Retractable Vibration Mitigation Device for Wind Turbine Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience excessive vibrations when parked, leading to stress and potential damage due to varying wind conditions, especially during installation or maintenance, where existing vibration mitigation devices may not effectively adapt to changing wind directions and can be difficult to install and remove safely.
Innovation Solution
A vibration mitigating device with retractable and extendable air flow modifying elements that can be configured to change its exposure to wind, allowing for safer installation and adaptation to varying wind conditions, reducing the risk of damage and improving vibration control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibration mitigation devices are installed on wind turbine blades, then vibrations are reduced, but the risk of damage to the device and blade increases during installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mitigation device incorporates movable air flow modifying elements that can dynamically change their position and configuration. During installation and removal, these elements can be retracted or positioned to minimize exposure to wind forces, reducing the risk of damage. During operation, the elements are extended to effectively mitigate vibrations, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and installation safety.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed vibration mitigation devices are used, then installation is simpler, but the devices cannot adapt to varying wind conditions when the turbine is parked
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic system where air flow modifying elements can move and adjust their configuration based on wind conditions. This allows the device to maintain effectiveness across varying wind speeds and directions while still being relatively simple to install, as the movement mechanism is integrated into the device structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its physical parameters (position, orientation, configuration of air flow modifying elements) in response to varying wind conditions. This allows the same device structure to adapt to different operational scenarios without requiring multiple different devices, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving adaptability.
3Reliability
If large vibration mitigation devices are installed, then vibration control is improved, but the devices are more difficult to install and remove safely
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration mitigation device is divided into multiple air flow modifying elements that can move independently or in groups. This segmentation allows the large device to be installed and removed in a controlled manner, with elements that can be positioned to minimize wind resistance during these operations, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining vibration control effectiveness.
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 device effectively mitigates vortex induced and stall induced vibrations by adapting its configuration to changing wind conditions, reducing the risk of damage to the wind turbine and its components, and facilitating safer installation and removal processes.
Implementation Method 1
the present disclosure relates to devices for reducing vortex induced vibrations and stall induced vibrations
Implementation Method 2
the present disclosure relates to devices for reducing vortex induced vibrations and stall induced vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration mitigating device for engagement with a wind turbine blade includes an air flow modifying element that is configurable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. A frame is attachable to and has a fixed length in a span-wise direction of the wind turbine blade. The air flow modifying element is movable along the frame between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration. In the retracted configuration, the modifying element extends between the blade tip and the blade root with a first spanwise length, and in the extended configuration the modifying element extends between the blade tip and the blade root with a second, greater spanwise length.