Wind Turbine Rotor Blade with Convex-Concave Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind power generator rotors have complex production processes and inefficiencies due to convex surfaces requiring independent production and adaptation to local wind speeds, leading to suboptimal energy conversion and smoothness.
Innovation Solution
A rotor design featuring blades with a convex first surface and a concave second surface, spaced by the blade's thickness, allowing for simpler production and efficient wind energy conversion, with optional sheet elements to reduce eddy formation and enhance airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If convex surfaces are produced independently from one another, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the production of the first convex surface and second convex surface into a single mold cavity. The mold includes a first mold half for the first convex surface and a second mold half for the second convex surface, allowing both surfaces to be produced simultaneously in one injection molding process rather than independently, thereby reducing production complexity while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The mold design provides universal functionality by enabling the production of different blade profiles and configurations through a single multi-functional mold system. The mold can produce various convex surfaces with different geometries by changing mold inserts or configurations, maintaining manufacturing flexibility while simplifying the overall production process
2Power
If blade profiles are adapted to local wind speeds with complanate angles, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by incorporating variable pitch angles along the blade length directly into the mold cavity design. The mold allows for easy adjustment of geometric parameters such as pitch angle and curvature radius to optimize energy conversion efficiency for different wind conditions, while these complex geometries are achieved through standard injection molding processes rather than complex multi-step manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses curved and rounded blade profiles with specific curvature radii to optimize aerodynamic performance. The mold cavity is designed with curved surfaces that generate the desired blade geometry, allowing smooth transitions and optimized wind flow that improve energy conversion efficiency while being manufacturable through conventional molding techniques
3Strength
If inner volume of blades is increased, then structural strength is improved, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-walled blade designs with optimized wall thickness distributions. The injection molding process enables the production of blades with consistent thin walls that provide sufficient structural strength through optimized geometry and material distribution, reducing overall material consumption while maintaining required strength characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite materials, specifically fiber-reinforced plastics, to achieve high structural strength with reduced material consumption. The injection molding process can incorporate reinforcement fibers in specific orientations to optimize strength-to-weight ratio, providing the necessary structural integrity with minimal material usage
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 rotor achieves high efficiency in wind energy conversion with improved smoothness and reduced production complexity, maintaining or exceeding conventional rotor efficiency while minimizing eddy formation through laminar airflow.
Implementation Method 1
the blade has a curvature between its leading edge and its trailing edge which curvature has a first convex surface and an opposite second concave surface
Implementation Method 2
rotor for a wind power generator
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor according to a preferred embodiment of the invention has at least one blade arranged at a hub of the rotor, wherein the blade has a curvature between its leading edge and its trailing edge which curvature has a first convex surface and an opposite second concave surface, wherein the first surface is to be arranged against the direction of the wind striking the blades. The convex profile of the first surface and the concave profile of the opposite second surface are spaced by the thickness of the blade which is preferably constant. The hub is arranged at the rotational axis.