Extendable Wind Turbine Blade Segmentation Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern wind turbines face inefficiencies in energy production at low wind speeds due to fixed blade lengths, and existing telescoping designs are complex and heavy, increasing manufacturing costs and weight.

Innovation Solution

An extendable wind turbine blade design that can be segmented into two parts with a connection mechanism, allowing the blade to extend or retract based on operational thresholds, such as wind speed or power generation, to optimize energy capture between cut-in and rated speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a telescoping blade design is used to increase blade length at low wind speeds, then energy capture capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy capture capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into two separate segments (first blade segment and second blade segment) that can be manufactured independently and then connected. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized separately and simplifies the overall manufacturing process compared to traditional telescoping designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second blade segment is positioned within or alongside the first blade segment in a nested arrangement, allowing the blade to extend and retract smoothly while maintaining a compact structure when retracted. This nesting approach reduces the need for complex external housing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If a telescoping blade design is used to increase blade length at low wind speeds, then energy capture capability is improved, but weight increases due to duplicated shell surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy capture capabilityVSAvoidblade weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the blade into two segments with a connection mechanism, the design eliminates the need for duplicated shell surfaces required in traditional telescoping designs. Each segment has its own optimized shell, reducing overall weight while maintaining extendability functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed length blades are used, then manufacturing is simple, but energy production at low wind speeds is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidenergy production at low wind speeds

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade transitions from a fixed length design to a dynamic extendable design where the blade length can change based on operating conditions. The connection mechanism allows the blade to extend to a second length (at least 101% of the first length) during low wind speed operation, optimizing energy capture while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If blade length is increased to capture more wind energy, then energy production increases, but structural loads and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy productionVSAvoidstructural loads

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The blade system dynamically adjusts its length based on wind conditions. During low wind speed operation, the blade extends to increase the swept area and energy capture. During high wind speed operation, the blade retracts to reduce structural loads on the rotor and tower, allowing the use of smaller, less expensive structural components while maintaining the capability for high energy production when conditions are favorable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11885293B2Extendable wind turbine blade

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 LM WIND POWER AS

AI summary

An extendable wind turbine blade for being extended in length during operation thereof, the wind turbine blade having an exterior surface with a root region and an airfoil region and comprising a first blade segment including a first portion of the exterior surface, a second blade segment including a second portion of the exterior surface, and a connection mechanism connecting the blade segments, and being configured to bring the wind turbine blade to a retracted state, in which the portions of the exterior surface are flush and adjoining, when the wind turbine blade operates above a threshold rotational speed and to bring the wind turbine blade to an extended state, in which the portions of the exterior surface are disconnected and the blade length is at least 101% of the blade length in the retracted state, when the wind turbine blade operates below the threshold rotational speed.