Wind Turbine Vortex Generator With Stiffened Overhanging Fin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades are prone to damage from aerodynamic loads and environmental factors, leading to reduced service life and potential loss of aerodynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A vortex generator design featuring a base plate with a rearward stiffening section supporting a fin that extends beyond the rear edge, providing enhanced stability and durability while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fin extends beyond the rear edge of the base plate to improve aerodynamic performance, then the vortex generator can better prevent flow separation, but the fin becomes more susceptible to damage from aerodynamic loads and environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring a thicker rear section that provides enhanced structural support and stiffness. This local thickening compensates for the extended fin length beyond the base plate rear edge, maintaining strength and damage resistance while preserving the aerodynamic benefits of the extended fin configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The vortex generator is manufactured as an integrated component using fiber-reinforced plastics material, combining the base plate and fin into a single composite structure. This composite construction enhances the overall strength-to-weight ratio and improves resistance to aerodynamic loads and environmental degradation, extending service life
2Reliability
If the fin extends beyond the rear edge of the base plate, then aerodynamic effectiveness is improved, but the structural stability and robustness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate incorporates a thicker rear section that provides localized structural reinforcement. This non-uniform thickness distribution maintains structural stability and robustness while allowing the fin to extend beyond the rear edge for improved aerodynamic performance in preventing flow separation
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple base plate design is used, then manufacturing is easier and cost is reduced, but the vortex generator is more prone to damage from aerodynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate thickness parameter is varied along its length, with the rear section being thicker than the front section. This parameter change provides enhanced structural strength and stiffness to resist aerodynamic loads while maintaining a relatively simple monolithic structure that can be manufactured in one piece using fiber-reinforced plastics material
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 enhances the vortex generator's resistance to damage, ensuring prolonged service life and reliable performance under adverse conditions without compromising aerodynamic effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
vortex generators cause small vortices in the boundary layer of a surrounding airflow. This can prevent or delay a separation of flow under certain operating conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A vortex generator for a wind turbine rotor blade includes a base plate having a lower surface configured for being mounted to an outer surface of the wind turbine rotor blade, an upper surface opposite the lower surface, a front edge, a rear edge and a longitudinal axis, wherein the rear edge of the base plate includes a perpendicular section arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and at least one plate-shaped fin with a first longitudinal section arranged at the upper surface of the base plate, a second longitudinal section which extends beyond the rear edge and has a lower edge which is not connected to the base plate. The first longitudinal section includes a rear part arranged rearwards of the perpendicular section and the base plate includes a first stiffening section arranged rearwards of the perpendicular section and forming a transition to the rear part.