Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Vortex Generator Lift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades can increase the maximum lift coefficient to undesirable levels, leading to increased structural loading and stability requirements, especially for clean blades, while providing limited benefits for soiled blades due to their uniform effect on lift across all angles of attack.
Innovation Solution
A rotor blade design featuring a main vortex generator and a secondary vortex generator, where the secondary generator is configured to reduce or neutralize the impact of the main generator for small boundary layer thicknesses, becoming inactive for larger thicknesses, thus allowing the main generator's effect to be 'switched' based on the blade's cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional vortex generators are installed on the rotor blade, then the lift coefficient is increased, but the structural loading and stability requirements are excessively increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static vortex generator configuration to a dynamic one where the secondary vortex generator can be selectively deactivated. This allows the lift enhancement to be dynamically adjusted based on blade condition, preventing excessive structural loading while maintaining aerodynamic benefits when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameter of the vortex generators by introducing a deactivatable secondary generator. This parameter change allows the system to switch between different lift enhancement levels, optimizing the balance between aerodynamic performance and structural loading based on real-time blade conditions.
2Force
If conventional vortex generators are installed on the rotor blade, then the maximum lift is increased, but the rotor blade experiences excessive loading requiring structural stability review
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic control over lift generation by allowing selective deactivation of the secondary vortex generator. This prevents the maximum lift from reaching levels that would compromise structural stability, while still providing lift enhancement when blade conditions warrant it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors that monitor blade condition and boundary layer thickness. This feedback controls the activation state of the secondary vortex generator, ensuring that maximum lift is enhanced only when appropriate, thereby maintaining structural stability while optimizing aerodynamic performance.
3Productivity
If multiple vortex generators are aligned in spanwise or chordwise direction, then the aerodynamic effect is enhanced, but the structural loading and stability requirements are further increased
Solution Approach 1:
The aligned vortex generator configuration is made dynamic through the selective deactivation capability of the secondary generator. This allows the aerodynamic effect to be enhanced when needed while preventing excessive structural loading by reducing the active vortex generation when blade conditions do not warrant full enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the aligned vortex generators by introducing controllable activation states. This allows the aerodynamic effect to be modulated based on blade conditions, optimizing the balance between productivity enhancement and structural loading management.
4Adaptability or versatility
If vortex generators are used to increase lift coefficient, then the wind turbine can operate at larger angles of attack, but the structural loading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of lift enhancement based on operating conditions. The secondary vortex generator can be deactivated when the blade is clean and operating at optimal angles, preventing excessive structural loading while maintaining the expanded operating range capability when blade conditions require it.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by introducing controllable activation states for the vortex generators. This allows the operating range to be maintained while structurally loading is managed through parameter adjustment based on real-time blade conditions and operating angles.
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
This design enhances the lift-to-drag ratio for clean blades while maintaining performance for soiled blades, reducing the risk of excessive structural loading by dynamically adjusting the vortex generator's impact based on the blade's condition, thereby optimizing aerodynamic efficiency and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a main vortex generator which is configured to generate a main vortex
Implementation Method 2
a secondary vortex generator, which is configured to generate a second vortex
Implementation Method 3
for a boundary layer thickness which is smaller than the height of the secondary vortex generator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to rotor blade (20) of a wind turbine (10) and to a wind turbine (10) comprising at least one of such rotor blades (20). The rotor blade (20) comprises a main vortex generator (30) being configured to generate a main vortex (301), and a secondary vortex generator (40) being configured to generate a second vortex (401). The height of the main vortex generator (30) is greater than the height of the secondary vortex generator (40). Furthermore, the main vortex generator (30) and the secondary vortex generator (40) are configured and arranged such with regard to each other that - for a boundary layer thickness (52) being smaller than the height of the secondary vortex generator (40), the secondary vortex generator (40) reduces, in particular neutralizes, the impact of the main vortex generator (30) on the lift of the rotor blade (20), and - for a boundary layer thickness (52) being larger than the height of the secondary vortex generator (40), the lift of the rotor blade (20) is substantially unaffected by the presence of the secondary vortex generator (40).