Wind Turbine Blade Spoiler for Edgewise Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blade damping devices for wind turbines inadequately mitigate edgewise vibrations, leading to potential critical failures, as they fail to provide sufficient aerodynamic damping in the edgewise direction and often disturb airflow too close to the blade.
Innovation Solution
A blade damping device with a spoiler protruding from a base part, attached to the pressure or suction side of the wind turbine blade, which increases edgewise aerodynamic damping and flow disturbance by displacing a larger volume of air, thereby reducing vortex shedding and stalling vibrations. The spoiler height is strategically positioned at least 20% of the chord length along the blade's longitudinal axis, and the device is designed for easy attachment and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If prior art aerodynamic devices are used, then vortex shedding induced vibrations are modified, but edgewise blade vibrations are inadequately mitigated
Solution Approach 1:
The spoiler is positioned at a specific height above the blade surface (at least 20% of chord length at two thirds of blade length from root) rather than close to the blade, creating a three-dimensional flow disturbance pattern that effectively addresses edgewise vibrations by disrupting vortex formation in the spanwise direction
Solution Approach 2:
The spoiler dimensions are specifically designed with the height parameter set to at least 20% of the chord length at two thirds of the blade length from the root, optimizing the aerodynamic interference to provide sufficient edgewise damping while maintaining effectiveness across varying operating conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If aerodynamic devices disturb airflow close to the blade, then flow modification is achieved, but sufficient edgewise damping is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the spoiler at a height of at least 20% of chord length above the blade surface rather than adjacent to it, the device creates a larger volume of disturbed air that increases edgewise aerodynamic damping through enhanced three-dimensional flow disruption and vortex prevention
3Ease of operation
If blade damping device is designed for easy attachment and removal, then installation simplicity is improved, but attachment reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is designed as a separable assembly with a base part that attaches to the blade and a spoiler part that extends from it, allowing the device to be easily installed and removed while maintaining secure attachment during operation through the modular connection between parts
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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates the risk of blade failure due to edgewise vibrations by providing adequate damping and flow disturbance, ensuring the blade's safety during standstill and easy installation/removal processes.
Implementation Method 1
the blade damping device provides sufficient aerodynamic damping in the edgewise direction in combination with sufficient flow disturbance to mitigate vortex shedding induced vibrations
Implementation Method 2
vortex shedding induced vibrations happens all the time, however, the magnitude and frequency of the vibrations gets critical when the inflow angle is around +90° or −90°
Data Source
AI summary
A blade damping device for damping vibrations during standstill of a wind turbine blade, wherein the blade damping device is adapted to be detachably attached to the pressure side and/or the suction side of the airfoil region of the wind turbine blade, the blade damping device comprising a base plate adapted to conform to the exterior shape of the wind turbine blade when the blade damping device is attached to the wind turbine blade, and a spoiler protruding from the base plate to a spoiler height along a height direction and having a spoiler length along a length direction, the height direction being adapted to extend outwardly from the wind turbine blade, wherein the spoiler height is adapted to be at least 20% of a chord line located at two thirds of the blade length along the longitudinal axis from the root end of the wind turbine blade.