Twisted Wind Turbine Blade Root With Thicker Airfoils
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine blade designs face challenges in achieving optimal aerodynamic performance and structural efficiency, particularly in the transition part near the rotor axis, leading to reduced energy yield, increased structural complexity, and higher costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates thicker airfoils with more twist than usual, combined with flow manipulators such as vortex generators and radial flow blocking elements, to enhance aerodynamic performance and structural integrity without increasing complexity or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the chord near the rotor axis is made longer to improve aerodynamic performance, then energy yield increases by 10-15%, but the rotor surface area increases leading to higher wind loads and additional costs for tower and foundation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different profile thicknesses to different radial positions of the blade. The transition part (inner 20-30% of blade length) uses thicker profiles (40-60% thickness) compared to conventional designs, while outer sections maintain standard thickness. This localized variation optimizes aerodynamic performance in the transition zone without unnecessarily increasing overall rotor surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of airfoils in the transition part from conventional values to 40-60% thickness. This parameter change allows the transition part to contribute more to energy yield while maintaining a compact overall rotor design, avoiding the need for excessively long chords near the rotor axis.
2Strength
If thick airfoils are used in the transition part to improve structural efficiency, then bending moments are better coped with, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to low efficiency of thick airfoils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates thick airfoil sections (40-60% thickness) specifically in the transition part where structural strength is most needed to cope with bending moments. The aerodynamic part of the blade uses conventional thinner profiles optimized for aerodynamic efficiency. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning each section its optimal thickness for its primary function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is segmented into distinct functional zones: the transition part (inner 20-30%) with thick profiles for structural strength, and the aerodynamic part with thinner profiles for aerodynamic efficiency. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently for its specific requirements without compromising the other.
3Productivity
If flow manipulators such as vortex generators are added to improve aerodynamic performance of the transition part, then additional yield of 1.5% is achieved, but the majority of aerodynamic loss in the rotor center persists
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding flow manipulators to conventional thin profiles, the patent fundamentally changes the thickness parameter of the airfoils in the transition part to 40-60%. This parameter change inherently improves aerodynamic performance and reduces aerodynamic losses more effectively than adding flow manipulators, achieving greater yield improvement without the associated complexity.
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 approach results in a 2-8% increase in energy yield, 1-3% weight reduction, and easier transportation, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
flow manipulators such as vortex generators
Implementation Method 2
radial flow blocking elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention is related to a rotor blade for a wind turbine comprising a blade root, a transition piece and an aerodynamic part, wherein the blade root essentially is optimized for fixation of the blade to the hub and the aerodynamic part essentially is optimized to extract energy from the wind and wherein the transition part realizes a beneficial transition between the blade root and the aerodynamic part. According to the invention the rotor blade can perform better both aerodynamically and structurally compared to a classic design when the blade part located near the axis, approximately the part between 0%L and 50%L is provided with one or more of the following characteristics: more twist than usual, attached flow stimulating measures at the suction side, flow blocking measures at the pressure side, thicker profiles than usual, a triangular shape of the profile back and back twist.