Wind Turbine Aerodynamic Dome Segmented Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to enhance the aerodynamic efficiency of wind turbines while minimizing the increased costs associated with manufacturing, transporting, and assembling larger turbines, which are exacerbated by the need for more complex and costly aerodynamic components.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic dome structure is introduced, comprising an outer ring, a central axle, radially extending tensioning members, and a skin-like covering, which forms an underlying dome support structure that can be assembled on-site, reducing transportation and assembly costs, and is designed to accelerate airflow into more efficient regions of the rotor blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the size of wind turbines is increased to enhance energy output, then power generation capacity is improved, but manufacturing, transporting, and assembly costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic dome is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for easier transportation and assembly, reducing the costs associated with manufacturing and installing large-scale aerodynamic components while maintaining the power enhancement benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional large-scale integrated turbine design to a modular segmented dome structure. By changing the dimensional approach from monolithic to modular components, the system achieves cost reduction in manufacturing and assembly while preserving energy output enhancement capabilities
2Power
If traditional aerodynamic components are used for larger wind turbines, then power capacity is increased, but transportation and assembly costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic dome is divided into multiple segments that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for easier transportation and assembly, reducing the costs associated with manufacturing and installing large-scale aerodynamic components while maintaining the power enhancement benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The dome segments are pre-manufactured to precise specifications before being transported to the installation site. This preliminary manufacturing action ensures quality control and aerodynamic performance while enabling cost-effective transportation and assembly operations
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 aerodynamic dome structure increases wind turbine efficiency by accelerating airflow into more efficient regions of the rotor blades, while its modular design and reduced reliance on welds or bolts simplify assembly and maintenance, lowering overall costs.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of radially extending tensioning members are coupled to the outer ring at a first end and to the central axle at a second end... configured to allow for tensioning of the radially extending tensioning members
Implementation Method 2
an aerodynamic dome structure that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub for increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of an existing wind turbine... enable an acceleration of the airflow into more aerodynamically efficient region of a wind turbine rotor blade
Data Source
AI summary
An aerodynamic dome component that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes an outer ring, a central axle disposed relative to the outer ring, a plurality of radially extending tensioning members and a skin-like covering. The plurality of radially extending tensioning members are coupled to the outer ring at a first end and to the central axle at a second end. The outer ring, the plurality of radially extending tensioning members and the central axle together form an underlying dome support structure. The skin-like covering is configured to envelop at least a portion of the underlying dome support structure to form at least a portion of the aerodynamic dome component and define a front dome portion. The skin-like covering enveloping at least a portion of the underlying dome support structure may further define a rear dome portion, wherein the rear dome portion is configured downwind from the front dome portion.