Trailing Edge Winglet Rotor Blade for Wind Turbine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine rotor blades experience reduced efficiency and increased noise due to undesired pressure equalization and vortices at the blade tip, leading to suboptimal lift and flow resistance.
Innovation Solution
A rotor blade design with a trailing edge winglet that increases in height along the rotor blade outer edge, a sickle-shaped leading and trailing edge, and a circular base for the winglet, which enhances vortex shedding and reduces noise by maintaining a laminar flow and increasing torque at lower wind speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional rotor blade design is used, then the structure is simple, but pressure equalization and vortices occur at the blade tip reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into distinct functional sections: a main blade portion and a separate winglet portion. The winglet is attached to the trailing edge section of the blade, creating a segmented structure that addresses tip vortex issues independently from the main blade design. This segmentation allows the winglet to specifically manage flow separation and pressure equalization at the blade tip while the main blade maintains its primary lifting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The winglet extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotational plane of the rotor blade, adding a third dimensional element to the traditionally two-dimensional blade structure. This vertical extension into the spanwise direction creates a three-dimensional flow control structure that effectively manages tip vortices and pressure equalization by providing an additional flow path and altering the vortex development trajectory.
2Force
If the blade tip region uses small attack angles and reduced chord length, then vortices are reduced, but lift in the blade tip region becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The winglet acts as an intermediary structure between the high-lift requirement of the blade tip and the vortex reduction need. By attaching the winglet to the trailing edge section, it mediates the flow field in a way that allows the main blade to maintain larger attack angles and chord lengths for optimal lift, while the winglet itself manages the vortex formation and pressure equalization that would otherwise occur at the bare blade tip.
3Productivity
If known rotor blade designs are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but great vortices reduce efficiency and increase noise
Solution Approach 1:
The winglet structure converts the potentially harmful tip vortex flow into a beneficial flow pattern. By providing a controlled path for the pressure equalization flow through the winglet attachment, the design transforms what would be chaotic, noise-generating vortices into a more organized flow structure that reduces turbulence and acoustic emissions while maintaining or improving aerodynamic efficiency.
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 design significantly improves the efficiency and reduces noise, allowing wind turbines to operate closer to residential areas with increased versatility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A winglet which extends merely along the trailing edge section is arranged on the rotor blade outer edge... enhances vortex shedding and reduces noise by maintaining a laminar flow
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a laminar flow and increasing torque at lower wind speeds
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotor blade (100) for a wind turbine, having a rotor blade root (102), a rotor blade outer edge (104), a leading edge (106) and a trailing edge (108), The leading edge (106) and the trailing edge (108) define a chord (110), the length of which increases from the rotor blade root (102) to the rotor blade outer edge (104), Chord centre points (112) define a rotor wing centre line (114) running from the rotor blade root (0.102) to the rotor blade outer edge (104) and the rotor wing centre line (114) divides the rotor blade outer edge (104) into a leading edge portion (116) and a trailing edge portion (118), a winglet (120) that extends only along the trailing edge portion (118) being arranged on the rotor blade outer edge (104).