Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Segmented Heating and Transport Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large rotor blades for wind turbines face challenges in transportation due to size constraints and are prone to icing, which affects operational efficiency and safety, with existing heating solutions being complex and inefficient in targeting specific ice accumulation areas.
Innovation Solution
The rotor blade design incorporates separate heating means for the leading and trailing edges, allowing for targeted and differentiated heating, and a multi-part trailing edge segment for improved manufacturing and installation, along with a recirculation air heating circuit to enhance heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heating means is used for the rotor blade, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heating efficiency and ability to target specific ice accumulation areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating means (first heating means for the leading edge, second heating means for the trailing edge), each capable of operating independently to heat specific areas of the rotor blade where ice accumulates, thereby improving heating efficiency without requiring a completely complex system
2Productivity
If the rotor blade width in the root area is increased to 5 meters or more for modern design, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the transportation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade is divided into multiple segments including a root segment, intermediate segments, and a tip segment that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This allows each segment to be transported more easily while maintaining the overall large width needed for aerodynamic performance
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor blade segments are designed to be nested within each other during transportation, with smaller segments placed inside larger ones, reducing the transportation footprint while maintaining the full size capability for aerodynamic performance
3Productivity
If heating air is circulated through the rotor blade cavities, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system uses a recirculation approach where heated air is continuously circulated through the rotor blade cavities multiple times, maximizing the heat transfer efficiency and reducing the total energy consumption compared to single-pass heating systems
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 solution enables efficient heating of rotor blades, reduces transportation complexities, and improves operational safety by effectively addressing icing issues while allowing for higher heating output and flexibility in manufacturing and installation.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second cavities are heated by first and second heating means, respectively
Implementation Method 2
Air is drawn in through an opening in the nacelle of the wind turbine, passed through the electrical systems in the nacelle and heated there
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotor blade (2) of a wind turbine (100), comprising a rotor blade nose (4), a rotor blade trailing edge (6), a rotor blade root region (28) for fastening the rotor blade (2) to a hub of the wind turbine (100), and a rotor blade tip (40), wherein the rotor blade (2) extends from the rotor blade root region (28) to the rotor blade tip (40) in a longitudinal direction and the rotor blade (2) internally comprises at least a first cavity (18) pointing toward the rotor blade nose (4) and a second cavity (20) pointing toward the rotor blade trailing edge (6), and the first cavity (18) is heated by a first heating means and the second cavity (20) is heated by a second heating means (30) in order to heat the rotor blade nose (4) or the rotor blade trailing edge (6). In addition, according to the invention the rotor blade has a trailing edge segment (54) arranged in the region of the rotor blade trailing edge (6) to the root region (28), wherein the trailing edge segment (54) has a multi-part design and comprises at least two segments (56, 58).