Curved Vortex Generator Platform for Wind Turbine Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vortex generators on wind turbine blades tend to fall off due to stress from deformation, leading to reduced aerodynamic performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vortex generator with a platform portion having a curved convex cross-section along the blade spanwise direction, allowing for deformation and stress dispersion, and optionally an adhesive-agent layer for enhanced adhesion, reduces the risk of falling off and improves adhesion properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vortex generator with a platform portion is mounted to a wind turbine blade surface, then aerodynamic performance is improved by suppressing flow separation, but the platform portion experiences great stress from blade deformation causing the vortex generator to fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The platform portion is designed with a curved convex cross-section shape that matches the curvature of the wind turbine blade surface. This curved geometry allows the platform to deform flexibly with the blade during operation, distributing mechanical stress along the curved surface rather than concentrating it at rigid attachment points, thereby preventing detachment while maintaining aerodynamic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the platform portion from a conventional flat or straight cross-section to a curved convex shape. This parameter change enables the platform to accommodate blade deformation through elastic bending, transforming the stress distribution pattern and improving both reliability and stress resistance simultaneously
2Manufacturing precision
If the platform portion is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the vortex generator cannot accommodate blade deformation and falls off
Solution Approach 1:
The curved convex cross-section provides a geometric solution that maintains manufacturing precision while enabling deformation accommodation. The curvature is designed to match the blade surface geometry, allowing the platform to bend elastically with the blade during operation, thus preventing detachment while maintaining structural integrity and precise geometry
3Strength
If adhesive agents are added to enhance bonding, then attachment strength is improved, but the complexity of the vortex generator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved convex cross-section design provides a geometric solution that inherently distributes stress and accommodates deformation, reducing the need for additional adhesive agents or complex bonding mechanisms. This geometric approach maintains attachment strength while avoiding the complexity associated with multi-component adhesive systems or complex assembly procedures
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of vortex generator detachment and enhances the long-term efficiency of wind turbine blades by dispersing stress and improving adhesion, thereby maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
the platform portion is deformable in accordance with bending deformation of the wind turbine blade, and thereby it is possible to disperse stress generated at the platform portion
Implementation Method 2
an adhesive-agent layer for filling at least a gap between the back surface of the platform portion and the surface of the wind turbine blade, and fixing the platform portion to the surface of the wind turbine blade
Data Source
AI summary
A vortex generator for a wind turbine blade to be mounted to a wind turbine blade includes: a platform portion to be mounted to a surface of the wind turbine blade; and at least one fin disposed upright on the platform portion. The platform portion has a cross section having a curved convex shape, at least along a blade spanwise direction of the wind turbine blade.