Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Section Layout for Transportable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing dimensions of wind turbine rotor blades pose challenges for transportation, particularly by road or train, due to the need for strong connections between segments to withstand extreme loads, and the optimal position of these connections affects aerodynamic performance and space requirements, leading to contradictory design preferences.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine rotor blade design comprising a root, main, and tip section with specific cross-sectional shapes and connection methods, including circular cross sections for the root and main sections and aerodynamic profiles for the tip section, allowing for robust, simple connections that facilitate transportation while minimizing aerodynamic impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wind turbine rotor blades are divided into multiple longitudinal segments to facilitate transportation, then transportation feasibility is improved, but connection strength and structural reliability deteriorate due to the need for extremely strong connections to withstand extreme loads
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into three segments (root section, main section, tip section) of roughly equal length to enable transportation by road or train. Each segment can be transported separately and assembled on-site, making the blade feasible for transportation despite its overall large size.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection means integrate multiple functions: mechanical connection (bolts/nuts), aerodynamic fairing (conical cover), and structural reinforcement (flanges). This merging of functions into a single integrated connection assembly simplifies the design while ensuring both transportation feasibility and connection strength.
2Area of stationary object
If connection means are positioned near the blade tip to reduce space requirements, then space availability is improved, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to greater negative impact at the tip
Solution Approach 1:
The conical aerodynamic cover is specifically designed to match the local geometry at the connection position. The cover tapers from a larger diameter at the root section end to a smaller diameter at the main section end, providing aerodynamic fairness that minimizes disturbance to the local airflow while accommodating the connection hardware.
3Reliability
If blade segments are made of different lengths to optimize connection positioning, then connection performance is improved, but construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection means design is universal and can be applied at different positions along the blade length. The conical cover and flange assembly provide a standardized solution that works regardless of the specific segment length configuration, allowing flexibility in segment sizing without increasing construction complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind turbine rotor blade comprising • a root section having a blade root, an outer end and a root section length, • a main section having an inner end, an outer end and a main section length, • a tip section having an inner end, a blade tip and a tip section length, • wherein the outer end of the root section and the inner end of the main section are configured to be connected to one another, • the outer end of the main section and the inner end of the tip section each have a cross section shaped as an aerodynamic profile and are configured to be connected to one another and • the outer end of the root section and the inner end of the main section have a circular cross section.