Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Layout for Lower Torque and Easier Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine rotor blades suffer from structural inefficiencies due to the shift of geometry and center of gravity towards the trailing edge, leading to handling difficulties, increased torque, flapwise bending loads, and structural demands, particularly in the curvature of the trailing edge during manufacture and operation.
Innovation Solution
The wind turbine rotor blade design offsets the maximum thickness chord position towards the leading edge in the main and tip sections, maintaining the aerodynamic performance while reducing torque and curvature, and shifting the center of gravity closer to the pitch axis for improved handling and reduced structural demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the maximum thickness chord position is aligned with the pitch axis (conventional design), then the structural performance is improved, but the center of gravity shifts towards the trailing edge causing handling difficulties and increased torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately offsetting the maximum thickness chord position from the pitch axis towards the leading edge. This asymmetric positioning creates a more favorable center of gravity location that improves handling characteristics while maintaining structural integrity through compensated design in other blade sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the maximum thickness chord position from the conventional pitch axis alignment to a leading edge offset position. This parameter change shifts the center of gravity forward, reducing torque and improving handling, while aerodynamic performance is maintained through adjusted airfoil section characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the maximum thickness chord position is offset towards the leading edge, then the center of gravity shifts improving handling, but the trailing edge curvature increases creating structural demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the trailing edge curvature and thickness distribution position-dependent. In the root section where structural demands are highest, the design maintains adequate thickness and controlled curvature. In the tip section where handling benefits are prioritized, the maximum thickness is offset further forward, allowing greater trailing edge curvature without compromising overall structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is segmented into different sections (root section and tip section) with different geometric characteristics. The root section maintains more conventional geometry for structural integrity, while the tip section employs the offset maximum thickness design for improved handling, allowing each section to be optimized for its primary function.
3Force
If the maximum thickness chord position is offset towards the leading edge, then torque is reduced, but the trailing edge curvature increases leading to manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the trailing edge curvature and thickness distribution position-dependent. In the root section where structural demands are highest, the design maintains adequate thickness and controlled curvature. In the tip section where handling benefits are prioritized, the maximum thickness is offset further forward, allowing greater trailing edge curvature without compromising overall structural performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is segmented into different sections (root section and tip section) with different geometric characteristics. The root section maintains more conventional geometry for structural integrity, while the tip section employs the offset maximum thickness design for improved handling, allowing each section to be optimized for its primary function.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wind turbine rotor blade comprising • a blade root, • a blade tip, • a blade length, • a tip section including the blade tip and extending over 5 % of the blade length or less, • a main section extending over 50 % of the blade length or more and ending at the tip section, and • a cross section having, at each position along the blade length, - a chord and - a maximum thickness at a maximum thickness chord position, • wherein the wind turbine rotor blade is designed to be operated with variable pitch angle, a design pitch angle being the angle at which the wind turbine rotor at a design tip speed ratio extracts maximum power from the wind, • wherein in a projection onto the rotor plane of the wind turbine rotor blade arranged at the design pitch angle, the maximum thickness chord position throughout the main section is offset from the pitch axis towards the leading edge.