter by converting radial component into tangential component through deflectors, achieving increased energy production from existing swept area without requiring more complex rotor structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If shorter blades are used to reduce material costs, then manufacture costs are reduced, but torque production in low winds decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costsVSAvoidtorque production

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful radial flow component (which produces no torque) into a beneficial tangential force through deflectors, enabling shorter blades to generate sufficient torque in low winds without increasing material costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Device complexity

If conventional blade design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but efficiency is limited due to radial flow losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidoverall efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the airflow into controlled paths using multiple deflectors positioned at different locations and angles, redirecting radial flow components into tangential flow to improve efficiency while maintaining relatively simple blade structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 integration of flow deflectors enhances the conversion of radial airflow into additional torque, thereby increasing the overall power produced by wind turbines without requiring significant changes to existing designs or adding control systems.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of flow deflectors are positioned along a length of the blade so that a radial component of velocity of an incoming airflow is redirected to produce an additional amount of torque on a rotor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow redirection:

Implementation Method 2

The blade includes a lift generating section with a first profile body defined between a pressure surface and a suction surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLift generation: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS10161252B2Blade flow deflector

Publication Date: 2018.12.25 RUTGERS THE STATE UNIV

AI summary

A 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 profile 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. A plurality of flow deflectors extend along either the pressure surface or the suction surface within the lift generating section of the blade. The plurality of flow deflectors define a second profile 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 profile body defines an outer surface extending vertically from a base portion of the plurality of flow deflectors such that the base portion is configured to be disposed on the respective pressure surface or suction surface along which the plurality of flow deflectors extend therefrom.