Deformable Trailing Edge Actuators for Wind Turbine Load Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wind turbine blade control systems, such as pitch systems and trailing edge flaps, are slow to react to sudden changes in wind conditions, leading to inefficient load management and aerodynamic inefficiencies due to flow separation.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine blade with a deformable trailing edge section equipped with consecutively arranged actuators connected by rigid links, providing two degrees of freedom for shape modification, allowing for instantaneous adjustment of airfoil geometry to mitigate loads without complicating the blade structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pitch systems are used to adapt blade position to varying wind conditions, then the wind turbine can adjust to varying wind speed, but the control is slow and cannot react to sudden wind gusts or high rate changing wind conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying wind conditionsVSAvoidcontrol response speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge is made deformable through integrated actuators that can dynamically change the blade's aerodynamic shape in real-time. This allows the blade to adapt its geometry instantaneously to changing wind conditions, replacing the slow mechanical pitch system with a dynamic shape-changing mechanism that responds rapidly to wind gusts and varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a trailing edge flap hinged to a main body is used to change aerodynamics, then the blade aerodynamics can be modified, but flow separation occurs causing abrupt aerodynamic changes that decrease load alleviation and reduce efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic modification capabilityVSAvoidaerodynamic stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge incorporates a flexible deformable section with integrated actuators that can smoothly adjust the blade's aerodynamic shape. This flexible structure eliminates the abrupt changes and flow separation associated with hinged flaps, providing continuous and controlled aerodynamic modification while maintaining flow attachment and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuators are arranged consecutively with rigid links to provide two degrees of freedom for trailing edge deformation, then the blade shape can be widely changed to mitigate loads, but the blade structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape modification capabilityVSAvoidblade structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple actuators are nested consecutively within the trailing edge section, with each actuator positioned along the spanwise direction and connected by rigid links. This nested arrangement allows the system to achieve two degrees of freedom for comprehensive shape control while containing all components within the existing trailing edge structure, minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuators are arranged in a spanwise dimension rather than only chordwise, creating a distributed control system along the blade span. This dimensional arrangement enables independent control of different trailing edge sections, providing two degrees of freedom for shape modification while distributing the complexity across multiple locations rather than concentrating it in one area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enables smooth and efficient adjustment of aerodynamic profiles to manage loads effectively, reducing the impact of sudden wind gusts and maintaining efficiency by allowing for various combinations of flap angle and chord length modifications.

Implementation Method 1

continuous variation of the airfoil geometry in the leading edge region and trailing edge region along part or the whole blade span... changing the blade section aerodynamic forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic force variation through geometry change: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS9759191B2Wind turbine blade

Publication Date: 2017.09.12 GE RENEWABLE TECH WIND BV

AI summary

Wind turbine blade comprising at least one deformable trailing edge section having a plurality of actuators consecutively arranged substantially downstream from one another and a control system for controlling the actuators, wherein a downstream end of one actuator is connected by a substantially rigid link with an upstream end of the next actuator and the plurality of actuators comprises an upper actuator being mounted above a chord line of the blade section and a lower actuator being mounted below a chord line of the blade section. Wind turbines comprising such a blade and methods of controlling loads on a wind turbine blade are also described.