Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Drain Hole Plug Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine rotor blades face issues with water accumulation due to condensation or ingress, which can freeze and damage the blades if not properly drained, and existing drain holes are too small to effectively manage debris and maintenance access.
Innovation Solution
A rotor blade design featuring a removable plug-like closing means for a drain hole with a larger diameter, allowing water drainage and multifunctional use for maintenance, inspection, and air pressure application, while being easily removable and resealable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a small diameter drain hole is used, then water drainage function is provided, but maintenance access and debris removal are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hole is made dynamically adjustable by introducing a removable plug that can be inserted to close the hole during operation and removed during maintenance. This allows the drain hole to transition between a closed state (preventing debris ingress) and an open state (providing access for cleaning and inspection), resolving the contradiction between maintaining a small hole and enabling maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain hole serves multiple functions: it acts as a water drainage outlet during operation, and as a maintenance access point when the plug is removed. The same opening is used for both drainage and for inserting tools like vacuum cleaners or cameras for inspection, making the structure multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate access holes.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a permanently open drain hole is provided, then water can be drained, but noise and dirt ingress occur
Solution Approach 1:
The plug provides a dynamic closure mechanism that can be inserted to seal the drain hole during operation, preventing noise and dirt ingress, while being removable when water drainage is needed. This dynamic state change allows the system to alternate between a sealed state (reducing harmful factors) and an open state (maintaining drainage function).
Solution Approach 2:
The plug is extracted as a separate removable component that can be taken out when needed. During normal operation, the plug remains in place to close the drain hole and prevent noise and dirt ingress. When water drainage is required, the plug is removed, extracting the closure function temporarily to allow water to drain while maintaining the benefit of a closed hole during operation.
3Ease of operation
If a large diameter drain hole is used, then maintenance access is improved, but structural integrity and noise reduction are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drain hole maintains its large diameter for easy maintenance access, but the plug provides a dynamic closure mechanism that seals the hole during operation. This prevents the large opening from compromising structural integrity or causing noise, while still allowing easy access during maintenance when the plug is removed.
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 efficient water drainage, improved maintenance access, and noise reduction through a larger drain hole that can accommodate various tools and materials, enhancing the durability and operational efficiency of wind turbine rotor blades.
Implementation Method 1
water can accumulate in the blade body due to condensation or a direct ingress, which water needs to be drained
Implementation Method 2
the drain hole is closed with a removable plug-like closing means having at least one drain bore
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
Rotor blade for a wind turbine (30), comprising an at least partially hollow blade body (2) extending from a root to a tip (4), which blade body (2) is provided with at least one drain hole (6) connecting the hollow inner (3) with the outer surrounding, which drain hole (6) is positioned in an area close to the tip (4), characterised in that the drain hole (6) is closed with a removable plug-like closing means (7) having at least one drain bore (8).