Curved Wing-tip Device for Vortex Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wing and blade profiles face challenges in reducing vortices and induced drag, particularly at compressible speeds, leading to inefficiencies in energy production and increased noise in wind and tidal turbines, as well as aircraft wings.
Innovation Solution
A device with a curved leading edge and trailing edge, featuring a cylindrical part with helical slots and a profiled longitudinal opening, utilizes the Coandă effect to redirect overpressures and eliminate mini-vortices by incorporating a COANDA effect, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cylindrical wing tip device with helical slots is used, then energy efficiency increases by approximately 14% at wind speeds of 10 m/s, but at compressible speeds, the device creates weak vorticity at the leading edge and overpressure exceeds the cylinder inlet, forming mini-vortices at the trailing edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the leading edge (forming an ogive shape) and trailing edge (forming a rounded or flattened shape) of the cylindrical wing tip device. This curvature modification redirects the airflow using the Coandă effect, preventing overpressure from exceeding the inlet and eliminating the formation of mini-vortices at the trailing edge while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of the original cylindrical design with helical slots
2Power
If the cylindrical device is applied to wind turbines, then energy production increases, but noise levels increase due to vortex effects acting on the entire tip extent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful vortex effect into a beneficial flow control mechanism by applying curvature to the leading and trailing edges. The curved surfaces utilize the Coandă effect to attach and redirect the airflow in a controlled manner, transforming the previously harmful vortex generation into a useful flow attachment that reduces noise while maintaining enhanced energy production
3Ease of manufacture
If the wing tip device is designed with standard angles at leading and trailing edges, then manufacturing is simplified, but at compressible speeds, disruptive effects occur that reduce efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces standard angular edges with curved surfaces - an ogive-shaped leading edge and a rounded or flattened trailing edge. While these curved geometries require more sophisticated manufacturing processes compared to simple angular cuts, they eliminate the disruptive flow effects at compressible speeds, thereby maintaining high energy efficiency. The manufacturing complexity is justified by the significant performance improvement
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 significantly reduces vortices and enhances energy efficiency by up to 14% at wind speeds of 10 m/s, with potential for further improvement, and can be applied to various profiles in fluid environments, including wind, tidal turbines, and aircraft wings.
Implementation Method 1
the curvatures proposed at this level by the present invention will, by the COANDA effect thus obtained, reduce or even cancel these disruptive effects
Data Source
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AI summary
Wing-tip device for the tip of a wing or the blade of a wind generator or of a marine generator that makes it possible to reduce or even cancel what are known as wing-tip vortices. In the case of a wind generator, the result provides a start-up with less wind, control and energy efficiency that are highly productive throughout its use while at the same time significantly reducing the noise caused by the vortex.