Wind Turbine Blades Hinged at Intermediate Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wind turbines with pitch control mechanisms require maintenance, which can be challenging due to remote locations, leading to extensive downtime due to long transportation times for maintenance personnel and spare parts.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine design with hinged blades that automatically pivot inward at high wind speeds, reducing material usage and eliminating the need for complex control systems and mechanical parts, allowing for efficient energy extraction and adaptive rotor diameter adjustment based on wind speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pitch control mechanisms are used, then power output and load control can be achieved, but maintenance requirements increase and downtime extends due to remote location challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The blade's own weight and aerodynamic forces automatically control the pitch angle through the hinge mechanism, eliminating the need for external pitch control systems. The blade self-regulates its angle of attack based on rotational speed and wind conditions, providing passive pitch control that requires no maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the pitch control mechanism entirely from the system. By extracting the complex mechanical pitch control system including sensors, bearings, and drive units, the design eliminates the maintenance burden associated with these components while retaining pitch control functionality through passive aerodynamic means.
2Ease of operation
If pitch control mechanical parts are installed, then blade angle adjustment is possible, but maintenance difficulty increases due to remote wind turbine locations
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism utilizes the blade's inherent aerodynamic forces and weight to automatically adjust and maintain optimal pitch angles without requiring external mechanical actuators. This self-regulating system eliminates the need for maintenance personnel to access and service pitch control components at remote locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical pitch control systems with a passive hinge mechanism that relies on aerodynamic forces and gravity. This substitution eliminates mechanical parts such as pitch bearings, motors, and sensors that would require maintenance, while still achieving effective blade angle control.
3Quantity of substance
If intermediate hinge position is used, then material usage is reduced, but aerodynamic profile complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is positioned at an intermediate location along the blade span where the aerodynamic and structural requirements are optimized. This local placement allows the blade root and tip sections to have different structural characteristics, reducing overall material usage while maintaining effective aerodynamic performance through the varied chord distribution along the blade length.
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 hinged blade design reduces maintenance requirements, enables efficient energy extraction, and automatically adjusts the rotor diameter in response to wind speed, minimizing downtime and maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the wind turbine blades defines an aerodynamic profile having a chord which varies along a length of the wind turbine blade
Implementation Method 2
the wind turbine blades are automatically and efficiently folded inwards at high wind speeds and/or high rotational speeds
Implementation Method 3
high wind speeds and/or high rotational speeds
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine (1) comprising a tower (2), a nacelle (3) and a hub (7) is disclosed. The hub (7) comprises a blade carrying structure (4) with one or more wind turbine blades (5) connected thereto. Each of the wind turbine blades (5) defines an aerodynamic profile having a chord which varies along a length of the wind turbine blade (5). Each of the wind turbine blades (5) is connected to the blade carrying structure (4) via a hinge (6) at a hinge position of the wind turbine blade (5), each wind turbine blade (5) thereby being arranged to perform pivot movements relative to the blade carrying structure (4) between a minimum pivot angle and a maximum pivot angle. The hinge position is arranged at a distance from the inner tip end (5a) and at a distance from the outer tip end (5b), and the chord at the hinge position is larger than or equal to the chord at the inner tip end (5a) and larger than the chord at the outer tip end (5b).