Offshore Turbine Hub and Flap-Controlled Blades for Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines face challenges in increasing power generation capacity without significant increases in dimensions and weight, leading to increased construction costs, environmental impact, and inefficiencies due to varying wind conditions and structural loads.
Innovation Solution
A system with a T-shaped hub and propeller blades equipped with flaps regulated by actuators, allowing for adjustable rotation angles and generator engagement/disengagement, optimized by a central control unit to adapt to varying wind conditions, reducing loads and oscillations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the propeller diameter is increased to increase power generation capacity, then the swept area increases (power increases with scale in power of two), but the weight of the structure elements and propeller blades increases (weight increases with scale in power close to 3)
Solution Approach 1:
The propeller blades are divided into multiple sections along their length, with each section independently adjustable. This segmentation allows the blade to be optimized for different operating conditions without requiring a complete redesign of the entire blade, thereby managing weight while maintaining power generation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The propeller blade sections are made dynamically adjustable through flaps and actuators that can change the angle of attack of each section in real-time. This dynamic capability allows the blade to adapt to varying wind conditions, optimizing power extraction without requiring a larger fixed blade size, thus avoiding proportional weight increases.
2Power
If the propeller diameter is increased to increase power generation capacity, then more wind energy can be captured, but the deflection of propeller blades increases due to greater distance from the mast
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the blade into sections with independent control allows each segment to be optimized for its specific position and load conditions, reducing overall blade deflection while maintaining large diameter for power capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of attack of each blade section can be changed dynamically to optimize performance and reduce deflection under varying wind loads, allowing the use of larger diameters without proportional increases in blade deflection.
3Power
If the propeller diameter is increased to increase power generation capacity, then the propeller meets greater variations in wind velocity from lower to upper positions, but the weight and mass inertia of the blades increase making rapid rotation for angle regulation too difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Segmenting the blade allows smaller, lighter sections to be controlled independently, reducing the mass inertia that must be rotated for angle regulation while maintaining the overall large diameter for power capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation of entire heavy blades with a system of flaps and actuators that can quickly adjust the angle of attack of individual sections, enabling rapid response to wind velocity variations without moving the entire blade mass.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixedly connected propeller blades are used to avoid rapid rotation issues, then structural simplicity is improved, but the ability to quickly adjust blade angle for optimal lift changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is segmented into sections with independent flap control, providing adaptability to varying wind conditions while maintaining a fundamentally simple fixed-blade structure that is easier to manufacture than fully rotating blades.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall blade structure remains fixed and simple, dynamic adjustment capabilities are incorporated through flaps on each section, allowing the system to adapt to varying wind conditions without requiring complex rotating mechanisms.
5Productivity
If multiple standardized units are deployed to increase production capacity, then total power output increases, but the environmental impact and area occupation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter from number of units to size and efficiency of individual units. By optimizing each turbine to extract maximum power from available wind resources through adjustable blade sections, fewer units are needed to achieve the same total output, reducing environmental impact and area occupation.
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
Enhances power generation efficiency and reduces structural loads and environmental footprint by optimizing propeller blade angles and generator usage, enabling efficient energy conversion under varying wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The swept area of the propeller, which traps the wind and is the basis for energy production
Implementation Method 2
wind turbines for electrical power generation... utilizing wind to generate power
Implementation Method 3
generators on a common shaft in a generator housing... contribute to the torque of the generators
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
This document describes an offshore power generating system comprising a T-shaped hub connected to propeller blades and generators on a common shaft in a generator housing. The hub transfers the variable torque of the respective propeller blades, with flaps to a common shaft where generators are connected by means of couplings.