Wind Turbine Blade Vortex Generator Sub-Fin Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vortex generators fail to effectively suppress flow separation at the end portion of wind turbine blades, as vortices generated by fins can promote separation rather than prevent it, leading to reduced aerodynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A vortex generator design featuring smaller sub-fins with reduced fin chord length and height, disposed adjacent to the main fin row, and inclined away from the main fin row, which attract fast flows back to the blade surface, thereby enhancing separation suppression at the end portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If main fins are disposed at the end portion of the fin row, then the vortex generator can suppress separation along the wind turbine blade surface, but the fins at the end portion generate vortices in a direction away from the surface which promotes separation
Solution Approach 1:
The fin row is segmented into main fins and sub fins with different functions. Main fins suppress separation along the blade surface, while sub fins at the end portion generate vortices toward the surface to counteract the harmful vortices from main fins. This segmentation allows different parts of the system to address different aspects of the separation problem.
Solution Approach 2:
Different fin configurations are applied to different locations along the fin row. The sub fins at the end portion have smaller fin chord lengths and are inclined differently compared to the main fins, creating local variations in vortex generation characteristics that are optimized for the specific flow conditions at the end portion.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If sub fins with smaller fin chord length and height are disposed adjacent to the main fin row, then the harmful vortices from main fins can be canceled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub fins are integrated with the main fin row structure, sharing a common base plate and mounting system. This merging approach allows the additional functionality of vortex cancellation to be added without completely redesigning the entire fin row structure, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful vortices generated by the main fins at the end portion are converted into a beneficial effect by introducing sub fins that generate opposing vortices. The sub fins' smaller dimensions and specific inclination are designed to create vortices that directly counteract the harmful ones, turning the problem of end-portion separation into a solution opportunity.
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 configuration effectively cancels the promotion of separation caused by main fins, improving the overall aerodynamic performance of wind turbine blades by reducing the influence of vortices and enhancing the suppression of separation at the end portion of the fin row.
Implementation Method 1
vortices formed by the first sub fin attract a relatively-fast flow outside the boundary layer toward the surface of the wind turbine blade
Implementation Method 2
attract a relatively-fast flow outside the boundary layer toward the surface
Data Source
AI summary
A vortex generator for a wind turbine blade includes a plurality of main fins disposed on a surface of the wind turbine blade; and at least one first sub fin having a fin chord length and a fin height which are smaller than those of each of the main fins, and disposed on the surface of the wind turbine blade along a first virtual line extending from a first end portion of a main fin row at a side of a blade tip or a blade root of the wind turbine blade. An expression d≤dmax is satisfied, provided that d is a distance between the main fin row and the first sub fin disposed next to the first end portion of the main fin row, and dmax is a maximum distance between an adjacent pair of the main fins in the main fin row.