Wind Turbine Blade Trailing Edge Buckling Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbine blades face buckling issues due to edgewise loading, which is exacerbated by increased length, leading to noise and aerodynamic performance degradation, and existing solutions either increase noise or require sacrificial components.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine blade design featuring a rigid structural component with a non-actively controllable elastically deformable trailing edge component made from a material with an elastic modulus of 0.5 to 2.5 GPa, combined with a unidirectional reinforcing layer extending in a substantially spanwise direction, allowing the trailing edge to buckle under extreme loads without compromising aerodynamic performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thickness of the undercamber is increased to prevent buckling of the trailing edge, then the rigidity of the blade is improved, but the noise level increases and aerodynamic performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of the trailing edgeVSAvoidnoise level

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge is divided into two separate components: a structural component that provides rigidity and resists buckling, and a fairing component that maintains aerodynamic profile and reduces noise. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The trailing edge assembly combines different materials with complementary properties: the structural component uses rigid materials (such as glass fibre reinforced plastic or carbon fibre reinforced plastic) to prevent buckling, while the fairing component uses materials that maintain aerodynamic smoothness and reduce noise generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the thickness of the trailing edge is increased to prevent buckling, then the structural stability is improved, but the aerodynamic performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stability of the trailing edgeVSAvoidaerodynamic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The structural component is designed with sufficient thickness and reinforcement (using materials like glass fibre or carbon fibre reinforced plastic) specifically at the trailing edge region where buckling resistance is critical, while the fairing component maintains a thin, aerodynamically optimized profile that minimizes drag and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If a sacrificial plastic element is added to the trailing edge to prevent vortex shedding, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevortex sheddingVSAvoidblade structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fairing component is integrated with the structural component to form a unified trailing edge assembly. The fairing is mounted within a recess of the structural component and secured using retaining features such as protrusions, grooves, or adhesive, creating a combined structure that prevents vortex shedding without requiring separate sacrificial elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design decouples noise reduction and structural rigidity, preventing permanent buckling and maintaining aerodynamic performance during extreme conditions without increasing noise levels, and allows for easy replacement of the trailing edge component if damaged.

Implementation Method 1

a non-actively controllable elastically deformable trailing edge component mounted on the structural component to complete the aerodynamic profile, wherein the trailing edge component is formed from a material having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 GPa such that it will elastically buckle when loading on the trailing edge component exceeds a predetermined threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9970412B2Wind turbine blade

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 BLADE DYNAMICS LTD

AI summary

A wind turbine blade comprising a fairing with a rigid structural component (12) which forms the majority of the aerodynamic profile and a non-actively controllable elastically deformable trailing edge component (14) mounted on the structural component to complete the aerodynamic profile. The trailing edge component (14) is formed from a material having an elastic modulus in the range of 0.5 to 2.5 GPa such it will elastically buckle when loading on the trailing edge component exceeds a predetermined threshold. The structural component (12) comprises a unidirectional reinforcing layer adjacent to the trailing edge component with at least one layer of unidirectional fibers (26) extending in a substantially spanwise direction.