Wind Turbine Blade Vibration Mitigation Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience excessive vibrations when parked, leading to stress and potential damage due to varying wind conditions, especially during installation, commissioning, or maintenance, where the blades are not fully operational and cannot adjust to wind direction.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising proximal and distal supports with a barrier extending between them, configured to surround a wind turbine blade and maintain a gap between the barrier and the blade surface, modifying airflow to reduce vortex and stall-induced vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wind turbine blades are made increasingly longer to capture more wind, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but blade flexibility increases and vibration susceptibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration mitigation device is introduced as an intermediary element between the wind turbine blade and the harmful vibrations. The device includes a barrier extending between proximal and distal supports that interact with airflow to reduce vortex-induced and stall-induced vibrations, thereby protecting the blade without requiring structural modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the airflow parameters around the blade by introducing a barrier that modifies flow patterns. This alters the aerodynamic conditions that cause vibrations, reducing the harmful effects while maintaining the blade's length and energy capture capabilities
2Object-affected harmful factors
If auxiliary drive systems such as pitch or yaw systems are operated to reduce loads on blades during operation, then vibration control is improved, but the systems become unavailable when the wind turbine is parked
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mitigation device provides self-service by passively modifying airflow around the blade without requiring active control systems. The barrier automatically interacts with wind flow to reduce vibrations in both operated and parked conditions, eliminating dependency on auxiliary drive systems
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier acts as a passive intermediary that continuously mitigates vibrations regardless of turbine operational state. Unlike active pitch or yaw systems, this device provides continuous protection during both operation and parked conditions including installation and maintenance phases
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a device with barrier close to blade surface is used to maximize airflow modification, then vibration mitigation effectiveness is improved, but risk of contact damage to blade increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier serves as a mediator that modifies airflow without contacting the blade. The proximal and distal supports position the barrier at an optimized distance from the blade surface, maintaining effective vibration mitigation while preventing direct contact that could cause damage
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the interaction from direct contact (one-dimensional surface contact) to three-dimensional airflow modification. The barrier operates in the fluid domain rather than requiring mechanical contact, reducing damage risk while maintaining mitigation effectiveness
4Object-affected harmful factors
If complex active control systems are used to mitigate vibrations during parked conditions, then vibration control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mitigation device operates passively without requiring complex control systems, sensors, or power sources. The barrier automatically interacts with airflow to reduce vibrations, providing simple and cost-effective protection during parked, installation, and maintenance conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential vibration mitigation function from complex active control systems. By using a simple barrier structure that passively modifies airflow, it removes the need for sophisticated electronics, sensors, and control algorithms while maintaining effectiveness
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 device effectively mitigates vibrations by altering airflow patterns, reducing the risk of damage to the blades and other components, while being easy to mount and unmount, and can be used during installation, commissioning, or maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the wind may blow against the wind turbine from unusual directions... The airflow around the wind turbine may cause the wind turbine to vibrate
Implementation Method 2
A device... configured to surround a wind turbine blade and to provide a gap between the barrier of the device and a wind turbine blade surface... modifying airflow to reduce vortex and stall-induced vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to devices (300) for wind turbine blades (22) and methods for reducing vibrations in wind turbines (10). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices (300) for mitigating vortex induced vibrations and stall induced vibrations, wind turbine blades (22) comprising such devices (300), and methods for reducing wind turbine vibrations when the wind turbine (10) is parked, especially during wind turbine installation and/or maintenance. A device (300) comprises a proximal support (310) configured to be arranged around a first portion (221) of a wind turbine blade (22), a distal support (320) configured to be arranged around a second portion (222) of the wind turbine blade (22), and a barrier (330) extending between the proximal support (310) and the distal support (320). The first portion (221) of the wind turbine blade (22) is at a different longitudinal position along the blade (22) than the second portion (222). The proximal (310) and distal (320) supports are configured to provide a gap (350) between the barrier (330) and a wind turbine blade surface.