Wind Turbine Trailing Edge Laminates for Controlled Gust Deflection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbine blades face challenges in balancing aerodynamic efficiency and structural integrity, particularly in responding to severe gust loads that cause structural stress and fatigue, leading to inefficient energy conversion.

Innovation Solution

A passive trailing edge assembly using a composite structure with differentially configured composite layers, each with unique elasticity parameters, allows for controlled buckling and deflection under mechanical forces, restoring to its original shape upon load removal, enhancing aerodynamic performance and reducing structural stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional wind turbine blades are designed with high structural integrity to resist severe gust loads, then structural strength is improved, but aerodynamic efficiency deteriorates due to increased drag and noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidaerodynamic drag and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge assembly incorporates a passive buckling mechanism that dynamically transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a controlled buckled state during severe gust loads. This dynamic response allows the structure to adapt its stiffness based on loading conditions, reducing aerodynamic drag and noise during normal operation while providing structural integrity during extreme events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The composite laminate structure utilizes layers with different elastic moduli that change their mechanical properties under load. The differential buckling of these layers allows the trailing edge to control its structural parameters, transitioning between rigid and flexible states to optimize both aerodynamic performance and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the trailing edge assembly is made rigid to maintain aerodynamic shape, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but the ability to shed passive loads during severe gusts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic efficiencyVSAvoidpassive load shedding capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge assembly incorporates a passive buckling mechanism that dynamically transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a controlled buckled state during severe gust loads. This dynamic response allows the structure to adapt its stiffness based on loading conditions, reducing aerodynamic drag and noise during normal operation while providing structural integrity during extreme events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of structural flexibility into a beneficial passive load shedding mechanism. The controlled buckling of the composite laminate layers allows the trailing edge to deliberately deflect during severe gusts, reducing structural stress and improving reliability, while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of manufacture

If the composite layers are uniformly configured to simplify manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but controlled buckling response under mechanical forces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcontrolled buckling response

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge assembly incorporates a passive buckling mechanism that dynamically transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a controlled buckled state during severe gust loads. This dynamic response allows the structure to adapt its stiffness based on loading conditions, reducing aerodynamic drag and noise during normal operation while providing structural integrity during extreme events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite laminate structures with differentially configured layers, each having unique elastic moduli. This composite approach enables controlled buckling responses while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized composite material processes, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptive structural behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If the trailing edge is designed to be flexible to reduce structural stress, then fatigue resistance is improved, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to increased deflection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefatigue resistanceVSAvoidaerodynamic performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The trailing edge assembly incorporates a passive buckling mechanism that dynamically transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a controlled buckled state during severe gust loads. This dynamic response allows the structure to adapt its stiffness based on loading conditions, reducing aerodynamic drag and noise during normal operation while providing structural integrity during extreme events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The composite laminate structure utilizes layers with different elastic moduli that change their mechanical properties under load. The differential buckling of these layers allows the trailing edge to control its structural parameters, transitioning between rigid and flexible states to optimize both aerodynamic performance and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution optimizes aerodynamic performance and passive load shedding while protecting the structural integrity of wind turbine blades by allowing controlled deflection and restoration, thus improving efficiency and durability.

Implementation Method 1

A passive trailing edge assembly using a composite structure with differentially configured composite layers, each with unique elasticity parameters, allows for controlled buckling and deflection under mechanical forces, restoring to its original shape upon load removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250305476A1Passive trailing edge including controlled buckling laminates

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 GULF WIND TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

A multi-layer composite body that includes a first composite layer having a first elasticity parameter and a second composite layer mechanically coupled with the first composite layer. The second composite layer may have a second elasticity parameter that is different from the first elasticity parameter of the first composite layer. The first composite layer and the second composite layer may extend in a continuous manner with respect to each other, forming a substantially two-dimensional, homogenous structure. Further, the first composite layer and the second composite layer may respond to a common external mechanical force in a different manner.