Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Shape Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbine rotor assemblies lack the ability to efficiently adapt their shape to varying wind conditions and rotational speeds, leading to suboptimal energy conversion across a wide range of conditions.

Innovation Solution

A rotor assembly with blades featuring a noncompliant region near the rotor shaft and a compliant region radially outward, allowing the blades to bend and adjust their shape in response to rotation-induced forces, optimizing the wind profile for different wind conditions and rotational speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blade is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the blade can withstand high rotational speeds, but it cannot adapt its shape to varying wind conditions and rotational speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblade shape adaptationVSAvoidblade structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is divided into distinct regions with different stiffness characteristics: a noncompliant region near the hub that maintains structural strength and rigidity, and a compliant region at the tip that allows shape adaptation. This local differentiation enables the blade to simultaneously achieve both strength and adaptability by having different parts perform different functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The blade transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the compliant region can bend and change shape in response to rotation-induced forces and wind conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the blade to automatically adjust its aerodynamic profile without external control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the blade is made flexible to adapt its shape, then it can optimize wind profile, but it cannot maintain structural integrity at high rotational speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind profile optimizationVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The blade is segmented into a noncompliant region and a compliant region, with the transition forming a bend channel. This segmentation allows the rigid portion to maintain structural integrity while the flexible portion optimizes the wind profile, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and wind profile optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If conventional rigid blades are used, then manufacturing is simple, but energy conversion efficiency is suboptimal across wide range of conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy conversion efficiencyVSAvoidblade structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade's stiffness parameter changes along its length, transitioning from high stiffness in the noncompliant region to low stiffness in the compliant region. This parameter variation enables the blade to maintain optimal energy conversion efficiency across wide ranges of wind conditions and rotational speeds while using conventional manufacturing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 adaptive blade design enhances wind energy conversion efficiency by maintaining an optimal profile across a wide range of wind conditions and rotational speeds, improving mechanical energy production.

Implementation Method 1

rotation induced forces act to bend the blade in the compliant region to reduce the axial displacement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a blade configured to respond to rotation induced forces to automatically bend in a manner to optimize its wind profile

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

create an efficient fluid dynamic profile over a wide range of wind conditions and rotational speeds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid dynamics:

Implementation Method 4

The mechanical energy is most frequently used to drive an electric generator but can alternatively be used to drive a variety of other loads

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic force: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS8430636B2Wind turbine rotor assembly

Publication Date: 2013.04.30 WAGNER THOMAS V

AI summary

A rotor assembly for a wind turbine including at least one blade adapted to automatically adjust its shape as a function of rotational speed to create an efficient fluid dynamic profile over a wide range of wind conditions and rotational speeds. The rotor assembly includes at least one blade configured to respond to rotation induced forces to automatically bend in a manner to optimize its wind profile.