Vortex Generator Placement on Wind Turbine Blades
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine blade designs face challenges in optimizing the placement of vortex generators to minimize drag penalties while effectively suppressing flow separation, particularly as blade size increases and aerodynamic performance is improved.
Innovation Solution
The placement of vortex generators is strategically limited to regions closer to the blade root, with specific fin configurations and arrangements that balance separation suppression and drag reduction, including positioning fins closer to the blade root than previously considered optimal, and adjusting the density and orientation of fin sets to optimize aerodynamic performance across varying wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vortex generators are mounted in the region of 0.2 to 0.5 L from the blade root side, then flow separation is suppressed, but drag penalty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the vortex generator arrangement strategy between two distinct regions: the root region (0 to 0.2R) where VGs are sparsely arranged or omitted to reduce drag penalty, and the intermediate region (0.2R to 0.5L) where VGs are densely arranged to suppress flow separation. This localized differentiation optimizes performance by matching VG density to the specific aerodynamic needs of each region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the blade span into distinct regions with different VG arrangement characteristics. The root region (0 to 0.2R) is separated from the intermediate region (0.2R to 0.5L), with each region having its own VG placement criteria. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's aerodynamic performance.
2Weight of moving object
If blade thickness ratio is increased to reduce weight, then structural efficiency improves, but flow separation becomes more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by varying the vortex generator characteristics (size, spacing, orientation) along the blade span to compensate for the increased flow separation tendency caused by higher blade thickness ratios. In regions with thicker blades (lower span), VGs are positioned and sized to generate sufficient vorticity to maintain attached flow, thereby enabling weight reduction through increased thickness without sacrificing aerodynamic performance.
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 effectively reduces drag penalties and suppresses flow separation, enhancing the overall aerodynamic efficiency of wind turbine blades, particularly in larger turbines, by carefully controlling the placement and configuration of vortex generators based on blade thickness ratios and wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a vortex generator (VG) is disposed on a surface of a wind turbine blade to suppress separation of a flow along the surface of the wind turbine blade
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine blade comprising a vortex generator including a plurality of fins. The plurality of fins include a first fin positioned closest to a blade tip, and the first fin is disposed closer to a blade root than a position closer to the blade tip, of a blade spanwise directional position at which a ratio t/C of a blade thickness ‘t’ to a chord length C is 0.4 or a radial directional position of 0.2R with respect to a radius R of a rotor including the wind turbine blade. The vortex generator may include at least one fin disposed in a mounting range of zero to 0.1 R, such that a ratio x/C of a chordwise directional position x of the at least one fin to the chord length C satisfies 0≤x/C≤0.2.