Wind Turbine Blade Trailing Edge Serrations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbine blades face significant noise challenges due to turbulence at the trailing edge, leading to increased noise levels as blade lengths increase, and existing noise reduction methods often require complex designs and stringent installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A trailing edge panel with a base element and serrated part, featuring protruding aerodynamic elements that extend from the serrations and attach to both sides of the blade, providing a clamp-like fit and integrating serrations with on-surface devices to enhance noise mitigation and structural reinforcement, simplifying installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If serrations are provided by attaching a serrated panel at the trailing edge, then noise mitigation is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the serrated panel attachment with the trailing edge structure itself by providing a cutaway portion that integrates both functions. The attachment part is formed as an integral part of the trailing edge panel, combining the noise mitigation serrations with the attachment mechanism in a single unified structure rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailing edge panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural reinforcement of the trailing edge, acts as a noise mitigation device through its serrations, and provides its own attachment mechanism via the cutaway portion. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate attachment hardware and simplifies the overall device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple addons are installed on and around the trailing edge, then noise reduction is improved, but installation requirements become more stringent and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple noise mitigation functions into a single integrated panel. The serrated attachment part provides both structural support and noise reduction in one component that attaches as a single unit, eliminating the need to install multiple separate addons and their associated alignment requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If serrations are provided by attaching a serrated panel at the trailing edge, then noise mitigation is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutaway attachment portion is formed as an integral part of the trailing edge panel during the same manufacturing process, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps for attachment hardware. This integration simplifies the overall manufacturing process while maintaining noise mitigation effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailing edge panel is configured to be attached to a trailing edge of a wind turbine blade and includes a base element and a number of protruding aerodynamic elements. The base element has an attachment part configured to be attached to and extend from the trailing edge of the wind turbine blade and to an upstream position on a first blade side of the wind turbine blade. The base element further has a serrated part extending from the second side of the attachment part and configured to project out from the trailing edge of the wind turbine blade, wherein the serrated part comprises a number of serrations, including a first serration and a second serration. The number of protruding aerodynamic elements, including a first protruding aerodynamic element, includes a first protruding part attached to the serrated part of the base element.